by James Platz

When Concord Stud Farm arrived at the Lexington sale in the Covid year of 2020, its first consignment featured 14 yearlings. Four years later, the Cream Ridge, NJ farm will present its largest offering yet. The 24-yearling roster is trotter heavy, with babies sired by the best in the sport.

“We’ve got Walners, Chapter Sevens, Gimpanzees and Muscle Hills. All the top trotting sires, we’ve got them down at Lexington,” said Concord’s Julie Meirs.

The roster is headlined by 10 Chapter Seven yearlings and a pair sired by Walner. Concord Stud will offer 10 babies on opening night, five of which are sired by the son of Windsong’s Legacy. This is the first time the farm will sell double-digit lots on the first night.

“We’re trying to do the best we can for our clients,” Meirs said. “Regardless of what day they are, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves just because our clients are relying on us to get top dollar. Night one of Lexington with 10, when we’re only taking 24 down there, that’s a big chunk of our consignment.”

It may be a big chunk of the roster, but Concord Stud has done well on night one in the past. Last year, six yearlings grossed $905,000, with the top bringing $275,000. Overall, the consignment grossed $1.57 million in 2023.

Madam Cheval will kick things off for the nursery, entering the ring early in the session as Hip #25. The dual-eligible Walner filly is out of multiple Dan Patch Award winner Shake It Cerry. The mare is a 100-per cent producer, led by $390,000 winner Mon Cheval. The filly’s second dam is Hall of Fame mare Solveig.

“She’s a great individual and she’s had a lot of lookers and a lot of people really like her, so we’re super excited about that,” said Meirs.

Shake It Cerry’s Walner brother, the dual-eligible Joe Bo, sells as Hip #33. Solveig’s production is so extensive, the pedigree page has no room for the second dam.

“We’ve got two Chapter Seven fillies, Hip #54 [Wall And Piece] and Hip #75 [Stealing Banksy], that are very nice. We’ve got a Chapter Seven colt at Hip #55 [Vitner] that’s very nice,” said Meirs. “If you want to get away from Chapter Seven, we have a Gimpanzee colt, Hip #76 [Sheeeeeesh], that is good. And if you are looking for a Muscle Hill colt, you need to check out Hip #292 [Ocean Rider]. He’s very nice as well.”

Wall And Piece, Hip #54, is the third foal from 100-per cent producing mare Windy Corner, a sister to Breeders Crown runner-up Fast As The Wind, a winner of over $800,000. The bay filly is one of 12 agent horses for Order By Stable. Filly Stealing Banksy, Hip #75, is another. She is a full sister to New York Sire Stakes final-winning freshman Variegated and Sevecheetah, both $200,000 winners.

Vintner, Hip #55, is the second foal from Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final runner-up Wine Rack Hanover. The colt is one of three yearlings Concord Stud is offering from new client Spring Run Farm of Apple Creek, OH.

Sheeeeeesh, Hip #76, is the lone Concord-owned yearling from the roster. The son of Gimpanzee is out of the highly-productive Muscle Hill mare Blk Thai Optional, dam of Hambletonian champion and Dan Patch Award winner Cool Papa Bell. He is one of four in the consignment sired by Gimpanzee.

Dual-eligible colt Ocean Rider, Hip #292, is from a sister to Dan Patch and O’Brien Award winner Crys Dream and O’Brien older trotting mare of the year Brigham Dream. He is a brother to a pair of winners.

“Tactical Landing is definitely up and coming and we have a couple of those that sell on Wednesday,” Meirs said. “You can’t seem to go wrong with Chapter Sevens right now. Gimpanzee is stepping up with what he has out there so far coming from such a small crop. Walner is Walner, and Muscle Hill is still chugging along and producing top horses. It’s a trotter’s world right now.”

Filly Jailbird Jog, cataloged as Hip #380, is a dual-eligible Tactical Landing first foal. Jambo Jog, Hip #564, is a first foal Tactical colt out of a Ready Cash mare.

While Concord’s pacing offering is light, Meirs noted the individuals are strong. A case in point is Hip #40, Henry Sugar, a colt she is selling as agent for Birnam Wood Farms. The dual-eligible son of Tall Dark Stranger has a tremendous pedigree. His dam, Sweet Lady Jane, is a sister to Sweet Lou and Bettor Sweet, and she has produced Dan Patch Award winner Youaremycandygirl.

“The client is testing the waters by selling one down here that would historically go to Harrisburg. We think this is where he will sell the best,” Meirs said. “He’s very nice, and we’re excited to get him to Lexington for Seth Rosenfeld.”

The farm has consigned a trio from the second crop of Tall Dark Stranger. Hip #426, Difaced Tenners, is a filly that is eligible to Pennsylvania and Kentucky. She is the first foal from a family whose third dam is Dan Patch champion Put On A Show, mother of Little Brown Jug and North America Cup winner It’s My Show.

Concord’s consignment might be its largest in the four years of selling at Lexington, but Meirs said she has yet to determine if there is an optimal number of babies to bring to the Fasig-Tipton Newtown paddocks.

“I’m not sure if we have figured out what our Lexington sweet spot is going to be. It has changed every year that we have gone,” she said. “I expect that we’ll be a little bit higher next year, especially if we are able to continue the success that we’ve had this year.”