Smaller catalog keys Buckeye Classic average increase

by James Platz

Trotting sire In Range dominated Ohio racing this season, and as a result, his offspring have garnered significant attention at the sales this fall. So, it came as no surprise that a colt from his second crop topped Tuesday’s (Oct. 7) Buckeye Classic Yearling Sale. Respectable Son, Hip #209 in the catalog, was hammered down for $60,000 to lead a contingent of 242 babies sold at the Champions Center Expo in Springfield, OH. Total sales for the 11th annual sale topped $2.57 million. Offering nearly 100 fewer horses than in 2024, the average climbed to $10,634, up more than 20 per cent from a year ago.

Respectable son is the fifth foal from And Away We Go mare Beautiful, a seven-time winner on the track. The colt is a brother to six-figure earners Irresistible Son 3, 1:54.3f -’24 ($199,118) and Grateful 3, 1:54f -’24 ($141,562). Consigned by Trackside Farm for Leon Troyer, the colt was purchased by Ryan Stahl.

In Range filly Soaring Sophia was next on the sale sheets, bringing $50,000 for Dundee Stables. Cataloged late in the sale as Hip #248, the bay is out of Manofmanymissions mare Devils Advocate, an Ontario Sire Stakes Gold leg winner that has produced three winners from her first four foals. Soaring Sophia was sold to Joyce McClelland.

A group of 26 yearlings by In Range were offered Tuesday, averaging just shy of $15,827. Six babies brought $20,000 or more.

Next in the results was Rose Run Cash, a son of What The Hill, which brought $47,000. Consigned by Rose Run Farm, he is out of a Credit Winner mare that has three winners from three living foals. Wayne Mast, Jr. signed the slip for the colt, sold as Hip #136 in the catalog.

Mast was one of the more active bidders during the session. He signed eight tickets in total, spending $219,000. One of his selections, The Fire Profit, led all pacing yearlings with a $47,000 final bid. The Catch The Fire filly, Hip #186, is the second foal from Sweet Lou mare Windfall Profits. She is a sister to sophomore Hungry For Profits, a five-time winner. The Fire Profit was consigned by Abby Stables acting as agent for CT Stables and Thomas Cave. A total of 19 from Catch The Fire were sold for an average of $14,816.

Mast also went to $45,000 for Ready For Moni colt Max The Moni. Offered as Hip #73 by Dublin Valley Farm, the yearling is a sibling to near-$500,000 winner The Mighty Hill and freshman winner Max The Mighty 2, 2:00.4h -’25, BT1:54.3f-’25 ($106,750). A group of 11 yearlings by Ready For Moni passed through the ring Tuesday averaging $18,955. Only one baby failed to reach five figures.

Trainer Rosy Weaver was also busy throughout the session, purchasing a total of nine yearlings. Her top purchase came very late in the session when she bid $37,000 on Krazy Caviar. The Triumphant Caviar colt was consigned by Pine Grove Acres. Weaver’s purchases totaled $152,000. Nisonger Stables added eight yearlings while spending $109,500. The top selection was In Range filly Ranger’s Babe, a $29,000 acquisition. Stahl not only bought the session topper, but he added two more babies for total purchases of $111,000.

Dublin Valley led all consignors in number sold (53) and gross sales ($529,500). The combined effort of Trackside Farm and Martz Creek Farm led all consignors in average, with five yearlings averaging $22,800. In addition, Trackside’s individual consignment of 12 babies averaged $18,167. The five-yearling offering from Pine Grove Acres averaged $20,600, while a pair of yearlings from Rose Run Farm sold for an average of $33,000.

Of the first crop sires represented Tuesday, Monte Miki topped the list in average. A group of 15 from the Breeders Crown champion averaged $12,000. Cuatro De Julio babies (17) averaged $9,588 while those from the first crop of Coach K Hanover (12) sold for an average of $9,375.