Blue Ranger topped a record edition of the Ohio Selected Jug Yearling Sale, which was held on Friday, Sept. 12 at the Pickaway Ag Center in Circleville, Ohio.
A total of 266 horses sold for a gross of $12,026,389 ($8,659,000 USD), marking an 8.1 per cent increase from 2024. The overall sale average was $45,213 ($32,553 USD), up by 9.3 per cent from last year's auction.
“Over the 30-plus year history of this sale, we have never seen this much money being spent for Ohio-bred yearlings,” said Senena Esty, president of Ohio Harness Horse Breeders, a group of local nurseries that owns the sale. “It shows that we can sell big ticket harness horses at this venue.
“We are thrilled and wish all the new owners the very best of racing luck and success,” she added.
Esty's Spring Haven Farm was the consignor and breeder of the sale topper Blue Ranger, a full sister to Next Generation Stakes champion Big Ranger. Sold as Hip 106, the In Range-Big Blue Bird filly was the highest priced trotter ever sold at public auction in Ohio, at $291,667 ($210,000 USD), and was purchased by Reijo Liljendahl of Vero Beach, Florida, acting as agent.
The highest priced colt sold, regardless of gait, was Jet Range, with a final bid of $277,778 ($200,000 USD). Selling as Hip 148, the In Range-Schlim Schlamma colt is a half brother to Jet Hill ($558,888 - 1:51.4f) and Jet Wings ($306,891 - 1:53.1f). Consigned by Trackside Farm and breeder Martz Creek Farm, he was purchased by Bootville Stable of Avon, Indiana.
The talk of the town, and now all over Ohio, is the success of the stallion In Range, whose offspring commanded high prices at historic levels. The second-crop sire had 24 yearlings offered for a sale-leading gross of $2,095,833 ($1,509,000 USD), with an average price of $87,326 ($62,875 USD).
“The buyers really gravitated toward his foals,” noted Kevin Greenfield of Hickory Lane Farms. “His $62,875 [USD] average may be the highest ever for any major stallion in Ohio.”
First-crop trotting sire Ready For Moni enjoyed a robust $60,417 ($43,500 USD) average with 14 yearlings sold.
On the pacing side, Downbytheseaside led the charge for the fifth consecutive year, grossing $1,886,111 ($1,358,000 USD) for 32 yearlings sold and an average of $58,942 ($42,438 USD).
The highest priced pacer sold was the Downbytheseaside daughter McWallen for $159,722 ($115,000 USD). Consigned by Alliance Bloodstock, a new partnership between Diamond Creed Farm and Northwood Bloodstock, the Sugar Valley Farm-bred filly was purchased by Greg Luther of Blacklick, Ohio. Her dam, Passionate Beauty, is a half sister to Sportswriter ($1,649,411 - 1:48.3s) and Precocious Beauty ($869,920 - 1:50.1s), and has produced six winners of more than $100,000.
First-crop pacing sire Monte Miki also fared well with a $36,210 ($26,071 USD) average for 42 sold.
The sale is conducted by the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale Company, and general manager Bruce Brinkerhoff was extremely pleased with the historic strength of the sale.
“It’s our highest gross and highest average in the 30-plus year history of the sale," said Brinkerhoff. "It was also the third time we grossed over $8 million [USD]. The Ohio breeders and consignors have really raised the bar and it was evident that they are selling what people want.”
Brinkerhoff added, “Our entire sales team is grateful for the support of the bidders and buyers and we wish them lots of luck with their purchases.”
Greg Luther was the top buyer, spending $768,056 ($553,000 USD) for eight purchases, followed by Burke Racing Stable of Fredericktown, Pennsylvania, spending $475,000 ($342,000 USD) for seven yearlings, and Bootville Stable, spending $441,667 ($318,000 USD) for three.
Spring Haven Farm topped the consignor gross sales category with $1,765,278 ($1,271,000 USD) in total for 43 yearlings sold. They were followed by Midland Acres with gross sales of $1,425,000 ($1,026,000 USD) for 37 yearlings and Rose Run Farm with $1,068,056 ($769,000 USD) for 19.
Trackside Farm and Martz Creek Farm led the consignor average category at $92,361 ($66,500) for four sold. Alliance Bloodstock was second in consignor average with $74,444 ($53,600 USD) for 10 sold, followed by Hickory Lane Farm at $67,222 ($48,400 USD) for 15 sold.
Complete results, sales summaries and other important auction data is available on the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale website by clicking here.
IMPORTANT LINKS
- Sale Catalogue (PDF)
- Sale Roster
- Sale Results
- Live Video Streaming & Bidding (via CCI.live Auctions)
(With files from Ohio Harness Horse Breeders)