Six-horse consignment marks Kountry Lane’s Harrisburg debut
by James Platz
Last month Kountry Lane Standardbreds debuted as a consignor at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. This week the Wakarusa, IN farm brings its first consignment to the Pennsylvania State Farm Show Complex. Previously selling through Anvil And Lace, the farm will offer six dual-eligible yearlings sired by stalwart Captaintreacherous and first crop stud King Of The North.
“Some of these were late foals or small foals that we thought would benefit from having the extra month,” farm manager Duane Miller said of the decision to sell the group at Harrisburg. “And we always think Canadian-breds sell a little bit better at Harrisburg than they do at Lexington, unless you have an exceptional one.”
Of the half dozen consigned, four will sell during Monday’s opening session led by a pair of Captaintreacherous fillies and two King Of The North colts. Of the group, Miller believes filly Hip #68 Kountry Tillie headlines the roster.
“In my opinion, she’s the nicest one,” he said. “She is an exceptional, exceptional and nice individual. Does that mean she can outsell some of these trotters? I don’t know. Is the trotting market going to be stronger than the pacing filly market? That’s anybody’s guess, but that would be my pick out of the bunch. She’s our most attractive looking individual.”
The filly is out of Bettors Delight mare Bettor Joy N. From two previous foals, the dam has two winners including freshman Kountry Blue, a full sibling with a 1:53.1 mark and 1:50.3 beaten time. She is joined on the first day by fellow filly Kountry Soho, Hip #19 in the catalog. She is the first foal from a southern hemisphere import, Soho Burning Love A, a 28-time winner.
Miller said it is a toss-up as to which first-day trotting colt is the best of the consignment. Hip #51 Kountry Perfect is the first foal from graded stakes-placed Father Patrick mare A Perfect Helen, whose family includes Peter Haughton Memorial winner Aperfectyankee and KYSS Championship Series final winner Aperfect Annie. Hip #93 Kountry Cantab is the third foal from millionaire and Indiana champion Custom Cantab. Her previous two foals are both winners.
“It’s kind of a tie for me,” he said. “The Custom Cantab King Of The North is pretty nice. Kountry Perfect out of A Perfect Helen, this has been a pretty nice family. Those are the two best put together ones. And their videos are good.”
The two remaining yearlings from the consignment will sell Tuesday. Captaintreacherous filly Hip #187 Kountry Swift will pass through the ring early in the session. She is the second foal from Bettors Delight mare Seaswift Joy N, a 30-time winner. Her first foal, freshman Kountry Joy, has been timed in 1:53.3. King Of The North filly Hip #227 Kountry Frill rounds out the consignment. She is the second foal from a Bold Eagle mare whose family includes Dan Patch Award winner Maven.
Last year Kountry Lane prepped the yearlings before sending them to Anvil And Lace to sell at Harrisburg as agent. Like at Lexington, the farm is handling all aspects of consigning and selling.
“It’s a nice, solid group to get a feel of things and just figure it out,” Miller said of selling at Harrisburg. “Just to get our feet wet and kind of see where it goes. So, with that number, I’m good with the first year, absolutely.”
Miller said that based on the mares bred at the farm, the consignment stands to grow in coming years even as they divide the horses between the two sales to make selling more manageable.
“It will probably be closer to 20, 22, 25 yearlings in the future, I hope,” he said. “But I like the idea of splitting them up.”
