Anvil and Lace excited about their eye-catching Harrisburg consignment

by Chris Lomon

Balance is once again the calling card for Anvil and Lace, the standardbred operation run by Beth Yontz and her husband, Doug, at this year’s Harrisburg sale.

“We were pleased overall with the Lexington sale, and we’re looking forward to this one,” Beth said. “This should be fun. We have some very nice yearlings who I think will catch the eye of buyers.”

Anvil and Lace’s lineup at Harrisburg features a mix of yearlings by prominent sires, dual-eligible prospects, and others who fit into the under-the-radar category.

Hip #73 Book A Spa Day, tops the list of Beth’s must-see yearlings.

“This is Jiggy Jog’s sister,” she said. “She has it all. When you take her out, she is what a trotting filly is supposed to look and move like, with the pedigree [Walner—Hot Mess Hanover] to match.”

Beth also has high praise for Hip #34 Make It Lass, a daughter of Volume Eight by the Muscle Mass mare Deal Wise At IT.

“She is out of the first crop of Volume Eight,” Beth said. “This filly paddocks so well and the second dam [Temple Blue Chip] is the dam of Vivid Wise As IT, who earned over $3.6 million. The first foal [My Carressable] out of Deal Wise has now raced and is a winner. This is the second foal. The Volume Eights aren’t the biggest, but all are very athletic and move great in the field.

“As a first crop, you don’t know how people will perceive them, but this filly stands out to me.”

Anvil and Lace is equally enthusiastic about its roster of pacing colts.

“I have a Cannibal out of Boots N Saddle [Hip #244 Cannibal Lecter],” Beth said. “His dam has had seven foals, five of them winners, so the production is there. This one is also dual-eligible in New York and Kentucky, so that certainly adds to his appeal.”

A son of Sweet Lou, Hip #559 Rein Over Terror, is another prospect Beth believes has potential and deserves a closer look.

“The mare [Smuggle Tina] hasn’t produced like she should have,” Beth said. “She has had four foals and only two winners, but this is a fantastic-looking individual. The mare should be producing more than she has, so maybe Sweet Lou is what we need. That’s one I would definitely keep an eye out for.”

With 38 yearlings available over three days, Beth is hopeful buyers will find plenty of options in the Anvil and Lace lineup.

“I have a nice group of trotting fillies and pacing colts,” she said. “We have fewer trotting colts and pacing fillies, but we’re very happy with the quality of these yearlings. People will find dual-eligible ones and others who look to have plenty of upside. I haven’t seen Horsepower GV [Hip #80, Chapter Seven—Katie’s Lucky Day] in person — he’s going straight to the sale — but he looks like the real deal.

“When I step back and look at what we have available for Harrisburg, there is a lot to be excited about.”