by Chris Lomon

Owned and operated by Thomas and Linda Winebrener, Fox Den Farm has fashioned a fantastic selection of pacing colts, pacing fillies, trotting colts and trotting fillies for this year’s Harrisburg Sale.

“Our mission at Fox Den has never been to be the biggest,” said Thomas. “We bring a limited group of horses to the sale that we can give hands-on attention to with our experienced staff. We strive to present our consignment at the highest level that can only be done with a limited number of horses. Most of our clients become our friends and we look forward to working with them year after year.

“That being said, this year lines up with the following strong group of yearlings.”

The operation’s picturesque farm is a complete standardbred facility — offerings include a stallion barn, foaling barn, horse transport, insemination of mares by transported semen from the United States and Canada, breeding shed and laboratory — is located in the rolling hills of Frederick County, MD.

Fox Den provides care for standing stallions, foaling mares, raising yearlings, post operative care and lay-ups.

Some of the standout stallions who have resided over the year at Fox Den include Yankee Presto, Sun Lords Elegy, Nuke Skywalker, Armbro Alert, Beach Walker, Bostonian, Artie’s Dream, Forrest Skipper, Hot Hitter, Super Juan, Great Nero, Icarius Lobell, LV Glory Bound, Radiant Ruler, Nansemond, Photo Maker, Brilliant Yankee, JJ’s Hallmark, Wonder Dancer, Western Hero, ENS Talisman, You Betcha, Allie’s Western, Total Truth, Go Get Lost, Andoversure, Tarver Hanover, Rusty’s All In, Lockkeeper and Charlie De Vie.

The current stallion roster features trotter Il Mago, and the pacing trio of More The Better N, Rusty’s For Real, and Talent Soup.

With a diverse group of yearlings set to walk into the sales ring over two days in Harrisburg, the Winebreners are looking forward to showcasing their stars of tomorrow, working in concert with others.

“We have eight strong entries for Mahantongo Farm with a Captaintreacherous colt [Captain Pa, Hip #54] selling the first day,” said Thomas. “We have a Papi Rob Hanover colt [Pa Luke, Hip #218], one Perfect Sting colt [Pa Sting, Hip #215], two Perfect Sting fillies [Hip #382 Pa Perfect and Hip #672 Sweetest Of Pa], a Captain Cory filly [Pa Nutmeg, Hip #305], a Father Patrick filly [Pa Patricia, Hip #705] and a Bar Hopping filly [Pa Dawn, Hip #851] – she is a beautiful roan filly, classy and athletic.

“They do a great job of managing their mares and raising their yearlings.”

Elmer Smucker, of Mahantongo Farms (PA), is understandably excited about the eight yearlings they will have at this year’s sale.   

“We are very happy with the yearlings we have going in,” Smucker said. “As far as the sires we have this year, Bar Hopping’s last crop, Father Patrick, I think he will work well with Tymal Lux on our Pa Patricia, the Perfect Stings and the Captain Coreys obviously have been selling very well, and you can never go wrong with the Captaintreacherous ones.”

Smucker has several superlatives for Pa Dawn.

“Pa Dawnhas a really nice head and a good eye,” he said. “She likes people and is easy to be around but can really float in the field. She has a great video.”

Smucker believes Pa Patricia has nice potential for prospective buyers.

“I don’t think she is going to be a high-dollar filly, but I think she is something that could work for anybody,” he said.

As for the two Perfect Sting fillies, Pa Perfect and Sweetest Of Pa, Smucker points to their eye-catching conformation.

“Both are very nice, well-built fillies,” he said. “I have nothing negative whatsoever to say about them. We hope they do well too.”

Smucker is bullish on Pa Sting, a son of Perfect Sting.

“He is a very sensible colt, who has nice size to him,” Smucker said. “We are very excited about all three of our Perfect Stings; all of them have long legs and power to go with that.”

