The sale — which continues today at the Indiana State Fairgrounds — averaged $36,889 and grossed $3.75 million during the first session.

by James Platz

The Hoosier Classic Sale Company kicked off its annual Select Sale Friday at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, and the first of two sessions reinforced the strong interest in the Indiana program. Swan For All’s latest crop were in high demand, as babies from the sire of the great Hannelore Hanover led the way in the auction ring. A total of 27 progeny sold for $996,000, good for an average of $36,889. All told, 182 yearlings were sold Friday for a gross of $3.75 million. The $20,610 first-day average represented a nearly 31 per cent increase over last year’s opening session, where 183 babies brought just under $2.89 million.

“I’m extremely pleased with the opening session,” said sale manager Steve Cross. “With the success of sires like Swan For All and Rockin Image on the national scene, we were very optimistic going in. Demand for Indiana breds continues to build as the program continues to attract the type of buyers any regional program would appreciate. We have a very bullish outlook on the Indiana program, and the best is yet to come.”

Swan For All yearlings brought six of the top 10 final bids Friday, with the highest-priced trotter bringing $87,000. Swans Miss Muffet, a filly from the In Law Stable consignment, is the first foal from Earl Of Stormont mare Earls Miss Muffit. A winner of over $300,000 in her career, the mare is a sister to multiple Indiana champion Earl’s Glider 4, 1:55.1-’11 ($606,444). Byron Hooley, owner and trainer of top trotting filly Satin Dancer, signed the slip on the filly, cataloged as Hip 104.

Amplifier, a colt from the Double R Farms consignment, was the next highest Swan For All baby to sell. A full-brother to Indiana Sires Stakes champion Airman Batten 2, 1:55.4; 1:54.1-’16 ($342,133), the trotter entered the ring as Hip 163 and was hammered down for $82,000. Out of the Yankee Glide mare Ladylike Volo, Amplifier was purchased by Erv Miller, serving as agent for Paymaq Racing. Miller and Paymaq were also the connections behind Airman Batten.

Just as Swan For All had a strong showing among trotting sires, Rockin Image led all pacing sires Friday at the Hoosier Classic Sale. A total of 36 babies passed through the sale ring, selling for a gross of $1.02 million, representing an average of $28,431. In fact, Rockin Image filly Rockinbythebeach topped all yearlings in the first session, bringing a final bid of $93,000. Tim Ottesen of TKO Racing Stable purchased the pacer, the first foal from Somebeachsomewhere mare Antigua Hanover, a $240,000 winner during her racing career. The filly, Hip 31 in the sale, was consigned by Swiss Boarding Farms.

The next highest-priced Rockin Image yearling was The Great I Am, a colt consigned by Jeff Jones. The pacer is the first foal from a Cams Card Shark mare that is a sibling to Jeremes Sweetheart p,3, 1:52.1s; 4, 1:50.4f ($474,847). Bo DeLong, one of the more active buyers in the first session, signed the slip for $65,000.

Water Warrior, Hip 148 in the Friday session, broke the logjam of Swan For All and Rockin Image yearlings atop the sales sheets. The Always A Virgin colt is the second foal from A Loskos Bluegrass, sister to top Indiana pacing mare Au D Lox Bluegrass. Water Warrior is a full-brother to freshman Always Curious, an Indiana Sires Stakes consolation winner for Tom Pollack and Jeff Cullipher. Pollack bought the colt for $45,000.

The balance of the Hoosier Classic catalog will be sold today, with the session beginning at 10 a.m. Each session is being broadcast via YouTube, and results are posted online throughout the session at: http://www.hoosierclassicyearlingsale.com.