by James Platz

The sale season in Indiana kicked off this weekend with a new entry in the yearling marketplace. The Northern Indiana Yearling Speed Sale conducted its inaugural event Saturday, (Sept. 11) at the Topeka Livestock Auction, offering a catalog of 63 babies from a variety of Hoosier sires. Saturday’s sale produced gross sales of just over $539,000 and average of $8,558. Swan For All colt Duracell topped the sale with a $23,000 bid, purchased by an individual representing the Erv Miller Stable.

“I thought it was spectacular. A lot of lookers and a lot of potential buyers. A lot of buyers; a lot of people. I was pleased with that,” said Richard Fry, who served as sale consultant. “I’m excited because it’s two miles from my house versus five hours or three hours, wherever you’re going to go. I thought it would be a great place to start.”

Fry spearheaded the creation of the Northern Indiana Yearling Speed Sale. He felt selling horses now that did not make the cut for October’s Hoosier Classic Select sale would be a better option for some consignors. The Michiana Classic is held in November which some felt is too late in the year.

Of the 63 horses sold Saturday, 22 were siblings to yearlings consigned to either the Hoosier Classic or Michiana Classic in 2020. Both the Hoosier Classic and Michiana Classic sales are operated by Hoosier Classic Sale Company LLC.

“There are a lot of people that came back after the sale (last November) and said, ‘Let’s make this thing a go.’ I don’t know if that’s possible or not, but we definitely had a good day with the first sale,” Fry said. “The November sale is too late. I just didn’t justify that with what I’ve got going on at home. I can’t sell in November.”

Trotters led Saturday’s session, with seven diagonal-gaited yearlings fetching the highest bids. Duracell, consigned by Fry’s Double R Farm, was one of two young horses that finished near the top of the sale sheet for the consignor. A trio of Swan For All offspring averaged $18,333 to lead all sires.

“I must say I was disappointed that he didn’t make the (Hoosier) Classic because he was probably the nicest colt I had this year. I just thought I had a special colt, and I was very happy with what he brought,” Fry said of Duracell.

The next three slots in the results were occupied by babies from the second crop of Dover Dan, whose freshman crop has quickly made an impact in Indiana. Inquisitive Dan, cataloged as Hip 22 and consigned by Nelson Slabach, brought a final bid of $22,000. The colt, a full-brother to freshman winner Summit City Sonny, was purchased by Kim Roth. Silver Craft, the second foal from Muscle Massive mare Sparkle Plenty, fetched $21,000. The filly, part of the Double R Farm consignment, was purchased by Devon Ray Miller of New Paris, Ind. A group of nine Dover Dan yearlings brought an average of $12,389.

Princess Elane, a Tellitlikeitis filly, yielded the highest price from all pacers consigned. Offered by Maple Lane Farm, trainer James Yoder went to $15,000 to add the yearling to his barn. Friday night, Yoder steered Tellitlikeitis freshman Fulfullnmydestiny to a record 1:49.2 score at Harrah’s Hoosier Park in Indiana Sires Stakes action. Three progeny from Tellitlikeitis brought an average of $11,733.

Only JK Endofanera produced a higher average among pacing sires. JD’s Lucky Layla, the first foal from Panspacificflight mare Jds Battery Bank, a sister to four six-figure earners, sold for $13,000. Three JK Endofanera offspring averaged $11,833.

First crop sires were also represented at the Northern Indiana Yearling Speed Sale. A quartet of babies from Chapter Seven stallion Helpisontheway were consigned, each a first foal from their respective mares. Helptisone led the group with a final bid of $11,500, purchased by Eleven Star Stables. With two colts and two fillies in the sale, the sire averaged $8,075.

A group of four yearlings from Somebeachsomewhere stallion Check Six were sold with Shana’s Check D leading the way. The filly, first foal from Apple Pie Hanover, brought $14,500, purchased by Benita Simmons.

Fry said he would like to build on the momentum of the inaugural sale. While he had hoped to catalog between 80 and 125 yearlings, he was not disappointed with Saturday’s numbers.

“I guess the sky’s the limit. We just need more horses, and I think it will work,” he said.