Any buyers looking for a powerfully built filly should keep tabs on Pa Nutmeg.

“She is a really, really strong filly – very impressive,” he said. “Just super powerful.”

With Captain Of Pa, Smucker sees plenty of upside in the son of Captaintreacherous.

“He’s out of a sister to Tall Drink Hanover, who is also a Captaintreacherous,” he said. “Looks-wise, I’m excited to see what people think of him.

“He is the cream of our consignment; the right sire from the right family. He’s a physical specimen who is drawing lookers from the best in the business.”

Smucker applies the same superlatives to Pa Luke.

“He is every bit as nice as Captain Of Pa and we are excited to have a Papi Rob colt, obviously,” he said.

The Mahantongo eight were raised in a picture-perfect setting in the Keystone State.

“All of our horses, including our foals, are raised outside – out in the pastures,” Smucker said. “We have a lot more hills on the farms than a lot of the Pennsylvania farms do.

“Time will tell if that makes a difference, but we are interested to see what they can get out of that, used to being up and down the hills from a young age.”

Smucker is hoping Harrisburg is a big hit for buyers.

“We feel the Lexington sale was good,” he said. “We are very optimistic about the industry as a whole and we appreciate the support from the Harrisburg crew – they do a great job helping and promoting a smaller consignor like me out.

“We greatly appreciate Fox Den too. They do great work for us.

“Also, thanks to all who look at our yearlings. We are a young family that loves horses and are serious about making a living on standardbreds. Our goal is to take the farm to around 40 mares over the next several years and in the few short years we have been in the industry, the people have amazed us. It’s awesome how many people in this circle are willing to put time and effort into helping a young person get started.”

Fox Den has a trio with Olive Branch Farm, found in Wingate, NC.

“They have consigned three, a Stay Hungry filly [Sparktrina, Hip #273], a Captain Cory filly [Darling Corey, Hip #718] and a Catch The Fire filly [Girl From Dayton, Hip #583],” said Thomas. “It goes without saying that Olive Branch exceeds on all levels, and we look forward to representing their yearlings each year.”

Zette Stable, stationed in New Hope, PA, also has three consigned to the sale.

“They have a Swan For All colt [Nighthawk Zette, Hip #663], a My MVP colt [Must Be Zette, Hip #866] and a Father Patrick filly [Black Minx Zette, Hip #893],” said Thomas. “We prepped these yearlings and were impressed with their athletic ability as demonstrated on their videos.”

Hartland Farm, based in Honaker, VA, has a pair of colts Thomas believes will catch the eye of buyers.

“We prepped two very nice yearlings for Hartland, a Father Patrick colt [Punchin Preacher, Hip #799] and a Betting Line colt [Bet On Bling, Hip #741] – both should draw a lot of attention,” said Thomas.

Located in Sudlersville, MD, Nola Leager Farm will have a pair represented by Fox Den.

“We have two that we prepped for Nola Leager, an outstanding Bettor’s Wish colt [One Chip Bettor, Hip #384] and a Bettor’s Wish filly [Bettor Be A Star, Hip #875] – also very nice with great videos,” said Thomas.

Thomas believes an Always B Miki colt could be gold for prospective buyers.

“We are representing this colt [Rg’s Miki B, Hip #500] from a great family for our friends at Red Gold Acres [based in Geneva, IN] and are looking forward to this colt doing well.”

Fox Den is also high on a Captain Crunch filly.

“[Hip #579] Ninety Six Tears is out of a very nice mare, Nelly Hanover, for Barb Patterson,” said Thomas. “The Pattersons have sold with us for many years.”

Thomas is equally bullish on a Beiler and Beiler Stables — the farm is in Gratz, PA — twosome.

“We are happy to have Beiler and Beiler Stables with us this year, with a Captain Cory colt [Mister Beiler, Hip #563] and a Captain Cory filly [S J W, Hip #647] – both very athletic, great videos.”