Trotting filly Gangsta Rat topped the opening yearling session of the 2019 Standardbred Horse Sales Company Annual Sale with a $550,000 price tag on Monday, Nov. 4 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
A total of 168 yearlings were sold on the first day of the sale for just over $19.2 million, producing a record-settting average price of $114,446. Last year's opening session average price was $93,541.
“It’s a fantastic sale so far,” Standardbred Horse Sale President and CEO Pete Spears said. “I’m sure this (average) is an all-time record for us.
“People were here doing their homework on Saturday,” he added. “All the big-money people were looking very closely at horses. It wasn’t just a lot of last-minute lookers today. I got a lot of feedback all day about how much underbidders regretted not getting the horse of their choice in many cases today.
“The trotters (were strong). If it was a nice trotter, it sold wonderfully. It’s been such a good thing here in America that the Swedes have become so interested in breeding over here, selling over here, buying and racing over here.
“I think (Tuesday) will be very strong. There are a lot more horses on Tuesday that would have been Monday horses last year, so there are going to be some really nice yearlings available.”
Gangsta Rat, Hip 45, was purchased for $550,000 by Ake Svanstedt of Wrightstown, NJ. Consigned by Concord Stud Farm, the Muscle Hill-Order By Wish miss is a full sister to a Svanstedt-trained star in Marseille (1:51.4 - $479,459).
“He is a very nice horse,” said Svanstedt, who noted it was the highest-priced yearling he ever purchased. “His pedigree is very good, a good family on the mother’s side, and Muscle Hill. He had good conformation; everything was good. He had everything I like with a horse.”
Take This Society, Hip 88, was the next-highest yearling to sell, and the colt did so for a hefty price tag of $475,000. The son of Muscle Hill-Thatsnotmyname was taken by Diamond Creek Farm of Wellsville, PA. Consigned by Concord Stud Farm, the colt is a half-brother to Basquiat (1:51.2 - $289,748).
“I love the fact the breeder was a big fan of the horse,” Diamond Creek’s Adam Bowden said. “I think when the breeder is behind a horse like this, it makes buying a horse that much easier. Stefan is a great guy; he’s had great success and his families are hot. It’s hard not to think that this is the next big thing.
“We want to take more prominent pieces in some of these horses before they become multi-million-dollar horses.”
Glacier Hanover, (Hip 171), was a $470,000 purchased by owner Jeffrey Snyder of New York, NY. Hanover Shoe Farms consigned the son of Father Patrick-Global Desire who is a three-quarter sibling to Bella Gloss (1:51.2 - $146,620).
“I had him for 400, we got carried away, but let’s hope for the best,” Snyder said. “He’s a beautiful horse. The mare is a full sister to Glidemaster. Hopefully we’ll have luck. We got one other trotter (No Ball Games Rat for $300,000). This one and the other were our two favorite ones.”
Hip 115 Spy Booth was a $460,000 purchase for agent Bryan Montgomery of Cream Ridge, NJ. Consigned by Concord Stud Farm, the son of Muscle Hill-Amour Heiress is from the family of multiple O’Brien Award winner Emilie Cas El (1:57.1 - $454,688), the dam of world champions Andover Hall (1:51.3 - $875,047), Angus Hall (1:54.3 - $830,654) and Conway Hall (1:53.4 - $818,884).
“He was big and strong, well built,” Per Engblom said. “We trained the mom with Jimmy (Takter) and the pedigree is great. His full brother is one of the best two-year-olds out there. What’s not to like.
“It was a little bit more than we wanted to pay but sometimes you’ve got to stretch a little bit to get the ones (you want). We did good in Lexington. This is the first one we’re getting today. We’ve been bidding on a couple other ones. You’ve got to get the ones you like; get quality horses, not just a lot of horses. We’ve been keeping our eye on him. He’s a nice colt.”
A pair of yearlings fetched final bids of $400,000 including Hip 47, Panda Hanover. The daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-Panera Hanover was purchased by Dana Parham of Boca Raton, FL. Hanover Shoe Farms Inc. consigned the full-brother to this year’s outstanding two-year-old pacing colt, Papi Rob Hanover (1:50.2 - $554,123).
“Dana [Parham] is trying to buy top-end pacing fillies,” Tony Alagna said. “He bought Panda Hanover and he bought the sister to Tall Drink Hanover (Takeway Hanover for $225,000), so that’s kind of what he’s doing.
Also purchased for $400,000 was the Muscle Hill-The Ice Queen filly, The Ice Countess. Tony Alagna, acting as agent, purchased Hip 90 from the Preferred Equine consignment. She’s a full-sister to the O’Brien Award-winning filly, The Ice Dutchess (1:51.1 - $847,161) and (Ice Attraction (1:50.1 - $733,767).
“(The Ice Countess) is a beautiful filly," said Tony Alagna. "She’s got so much residual (value) as a broodmare based on the fact she’s got Mission Brief on the second dam plus the two fillies that have already hit. There is so much upside for this filly either way. If she just does a little bit of something on the track her value is going to stay where it’s at.
“I’ve been blessed every year. I’ve got great support; we buy great horses. But we work hard at it to try to find them too. We spend a lot of time looking, going to the farms. I’m very lucky to have people that support what we want to do.”
Ontario-sired yearlings were very sought after as noted by the average price of $126,286. Seven Ontario-sired youngsters sold for a combined total of $884,000.
As for trotting sires, Father Patrick had the highest average ($186,818 from 11 yearlings), with E L Titan ($182,000 from two yearlings sold) second and Muscle Hill ($175,600 from 25 yearlings) third.
On the pacing side it was Bettors Delight posting the highest average price ($140,000 from two yearlings) over Somebeachsomewhere ($131,393 from 28 yearlings) and Captaintreacherous ($88,353 from 17 yearlings).
The five-day sale continues on Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 10 a.m., featuring Hips 180-487.
To view Monday's complete sale results, click here.
(With files from the USTA)