Rockin Image filly brings $82,000 to top second session
After a strong first session, Hoosier Classic Sale Company’s second session maintained the momentum Saturday, October 24 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Averaging $13,600 in session one, business was again brisk on day two, with 163 yearlings grossing $2.54 million for an average of $15,500. All told, 342 horses were sold for a gross of $4.975 million and two-day average was $14,560, resulting in a 48 percent increase over 2014 totals.
“After the success of our first session we were optimistic about today, but the second session exceeded my expectations,” said sale manager Steve Cross. “We’re very pleased with the response by both the consignors and buyers. It shows the confidence of the buyers in the Indiana program.”
While a trotter topped the first session, it was a filly from the third crop of Rockin Image that commanded the highest bid on Saturday. Hip 24, Bluebird Eclipse, was hammered down for $82,000 out of the Bluebird Meadows consignment. Purchased as agent by Peter Wrenn, the filly is the second foal from Art Major mare Day Lily Hanover, a winner of $160,000 on the track with a mark of 1:53. Her first foal, freshman Bluebird Synergy, won an Indiana Sires Stakes elimination and finished second in the Fox Stake.
Here Comes Herbie filly Her-b’s Foxy Lady was next on the list with a $70,000 price tag. Consigned by Black Creek Farm and WRL Stables, the yearling is a sister to $100,000 winner Ladys Big Stormont. Dan Shetler, acting as agent, signed the ticket. Swan For All colt Meadowbrookcharlie also received a lot of attention, selling out of the Meadow Brook Farms consignment for $67,000. A brother to two Indiana Sires Stakes-placed performers, the yearling was purchased by S & R Racing of New Haven, Ind.
A total of nine yearlings brought $40,000 or higher, led by six trotters that were purchased at a premium.
Several owners were very active during the two-day sale, but none more than Clinton, Wisc. resident Bo DeLong. DeLong, along with his son, Pat, trainer Roger Welch and Ray DeLong, campaigned Bridge To Jesse’s this season, a freshman trotting colt that won over $300,000 and captured divisional honors in Indiana. The connections reinvested in the Hoosier State with 18 yearling purchases totaling $529,000. He purchased eight on Saturday worth $246,000.
“We really like the program; it is set up well,” Pat DeLong offered. “They are progressive thinking on the commission level.”
Hoosier Classic Sale Company would like to thank the consignors and buyers that helped make this sale the best in the company’s history.
Swan For All filly brings $115,000 in first session
Buyers came out in force during Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale Company’s first session Friday, October 23 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. A total of 179 yearlings were sold, grossing $2.45 million, good for an average of $13,600. That number far exceeded the first session in 2014, when the first session posted a $9,900 average and the two-day average held at $9,800. Swan Victoria, a full sister to multiple Indiana Sires Stakes final winner Airman Batten ($333,728), topped the first session for consignor Double R Farm. The filly brought the second-highest bid for an Indiana-sired yearling at public auction, purchased by Bo DeLong for $115,000.
“Based on the national trends, we were pretty optimistic with today’s session,” said sale manager Steve Cross. “We were certainly not disappointed. The buyers were impressed with the quality of the stock and how well the colts were presented, and they answered with aggressive bidding. I think people are excited about the Indiana program and the direction it’s heading. We’re optimistic the trend will continue with tomorrow’s session.”
Swan Victoria wasn’t the only yearling to bring top dollar Friday. A total of eight yearlings were hammered down for $40,000 or more. The top pacer of the session was the roan Rockin Image colt Shame On The Moon. Cataloged as Hip 128, the yearling is the first foal from $200,000 winner Silveresque, a mare that is a sister to a trio of $300,000-plus winners. Consigned as agent by Oldfield Farm, Ron Burke paid $59,000 for the colt.
Yearlings from the third crop of Rockin Image were in high demand, as five sold for $40,000 or more. Following Shame On The Moon was filly Woodside Abigail with a $53,000 final bid. Consigned by Woodsie Farm, the filly is the first foal from a sister to millionaire and International Stallion Stake winner Strike An Attitude. She was purchased by Mark Evers. A total of 26 babies were sold in the first session, averaging just over $22,000.
The most active buyer in the first session was Wisconsin resident DeLong. Signing 11 tickets, including the session topper, DeLong’s purchases totaled $283,000. He spent on yearlings that included Always A Virgin fillies Always Mindy, second foal from Indiana Sires Stakes champion Marks Mindy, going to $37,000, and She’s Even Hotter, a $25,000 purchase out of Richess Hanover mare She’s So Hot, part of a tremendous Illinois family.
Hoosier Classic’s second session will begin Saturday, October 24 at 10 a.m. The sessions can be viewed via live streaming on the sale company website, hoosierclassicyearlingsale.com.