by James Platz

Hanover Shoe Farms is known for supplying a strong contingent of well-bred yearlings each year at the Standardbred Horse Sale. This year is no exception. The 2024 roster includes 205 babies, up from the 191 sold in 2023. The group consists of 112 pacers, with 28 sired by Captaintreacherous and 21 from the second crop of Papi Rob Hanover. On the trotting side, 55 of the 93 yearlings in the consignment are fillies.

“We have a very nice selection of horses for Harrisburg,” said farm manager Patti Murphy. “I think we’ve got some strong pedigrees and very nice individuals. I’m kind of a pacing freak myself, so I like my pacing horses. On the trotting end we’re very strong as well.”

Just over a week removed from the Breeders Crown, one of the big highlights in the Hanover consignment is Cambridge Hanover, Hip #104. The Walner colt is the second foal from Father Patrick mare Crucial, making him a three-quarter brother to Crown champion and millionaire freshman Maryland.

“He’s a very exceptional individual; very fast in the paddock,” said Murphy.

Another notable Walner yearling that sells on the first day is Sorcery Hanover, Hip #28. The dual-eligible filly is a half-sister to the great trotting mare Manchego.

The Hanover consignment includes 31 from the third crop of their trotting sire Greenshoe.

“We have quite a few Greenshoes, which we’ve been very happy with how they’ve been performing this year,” said Murphy. “He’s made a very good rebound with his 2-year-old trotters. He’s ranked second behind Chapter Seven in freshman earnings.”

Heiress Hanover, Hip #130, is a Greenshoe filly out of multiple Dan Patch Award winner and Horse of the Year Hannelore Hanover. She is a full-sister to sophomore colt Loxahatchee, a five-time winner.

“She’s a little lighter built than her brother,” said Murphy. “She is a little finer built, but pretty athletic and quick on her feet.”

The first crop of Captain Corey was well received in Lexington, with the trotter’s offspring averaging a little over $65,000. The Hanover-based sire is represented by 19 yearlings in the farm’s Harrisburg consignment.

“We were happy with how they were received in Kentucky,” said Murphy. “They are very nice individuals. One of my personal favorites is [Hip] #47 Shimmering Hanover, a Captain Corey out of Star Hanover. I know it’s old bloodlines on the maternal side, but she’s a consistent producer and this is just a gorgeous filly.”

Star Hanover has produced 12 winners from 15 foals, with half a dozen six-figure earners.

The 2024 crop marks the last full crop by the late Bar Hopping. Although Hanover will have some future offspring utilizing frozen semen, their Harrisburg consignment includes 18 from the son of Muscle Hill.

“Have some very nice Bar Hoppings,” Murphy said. “I really like 362, he’s a Bar Hopping colt out of Bernis Hanover. He’s a nice colt. The Phaeton colt, 201, I’ve liked him since he was a foal. He’s a very outstanding looking individual to me.”

Bernise Mo Hanover, Hip #362, is a brother to two winners, and his dam is a sister to two-time O’Brien Award winner Caprice Hill. Pastinaca Hanover, Hip #201, is a dual-eligible half-brother to the speedy Phaetosive.

On the pacing side, the conversation begins with the farm’s top pacing sire, Captaintreacherous.

“We have a very nice selection of Captaintreacherous colts,” Murphy said of the progeny from the leading sire of the pacing contingent. “Number 26, he’s been looked at quite a bit. A very handsome colt.”

Sea Bistro Hanover, Hip #26, is a half-brother to Dan Patch and O’Brien Award winner Pebble Beach. Murphy also highlighted Zin Hanover, Hip #70, and Baby Jack Hanover, cataloged as Hip #85. Zin Hanover is the second foal from near-millionaire Zero Tolerance. Baby Jack Hanover is a full-brother to Boudoir Hanover and Bellisima Hanover.

Papi Rob Hanover’s first crop has represented the sire well on the racetrack in 2024. His 81 starters have earned close to $2 million thus far. The farm is offering another bumper crop from their young pacing stallion.

“We are very pleased with how they are performing,” she said. “One of my favorites of his, colt [Hip #258] Samson Hanover, is out of the mare So Perfect. He’s just a gorgeous individual. Slightly on the smaller side, but I think he is perfect otherwise.”

Samson Hanover is a half-brother to world champion Dr J Hanover and $500,000-plus earner Machiavelli.

“We have quite a few that were free-legged pacing in their videos,” Murphy said of the consignment. “Punctual Hanover, [Hip #197], and Silas Hanover, [Hip #41], they were showing pacing in the paddock, which was great to see.”

Punctual Hanover is a Papi Rob Hanover embryo transfer out of the ultra-productive Paula’s Best. The yearling colt is a sibling to Pirouette Hanover, dam of Nijinsky. Silas Hanover is a dual-eligible son of Huntsville, from the 100-per cent producing American Ideal mare Social Scene.

Hanover-bred Bulldog Hanover’s first full crop won’t reach the sale ring until 2025. The farm does have one individual from the limited crop that sells this fall. Colt Barracuda Hanover sells on the first day, cataloged as Hip #88. He is out of Bettors Delight mare Bettor’s Chance, who has produced five winners from six living foals.

“We are very happy with him,” Murphy said. “His dam normally doesn’t rank first day but we felt this individual ranked first day. He’s a very exceptional looking individual and we really like him.”