by Chris Lomon

Icy Stable, the farm that bred and sold 2024 Peaceful Way and Champlain winner Monalishi, will have six strong offerings at this year’s Standardbred Horse Sales Company yearling auction in Harrisburg, PA.

If last year’s success is any indication of what is in store for Icy Stable, nom du course of the husband-and-wife team, Jim and Kim Laird, this year’s edition of the annual sale in the Keystone State could be another memorable one for the breeding operation based just outside of London, ON.

“We sold Monalishi last year in Harrisburg,” said Jim, of the uber-talented trotting daughter of Green Manalishi N—Pretty Phylly, who is trained and co-owned by Blake MacIntosh. “Obviously, she has gone on to have a phenomenal season, including a mark of 1:52.2 in the Peaceful Way final.”

Over the years, the Lairds, who in 2019 partnered with major real estate developer Shmuel Farhi to acquire, breed, raise and sell top standardbreds, have authored several successful sales stories, including Cant Stop Lou, Full Of Muscles and the aforementioned Monalishi.

In 2024, they have five colts and one filly to showcase at Harrisburg.

“We like the Harrisburg sale, where we see plenty of familiar faces each time we go,” said Jim. “It’s what we aim for all year long. A lot of the big races in Canada and the U.S. are now done, so it is a place to go where there is something for everyone looking to buy quality racehorses.”

Having bred horses for the past 15 years, Icy Stable, who will mark its fifth straight appearance in Pennsylvania, once again has offerings from coveted sires such as Sweet Lou, Always B Miki, Captaintreacherous, and Perfect Sting.

“We have Hip #297 Massive Flash, who is a big colt,” said Jim, of the son of Muscle Mass—Tiffanys Flash. “He’s grey and he’s flashy looking as well. He’s a colt who is full of himself and moves very well. He is the second one out of the mare to go to the auction and the first colt. He definitely looks the part.”

Hip #43 True North has also caught the attention of the Lairds.

“She is a Perfect Sting filly, who we quite like,” said Jim. “She is the first foal out of Somewhere North. Her full-brother, Points North, is still racing and doing quite well. He’s less than $2,000 shy of $1 million in career earnings. This filly is very nice – we like her a lot as well.”

Encourage Mint, Hip #110 is showing plenty of signs that he doesn’t need any encouragement to get into racehorse mode.

An imposing sort, the bay reminds the Lairds of his dam.

“He is a big Always B Miki colt, out of Double A Mint, who had a lifetime-best mark of 1:47.3,” said Jim. “He’s a big, strapping colt and he reminds us a lot of his mother, in temperament, attitude and the ‘ready to get to work’ approach.”

As far as value plays, the couple are both bullish on L A Lou, Hip #321, a son of Sweet Lou—Way Bettor.

“L A Lou is one we think should get a second look,” said Jim. “He’s racy looking, a nice-looking individual, eye-catching and very light on his feet. He moves very well, and the video speaks to that.”

The breeding business and the sport of standardbred racing continues to be a labor of love for the Lairds, even with the demands that come with the territory.

Now, nearing the finish line of the sale, they are hopeful their meticulous efforts will result in another successful Harrisburg experience.

“It’s a lot of work that we do each day — long days, weekends, holidays — and it can be tough,” said Jim. “There is so much that goes into those two or three minutes when the hammer drops. We do everything we can for these horses to make it to that point. We always want them to have the best chance, and we give them everything they need to get that.”

Icy Stable also has plans to build on its success – literally.

“We are expanding,” said Jim. “We are up to 12 broodmares now. Next year’s crop is a mixture of half-American and half-Canadian.

“The property we have is 76 acres, but we have also purchased 100 acres next to us which we will be developing. We expanded the farm to the next-door property too, so there are three farms beside one another, which we will be operating out of.”

A win-win for the Lairds, Farhi, and the industry itself.