by James Platz

Hanover Shoe Farms is the perennial leading breeder in the sport, topping the list in winners, wins and purses. The Pennsylvania-based nursery has produced more Breeders Crown starters and champions than any other breeder. Those statistics are not possible without developing a broodmare band and stallion roster that fosters championship-caliber talent. The black type-heavy pedigrees are spread throughout Standardbred Horse Sale Company’s first three days (Nov. 6-8).

Hanover’s 2023 consignment includes 192 yearlings, with 47 set to sell Monday.

“We’re selling some very nice individuals,” said Hanover’s Patti Murphy. “I think we are very strong with our pedigrees. I think it’s going to be a very strong sale on Monday and Tuesday. We have a lot of nice individuals that I know [sale president] Dale [Welk] had mentioned would have normally sold on a Monday that are on Tuesday, just because they have so many horses to pick from and the pedigrees are very good.”

The Hanover roster is tilted more toward pacers, with 110 cataloged over the three days, evenly divided between colts (54) and fillies (56). The list includes two dozen sired by Papi Rob Hanover, 23 by Captaintreacherous, 19 by Stay Hungry and 13 by Tall Dark Stranger. With a consignment this large, it can be hard to narrow down the highlights, as several are siblings to high-profile winners or out of champion mares.

Some of the top colts that will garner attention are the Captaintreacherous-sired Kobe Hanover, Hip #20, a full-brother to Ken Hanover, and Hip #58 Rider Hanover, also by ‘The Captain’ and a brother to world champion Ruthless Hanover. Hip #67 Stinglikab Hanover, a full-brother to two-time Dan Patch Award winner Perfect Sting is part of the Monday session. Three pages later in the catalog buyers will find Hip #70 Steal Away Hanover, a full-brother to two-time Breeders Crown champion Sylvia Hanover. Bell Hanover, Hip #117, is a Tall Dark Stranger brother to millionaire Boudoir Hanover and Bellisima Hanover.

“The pacing fillies, we have a very nice selection this year,” Murphy said. “A lot of Captains, Papi Robs, some Tall Dark Strangers.”

Hip #145 Easy Out Hanover is a Papi Rob Hanover half-sister to world champion Elver Hanover. Fab Four Hanover, Hip #154, is another from the first crop of Papi Rob Hanover. The filly is a three-quarter sister to Dan Patch Award winner Fire Start Hanover.

“The Papi Robs, I think people really like the build on them,” Murphy said. “He definitely stamps the foals. “They are very nicely proportioned. They’re mostly nicely conformed horses. They are different sizes too. My favorite one is Hip #8 Houdini Hanover. He’s just a gorgeous individual.”

Hip #25 Life Coach Hanover, is a Tall Dark Stranger three-quarter sister to two-time Dan Patch Award winner and double-millionaire Bettor’s Wish. Hip #61 Sammy Jo Hanover, is a half-sister to two-time O’Brien Award winner Scarlett Hanover. The first session also features the second foal from Dan Patch Award winner Youaremycandygirl. Sired by Tall Dark Stranger, Yummy Hanover is cataloged as Hip #96. 

“He was obviously bred to some extremely good mares with his first crop,” Murphy said of Tall Dark Stranger.

Murphy identified a filly from the crop that she considers one of the highlights of the consignment. The dam, Livin Life, is a half-sister to Dan Patch and O’Brien Award winner I Luv The Nitelife and De Los Cielos Deo.

“One of the fillies I really love by him is Hip #217 Livinlarge Hanover,” she said. “She’s out of a Western Ideal mare and the family of Liz Mara. I just think she’s gorgeous. She’s got a beautiful neck on her and she just moves great. If you watch her video, she’s a very classy filly, all business up and down in the paddock.”

Murphy also noted the video on the Captaintreacherous filly Hip #79 Sally Ship Hanover, set to sell on Monday.

“There’s a filly that I love by Stacia Hanover,” she said. “She shows pace in her video. She was all business in the paddock too. Some of them, you have to really work to get a good video on them. She was just a natural out there.”

Hanover has a trio of Chapter Seven yearlings consigned, all of which will pass through the ring Monday. Hip #24 Lorax Hanover, is a colt out of world champion and millionaire Lifetime Pursuit. Filly Hip #63 Stupendous Hanover, is a half-sister to the great trotting mare Manchego. Shonda Hanover, Hip #80, is out of Star Hanover, who has produced 11 winners from 14 foals, led by Superstar Hanover.

Other notable trotting yearlings from the 82-horse assembly include Hip #90 Top Gun Hanover, a Walner colt out of Think Twice, and a full-brother to Temporal Hanover. Hobnob Hanover, Hip #7, is a Walner first foal out of Himalaya, half-sister to millionaire Cruzado Dela Noche. Filly Panacea Hanover, Hip #51, is a Walner filly out of Possess The Magic, making her a half-sister to Master Of Law.

“We have a very nice International Moni out of Window Willow,” Murphy said. “It’s her last foal. He’s a half-brother to world champion Crystal Fashion. Waterloo Hanover is Hip #380.”

So Passe Hanover, Hip #49, is a Greenshoe half-brother to stakes winner Sadie Hanover. Hip #127 Cool Cat Hanover is a Greenshoe half-brother to Dan Patch Award winner and double millionaire When Dovescry. In all, Hanover’s Greenshoe yearlings total two dozen. Murphy believes that while interest in the second crop may be down, there is opportunity.

“Again, we have very nice individuals,” she said. “I think some people might get a bargain on them this year, and they might be happy with that. Some people might miss out if they don’t look at them this year. It’s a fickle business and people tend to get off stallions very quickly. He’s not had that outstanding individual, per se, but that’s liable to change. You never know what the future is going to hold.”

Within the roster are 20 individuals sired by the late Bar Hopping. Included in the group are fillies Demarara Hanover, Hip #136, and Bay Breeze Hanover, Hip #119.

“They had pretty outstanding videos I thought,” said Murphy. “Just very nice moves.”

Pinacolada Hanover, Hip #48, is out of Personal Style, dam of Patriarch Hanover. Hip #250 Messenger Hanover, selling Tuesday, is out of Musetta Hanover, dam of Stubborn Belle. Hip #451 Cheers Hanover, out of Malabar Man mare Chez Lucie, sells later in the sale.

“He’s a really gorgeous colt. He’s built a little differently than the typical Bar Hoppings,” Murphy said of Pinacolada Hanover. “He’s a little more muscular and he reminds me of his mother.”