Weaver Standardbred Farm has momentum on their side heading into Harrisburg

by Debbie Little

Looking to ride the wave of recent good fortune Enos and Lexi Weaver head to the Standardbred Horse Sales Company auction in Harrisburg with nearly two dozen yearlings.

“This is the biggest consignment we’ve ever had in yearlings,” Enos said.

This is quite a  step-up numbers-wise for Weaver Standardbred Farm that debuted at the Pennsylvania State Farm Show Complex last year with nine yearlings.

“We’re really excited, and looking forward to it and I don’t want to say we have high expectations, you know, but have a good outlook and think it’ll be a good sale,” Lexi said.

Lexi said they always have an average number that they’d like to meet when they go to a sale and so far, this year has been good.

“We surpassed [the number we set] at Ohio and Lexington,” she said. “We sold nine head [at Lexington], and I believe we averaged $77,000 [$78,556]. So, we were very, very happy with the small group we took down there.”

The Utica, OH, farm kicks off on Day 1 with Hip #100 Michelene Star a son of Cattlewash, and Hip #180 Peachville a daughter of Huntsville.

“So, the Cattlewash colt is a nice, big, very correct colt,” Enos said.

Michelene Star is out of the Shadow Play mare Michelene Seelster.

“First foal of the mare, is unfortunately going to be the only foal out of the mare too, because the mare died foaling this past season,” Lexi said.

Peachville is out of the Art Major mare Wannashakeyourtree.

“She might get overlooked a little bit because a 2-year-old [out of the mare] is showing up as unraced,” Lexi said. “But we’ve been told that for Noel Daly, actually that was his favorite filly training down. She got hurt in the paddock, so he’s holding on to her and going to bring her back at 3.

“[Peachville’s] probably even the nicer version of her sister last year, and her sister brought $140,000. We like her confirmation a lot.”

Although the Weavers have yearlings from nine different stallions, Crazy Wow, Cannibal, and Huntsville lead the pack with seven, six, and four respectively.

Enos and Lexi highlighted three of their Cannibal colts: Hip #216 Head Chef out of Apogee Hanover, Hip #302 Canon Believes out of Eden Hanover and Hip #663 Cozy With You out of Cozy Beach.

“We’re very happy with the Cannibal colts,” Enos said. “Hip 216 is a very nice, racy looking colt. We’re very happy with him. And then also 302 Canon Believes he’s a very nice colt.”

All three colts are at least New York eligible.

“[Canon Believes is a] first foal out of the mare, and he’s dual eligible to New York and Massachusetts, and then 216 is not dual, but he is eligible to the New Jersey Standardbred Breeders Fund as well,” Lexi said. “So, there are some options.

“Cozy With You would be a triple eligible [New York, Kentucky, Massachusetts] half-brother to Waves Of Fortune that raced really well in Ontario Sire Stakes this summer. She’s a 2-year-old. He’s smaller, he’s a January foal, but he’s perfectly put together, strong, and wicked in the paddock.”

When asked what they liked so much about Cannibal, Enos said, “So actually, the first one, Head Chef #216, we pinhooked him last fall in Harrisburg. I just saw him as a baby, and he was just a diamond in the rough, and I knew once grows up, he will be a stunning looking horse, and he’s that.”

Lexi added, “And really, that’s why we bought him too because we like Cannibals so much. We’ve had multiple Cannibal foals and like what we’ve seen overall, and we like New York and first crop.”

Lexi said most of their Crazy Wows are from Jim Crawford.

“He’s a big supporter of Crazy Wow.” she said. “He likes them and, you know, thinks the stud fee’s fair and they make a nice baby.

Enos added, “And they always sell well.”

As for coming up with a favorite among the Crazy Wows, Enos said, “I think they’re all nice the Crazy Wows. Dazzling Wow [Hip] #671, he’s a very nice colt.”

Dazzling Wow is out of the Father Patrick mare Dazzling Reign.

The Weavers said they are happy with all of their Huntsville offspring.

Hip #382 Dudes Trip is out of Somebeachsomewhere mare Lady Dudette.

“He’s a full brother to Lady Oakley who won her Excelsior Series final, and they’re very, very similar,” Lexi said. “The colt last year was another full-brother, but a little heavier.

Enos added, “He was a bigger colt. This colt’s more of a medium-sized colt, very correct, very nice, handy colt.”

Lexi added, “We love him, and we love Huntsville. We breed quite a few to Huntsville, and they seem easy to raise and turn out like nice individuals.”

The Weavers said their Huntsville colts may be their own individuals, but Huntsville stamps them, and they all look very nice.

“They’re all different,” Enos said. “The one colt, [Hip #275] Crispy Chris, he’s a very flashy, strong-built colt.

Lexi added, “And he’s a late foal too, so he’s only going to get better. He’s a June foal.”

The Weavers also mentioned Hip #506 Miss Sassy Lassie out of the Rockin Image mare Sassy Q as one to watch.

“We have a Bulldog Hanover filly [Miss Sassy Lassie] that’s a really nice filly,” Enos said.

Lexi added, “Bulldog’s hot right now. She’s dual eligible [to Ontario and Kentucky], so we’re excited about her.”

Lexi said one of the Cannibal colts is her favorite in their consignment.

“Honestly, Head Chef seems to wow every time I pass the stall and see him out,” Lexi said. “He’s just a very, very nice colt. Even in the field, you know, when he was growing up with the groups of colts, he’s kind of always the one that stood out to me. So, I’m pretty proud of him.

“I wish he was dual [eligible], you know, but New York’s strong and he’s got the New Jersey Standardbred [Breeders Fund].

“I think by the time we’re getting to the sale you are a little higher on some than others. Some surpassed your expectations, some maybe didn’t meet them, you thought they were going to grow up to be a little bit of a nicer individual. But for this group we’re bringing, we’re really happy with all of them. Actually, I just told Enos last week that we don’t have any, I guess, junk for lack of better words, or, you know, one that really just came out and disappointed us. We’re pretty happy with them overall.”