Trio of first day trotters lead Anvil And Lace consignment
by James Platz
When asked to summarize Anvil And Lace Farm’s 2025 Lexington Selected consignment, Beth Yontz quickly cut to the chase. “Some spectacular trotters, I mean, right there it is,” she said.
The Paris, KY outfit has assembled a roster of 30 yearlings that are weighted more with pacing talent, but diagonal-gaited babies headline Anvil And Lace’s first session.
“I think if you have the right horse, it’s where you need to be,” Yontz said. “I think if you don’t, you definitely don’t want to be there because you can get lost in a shuffle. I’m very fortunate the three I have, I believe that they belong there.”
The trio represent the industry’s top sires. Jazzy Blues, Hip #40 in the book, leads Anvil And Lace’s contingent. The Muscle Hill colt is the first foal from Chapter Seven mare Bare My Soul, sister to Canadian Older Trotter of the Year Will Take Charge.
“You have that Muscle Hill going to a Chapter Seven mare, first foal,” Yontz said. “And the second dam, dam of Will Take Charge. The pedigree kind of speaks for itself. The colt is maturing at the right time. I mean, he’s doing everything he’s supposed to.”
Mufasa Gv, Hip #88, is also a first foal. The colt is by Chapter Seven, out of Kentucky Filly Futurity winner Katie’s Lucky Day. He is New York and Kentucky eligible.
“The fact that he’s dual-eligible, that’s a golden thing,” Yontz said. “It’s a different pedigree because yes, she’s an Uncle Peter mare, but she’s still a Kentucky Filly Futurity winner that made over half a million, so, you know, I think he’ll do well just because of the Kentucky and New York eligibility.”
Filly The Gilded League completes the trifecta, selling as Hip #106. The Walner product is the first foal from Next Level Stuff, a 19-time winner with $850,000 on her card and a mark of 1:50.4.
“Again, if you’re on first day, pedigree kind of speaks for itself,” Yontz said. “But, she is a big, beautiful filly. She covers the ground nice, and is easy to be around so far.”
Moving through the catalog, Yontz touched on a few of the other highlights in the consignment.
Hip #275, Somehriznsomewhere, is a dual-eligible Sweet Lou colt and the first foal from Somebeachsomewhere mare Horizon.
“He has very little, if no white,” Yontz said. “He reminds me a lot of Women Layer. I consigned and raised Women Layer for Carl Howard, and this colt reminds me a lot of him at this stage of the game.”
Filly Fearless Desire, Hip #331, will enter the ring late in Tuesday’s (Sept. 30) session. The dual-eligible Bettor’s Delight yearling is out of 100-per cent producing Captaintreacherous mare No Fear Dear.
“This is still a full crop, but moving forward, there’s obviously going to be less and less Bettor’s Delights,” she said. “That mare, the first foal is a Betting Line that has made over $300,000 now. The second foal, he won at The Meadowlands, so he is a 2-year-old winner. He had some 2-year-old early speed.”
Anvil And Lace has consigned five by first crop sire Pebble Beach. The son of Downbytheseaside stood in Kentucky for one season, and some from the crop are eligible for the Kentucky Stallion Bonus. Horses where the sire and dam each meet residency requirements can earn up to a 50 per cent bonus on top of prize money for top-five finishes in designated races.
“I don’t know what to expect out of them,” Yontz said. “You know, they’re only Kentucky eligible. I think all of mine are breeders bonus eligible. I mean, how can it hurt? But, you know, I’m not going to lie, I am a little concerned about them being only Kentucky.”
If there is uncertainty in how Pebble Beach’s foals will be received, yearlings sired by Ohio-based trotter In Range are clearly in demand. A pair from the second crop sire led all yearlings sold earlier this month at the Ohio Selected Jug Sale, bringing $210,000 and $200,000, respectively. Offspring from the sire averaged nearly $63,000. Anvil And Lace has the only In Range selling in Lexington. Filly Kissme Ifyoucan sells Friday (Oct. 3), cataloged as Hip #894, and is eligible to the Ohio and Kentucky programs. The mare has already produced six winners from eight foals.
“I mean, how could you not like In Range? They’re coming off a red-hot Ohio sale. Everybody has to have one and wants one,” Yontz said. “Not only is she an In Range, which is phenomenal, but she is a stunning individual. Find me a better video cause it’s pretty darn good. The mare has produced. I guess if you were to knock her on anything, it would be that it’s an older family.”
Anvil And Lace is selling fewer yearlings in Lexington, and multiple factors have led to the reduction. First, Kountry Lane Standardbreds are selling separately instead of using Yontz as agent. Second, Anvil And Lace is selling 17 in mid-October at the Midwest Standardbred Horse Sale in Indianapolis, and also has 30 committed to Harrisburg.
“It has evened out between the sales rather than being overloaded in Kentucky,” she said. “I didn’t go to Harrisburg for years. Now that I do, it’s not such a strain with such a big number here. I’m taking two of my own to Indiana and one of my own to Harrisburg. I think you have to just read the market and kind of spread it out.”
Yontz said she is optimistic that this year’s Lexington sale will again post strong numbers and all consignments will benefit.
“The traffic at the farm was steady and it started earlier than normal,” Yontz said. “Because of Kentucky racing, a lot of people are spending more time down here. I grew up in thoroughbreds and I don’t follow it as closely as I used to, but mostly if Keeneland has a good sale, we follow suit. So I’m very optimistic in that regard because they had a pretty darn good sale. Hopefully history repeats.”
