by Ellen Harvey, Harness Racing Communications

Harrisburg, PA — The sales topper yearling on the third day at the Standardbred Horse Sale on Wednesday was the $180,000 Courser Hanover (hip #884). The son of Astreos and Cindy B was sold by Hanover Shoe Farms. Tony Alagna, assistant trainer for Erv Miller, acted as agent for the new owner, John Carver.

“He’s an outstanding individual from the conformation point of view,” says Hanover Shoe Farm President John Simpson, “but if you look right here (in the catalog, pointing to the Western Ideal half sister Current Hanover p,3,1:50.3 ($380,248), she’s been racing great and a world champion, too. He just had it all. This is the kind of horse we like to sell on Wednesday, we like to keep it spicy.”

USTA/Ellen Harvey photo

Courser Hanover is headed for the Erv Miller Stable.

Courser Hanover is a half brother to Current Hanover, the 2006 Matron winner and 2007 Miss New Jersey winner. Also Runover Hanover ($175,521, 1:51f), Cinch Hanover ($154,149, 1:53.1f) and Cancun Hanover ($194,335, 1:52.1h).

John Carver of Rapids City, Ill., owned Anniecrombie, among many other top level horses.

Tony Alagna acted as agent for his employer Erv Miller, who is in Australia and New Zealand watching his brother Andy represent the United States in the World Driving Championship.

“I went over to Hanover probably three weeks ago to look at their babies and (farm manager) Dr. Jablonsky said, ‘I’ve got a really nice colt, are you interested in an Astreos?’ I said, It’s funny you should say that, because John Carver, who’s bought a lot of horses this year, has been asking Erv to buy an Astreos all summer.

“It kind of worked together like that, so when I went back to Illinois I told Erv about the colt. Mr. Carver was in town that weekend and he saw the video and he said, ‘I like him, try to buy him.’

“I was on the phone with him (Carver) while the horse was in the ring. We thought we lost him there for a minute, because he got to almost $200,000, but they came back down again. I said, we’re at 175, do you want to try him one more time for 80 and he said yes, so we bid one more time and got him.”

Alagna says the extra time spent studying yearlings before the sale “sold” him on Courser Hanover.

“He was one of the top three colts I saw at the farm,” said Alagna. “He just has a presence about him, and for his size, he was very lightweight going out in the paddock, tail up over his back.

“Hanover was very accommodating when I went there. We turned out horses until quarter to seven at night. We had him out and he was just so athletic and he has a nice family. Compared to a lot of horses that come out of Canada, he has a stronger family compared to a lot of mares up there.

“We’ve probably only bought four or five Ontario-sired this year. We haven’t bought as many as we normally did because Erv and I weren’t able to get up to the Forest City Sale.”

The first six figure horse selling on Wednesday at the Standardbred Horse Sale at Harrisburg was a Western Terror filly, Terroronthebeach (hip #846), hammered down for $100,000. She was bred by Birnam Wood Farms, Paul Stromick and David Meirs III. Meirs raised the filly at his Concord Stud Farm in New Jersey. Trainer Travis Alexander acted as agent in the purchase of the Ontario-bred filly.

USTA/Ellen Harvey photo

Breeder David Meirs III shows off the filly Terroronthebeach, who was purchased for $100,000 on Wednesday.

“I bred the mare (Beach Guest) to Western Terror because he won the Breeders Crown,” said Meirs. “He’s not a great big horse, but the mare herself, Beach Guest, is a good-sized Beach Towel mare.”

Meirs has liked the filly since March 12, 2006, when she was born.

“The filly has always been one of my picks. I’ve been touting this filly since the day she was born and I would have bred to the horse (Western Terror) this year if he’d stayed in Canada. She’s got a combination of everything, the looks, everything. She’s always had a kind eye, she’s never pinned her ears. I’ve never seen anything disagreeable with her and when she takes off across the field, she just floats. I’ve got a lot of respect for Western Terror, but I’ve been a real believer when I got a filly that looks like her.”

“She’s just a gorgeous filly, pedigree is very nice, conformation, she had all the pieces you look for in a filly,” said Travis Alexander. “I like Ontario (breds), I like what they’ve done with the Golds (sire stakes program), that they’ve upped the purses, it’s just a very nice place to race, they treat you well up there.

“She’ll be based at Gaitway Farm in New Jersey, possibly Florida, I might send some babies to Florida. She’s on her way to Gaitway right now.”