by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Harrisburg, PA – Two Timer duplicated the feat of her half sister, Social Butterfly.

USTA/Ken Weingartner photo

Trotting filly Two Timer, a daughter of Andover Hall out of Gracious Marla, was the top-priced yearling sold during Tuesday’s session at the Standardbred Horse Sale. Two Timer was purchased by trainer Tony Alagna for owner John Carver for $180,000.

A daughter of Andover Hall out of Gracious Marla, the trotting filly was the top-priced yearling sold during Tuesday’s session at the Standardbred Horse Sale. Two Timer was purchased by trainer Tony Alagna for owner John Carver for $180,000.

Last year, Social Butterfly was the sales topper of the third session of the Lexington Selected sale. Social Butterfly won a race on the New York Sire Stakes circuit this year.

Gracious Marla is a half sister to Mom’s Millionaire, the dam of trotting star Snow White.

“We looked at her at Lexington when we were looking at (Diamond Creek Farm’s) colts for the Lexington sale,” Alagna said. “We asked if they had anything they really liked for Harrisburg and she was one of the two trotting fillies they showed us. She turned out very nice; was very nice in the field. We made notes about her and waited.

“John Carver was looking for a nice trotting filly. He decided he liked her and wanted to take a shot. The mare has a lot of upside as a broodmare. We were trying to buy a top level trotting filly so when she is done racing she can hopefully become a broodmare as well.”

Payoff Blue Chip, by Western Terror out of Dark Fiber, sold for $127,000 to Richard Young. The colt is a half brother to Ontario Sire Stakes standout Lennon Blue Chip.

USTA/Ken Weingartner photo

Payoff Blue Chip, by Western Terror out of Dark Fiber, sold for $127,000 to Richard Young.

Keystone Bernard, a son of Cantab Hall out of Balanced Action, was purchased by Ron Gurfein for $110,000. He is a half brother to Manningly, who earlier this year won a Champlain division and was second in a Bluegrass division. Balanced Action is a half sister to Baby Cindy, who is the dam of 2006 Nat Ray runner-up Ripped.

For the day, 364 horses sold for a total of $10.5 million. The average for the second session was $28,846, compared to $36,187 for the second session last year.

Through two days, 731 horses sold for $26.6 million, an average of $36,493. In 2007, the average through two days was $49,149.

“In relative terms, it was a little better,” said Murray Brown, the sale’s general manager. “We were down around 27 percent yesterday; I don’t know what the numbers are today, but it will be less than that. The middle has come back a little. We’re still subject to the economy, but things could be worse. A lot of people are hurting a lot more than we are.”

Monday’s sales topper, Muscle Massive, sold for $425,000, which was the highest price for a yearling at auction since Courtney Hall sold for $500,000 in 2003.