by James Platz

Concord Stud Farm brings its largest consignment to this year’s Standardbred Horse Sale Company auction, slated for Nov. 4-8 in Harrisburg, PA. The Cream Ridge, NJ farm will be represented by 76 babies, only four of which are agent horses not raised on the property, with just shy of a third from the consignment selling on the first day.

“We’re excited,” said Julie Meirs. “We’ve got another nice group of horses. I’m excited coming into this sale because of all the people we have had out at the farm. It’s like a complete 360 from last year. I think having the Breeders Crown at The Meadowlands was huge for us. We’ve had people come out that were here for Breeders Crown week that have never been to the farm before.”

The consignment is trotter-focused, with 51 diagonal-gaited yearlings (28 fillies and 23 colts) compared to 25 pacers. In previous years Concord Stud offered more pacers at Harrisburg, but instead some were consigned to Lexington this fall.

“We took some of the pacers down to Kentucky this year, so that lightens the load here,” Meirs said.

In response to the burgeoning Kentucky program, Concord Stud purchased farms in the Bluegrass State in order to take advantage of dual eligibility. This year’s Harrisburg roster is the first to feature dual-eligible yearlings out of mares that spent time there.

“A significant number of our consignment this year includes the Kentucky eligibility,” Meirs said. “We bought our first farm and we definitely used every ounce of it. This year we purchased a second farm in Kentucky to meet the needs of our clients. It allows us to take everything that needs to be down there; we can do that and meet that need. That gives us the three farms now. Our main farm is in New Jersey, the two farms in Kentucky, and we still have our Pennsylvania farm so we are able to do those Pennsylvania breeders awards as well.”

With a consignment of this size, Concord offers a lot of variety for buyers. Yearlings eligible to Pennsylvania, Ontario, New Jersey, New York, Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana make up the roster, and sell each of the three days that comprise the yearling portion of the sale.

“I think we’ve got nine Chapter Sevens, five Muscle Hills, several Captain Coreys,” she said. “Something we like to try to do with our consignment every year, at least with the Concord horses, is that we have a little bit of everything. While me might have nine Chapter Sevens, we also have McWickeds, Bettor’s Wishes, Green Manalishis; all over the map for the stallions. We try to make sure there is something for everybody. We’ve got all levels all three days.”

Concord’s first offering of the 86th annual auction will be the third horse to pass through the sales ring. Over the course of the Monday session 24 yearlings from the consignment will sell. One of the highlights for Day 1 is Swinging Loyalty, Hip #53. The Walner filly is out of RC Royalty mare Swinging Royalty, who has produced Ahundreddollarbill 2, Q1:54.1; 3, 1:52; 4, 1:50.2 ($972,356) and top Empire State freshman Royal Mission 2, 1:54.3 ($291,213).

“She’s been out a ton at the farm, and whenever she comes out, the comments from everybody are just, ‘Wow,’” Meirs said. “She’s an exceptional yearling.”

Also selling on the first day are fillies Art Of The State and Get Outa My Lane. Art Of The State, Hip #133, is a Gimpanzee filly out of Cantab Hall mare Amour Heiress, a 100-per cent producer. The filly is a half-sister to millionaire and Maple Leaf Trot victor Periculum.

“She’s a gorgeous filly,” Meirs said. “Different body type than the Walner, obviously with the Gimpanzee, with a great pedigree.”

Get Outa My Lane, cataloged as Hip #152, is a New York, Kentucky and New Jersey Std. Dev. Fund eligible Chapter Seven filly out of Livininthefastlane. The dam is a $460,000-winning Donato Hanover sister to T C I that has produced a pair of six-figure earners.

“She’s just a really nice filly,” Meirs said of Get Outa My Lane.

Two trotting colts that Meirs highlighted are Negotiation, Hip 101, and Dustbin Spy, Hip 12. Negotiation is a Muscle Hill first foal from Contested Hanover, a near-$200,000 winner. Second dam CR Calendar Girl has produced seven winners.

“He’s just got something about him,” she said of the dual-eligible colt. “From day one when he was born, he’s just the ruler of the roost. He always has been. He was the top colt in his field and he’s just got this air about him that says he wants everybody to know what he’s up to.”

Dustbin Spy is a full-brother to the great Atlanta. The bay is a July foal and an embryo transfer.

“He’s young,” Meirs said. “He’s one of our youngest babies. He’s a July baby, so he’s got a lot of growing left to do, but he’s very correct.”

She also noted a pair of pacing colts selling on the first day. Special Mac, Hip #52, is a Sweet Lou colt, while Make A Buck, Hip #76, is a son of Bettors Delight. Each is from a family that traces back to Dan Patch and Nova Award winner Michelle’s Jackpot.

“These are two nice colts both from that family,” Meirs said. “Number 52 is a Sweet Lou from the Michelle’s Jackpot family. He’s a nice individual. Number 76 is a nice Bettors Delight colt out of the Michelle’s Power family.”

Concord is also offering a trio from the limited first crop of Bulldog Hanover: fillies Hip #196 Bullbythehorns, Hip #203 Takes No Bull and Hip #292 Bullonthebeach.

“His first crop is pretty exciting, and we’ve got three nice fillies,” said Meirs. “There’s not that many out there, and we’re thrilled to have three of them.”