by Chris Tully, for Tattersalls

East Rutherford, NJ — The annual Tattersalls Summer Mixed Sale at The Meadowlands witnessed hot and fast bidding that resulted in a 34.7 percent increase in average per horse sale price from the previous year.

Of the 123 racehorses that sold for a gross of $2,544,200, the average reached $20,685. The main attraction of the well-attended harness horse auction was the “drop-in-the-box” nature of the 30 horses that raced in the two days prior to the sale, and more than 100 that raced in the last week.

Sevruga was Sunday’s top trotter at the Tattersalls Summer Mixed Sale.

The highlight of the sale was the offering of world champion trotter Sevruga, 1:50.3, who was a $160,000 post-sale purchase. A winner of more than $1 million lifetime, he will start in the $300,000 John Cashman Jr. Memorial on Hambo Day for new owners Scott and Joe Pennacchio.

Longtime horse owner, amateur driver, and current president of the Florida Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association, Joe Pennacchio noted that Sevruga “was one of the rare, great trotters around, and may be in just a little over his head in Grand Circuit stakes company. We look forward to racing him in Open and Late Closing events.”

Consigned by Northwood Bloodstock Agency, Sevruga was one of nearly 50 horses represented by Bob Boni. Following the sale, Boni noted pleasure with the day’s events and stated that “it was a very strong horse sale. Good horses sold well, as they usually do.”

The annual racehorse reduction of Jules Siegel’s Fashion Farm was particularly well-received, bolstered by several high-priced youngsters. Topping the overall 2-year-old sales was the PA eligible Broadway Hall gelding On The Sly, who showed consistently flat lines around 1:58 and fetched $51,000 from Barbara Boese of Milton, Del.

Preferred Equine Marketing represented another well-placed $75,000 Fashion Farm sale with the American Ideal colt, Ideal Fashion p,3,1:52.1f-’14. Kyle Spagnola signed for the 3-year-old New York eligible colt who had just won his last start at Yonkers in 1:53.4h.

Chris Tully photos

Moonliteonthebeach fetched $85,000 and will head to the P.J. Fraley barn.

Toward the end of the sale, prospective purchasers not willing to go home empty handed saw stars with Moonliteonthebeach p,4,1:51-’14, who was consigned by Preferred Equine Marketing for Scott Kimelman and the Blue Chip Bloodstock Partners. The bidding was fierce and competitive for the handsome 4-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere who just paced in 1:49.3, finishing second at Pocono just 12 hours before the sale. When the dust settled, Andrew Harris signed the winning $85,000 ticket for trainer P.J. Fraley and owner Jeff Bamond.

Lynch winning 3-year-old pacing filly Fancy Desire p,3,1:49 was the anticipated sale topper and was hammered down for $195,000, however failed to reach the required reserve price.

Tattersalls sales manager David Reid was happy with the overall results of the sale and was optimistic about the health of the industry.

“Sales have been good. This was a very active group of racehorses, which always translates into active bidding. My only disappointment was the relative absence of Canadian buyers. It serves as a true indicator of the importance of the slots programs in these regional markets. Having said that, with an eye on the future, bring on the Hambletonian.”