Bidding soared to seven figures on Cambridge Hanover during a spirited opening session of the 2024 Standardbred Horse Sale on Monday afternoon, Nov. 4 at the Pennsylvania State Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg.

Selling as Hip 104, Cambridge Hanover was purchased for an eye-popping $1,388,889 ($1 million USD) by Andrew Harris of Allentown, New Jersey, acting as agent. Consigned by breeder Hanover Shoe Farm, the Walner colt is the second foal out of the Father Patrick mare Crucial and a half brother to two-year-old star trotter Maryland ($1,561,368 - 1:54.4), winner of this year's Breeders Crown, Mohawk Million, Peter Haughton Memorial and William Wellwood Memorial. Cambridge Hanover's dam is a multiple stakes winner herself, with more than $500,000 in earnings, and a half sister to millionaire Venerable, also a Mohawk Million champion.

Swinging Loyalty, Hip 53, was another big ticket yearling, with bidding reaching $1,055,556 ($760,000 USD) for the daughter of Walner. Richard Gutnick of Blue Bell, Pennsylvania took home the filly out of 100 per cent producing mare Swinging Royalty. Consigned by agent Concord Stud Farm, Swinging Loyalty is a half sister to Canadian Trotting Classic champions Ahundreddollarbill ($1,071,603 - 1:50.2) and Slay ($856,860 - 1:51), as well as New York stakes-winning fillies Royal Filly ($246,209 - 1:52s) and Royal Mission ($397,489 - 1:54.3s).

Apex, Hip 82, another Walner offspring, was among the highest priced yearlings to sell during the opening session with a price tag of $729,167 ($525,000 USD). The colt out of the world champion mare Mission Brief was purchased by Jeffrey Snyder of New York City from the Hunterton Sales Agency consignment. Apex is a full brother to Jaya Bae, who took a mark of 1:53.2 at The Red Mile, and a half sibling to Vic Zelenskyy ($130,339 - 1:50.1), Kadena ($109,128 - 1:53.4) and Adirondack ($88,411 - 1:52.1).

The Gimpanzee filly Art Of The State, Hip 133, also garnered a bid of $729,167 ($525,000 USD) and was sold to the trainer of her sire, Marcus Melander of New Egypt, New Jersey, acting as agent. Consigned by agent Concord Stud Farm, the filly out of Amour Heiress is a half sister to this year's Maple Leaf Trot champion Periculum ($1,473,418 - 1:50.3) as well as stakes winners Spy Booth ($545,817 - 1:52.3s), King Alphanso ($392,910 - 1:52), Crown ($337,204 - 1:52.4f) and Mosquito ($98,175 - 1:54.2).

Sorcery Hanover, Hip 28, rounded out the top five highest priced yearlings of the day, selling for $638,889 ($460,000 USD) to Nancy Takter of Allentown, New Jersey. Consigned and bred by Hanover Shoe Farm, the Walner-Secret Magic filly's half siblings include the Takter-trained world champion and three-time Breeders Crown winner Manchego ($3,279,400 - 1:49) and New York stakes winner Pink Chou Chou ($544,850 - 1:56s), in addition to the 53-time winner In Secret ($1,032,477 - 1:52.3f). 

In total, 150 yearlings went through the sales ring on opening day of the 2024 sale, grossing $22,997,222 ($16,558,000 USD). The average price was $153,315 ($110,387 USD), up nearly 11 per cent from last year's opening day average.

The remaining two yearling sessions of the Standardbred Horse Sale follow on Tuesday and Wednesday at 10 a.m., then two mixed sessions will be held on Thursday and Friday at 11 a.m.

For complete sale results and information, click on the links below. 

IMPORTANT LINKS

• Sale Roster
• Sale Catalogues
• Outs List
• Online Bidding (via BidSpotter)
• Live Video Stream (also available below)
• Sale Results

(Standardbred Canada)