Breaking down the trotting yearlings being offered at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale
by Murray Brown
There is no doubt in this mind of mine that there might be people who study yearling catalogs more than I do. In the same way, I am fairly certain that their numbers are small. I’ve been a student of pedigrees ever since the early ’60s. I began reading them probably around 1960. I began actually doing those pedigrees for various sales somewhere around 1962. It was a labor of love where I made a few bucks to help me through school and, probably more importantly, to help increase my knowledge of standardbred bloodlines. I did them for the next half century or so during all my years at Hanover until computers took over. The vast majority of the Standardbred Horse Sales catalogs and then the Black Books were typed by me using only the index finger of my left hand. I look back today and wonder how I was able to do it, but I sure as hell did. It’s with that same left index finger that these weekly columns are typed.
All this bring me to the catalog for this year’s Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, more specifically the trotting yearlings being offered there.
A few thoughts before I get to the meat of this column, which is a short personal diagnosis of the trotting yearlings on offer by most sires in Kentucky. I stress the word personal. Not everyone will agree with my thoughts.
Firstly, something which it seems to me I say every year, the makeup of this year’s offering is the best it ever has been, especially with regard to trotters.
The quality and numbers of trotting yearlings are put into one word – fantastic!
I ask myself over and over is our market of owners large enough to absorb so many top bred yearlings? My personal feeling is that it probably is not. There will certainly be a significant number of yearlings that will bring the top dollar that the consignor anticipates. I’m guessing, hoping that I’m wrong, that there will be others that might result in disappointment.
However, disappointment for the consignor will result in opportunity for the astute yearling shopper.
The catalog brings forth, especially with trotters, an embarrassment of riches and huge potential.
Without further ado, here are my thoughts on most of the sires of this year’s Lexington trotting yearlings.
ALRAJAH ONE IT — eight yearlings — One of these European-U.S. hybrids that keep popping up with greater frequency these days. However, if you look further, he might not really be much of a hybrid at all. His sire Maharajah is a son of Viking Kronos and his dam is almost entirely American bred. The horse himself only raced a few times here in North America, but made an exceptional impression. This is his first crop. His only Day 1 offering is Hip #50, a colt named Valorous, the first foal from the great Walner filly Venerable ($1,187,798). If the fact that this colt comes from trotting’s hottest family is not enough, his breeder Steve Jones has described him to me as being the most impressive yearling he has ever raised at his Cameo Hills Farm. That is one huge statement.
BACK OF THE NECK — two — This one is another hybrid being by the extraordinary French stallion Ready Cash out of the American-bred Andover Hall mare Big Barb. A very fast and talented horse who earned just short of a million and a half dollars. There are only two on offer here from this, his first crop. There are 21 more to come at Harrisburg.
BAR HOPPING — four — These were conceived in the year of Bar Hopping’s death. There were ٢٨ on offer last year. The breed is much poorer with his loss at such a young age. His son In Range appears to be picking up his mantle with his impressive first crop now racing.
CALGARY GAMES — five — Another hybrid stallion. By the Ready Cash son Readly Express and out of a Lindy Lane mare. There were ١٦ sold here last year, from a total North American crop of ٢٤. They seem to have raced reasonably well with seven winners. The major obstacle they face is not having sire stakes eligibility unless they qualify in Kentucky.
CAPTAIN COREY — 43 — The ultimate hybrid stallion thus far. By a pacing-bred horse who was a great trotter and is proving to be a very good trotting stallion in Europe. He has a large crop of yearlings, slightly more than the 39 he had here last year. One of the freshmen star sires this year. They seem to be winning all over. As this was being written, he was the second leading money-winning sire of 2-year-old trotters in 2025. Ignore them at your peril.
CHAPTER SEVEN — 64 — To me, the best sire and the leader in all categories, earnings, 2-year-olds, 3-year-olds, and all ages. There is a very large group to choose from, up from his 51 yearlings last year. Normally prices for yearlings in such a large group might be adversely affected, but I believe that this might be the exception that proves the rule. If the serious yearling shopper does not make it his business to look at every one of those being offered, he is doing himself and his owners an injustice. An added benefit is that in addition to their prowess on the Grand Circuit and Kentucky stakes, the Chapter Sevens have more than proven their ability on New York’s half-mile tracks.
CUATRO DE JULIO — five — Another hybrid. This one is by Trixton out of a Ready Cash mare. These are his first foals. The horse had ability. He was bred by and stands for the ownership of one of the world›s greatest horsemen Jean Pierre Dubois. If for no other reason, I would not discount his chances.
ECURIE D DK — 24 — This is his first crop and he has more than enough representation to give us a good idea of how good he will become. Another hybrid and one very interesting to this pedigree buff. His sire is a son of Pine Chip and his dam is by Muscles Yankee, but that›s where the current American blood ends. The maternal end of both the sire and dam go to Jean Pierre Dubois families. The horse himself was bred and raised by Dubois. He was a terrific racehorse having earned in excess of $١.٥ million. If I were shopping for trotting yearlings, I would be sure to give these a look.
FATHER PATRICK — 20 — His numbers are down from the ٢٨ he had in this sale last year. He has proven to be through the years a more than adequate sire capable at times of hitting a home run. One that I›d make a point of looking at is Hip #38 Ischia, a half-sister to Karl selling on Day 1.
GIMPANZEE — 52 — His numbers are up from the ٤٢ offered by him at Lexington last year. The trotting game has gotten highly competitive with the star sires Chapter Seven, Muscle Hill, Tactical Landing, and Walner, alone having 224 yearlings on offer in Lexington. Then you have what I call “middlers” like Father Patrick and Greenshoe. Plus, the new kids on the block Captain Corey, In Range, and Ready For Moni. Then there are the proven regional sires Green Manalishi S, Swan For All, and Muscle Mass. I wonder if the market can sustain 52 yearlings by a sire who has yet to produce that home run horse. They should certainly be perused. I’m certain that there will be value to be found there especially if you plan to race in Kentucky.
