by Matthew Lomon

Based on the words of Kentuckiana Farms part-owner Bob Brady, the metaphorical arrow is pointing in the right direction ahead of the 2024 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.

Brady, who’s been with the standardbred breeding stalwart since 1986, is especially encouraged by the recent resounding success that was the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

“I think it’s going to be a very good yearling sale,” said Brady. “If you look at the economic indicators in the country and how things are going and the recent Keeneland Sale — they have set records in every category — I think that usually transpires over to our sale.

“I’m expecting a very strong sale.”

Another crucial component that has Brady bullish leading into Lexington is the steady presence of dual-eligible yearlings in this year’s catalog.  

“As far as the overall sale goes, I think it’s important that a vast number of yearlings are dual-eligibles,” Brady said. “There’s a great number that are going to be dual-eligibles in this sale and people are really interested in buying from that crop.

“And with that, most of our Kentuckiana yearlings are dual-eligible. That’s one aspect of the sale that we’re certainly excited about.”

Kentuckiana’s latest selection of 132 — 36 of their own and 96 agent horses — features babies from several standout sires, including Walner, Captain Corey, and Bar Hopping, who paces the pack with 15 youngsters.

Last year’s Kentuckiana crop contained six yearlings from Bar Hopping. As for the reasoning behind the sharp increase this time around, Brady was effusive in his praise for the trotter’s siring prowess.

“Historically, and again this year, Bar Hopping produces a very attractive yearling,” Brady said. “He has nice foals, and they develop into very nice yearlings. They’re all correct. They have enough size. They have a very sharp look to them. They’re very willing in the video paddock, and they do things the right way. They’re a very athletic type of colts, and he’s been a super sire. He didn’t breed the top shelf mares, and he found a lot of success with what he had.

“We like Bar Hopping. He’s a rock-solid sire and we’re very happy to have ours. It’s an overall outstanding group.”

While Walner needs no introduction, Brady noted that his team is particularly charged about the prospects of trotting colt American Power [Hip #65], who represents the stud sire’s first yearling out of champion mare Ariana G.

“She was a heck of a mare,” said Brady of the trotting filly who banked more than $2.45 million during her racing days.

“This is the first Walner from that mare. He’s one of those colts that checks all the boxes, and we’re expecting a very good sale for him.”

Kentuckiana’s deep consignment also features an intriguing group of Captain Corey progeny.

“We have 10, and they’re all very nice,” said Brady. “He stamps them all pretty well — dark brown color, plenty of leg and very nice, powerful bodies. And they all video great. I’m expecting them to be well received.”

Those interested in yearlings from the 2021 Hambletonian champion will have ample opportunity to peruse his crop on days 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the sale.

For all the buzz surrounding Kentuckiana’s go-to sires, Brady was equally enthusiastic about a pair of Perfect Sting pacers.

“I’ve got two exceptional colts, one out of Odds On St Lucie [Baalbek, Hip #36] and another from Alexis’s Beach [Perfect Stu, Hip #244],” Brady said.

“They’re both top end colts that have high-end ability and should do very well.”

The third member of Kentuckiana’s Perfect Sting selection is another pacing colt out of A Special Moment by the name of A Perfect Moment [Hip #467].

In terms of value picks, Brady tabbed pacing fillies as the best bang for buyers’ bucks.

The University of Kentucky alum attributed this to the lucrative events available to fillies on the professional circuit.