by James Platz

Hanover Shoe Farms made a big splash last year upon their return to selling in Lexington. The perennial powerhouse breeder arrives in 2023 with a group of 25 yearlings that offer deep pedigrees affiliated with some of the sport’s best pacers and trotters. Patti Murphy, farm manager and 23-year employee at Hanover, will spearhead the company’s activities this year in the Bluegrass State.

“These are some of our best horses,” Murphy said. “There is a nice variety, a nice selection. We have several that are dual eligible to Kentucky, which is a big perk. I think people will find what they are looking for in our consignment.”

The farm is home to top pacing stallion Captaintreacherous, whose offspring always attract attention at any public auction. Anticipation of the first crops of Hanover stallions Tall Dark Stranger and Papi Rob Hanover is also high. A group of 62 yearlings (34 colts and 28 fillies) are cataloged for Tall Dark Stranger, with 35 for Papi Rob (12 colts and 23 fillies). Hanover is selling a trio by Tall Dark Stranger, with two fillies and two colts from Papi Rob Hanover.

“I think they’ll sell well,” Murphy said. “Each of them have different qualities. The Papi Robs are a little more stocky and have big engines on them; big, powerful hind ends. Some of them are a little on the smaller side, but they definitely have the muscle to them, and they’re going to do well at the races.

“The Tall Dark Strangers are a little more lanky-looking horses. They are nicely built. They also have nice hind quarters to them, but they’re a little more racy looking. They were definitely bred to good mares.”

Bougie Hanover, Hip #98 sells on Monday. The filly is from the first crop of Tall Dark Stranger, and is the first foal from Beyond Ecstasy, a full-sister to $1.8 million winner Filibuster Hanover. Joslyn Hanover, Hip #150, a Tall Dark Stranger half-sister to $240,000 winner Joyride Hanover, sells early on Tuesday.

“She’s a beautiful filly, very well balanced,” Murphy said of Joslyn Hanover.

Astoria Hanover, Hip #88, a Papi Rob Hanover sister to Dan Patch Award winner and double millionaire Allywag Hanover, sells Monday night. Immediately following is Aye Aye Hanover, Hip #89, one of four by Captaintreacherous selling out of the Hanover consignment. The colt is a full-brother to millionaire Blue Diamond Eyes and is Pennsylvania and Kentucky eligible.

“He’s a very gorgeous colt,” Murphy said. “Very tall; he’s 15.2 already. He’s very nice, long-legged, and beautiful. The Captains are always beautiful in my opinion.”

Selling early Monday evening is Lily White Hanover, Hip #16. The Captaintreacherous filly is a half-sister to Linedrive Hanover p,2,Q1:53.2; 1:47-’23; BT1:46.3 ($436,697) and Metro final runner-up Legendary Hanover p,2,1:50-’23; BT1:49.3s-’23 ($289,864).

“We have a Captain first foal out of Zero Tolerance [Zendaya Hanover, Hip #84] from the family of Rainbow Blue,” Murphy said. “She’s a little more on the medium side, but also a very nicely conformed filly. We also have a first foal out of Percy Bluechip [Prince Hal Hanover, Hip #38], also a Captain. He’s a very tall, very beautiful colt. He’s from the family of Kenneth J.”

On the trotting side, Raging Hanover, Hip #50, is a Walner colt that sells near the midway point of Day 1. He is the third foal from Ready To Ignite, a sister to Dan Patch Award winner Woodside Charm. The colt is one of two Walner yearlings consigned by Hanover, and he is New Jersey and Kentucky eligible.

“He’s a beautiful trotter,” Murphy said. “His video is awesome. He has a full brother [Ken’s Walner] that trotted in 1:53.3 as a 3-year-old. I think he’ll sell very well.”

Hanover is offering four from the second crop of Greenshoe. Headmaster Hanover, Hip #10, is a brother to Hambletonian Oaks winner Heaven Hanover 2,1:56.3f; 3,1:50.3-’23 ($504,831).

“He’s a big colt, and a three-quarter brother to Heaven Hanover,” Murphy said. “He’s more of an old school style trotter, which I like. He’s a little heavier-boned, but he trots really nice. He’s got a very nice video.”

On the track, Greenshoe’s first progeny have not met expectations, and that will certainly hurt the market for his newest crop. Murphy understands the reaction to this year’s on-track performance and hopes the group can come back stronger next season as 3-year-olds.

“The Greenshoes obviously haven’t performed the way people expected,” Murphy said. “The individuals we are bringing to Kentucky are very nice Greenshoes. The [colt] Headmaster Hanover [Hip #10], we have Emoticon Hanover’s half-brother [Eurobank Hanover, Hip #117]. We have a very nice Greenshoe from Starita [Starquake Hanover, Hip #247]. I think the pedigrees are very deep and hopefully people will appreciate that.”

Last year the farm sold 23 yearlings, grossing just under $4.5 million and averaging a staggering $194,174. Murphy believes that the selection and depth of pedigrees will produce good results again this year at Lexington. She also credits Dr. Bridgette Jablonsky, former executive vice-president and syndicate manager at Hanover, with assembling the strong lineup.

“I feel like our Lexington horses were selected well,” Murphy said. “Dr. Jablonsky had a lot to do with the selection of the horses going to Kentucky. She still does our yearling inspections and consultation with us. She did an excellent job of picking the horses that come to Lexington.”