Lexington, KY – Trotting colt Jimdougie Armitage, a son of Captain Corey-Quick Bet, became the highest-priced horse ever sold during a second session of the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale when he was purchased for $750,000 by Ake Svanstedt Inc. on Tuesday at the Fasig-Tipton Pavilion.
The previous high price on the sale’s second day came last year when pacing filly Naughty Beauty sold for $550,000.
Jimdougie Armitage is the first foal out of Quick Bet, who is a full sister to 2024 Dan Patch Award-winner Winner’s Bet. The family also includes Hall of Famer Marion Marauder. Armitage Farm, which purchased Quick Bet in foal to Captain Corey in 2023, raised and consigned Jimdougie Armitage. The Pennsylvania-eligible colt was bred by S R F Stable, which was among the owners of Captain Corey during his racing days.
Captain Corey’s first crop is racing this year, and the stallion is the leading money-winning sire of 2-year-olds, with his 79 starters banking $2.86 million so far.
Jimdougie Armitage will be owned by a group comprised primarily of Captain Corey’s original owners, Ake Svanstedt said. The winner of the 2021 Hambletonian, Captain Corey was trained and driven by Svanstedt.
“We hoped, of course, that (Jimdougie Armitage) would be cheaper,” Svanstedt said with a laugh. “But he was a good-looking horse and a good family on the mother’s side. And the Captain Coreys have raced good this year, also.”
Svanstedt said Jimdougie Armitage reminded him of Captain Corey.
“This one looks like him, but many of (his offspring) do,” Svanstedt said. “They have the big front and big neck. He stamped them.”
Second on Tuesday’s list of top sellers was trotting colt Kountry Win, a son of first-crop sire King Of The North out of Winndevie. He sold for $425,000 to Brad Grant. He is a half-brother to filly Winnpanzee, a multiple winner this year in the Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Series. The colt was bred by Ola Yoder and consigned by his Kountry Lane Standardbreds. He is Ontario and Kentucky eligible.
Trotting filly City Of Light, a daughter of Chapter Seven-Altar, was the third-highest seller, going for $300,000 to Nancy Takter, as agent. Her family includes Chorine Hanover, the dam of millionaire Possess The Magic and grandam of past Takter star Manchego. She was bred by Diamond Creek Farm and consigned by Alliance Bloodstock. She is New York and Kentucky eligible.
The top-selling pacer on Tuesday was colt Samuel Station, a son of Bulldog Hanover-Sloopy. He was purchased for $260,000 by Tony Alagna, as agent. The Ontario and Kentucky eligible was bred and consigned by Spring Station Bloodstock.
Tuesday’s group of 222 yearlings sold for a total of $19.1 million, an average of $86,333. Last year, 227 horses sold during the second session for $22.1 million and a day-two record average of $97,678.
Overall, 342 horses have sold this year for just shy of $41 million, averaging $119,787. Last year through two sessions, 344 horses sold for $44.4 million, an average of $129,265.
Andrew Harris, as agent for Bill Pollock, and Ake Svanstedt Inc. lead all buyers at the sale, with $2.285 million in purchases each.
The leading trotting sire through the two sessions was Walner, with 69 yearlings selling for a total of $10.078 million. Alrajah One IT led in average at $305,000 for two horses, followed by King Of The North ($211,250 for four), Father Patrick ($154,250 for four) and Captain Corey ($152,462 for 13).
On the pacing side, Captaintreacherous led in gross with 26 yearlings selling for $2.897 million. Bulldog Hanover was next, with 20 horses totaling $2.51 million. Downbytheseaside led in average at $189,875 for eight horses.
Prior to the start of Tuesday’s session, seven breedings were auctioned off to benefit this year’s Breeders Crown Charity Challenge.
The stallions, and winning bidders, were: Walner, Albert Crawford, $50,000; Captain Corey, Clear Creek Farm, $30,000; Sweet Lou, Greg Luther, $23,000; Tactical Landing, Clear Creek Farm, $20,000; Downbytheseaside, Greg Luther, $19,000; Bulldog Hanover, Adam Bowden, $12,000; Green Manalishi S, Stephen Palermo, $10,000.
The five-day sale will continue Wednesday and Thursday with 1 p.m. start times. Friday’s final session will begin at 7 p.m.
Find the sale’s catalog here. For the livestream, visit the sale’s company website here, and for complete results, click here.