Full sisters to Atlanta and Manchego top opening session in Harrisburg
At 0h17, on November 9, 2021 • By Ken Weingartner, USTA
Full sisters to award-winning female trotters Atlanta and Manchego were the top sellers Monday (Nov. 8) at the Standardbred Horse Sale, helping lead to a record-setting opening session for the 83rd annual auction, which returned to the Pennsylvania State Farm Show Complex after a one-year absence because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Atlanta’s sister In Italian, a filly by Chapter Seven out of Hemi Blue Chip, brought the day’s biggest price, selling for $750,000 to Brad Grant. The New York and New Jersey Standardbred Development Fund eligible trotter was consigned by Concord Stud Farm for breeder Order By Stable.
In addition to two-time Dan Patch Award-winner Atlanta, who has earned $3 million in her career, the filly’s family includes millionaire Hot Shot Blue Chip and New York Sire Stakes champion Munis Blue Chip.
Grant is among the owners of Atlanta, along with Howard Taylor and Crawford Farms Racing. Grant said Taylor, and possibly Michelle and Al Crawford, would share in ownership of In Italian. Ron Burke will train the filly.
“Everything said she was the best in the sale, as far as we were concerned,” Grant said about In Italian. “I thought we might have to pay a little bit more, so I’m really pleased at the price. We’ll hope for the best. If she’s half as good (as Atlanta), I’ll take that.
“Ronnie checked her over, I don’t know how many times, and other people checked her over for me, and everybody came back saying she was a little bit bigger than Atlanta but has all the tools. They’re the experts, I’m just along for the ride.”
Manchego’s sister Swanky Hanover, by Muscle Hill out of Secret Magic, sold for $700,000 to Jeff Snyder. The New Jersey and Kentucky eligible filly was bred and consigned by Hanover Shoe Farms.
In addition to the recently retired two-time Dan Patch Award-winner Manchego, who banked $3.14 million lifetime to rank fourth among all female trotters in history, Swanky Hanover’s family includes near-millionaire In Secret and millionaire Possess The Magic. Snyder said Marcus Melander will train Swanky Hanover.
“The other one went for $750,000, so I got a steal,” Snyder joked.
“We hope to get lucky. We’re concentrating on trotters this year. We sold a few pacers, so we can fund it a little bit. We have some real good residual value there (as a future broodmare). That’s one reason we went that high. The only thing I was a little concerned about is she’s a June 11 foal. So, we’re going to have to take our time and wait on her.”
Third on the best-sellers list was trotter Craft Made, a son of Walner out of Woodshopper, who was purchased for $610,000 by Determination stable. The New Jersey eligible colt was bred by Fair Winds Stable and consigned by Preferred Equine Marketing. He is a half-brother to Grand Circuit winner and Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champ Fashionwoodchopper.
“He is a nice-looking horse,” said Luc Blais, who trains for Determination. “I saw him at the farm first. I saw him a few times, and every time I saw him, I liked him. I have a good feeling about him. I think he has a good pedigree and he’s a Walner, and Walner did very good this year.
A total of 136 yearlings sold Monday for a record average of $130,368. The previous high was $113,976 for 169 horses in 2019.
