Sixteen yearlings headline Armitage Farm’s maiden consignment
by James Platz
Consignors at the Lexington Selected Sale were first introduced to Rita Armitage and Jim McLane a few years ago when the couple began buying yearlings. In parallel, they sought to develop a broodmare band at their upstart nursery Armitage Farm. The operation, established in Midway, KY in 2023, offers its first consignment at the Fasig-Tipton Newtown paddocks this week. The collection of 16 babies is exclusively trotter focused.
“All of these were raised here on the farm,” said farm manager Dale Holly. “We foaled and raised them all. I’m very happy with the group as a whole. I think that they should stack up pretty well with the other yearlings as far as sales prep and conditioning. We spent a lot of time handling our horses here to try to improve their manageability at the sale, which hopefully will translate into them showing themselves well, being comfortable out there and putting their best foot forward.”
Holly admits the farm caught some breaks when piecing together the broodmare band represented in the pages of this year’s catalog.
“We were lucky in the timing of a couple of dispersals back in 2023 in Harrisburg,” he said. “We were able to get quite a few well-bred mares at that sale and we have also acquired a few privately. It’s a slow process. It always takes time to build a strong broodmare band, but I think we’ve made very good progress in just two years.”
The results are on display in the first two days of the Lexington Selected sale, with 10 of the 16 yearlings set to sell. A trio from the Armitage Farm roster will be auctioned in Monday’s session. That first group includes a pair of Chapter Seven colts and a Walner filly. Harddrive Armitage Hip #25, is a dual eligible full-brother to graded stakes winner Variegated 2, 1:56.3h; 3, 1:52.3-’25 ($566,550).
“There is pressure in that first day, but that’s where you’d like to have the bulk of your horses,” Holly said. “So we’re very pleased to have three on the first day and seven on the second for our first consignment. I’m very pleased with the way the horses were placed.”
Hip #64 Book It Armitage is a full brother to graded stakes-placed Chat Room 2, 1:56; 3, 1:52.1-’25 ($252,947).
“This is a very mature, strong, well balanced colt,” Holly said. “And we have high hopes for him. He looks like he ought to be able to succeed on the racetrack.”
Hip #71 Creamy Armitage is a dual eligible Walner filly out of French Souffle. The dam is sister to millionaire and Kentucky Futurity runner-up French Wine.
“She’s beautifully balanced, she’s very correct, very good length to her, and she’s a very smart horse,” Holly said.
Besides the first-night offerings, the consignment boasts three more from Chapter Seven, a pair from Walner, two apiece from Bar Hopping and Gimpanzee, and one each from Captain Corey, Ecurie D DK, Calgary Games, and Volstead. Six of the 13 yearlings selling outside Day 1 are first foals. Holly added that the mares that have produced are still relatively young.
Day 2 kicks off with Jimdougie Armitage, cataloged as Hip #182. The Captain Corey colt is the first foal from a full sister to millionaire and Dan Patch Award winner Winner’s Bet.
“He is just a big, strong, mature, athletic looking colt,” Holly said. “He really has a very good video and way of moving, very good mover.”
Holly also highlighted filly Barfly Armitage, Hip #256, a dual eligible Bar Hopping baby out of 100-per cent producer Fly Angel Fly.
“She is just a gorgeous, long, tall, very athletic looking filly,” he said. “Very attractive head and neck, just a very nice filly.”
The farm manager said that excitement is high for Armitage Farm’s introductory Lexington consignment.
“We’re all excited about getting this first crop in front of everyone and really looking forward to the sale,” he said. “We are a commercial breeder, but our goal is to raise racehorses, horses that are successful on the track. If we get a reputation for raising racehorses, that should translate to nice yearling sales.”
