by James Platz

Concord Stud Farm’s 16-horse consignment is filled with variety. Of the yearlings offered at the Lexington Selected sale, 10 stallions are represented, and six of the babies are first foals. Last year the Cream Ridge, NJ farm sold six yearlings in the opening session. Concord Stud will do so again Monday night (Oct. 2).

“I’m pleased with the consignment that we’re taking,” said Julie Meirs. “We’ve got them spread pretty evenly across the three days this year, which is a little different than last year. We’re pleased with what we’re presenting, and expect that the sale will be strong.”

Upon withdrawal of Gatsby Hanover from the sale, Concord’s Cabello, Hip #2, will start Lexington’s opening night. The Muscle Hill colt is the first foal from Chapter Seven mare Senorita Rita, a winner of more than $400,000 in her career.

“It’s definitely important to sell the first night,” Meirs said. “I would rather not sell the first one on the first night. We’re actually selling the first one at both sales this year. I think it’s important that we get them in there that first night. It’s an elite group of yearlings and we’re proud to be able to bring yearlings that can sell that night.”

Meirs noted that the highlight of her consignment is a group of five Chapter Seven yearlings scheduled to be sold.

“Snakeman, Hip #86, is a nice big, muscular colt,” she said. “Gangsta Talk [Hip #59] is another. Both are nice colts that are definitely worth taking a look at.”

Snakeman is out of Muscle Mass mare White Cheetah, and the colt is a full-brother to six-figure earner Sevecheetah. Gangsta Talk is the first foal from Gangsta Rat, a full-sister to $500,000 winner Marseille. Also part of the group is Logo, Hip #80, the first colt from $200,000-winning Yankee Glide mare Windy Corner and Seven Curtsies, Hip #335, is a second foal filly from Curtsy Hanover.

Asimbonanga S, Hip #218, selling Tuesday, is the first foal from Muscles Yankee mare Queen Paige. The dam is a sister to Steamy Windows, who produced double-millionaire and first crop sire Gimpanzee, as well as Iteration 2,1:53.3; 3,1:53.1 ($780,818).

Another yearling selling on the first day is Liberty, Hip #70, a Muscle Hill colt that is a half-brother to freshman Security Protected 2,1:55.4f-’23; BT1:55s-’23 ($209,430). He is one of eight horses consigned by Concord as agent for Order By Stable.

“He is on the younger side being an end of May foal,” Meirs said. “He’s got a lot of growing left to do, but he’s a nice individual.”

Per Capita, Hip #462, another baby from the Order By Stable roster, is a Father Patrick filly slated to sell Wednesday. She is the second foal from a Chapter Seven mare with a freshman now racing.

“The Father Patrick filly, while she sells on Wednesday, don’t let that fool you, she’s a nice individual as well,” Meirs said.

Gimpanzee, bred by Order By Stable, was raised at Concord Stud. Meirs has one entry from the sire selling on Monday. La Colomba, Hip 190, is the second foal from Miss Trixton. First foal Crowbar Girl has a 1:57.1 freshman mark and a pair of wins to her credit.

“She’s a nice filly, she’s out of the mare Miss Trixton,” Meirs said. “When we had people coming to look at her, for many of the trainers, this was the first Gimpanzee they had seen in person. I hope she’s a good representation of what the others look like, because we’re happy with how she looks. We’re very proud of what Gimpanzee has been able to do since he came from the farm.”

Concord Stud is also celebrating the success of another trotter bred at the farm. T C I’s miraculous victory in the Mohawk Million signaled back-to-back triumphs for the breeder in the rich race, Concord also bred 2022 victor Oh Well.

In 2022, the farm’s Lexington crop averaged $108,714, and the year before, Concord led all consignors in average with $186,429 for seven yearlings. Maintaining a six-digit average this year could prove a tall order, and Meirs knows it.

“That’s a huge feat to be able to average that,” she said. “With the mixture that we have in our consignment, it’s definitely going to be a challenge to do that, but we’ll give it a shot. The ebb and flow of the business is what keeps it exciting.”