by David Carr, the United States Trotting Association

Lexington, KY — Enthusiastic yearling buyers smashed through the $100,000 sales average for a session for the first time in the 10-year history of the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale on Tuesday night (Sept. 30).

The 97 yearlings passing through the ring sold for an average of $104,959, easily eclipsing the previous record for a single session of $89,847 set in 2008. It also represented an increase of 21.6 percent over the first session of $86,324 a year ago. The 39 yearlings selling for at least $100,000 equaled the highest total for a single session at Lexington Selected, tying the mark set in 2007.

Prince De Vie, a Cantab Hall colt out of Dream Angel, sold for $400,000.

Bidding was spirited from the outset, as hip number one, pacing filly Encore Deo, sold for $100,000, the first lead-off yearling to sell for six figures in Lexington Selected history. This was also to be the highest priced among the seven the Burke Racing Stable purchased.

Just moments later, the bidding started at $200,000 for hip number five, Prince De Vie, and rocketed upward, finally stopping at $400,000. Myron Bell was the winning bidder for the Cantab Hall colt out of Dream Angel, a sister of Dream Vacation. The colt is a full brother to $221,961 winning Oasis Dream and current 2-year-old Fly Angel Fly, with a record of 1:56.3. Preferred Equine Marketing, Inc. consigned the colt for breeder Joie De Vie LLC.

USTA/Mark Hall photos

Bene Bene, a Kadabra filly out of Pizza Dolce, also was hammered down for $400,000.

That lofty $400,000 price was to be equaled later in the evening, as Melvin Hartman, David McDuffee, and Marvin Katz joined forces to acquire Bene Bene, a Kadabra filly out of Pizza Dolce, thus a full sister to multiple stakes winning mares Miss Paris 3, 1:54.2f ($865,160) and Bella Dolce 3,1:54.2 ($730,384). Hunterton Sales Agency consigned the filly for breeders Steve Stewart, Black Creek Farm and Donald Robinson.

Three additional yearlings sold for more than $300,000. Agent Björn Noren signed the slip for $355,000 for Dante, a Credit Winner colt out of Michelle’s Angel, making him a full brother to millionaire world champion Archangel. Diamond Creek Farm bred, raised, and consigned Dante.

The highest-priced pacer for the session was the filly Sonoma Valley, a Rocknroll Hanover out of Art’s Vintage, she being the dam of $2 million winning Vintage Master and another pair with earnings of more than $500,000 apiece. George Segal paid $325,000 for the filly that was consigned by Brittany Farms for Brittany Farms and Doug and Steve Monieson.

There was a substantial European contingent present on Tuesday and Robert Lindstrom was particularly active in the bidding, buying five yearlings, each for more than $100,000. The top among these at $320,000 was The Perfect Lindy, a Credit Winner colt. This is the first foal from Highscore Kemp, herself a $100,000 winner and a three-quarter sister to Hambletonian winner Trixton. K R Breeding LLC bred the colt that was consigned by Preferred Equine Marketing, Inc.

The Lexington Select Yearling Sale continues each evening at 7 p.m. through Saturday at the Fasig-Tipton Sale Arena.

Below are summaries by gait and sex for the first session.

Gait-Sex-Sold-Total Price-Average Price-Highest Price
Pace-Colts-21-$1,632,000-$77,714-$130,000
Pace-Fillies-27-$2,871,000-$106,333-$325,000
Trot-Colts-31-$3,757,000-$121,194-$400,000
Trot-Fillies-18-$1,921,000-$106,722-$400,000