GREEN MANALISHI S — seven — Seven yearlings by this horse who has quickly ascended to the top of the trotting ladder in Ontario from his first two crops to race. I expect them to sell very well. The big question, as it is for both Lexington and Harrisburg, is how deep the Canadian presence will be at each of those sales. If they are there, which I fully expect them to be, how strongly will they pursue them knowing that at the London Sale they will be able to spend using Canadian dollars? The London catalog is its strongest one ever. That together with the near 40 per cent premium Canadians have to pay on U.S. funds will likely have an effect of how they will Ontario-sired horses will sell in Lexington.
GREENSHOE — 31 — Another one, together with Father Patrick (his sire), that I consider to be a middler. The trotting market is extraordinarily strong, having a total of 224 yearlings at just this sale alone, by Chapter Seven, Muscle Hill, Tactical Landing, and Walner, the four sires generally considered to be at the top. Then add another 43 by the exciting first year sire Captain Corey to the equation at this sale, and you come up with incredibly strong competition. I expect those looking to compete in the PASS and maybe some eligible in Kentucky to be the purchasers of these.
INTERNATIONAL MONI — 27 — Another one that I consider to be a middler, International Moni has done well, but just well. Not well enough to make a significant dent in the top four. The buyers for these will likely be those looking to compete in Pennsylvania. An added impetus for those of the Lindy Farms group is that in addition to Pennsylvania and Kentucky, they are eligible to the Massachusetts Sire Stakes.
KING OF THE NORTH — 17 — His first group of yearlings to be offered at public auction. Once again, the competition is extremely strong, even among those sires that are on the top of the heap. He enters the strong Ontario market, where his competition will mostly be found in Green Manalishi S and Muscle Mass. Several questions here:
1. How strong will the spendable Canadian dollars be in the U.S.?
2. I’m expecting that he will get a fair share of the money spent for Ontario breds, but his competition Green Manalishi S and Muscle Mass are proven entities.
MUSCLE HILL — 38 — Long live the king. At the age of ١٩, Muscle Hill is still going strong.; perhaps not nearly as strong as previously, but still a significant factor. To some degree he is a victim of his own success. His son Tactical Landing has been in the forefront since his first two crops, where he had two Hambletonian winners. Another son, Green Manalishi S is the top trotting stallion in Ontario. He is represented with 38 yearlings, up slightly from his 35 last year. There will be value to be found due almost entirely to the large numbers of quality trotting yearlings on offer.
MUSCLE MASS — four — Long the king in Ontario, he has been overtaken in the last two years by Green Manalishi S. His numbers are down in Lexington from the eight he had last year. I’m sure that he will still be a presence in Ontario. But he faces steep competition in Green Manalishi S and newcomer King Of The North.
READY FOR MONI — three — Yet another hybrid. This one by the prolific Ready Cash, out of a daughter of the great Moni Maker. He is already making waves. His first crop are 2-year-olds and he is the fourth leading sire of 2-year-old trotting money winners. For some unknown reason to this guy, his numbers in Lexington are down to three from last year’s 18. Overall, he is down from a first-year crop of 84, to 59 this year. They should be very much in demand, especially in Ohio. This is one of the few stallions who should benefit from the lower numbers.
REBUFF — seven — A quality son of Muscle Hill whose first foals are yearlings this year. His seven yearlings on offer in Lexington represent only a small percentage of his total crop of ٨٥. One guesses that a far greater number will be sold at the Indiana sales where they are eligible and should be very much in demand.
SIX PACK — five — In a rather unobtrusive manner, Six Pack is already the sire of two Grade 1 stakes winners this year: Hambletonian winner Nordic Catcher S and Peaceful Way champ Sugar Packet. These accomplishments achieved in the most highly competitive trotting stallion market in the world, where his competition includes Muscle Hill, Tactical Landing, and Walner. His numbers here are down from last year’s 12. One would guess that they should garner more respect than they have in the past.
SWAN FOR ALL — four — Long the standout trotting sire in Indiana, Swan For All will face significant new competition this year from the freshmen sires Rebuff and Temporal Hanover. His numbers in Lexington are down from last year’s 12 to four in 2025.
TACTICAL LANDING — 42 — Always a force to be reckoned with, Tactical Landing faces the same problems that beset most popular trotting stallions this year — numbers. How many is too many? Is 42 too many? He is up five from last year’s 37. His outstanding winners this year include the Grade 1 William Wellwood Memorial winner Ardonne and the scary fast, undefeated filly Yo Tillie. If you are looking for a trotter to compete at the highest level, you need to look at these.
TEMPORAL HANOVER — seven — His first crop of foals are yearlings this year. The first major son of Walner to have a significant group of yearlings. He served a total of ١٣٩ mares and has ٩٧ registered yearlings thus far in this crop. The vast majority of those to be offered at auction will be sold at the Indiana sale. It’s in Indiana, where he and Rebuff will be expected to give perennial leader Swan For All a battle for the Hoosier money next year and likely for the foreseeable future.
WALNER — 80 — If there can be too much of a good thing, perhaps even a great thing, it will probably be found in the eye popping 80 yearlings by Walner being offered in Kentucky. The fact that they are eligible to New Jersey likely matters little, since the vast majority are eligible to Kentucky as well as the expectation that their maternal lineage gives good reason for them to be significant factors in the major Grand Circuit events. Can there be too much of a good thing? This yearling group could be the ultimate test of that.
