by Kim French, USTA Internet News Editor

Sunbury, OH — On a picture perfect Friday (Sept. 16) in Sunbury, Ohio, the Ohio Selected Jug Yearling Sale was packed with many new faces prepared to sign checks to procure members of the first crops of stallions My MVP, Pet Rock and We Will See.

Conducted at the Eden Park Equestrian Complex, the two-day sale also featured the first Ohio-eligible crops of Manofmanymissions, Dragon Again and Yankee Cruiser. In addition, top Ohio stallions Triumphant Caviar and Dejarmbro were represented.

Allgonowhoa (here with Brooke Moseley) was the sales topper of the opening session at $80,000.

When the gavel dropped for the final occasion on Friday, after 159 youngsters went through the ring, it was the venerable Dragon Again who was responsible for the highest priced yearling of the sale in Allgonowhoa, who was catalogued as Hip Number 33 and fetched $80,000. James Dailey, as agent, was the winning bidder.

The second foal from Spring Delight, the colt is a half-brother to 2-year-old Zoe Ellasen (Santanna Blue Chip) p,2,1:54.4f ($102,700) who captured an Ohio State Fair division and two Ohio Sires Stakes legs. Allgonowhoa’s dam is by Bettor’s Delight and is a full sister to Bettor’s Edge p,1:48.1s ($1,855,990).

The colt was raised at Sugar Valley Farm, where Dragon Again stands, and was consigned by Spring Haven Farm as that facility’s agent.

“I am so humbled by the opportunity to have one of the best stallions of all-time stand at our farm,” said farm co-owner Joe McLead. “I am so incredibly grateful to Ed Mullinax for bringing Dragon Again to Ohio, where he lives, and for selecting us to care for him. It truly is an honor to be associated with Ed and this horse.”

Kelly O’Donnell, who trained Dragon Again as a 2- and 3-year-old, bought a pair of his offspring today.

“Dragon Again was only the third horse I bought with Ed and we paid $40,000 for him at Harrisburg all those years ago,” said O’Donnell. “We were not able to win the Little Brown Jug with him as he finished fifth in the elimination so he did not make the final. We were able to win that race with P-Forty-Seven and being an Ohio native, that is all you dream about.

“For Dragon Again to spend his last years at stud in Ohio and for me to have the opportunity to train his colts and fillies after all he has accomplished and in our home state is an absolute thrill. It is so exciting the Ohio program is on par with other top programs in the nation and we have the opportunity to compete with Ohio-breds in races like the Breeders Crown.”

Also, Sugar Valley’s top trotter My MVP produced My Favorite MVP, who is out of Love My Muscles, and sold as Hip Number 138 for $70,000. W.J. Donovan purchased the colt consigned as agent by Hunterton Sales Agency on behalf of Willow Oak Ranch. His dam is by Muscles Yankee and the granddam is Amour Hall with the great-granddam being Amour Angus. The colt is a half-brother to Dangle Then Deke (Cantab Hall) who has $85,153 in the bank as a 2-year-old and won an Arden Downs division and a pair of PA Sires Stakes legs.

There certainly was buzz prior to the sale about the progeny of Pet Rock. Although the world champion, who services mares at Midland Acres, did not surpass his elders when it came to what his yearlings were purchased for, the stallion definitely held his own.

USTA/Mark Hall photos

Rockin Shark sold for $77,000 to Gerald R. Denney.

His bay filly Rockin Shark (Hip Number 64) out of the Four Starzzz Shark mare Shark Lightning lit up the board at $77,000. Consigned by Spring Haven Farm, Rockin Shark is the first foal out of her dam and her fourth dam, Ellens Glory by Meadow Skipper, gave birth to champion Matt’s Scooter. Gerald R. Denney signed the sales slip.

Pet Rock had another $75,000 colt in Rockin Away. Consigned by Spring Run Farm, he is a son of Higher Standards (Camluck) who is a half-sister to world champion Pacific Playboy (Pacific Fella) p,1:48.3f ($571,208). Rockin Away went through the ring as Hip Number 121 and was sold to Brian Brown.

“I was very excited with how well Pet Rock was received,” said Jay Mossbarger of Midland Acres. “I think people chose to support proven stallions like Dragon Again, McArdle and Yankee Cruiser, but the middle market of this sale was very strong and I think the average price was roughly $23,000. That is what you want to see.”

Hickory Lane residents McArdle and Dejarmbro also were strongly supported. Hip Number 65, Thrill Seeker, a McArdle-You Thrill Me filly was purchased by W.J. Donovan for $75,000. By Jate Lobell, You Thrill Me earned $255,451 on the racetrack and has already produced a 2-year-old full brother to Thrill Seeker in Ohio State Fair and Ohio Sires Stakes winner McThriller.

While his yearlings did not sell as powerfully as Dragon Again, McArdle or Pet Rock, Dejarmbro’s colts and fillies brought very solid middle range prices with a very stout average.

Another 163 colts and fillies are scheduled for purchase Saturday (Sept. 17), with the auction beginning at 12 noon.

For more information or to review sales results please click here.