by James Platz

Midland Acres first sold horses in Lexington in 2007, bringing a consignment of four yearlings that year. This week, the Bloomingburg, OH-based breeders arrive at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale with a group of 13 babies to sell. Dr. John Mossbarger says this year’s offering is stronger than their 2021 group of nine.

“We’re excited to be there and I think we have a nice consignment,” he said. “It is not a big consignment, but I think we have a consignment that will attract lookers, bidders, and hopefully buyers.”

The first of Midland’s consignment will enter the sale ring on Tuesday (Oct. 4), with two well-pedigreed yearlings set to sell on the second day. Hip 264 Marge In Charge, is a Tactical Landing filly that is sibling to 2015 Hambletonian winner Pinkman. Hip 311 It’s Miller Time is a Sweet Lou first foal from millionaire mare Safe From Terror, sister to the great Foiled Again.

“We have a stronger consignment this year than we did last year. We still have the headliner, Margie Seelster’s Tactical Landing, a half-sister to Pinkman. Another highlight is a Sweet Lou out of Safe From Terror. She is a million-dollar winner, first foal,” said Mossbarger. “Another nice filly is a Sweet Lou filly out of Dancin Caroll. This is the third foal. First two foals were good performers, one made $300,000 and another made $129,000. Dancin Caroll is a half-sister to Dancin Yankee.”

Hip 430 Sweet Carollou leads a group of six yearlings Midland will sell on Wednesday (Oct. 5). The filly is a sister to stakes winners Artful Dancer p,2,1:52.2f; 3,1:52h; BT1:51.1f ($319,643) and Dragon Lady p,2,1:54f; BT1:52.1h ($136,305). Also selling Wednesday are a pair from the first crop of Six Pack and a Father Patrick filly.

“On the trotting side, we have a couple of nice Six Pack foals and a Father Patrick filly out of a mare called Celebrity Obsesion. She produced an Archangel in (1:)51 and made $500,000. Those are probably our headliners,” Mossbarger said.

Hip 530 Norma Pearl is the Father Patrick filly that is sister to Celebrity Ruth 3,1:53.4f; 4,1:51.4; BT1:50.3 ($505,817). Hip 554 Queen Cabal is a Six Pack filly out of the Royal Intrigue, sister to stakes winners Soulful Delight and Like A Dream. Special Six Pack is a colt out of Special Invitation, sister to millionaire Costa Rica.

“We have a few options for buyers. We’ve got Six Packs and a Conway Hall. We’ve got a Captain Crunch,” said Mossbarger. “Something for everybody’s pocketbook.”

Like Six Pack, Captain Crunch’s first crop is selling this fall. Hip 713 Assertive Style, a Captain Crunch colt, will sell for Midland on Thursday (Oct. 6). The yearling is out of Western Ideal mare Naughtytiltheend, a $700,000 winner that has produced four winners from five foals and one in 1:50.

“With the first crop, the sale ring usually follows the breeding shed as far as excitement. People like new; they’ll be looking at them,” Mossbarger said.

Since Midland began consigning in Lexington 15 years ago, the breeder has sold a Hambletonian champion as well as two-time Breeders Crown winner Shelliscape. Mossbarger loves the atmosphere and what the Lexington area offers.

“When you pull in there (Fasig-Tipton), you feel like you’re in a different world. The grounds are beautiful, the barns are excellent, they do a great job of running it,” he said. “It’s a good atmosphere; they’re racing, they’re selling. It’s an opportunity for people to get together.”