by Matthew Lomon

For Senena Esty of Spring Haven Farm, the fine art of crafting a desirable consignment starts with having a little something for everyone.

The Utica, OH-based outfit heads into the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale fresh off a successful appearance at the recent Ohio Selected Jug Sale on Sept. 13.

Spring Haven’s crop of youngsters netted the third-highest revenue total ($918,000) amongst participating consignors.

Esty and Co. will look to carry that momentum some 250 miles south along with a diverse group of 41 yearlings — seven of their own and 34 agent horses — featuring babies from Captaintreacherous, Cattlewash and Papi Rob Hanover.

While Spring Haven’s showrunner is excited about her entire cast of yearlings, there are a few Captaintreacherous spawns that Esty is particularly bullish on.

“I’ve got three Captaintreacherous’ at the farm that are really nice,” said Esty. “I have a full sister to Captain Cowgirl [Long Love Cowgirls, Hip #56], and she’s an awesome individual. She’s got the pedigree, she has the confirmation, and she’s got the video to go with it.

“I’m really high on that filly as well as the Captaintreacherous colt [Wishful Captain, Hip #17]. He’s the first foal out of a really good mare (Wishy Washy Girl) and he is a tank. He’s muscle on muscle and I’m very high on him.

“Both are very correct individuals.”

Esty’s Captaintreacherous praise parade also floated attention by a bay colt owned and bred by Steven McCoy.

“We have another agent Captaintreacherous [Odds On Favorite, Hip #579]. He’s a full brother to Captain Cowboy. If you want a Captain Cowgirl and a Captain Cowboy, we’ve got them. Just bring your lasso,” said Esty, laughing.

As far as the other renowned sires headlining Spring Haven’s Lexington consignment, Cattlewash and Papi Rob Hanover, Esty has a total of seven for interested buyers to rope in.

Four belong to the former, including a pair of pacing colts in Cattle Drive [Hip #435] and Tilthecowscomehome [Hip #510], and two pacing fillies in Ridin the Rodeo [Hip #640] and Sullivan’s Island [Hip #763].

“These horses are very correct, very smart individuals,” Esty said. “Cattlewash had a stellar first crop, and we’ve got a number of his that we’re really high on.

“If you’re looking for a Cattlewash, we’ve got them.”

For the folks who have already done the math, Spring Haven has three from Papi Rob Hanover, who’s 35 yearlings sold for more than $3 million at last year’s Lexington sale.

Esty’s current trio is made up of two pacing colts, Stonebridge Boytoy [Hip #110] and Justinian [Hip #472], and a pacing filly by the name of Papi’s Crush [Hip #162].

Before getting into some under-the-radar picks and promising first time sires, Esty had a specific PSA for buyers with an eye on Indiana-bred talent.

“If you’re looking for Swan For All for Indiana, wow, you better come and see me because we’ve got several and they all look the part,” she said. “They’re all very nice individuals.”

Spring Haven’s quartet of Swan For All’s is comprised of two trotting colts in Spectre Ship [Hip #816] and Swan Travolta [Hip #878], and two trotting fillies, Karlee Grace [Hip # 881] and Flowers For All [Hip #942].

Everybody loves a good value pick, and Spring Haven has one from Bulldog Hanover [Bull Beach, Hip #703] that Esty’s positively chipper about.

“I’m really happy with this colt as an individual,” said Esty. “Plus, he has great video. He would be my, dare I say, sleeper. There’s a lot of excellent qualities about this colt.

“He’s incredibly intelligent, for one.”

The second yearling on Esty’s list of dark horses happens to come from two-time Breeders Crown Champion (2020, 2021), Perfect Sting.

When describing the Jon Brinkerhoff-bred youngster, Esty used a key word that often lends well to her yearlings’ prospects.

“This is my first crop of Perfect Sting’s, and I’m very intrigued by his filly [Perfect Thought, Hip #448]. She’s a fancy filly with some really attractive qualities.

“People that know me know when I use the word fancy, I mean it,” said Esty, laughing.

Rounding out Spring Haven’s versatile catalog are five Stonebridge agent horses that are, too, very much worthy of Esty’s lofty ‘fancy’ designation.

Alongside Papi Rob Hanover – Ken Doll J’s Stonebridge Boytoy, the group of Stonebridge yearlings includes Stonebridge Cabana [Hip #180], Stonebridge Swifty [Hip #197], Stonebridge Jeter [Hip #387], and Stonebridge Luck [Hip #561].

“I’ve had people already come look at those horses, and I’m hearing very strong reports.”

Ahead of the big day, Esty, now a sales veteran, knows that it doesn’t always go according to plan. But the very least she can do is go in with the right mindset.

“As a breeder, you have to be an optimistic person. There’s no other way to do this.”