Sunny skies and a pleasant breeze allowed consignors to showcase their trotters and pacers to an eager group that recognizes the strength and excellent opportunities inherent in the Buckeye state harness racing program.

Once again, Jeff and Senena Esty’s Spring Haven Farm sold the sale topper. Hip 105, Lightning Rocks, was a gorgeous Pet Rock half-brother to Love Me Some Lou p,2,1:50.4f ($216,452) that was hammered down to Burke Racing of Fredericktown, Penn. for $100,000.

Sale topper Lightning Rocks was bought by Burke Racing for $100,000

“He is a fabulous colt, very well-bred with impeccable conformation,” noted Senena Esty following the auction.

A pacing filly by McArdle topped that division with an $84,000 purchase price. Cory Deyermand of Dorset, Ohio was the successful bidder of Hip 63, Rose Run Wasaki, a half-sister to Rose Run Uptowngal p,3,1:51.3f-’19 ($193,949).

Consignor Archie Yoder of Rose Run Farm stated, “Buyers were willing to pay top dollar for good horses, and I am really excited for the people that bought them.”

Ohio Harness Horse Breeders president Randy Haines echoed those remarks and was very pleased with Ohio benchmark event, “If you had what the buyers wanted, they were here to buy.”

Three fillies and a colt all shared top billing for the highest priced trotters in the sale as they all fetched $60,000 respectively. The highest priced colt was Hip 85, Declared Lawful, a Full Count half-brother to Lawmaker 3,1:53.3 ($328,115) consigned by Marvin Raber Farm and purchased by Miles Woolam of Brookfield, Ohio. Full Count sired five yearlings in the sale which averaged $44,400.

Two fillies from the third crop of Uncle Peter also brought $60,000: Hip 135, Miss Meringue was consigned by Mitch and Laura Nault’s LMN Bred Stables, Inc. and purchased by Anthony MacDonald’s The Stable.ca, Guelph, Ont.; and Hip 207, Aunt Lil, consigned by Double Spring Farm, Agent and taken home by Burke Racing. Uncle Peter had 36 yearlings represented in the sale and averaged just shy of $20,000.

Yearlings from the first crop of Racing Hill were also well received and brought some new faces to the sale as his trainer Tony Alagna was on hand to inspect and ultimately purchase one of the Ohio-bred pacers.

All told, 35 youngsters by the Breeders Crown winner averaged $24,143, with the highest priced colt being purchased by Brian Brown of Ostranger, Ohio for $54,000. Hip 94, Roczen, was just the second foal from the good racemare Rockratese p,4,1:52.1f ($217,733) and was consigned by Hickory Lane Farm, home of Racing Hill.

Kevin Greenfield, owner of Hickory Lane Farm opined, “You never know how first crop sires will produce, but overall the way people bid on them told me that they wanted them and hope that they succeed.”

Established Ohio sire Yankee Cruiser topped the average for pacers with 11 offerings at $32,727 per horse. Midland Acres president Dr. John Mossbarger, who stands the horse and had 45 yearlings sold at the sale, stated, ”We thought we had a very good sale. It was a very solid sale with a lot of active bidding. We were very pleased with our whole consignment, led in part by the strength of the Pet Rock and Yankee Cruiser yearlings. We are very thankful to all of the bidders and buyers that helped us have another successful auction.”

A gross of $4,953,000 produced an average sale price of $20,383. Complete auction results can be found at the following link below: 2019 Ohio Selected Jug Sale Results.

(with files from the Ohio Harness Horse Breeders)