Mission impossible, pacing edition

by Murray Brown

The mission, if we choose to accept it, is to build a broodmare band from the yearling fillies on offer at the upcoming Standardbred Horse Sales Company yearling sale in Harrisburg, PA.

Pick 10 fillies from each gait in order of preference. Price is not a factor.

We will begin this week with the pacing fillies and continue next week with the trotters.

The necessities in order of preference:

1. Being a sibling to a great or near great racehorse. More than one top sibling is an obvious plus.

2. Tracing to a top maternal family.

3. Depth of the pedigree, meaning that the yearling’s grandam should also be a quality producer.

4. Conformation and size, two factors which at this time will be passed over, since I have not seen any of the fillies.

5. Ability and race performance of the dam is not a necessity, but certainly adds to the overall picture.

6. The sire of the filly is secondary. Obviously a more successful sire adds to the equation, but a sire perceived as being great is not necessary.

7. We are operating on the premise that we are buying a broodmare. The filly’s racing potential is secondary. If she races well, great! But we are not looking for a racehorse.

PACING FILLIES

Hip #16 Amethyst Hanover — Bulldog Hanover—American Jewel—American Ideal. This filly scores on all my prerequisites. She is a sibling to three stakes winners including Odds On Platinum ($945,658). She comes from the greatest pacing family in the sport’s long history, that of May Dodge and this illustrious branch of it that traces to Three Diamonds.

*Note: An added bonus is that American Jewel’s daughter Coronet, produced the highest priced pacer of 2026, the Bulldog Hanover colt, Hey Bulldog who brought $500,000 at last week’s Lexington sale

Hip #175 Future Holds — Captaintreacherous—Trim Hanover—Camluck. Much like Hip #16, above, this filly checks all the boxes and possesses all the attributes. In human terms, this filly is the maternal aunt of Amethyst Hanover, Trim Hanover being the dam of American Jewel. I might give the former a slight edge because American Jewel is obviously younger than Trim Hanover and was better, perhaps significantly better on the racetrack.

*See the note in Amethyst Hanover’s pedigree where Trim Hanover’s granddaughter, Coronet produced the highest priced pacer of 2026.

Hip #30 Empower Hanover — Captaintreacherous—Eloquent Grace—Well Said. A sibling to three multiple stakes winners including Ervin Hanover ($1,511,150). Great depth on both the first and second dams, Eloquent Grace herself being a stakes winning half-sister to millionaires Ginger And Fred ($1,928,158) and Fred And Ginger ($1,053,740). Her only negative to me is that she doesn’t descend from May Dodge.

Hip #11 Avigonon Hanover — Captaintreacherous—Aria Hanover—Well Said. A sister to four stakes winners including Blue Diamond Eyes ($1,340,144), Fallout ($962,695), and Captain Kirk ($431,865). She is yet another descendent from pacing’s greatest maternal family and from the branch that comes through Three Diamonds.

Hip #138 Suella Hanover — Stay Hungry—Santa Rosa—Western Ideal. Half-sister to multiple stakes winners Pebble Beach ($1,720,875), and Sea Bistro Hanover ($294,867). From a stakes winning sibling to the millionaires Vintage Master ($2,160,953) and Great Vintage ($1,510,226).

Hip #352 Stellar Stella — Bulldog Hanover—I’m With Her—Bettors Delight. Out of a daughter to Hall of Fame broodmare Hattie. Half-sister to Meadowlands Pace winner Beach Glass ($1,112,544). From a half-sister to Meadowlands Pace winner Holborn Hanover ($2,070,648), Hyperion Hanover ($1,187,758), and Hillbilly Hanover ($982,595).

Hip #458 Princess Hanover — Captaintreacherous—Percy Bluechip—Shadow Play. Sister to multiple stakes winner Prince Hal Hanover ($1,707,962). From multiple stakes winner Percy Bluechip ($874,267), a sister or half-sister to stakes winners Kenneth J ($1,562,007) and Arthur Blue Chip ($524,707).

Hip #211 Auguilla Hanover — Captaintreacherous—Anderosa Hanover—The Panderosa. Sister or half-sister to four stakes winners including world champion Allywag Hanover ($2,337,342), Autotune Hanover ($448,665), Armada Hanover ($388,724), and Aleppo Hanover ($204,985).

Hip #98 Mizzlolu Hanover — Sweet Lou—Mayhem Seelster—Mach Three. Although this filly’s family is relatively new in terms of great performance and not what I consider a very deep one, her multiple stakes winning dam Mayhem Seelster ($300,709) has been an incredibly consistent producer of high-quality racehorses including Mirage Hanover ($950,404), Mad Max Hanover ($906,863), Milieu Hanover ($424,822), Millie May Hanover ($232,201), and Mollop Hanover($131,832). The filly’s super sire Sweet Lou brings an intriguing new dimension to her pedigree.

Hip #320 Five Spice Hanover — Stay Hungry—Francessa—Art Major. This filly represents the other great branch of the May Dodge family, this one tracing to Romola. It’s noted for producing high speed individuals. In recent years, the super sires Captaintreacherous and Downbytheseaside trace to Romola. This filly is a sibling to world champion and multiple stakes winner Frantic Hanover ($625,724 at 2 and 3).