Buckeye Classic sale average improves 9.5 per cent

by James Platz

The 12th edition of the Buckeye Classic Yearling Sale took place Tuesday (Oct. 13) at the Champions Center Expo in Springfield, OH, with the auction producing a 9.5 per cent increase over last year despite cataloging more horses. A total of 294 yearlings passed through the sales ring for gross sales of just over $3.4 million and an average of $11,645. Last year, 242 yearlings grossed nearly $2.6 million and averaged $10,634.

“Any time you can sell 50 more horses and increase the average, it’s a win,” said sale manager Steve Cross.

Slay Bells, a colt from the first crop of Canadian Trotting Classic champion Slay topped the session with a bid of $100,000. Selling near the end of the day as Hip #281, the bay colt is the fourth foal from Bar Hopping mare Istara, whose family includes triple millionaire and Hambletonian champion Marion Marauder. Consigned by Clearview Farm, the colt was purchased by Adam Hawthorne.

“I drove all the way from Louisiana to purchase him and kind of really just came for that one horse,” said Hawthorne, who races primarily in the Midwest and is expanding into Ohio. “He crossed every ‘T’ and dotted every ‘I’ in my book as far as a potential colt and maybe even a potential stud later on.”

Hawthorne said he was the underbidder on another Slay colt at the Ohio Selected Jug Sale which brought $75,000 last month, and decided he wasn’t leaving the Buckeye Classic without Slay Bells.

“I wasn’t going to stop until I purchased him, whatever that price was,” he said. “I felt that strongly about him so, hey, we’re going to give him the best shot and see what happens.”

The colt is headed to veteran Illinois trainer Tom Simmons, who breaks all of Hawthorne’s babies.

The third-highest price of the day was garnered by another Slay colt, Lucky O Motive. Selling early in the session as Hip #11, the Vernon Miller-bred and Dublin Valley Farm-consigned colt brought $57,000, purchased by Steve Carter.

Led by Slay Bells and Lucky O Motive, offspring from Slay topped the sale in average. A total of 11 yearlings from the sire sold for a gross of $326,000, good for an aggregate of $29,636. 

Ranking second in average was the stalwart Buckeye trotting sire Triumphant Caviar. Two of his progeny topped the sale results with the second- and fourth-highest bids. Seven Lick Rose, Hip #72, garnered a $62,000 final bid. Out of the Holiday Road mare Radiant Beam, the filly is a sibling to four different winners. Consigned by Seven Lick Stable, she was also purchased by Carter.

Tactical Triumph, Hip #67, rounded out the trotters that topped the sales sheet. The colt is the first foal from a Tactical Landing mare whose family includes the top producing Yankee Glide mare Psychotherapist. Rosy Weaver purchased the trotter from the Dundee Stables consignment.

Catch The Fire filly Delightfully Me was the highest-priced pacer in the Buckeye Classic sale, fetching $52,000. Consigned by Clearview Farm, the filly is the first foal from a full-sister to Indiana standout Rockin Ron p, 1:47.2s ($1,807,038). Wayne Mast, Jr. signed the slip, one of seven purchases that totaled $172,000.

A group of 25 Catch The Fire progeny sold for a $408,000 gross, good for a $16,320 average. That figure ranked third among pacing sires behind Downbytheseaside (three sold/$17,667 average) and first crop sire Lou’s Pearlman (16 sold/$16,844 average).

Next on the list of pacers was Miss Western Road, Hip #194 from the Trackside Farm and Martz Creek Farm consignment. From the first crop of Cane Pace winner Rockyroad Hanover, the filly is out of 100-per cent producing Western Terror mare Bazooka Terror. She was purchased by Kayne Kauffman for $42,000.

Sensational Beach, a filly by Pebble Beach, was next in the results. Consigned by Dublin Valley Farm and cataloged as Hip #96, the pacer is a sister to Ys Sensationalcity, a winner of over $300,000 racing in Canada. She was purchased by The Stable Racing Corporation.

Weaver and Herman Hagerman were the most active buyers at Tuesday’s sale, each signing 11 tickets apiece. Weaver’s purchases totaled $274,500, while the acquisitions for Hagerman Racing topped out at $127,000.

Dublin Valley Farm topped all consignors in gross sales, with a roster of 55 yearlings selling for $640,500. Clearview Farm ranked highest by sale average of consignors selling five or more yearlings. The 11-horse consignment grossed $280,000, signaling an average of $25,455. Rose Run Farm’s five-yearling roster averaged $22,900.