Blue Chip Farms’ consignment fittingly brimming with blue-chip potential

by Chris Lomon

It is rather fitting that Blue Chip Farms’ Harrisburg yearling lineup is brimming with blue-chip potential and hidden gems.

Tom Grossman, owner of Blue Chip Farms, located in Wallkill, NY, 50 miles north of Manhattan, likes what he sees in his roster of horses available this year at Harrisburg.

The consignment includes yearlings eligible to New Jersey, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania, and Ontario, giving buyers the opportunity to compete in a lucrative slate of stakes programs. Additionally, several carry dual eligibility to Massachusetts and Kentucky, adding to their earning potential and racing opportunities.

“We focus on Harrisburg,” Grossman said. “We only sold a small number of horses in Lexington, which left us with quite a few exciting horses, in our opinion, both for us and for our clients, at Harrisburg. I think we have a good set. I would say that we are as much New York biased as we have been in the past, perhaps a little more, which is on purpose.

“The program has never been in better shape, particularly on the pacing side, where we have a ton of interesting New York pacers, and a smattering of what I would consider Grand Circuit-type horses, depending on where their stallions are from, etc.”

Since it began operations in 1969, Blue Chip has developed seven world champions and more than 1,200 stakes winners, with Blue Chip-bred and raised horses amassing over $150 million in purse earnings.

Grossman is looking to add to that success through this edition of the Harrisburg sale.

“I tend to be somewhat of a mix of skeptical and paranoid at this time of year,” Grossman said. “I have to be honest, the tea leaves seem positive. I have been watching what some of the yearlings have been selling for online, in some of the other regional sales, and I hesitate to say this, but there seems to be a little more of a middle market than there has been in the last few years. The top end, I think everyone realizes that it is a totally different animal.

“The sentiment is good, the economy is amazingly good, and we are cautiously optimistic.”

Grossman noted a pair of Cannibal yearlings, namely, Hip #510 Cancun Blue Chip (Cannibal—Seaside Beauty) and Hip #516 Cyrus Blue Chip (Cannibal—Shaka Blue Chip), as two who caught his attention and should likely elicit the same response from prospective buyers.

“Both of them are very nice, very well put-together yearlings,” Grossman said. “Cyrus Blue Chip is Mass-eligible, so that is another perk. Seaside Beauty is from a family that is heating up, so we are very happy with the Cannibals we are bringing.”

Staying on the pacing side, Grossman pointed to a trio of Shadow Play filly offerings: Hip #517 Caciopepe Bluechip (Shadow Play—Shania Blue Chip; Hip #743 Clemintinebluechip (Shadow Play—Triumphantbluechip), and Hip #773 Clove Blue Chip (Shadow Play—Lotus Seelster).

“Triumphantbluechip is another one whose reputation is starting to heat up,” he said. “Her dam [Bathsheba] foaled Azrael Blue Chip, and we are very excited about this yearling, Clemintinebluechip.”

A handful of Back Of The Neck yearlings, three colts, two fillies, have also impressed Grossman.

“Two of them, a colt, Hip #535 Cavalluciobluechip (Back Of The Neck—Southwind Fiesta), and a filly, Hip #705 Fortune Blue (Back Of The Neck—Greyscale), are Mass-eligible,” he said. “I think that this sire quietly had a very good year. People who follow New York, I think they agree.”

Grossman points to another Back Of The Neck offspring as one who deserves a second look.

“Certainly Bluechip [Hip #675], out of Destiny Blue Chip, is probably one of our nicest trotters,” he said. “I think people will really zero in on this one and we’re excited to see her at the sale. The mother is the nicest-looking filly we have ever raced and that’s why we kept her. This foal is really nice. She might be the type to fly under the radar, but we are very high on her.”

Just as he is with Hip #813 Clara Blue Chip (Captain Crunch—Twinkle In Hereye).

“This one is Mass-eligible, too,” Grossman said. “I think she might fall under the radar as well, but she’s a nice-looking filly and we really like her a lot.”