Ontario in Harrisburg

by Murray Brown

The Standardbred Horse Sales Company yearling sale in Harrisburg, PA is known for having everything. The backbone of the sale and its greatest number of yearlings come from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. But there is significant representation from all jurisdictions. Two of those with significant numbers are the state of New York and the Canadian province of Ontario.

We shall attempt to go through putting together a mock stable of yearlings in the four categories from each of those two jurisdictions. This week we will focus on Ontario sired yearlings and the following week on New York-bred youngsters.

For some unknown reason, Harrisburg has always been a place where Canadians love to congregate. Does it have near the ambiance and the Grand Circuit racing of Kentucky? Most decidedly not.

Does the Farm Show building in Harrisburg compare to the beautiful sales facility at Fasig Tipton in Lexington? Not even remotely.

One advantage the State Farm Show Arena in Harrisburg does have over the Fasig Tipton complex in Lexington is that despite the sometimes-poor air quality, Harrisburg is weather proof or darn close to it.

The weather gods have been kind to Lexington during sales week. Rarely has poor weather significantly affected the sales proceedings. To the contrary, the weather the first week of October in Lexington is usually wonderful. There are few things in this life of ours more enjoyable than a sunny early fall day spent outdoors looking at some of the world’s finest equines.

On the other hand, Harrisburg’s weather in early November can best be described as mixed. I have known unseasonably warm days, and sometimes near frigid ones. We have had torrential downpours and even an occasional snowflake.

Despite what some view as obstacles, Harrisburg does have its appeal. The hotels and restaurants, if you know where you are going, can be excellent. The vendors at the Farm Show complex give horsepeople a chance to make a head start on their Christmas shopping and to fill in their equipment needs. Most important though are the horses. It is rare, if ever, that the yearling offering at Harrisburg does not produce several of the following year’s best 2-year-olds.

We begin with the Ontario-sired yearlings in this year’s Harrisburg sale. I count 126 of them. With the exception of the London Classic Yearling Sale, Harrisburg has more Ontario-eligible yearlings than any other sale being held this year. Quality wise, it is my opinion that they represent, perhaps, by far, the best group of Ontario-breds to be found anywhere.

Without further ado and with an unlimited bankroll, here are my three top Ontario picks in order of preference for each of the four categories at this year’s Harrisburg sale.

PACING COLTS

Hip #110 T H Notorious — Bettors Delight—Mrs Major Hill—Art Major. Consigned by Preferred Equine Marketing, Inc, agent.

On the surface, it might seem to be an easy choice. By the all-time leading money producing sire of any breed and perhaps one of his last yearlings. The second foal from a mare whose first foal is the 2025 Horse of the Year Beau Jangles ($1,638,611). On the other hand, pick number two is the horse who has several times been victorious over Beau Jangles this season.

Hip #66 Redlandshananagins — Bulldog Hanover—Granny Hanover—Captaintreacherous. Consigned by Winbak Farm, agent.

Some might describe Redland Rocket Man, this colt’s brother, as a Cinderella horse. After all he would be compared to a Horse of the Year who went undefeated as a 2-year-old. Redland Rocket Man was good, but not near as good as Beau Jangles at 2. He still managed to win three of 12 starts and earned $129,542 as a freshman. Not bad, but not Horse of the Year material. He really has blossomed this season enhancing his earnings to $799,520 including his overwhelming win in this year’s Little Brown Jug.

Hip #199 Assateague Hanover — Beach Glass—All Tucked Up—Western Ideal. Consigned by Hanover Shoe Farms, Inc.

From the first crop by a top son of Somebeachsomewhere, Beach Glass. This colt is a half-brother to one of my favorite horses ever, Abuckabett Hanover ($2,181,009). I fondly remember his bad boy days as a member of Tony Alagna’s stable at Sunshine Meadows. He seemingly wasn’t good enough to train in a regular set, so he was made to train alone. I think that Tony’s mom Donna Lee and I might have been the only ones who had faith in him. I remember the sneering of the railbirds on the deck when I said he was my pick of the bunch.

PACING FILLIES

Hip #16 Amethyst Hanover — Bulldog Hanover—American Jewel—American Ideal. Consigned by Hanover Shoe Farms, Inc.

This filly is my pick, not only of the Ontario-breds, but of the entire group of pacing fillies being offered at Harrisburg. If I were to make a statement about her, I would say that based on her pedigree she is the kind of filly upon which great breeding farms are made. If she is a top individual physically, I would say that she has it all.

Hip #31 Tik Tik Boom — Cattlewash—Cusdmagicdragon—Custard The Dragon. Consigned by Dean and Ashley Wilson, agent.

First foal from the multiple stakes winner Cusdmagicdragon ($270,910). She is the second of my filly picks tracing to the breed’s greatest maternal family, that of May Dodge. She comes from a succession of consistent stakes winners and traces directly to the great filly Nadia Lobell ($1,007,119).

Hip #20 Beach Mosaic — Beach Glass—Glancewithme—Art Major. Consigned by Concord Stud Farm, agent.

This filly completes my triumvirate of pacing fillies, all of whom trace to different branches of the May Dodge family. This one goes directly to the great Three Diamonds ($735,759). She is a half-sister to the multiple stakes winner Manolete ($517,013) and comes from the immediate branch that traces to the great Twin B Joe Fresh ($3,292,420).

TROTTING COLTS

Hip #136 Springers Dinger — King Of The North—Rubys Are Nice—Muscle Mass. Consigned by Dean and Ashley Wilson, agent.

Half-brother to the Canadian champion and multiple stakes winner Touchedbyanangel ($381,177). Second foal from the stakes winner Rubys Are Nice, a sister to four other stakes winners including Im The Muscle ($587,779) and Jack N Abs ($238,183).

Hip #129 Mufasa — Green Manalishi—Pretty Phylly G—RC Royalty. Consigned by Twinbrook Farms, agent.

Brother to the O’Brien winning multiple stakes winner Monalishi ($747,475) and out of a sister to the Hambletonian winner Royalty For Life ($1,620,166).

Hip #734 Airborne Angel — Archangel—Stonebridge Glider—Yankee Glide. Consigned by Concord Stud Farm, agent.

Half-brother to the stakes winner Stonebridge Bomber ($195,020) and out of a sister to three stakes winners including Manofmanymissions ($1,215,000).

TROTTING FILLIES

Hip #95 Queen Contender — King Of The North—Major Muscle—Muscle Mass. Consigned by Alliance Bloodstock, agent.

Sister to the multiple stakes winner Major Contender ($192,829). From Major Muscle ($277,341), a sister to three stakes winners including Mister Muscle ($464,664), and Midnight Miracle ($294,970).

Hip #87 T H Prison Break — King Of The North—Lifeintheslammer—Royalty For Life. Consigned by Preferred Equine Marketing, Inc, agent.

First foal from the stakes winner Lifeintheslammer ($101,909), a half-sister to three stakes winners including The Veteran ($504,123) and Resolute Bay ($253,048).

Hip #330 Midwind Gem — Muscle Mass—Ginger Tree Carly—Cantab Hall. Consigned by Peninsula Farm, Inc, agent.

Any list of top Ontario trotting prospects would be incomplete without representation of the province’s greatest trotting sire ever Muscle Mass. First foal from a sister or half-sister to four stakes winners including Ginger Tree Skyr ($567,685) and to Uncle Hanover ($273,067).