by James Platz

Hoosier Classic Sale Company LLC conducted its annual select sale Friday (Oct. 18) and Saturday (Oct. 19) at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, setting new benchmarks for sale average over the two-day event. Offering a smaller catalog than in 2023, the Hoosier Classic Sale sold 55 fewer yearlings while producing gross sales that nearly matched the previous year’s total and generating a significantly better average.

In the first session, 173 yearlings grossed more than $4.5 million and established a new record for session average with $26,211, an increase of over 25 per cent from the previous year. Four babies fetched bids exceeding six figures, with a pair of yearlings topping the session. Ponda Type and Whatitisyo each sold for $145,000 to lead Friday’s activity.

Ponda Type, Hip #32, is a full-sister to Dan Patch Stakes winner Ponda Warrior p, 2, 1:51.3s; 3, 1:49.1s; 4, 1:48s ($732,310). Out of American Ideal mare Sweetnsinful, the Rockin Image filly is also a sister to Ponda Executive, a 10-time winner with a 1:49 mark and more than $125,000 in earnings. Consigned by Pond-A-Acres, Pat DeLong signed the ticket. He also purchased the other session topper. Cataloged as Hip 135 for consignor Bontrager Stables, Whatitisyo is a Tellitlikeitis colt from a Sportsmaster mare that has produced six winners from seven foals. One of those winners, Marvelous Marshia, is a $300,000 earner owned by DeLong and his father, Bo.

Swan For All filly Ponda Suite topped all trotters on day one with a $135,000 final bid. From the Pond-A-Acres consignment, the yearling is out of Muscle Hill mare Aperfectcrystal, half-sister to half-million dollar earner Aperfectyankee and recent Breeders Crown elimination runner-up Aperfect Annie 2, 1:53-’24 ($343,450). Dr. Bridgette Jablonsky signed the slip on behalf of Burke Racing Stable.

Hoosier Classic’s second session continued the positive trends. A group of 169 yearlings sold for a gross of $3.73 million while averaging $19,962. While neither figure was a record, combined with session one, Saturday’s numbers helped the company establish a new two-day mark. Selling 342 yearlings for gross sales of $7.9 million, Hoosier Classic averaged $23,123, exceeding the previous record of $22,633, set in 2022.

Rolling Like It Is topped the Saturday session, bringing $140,000 for consignor In-Law Stables. Cataloged as Hip #256, the Tellitlikeitis colt is the second foal from Bettors Delight mare Rolling Delight. The colt is a half-brother to sophomore Rolling Image, an Indiana Sires Stakes leg winner with a 1:49 beaten time and $77,500 on his card. Tyler George, Rolling Image’s trainer and co-owner, signed the ticket.

Ponda Stripes, a Swan For All filly, led all trotters on Day 2. She is the first foal from 20-time winning Big Stick Lindy mare Perfect Stick, a quarter-million-dollar winner in her career. Consigned by Pond-A-Acres, Connie Hochstetler signed the ticket on behalf of the partnership of Hochstetler, Robert Budig and Allen Schwartz.

JK Endofanera led all pacing sires by average. Represented by 18 yearlings selling for $626,000, the sire’s progeny averaged $34,778. Five babies sired by JK Endofanera brought $50,000 or more, with filly Peachy Girl, hammered down for $95,000. Tellitlikeitis closely trailed JK Endofanera in average, with 35 yearlings generating gross sales of $1.14 million and averaging $32,757. Colts, in particular, sold well, with 17 averaging just over $48,000.

Swan For All, the perennial leader among trotters in the Hoosier State, once again topped the sale by average. Represented by 52 babies that grossed $1.44 million, the sire averaged $27,712. Dover Dan was next on the list, with 25 yearlings grossing $634,000, good for an average of $25,360.

Victory Hill Farm led all consignors in gross sales. The northern Indiana nursery sold 25 yearlings for $946,500. Eight from the consignment brought $50,000 or more, helping the farm to average $37,860. Pond-A-Acres sold 15 yearlings for $635,000, good for an average of $42,333.

Summit Bloodstock, purchasing on behalf of Bet The House LLC, was one of the more active buyers at the Hoosier Classic. Winning the bids on a dozen yearlings, the agent spent $509,000 over two days. DeLong was also a leading buyer. While making all of his purchases during the Friday session, he spent $495,000 on six babies.