by Dean A. Hoffman

One sure thing at a Standardbred auction is that the first foals by a outstanding racehorse are sure to attract a lot of attention and bids from horsemen.

The Harrisburg sale was no exception, as several first crop sires were represented by ample consignments of sons and daughters. Among the trotters, Broadway Hall’s first crop led the way, while Art Major topped the debut sires in the pacing ranks.

Last year the yearlings that commanded the most attention at the sales were the offspring of Andover Hall, and they have raced up to expectations in 2006, assuring that there was once again a strong demand for his yearlings. At Harrisburg this week they averaged $76,596.

Overall, the 1,046 yearlings sold this year at Harrisburg averaged $36,973. Let’s take a look at the averages by the first crop sires:

Trotters

Broadway Hall was unbeaten in his only season at the races, his freshman season when he swept the Breeders Crown and major stakes at Lexington. He failed to stand training as a sophomore, but proved to be a popular stud when he started his stud career at Fashion Farms in Pennsylvania. The 34 yearlings at Harrisburg by Broadway Hall averaged $26,162.

Another exciting first crop trotting sire is Kadabra, who was the Trotter of the Year in 2003 when he was a 3-year-old. Although not eligible for the Hambletonian he dominated the class, beating Andover Hall and Like A Prayer several times in prominent events. The Jimmy Takter-trained horse took up residence at Tara Hills Stud in Ontario, and his 28 Harrisburg yearlings sold for $22,857.

Pacers

Art Major yearlings were a hot commodity at Harrisburg, as the 58 head sold there averaged a strong $46,241. He is the richest son of the late Artsplace, and his offspring are eligible to the New York Sire Stakes, which should be boosted considerably when all the VLT money in the Empire State is pumped into purses.

The power of Red River Hanover’s pedigree was ample reason for his offspring to sell so well at Harrisburg. The son of Western Hanover, from the remarkable broodmare Rich N Elegant, sent 23 of his yearlings into the ring at Harrisburg and they averaged $28,891.

McArdle, a well-respected pacer who raced at the top levels of the sport for several seasons, was represented at Harrisburg by 25 yearlings, and they were valued at an average of $22,900 by purchasers.
The Triple Crown winner No Pan Intended bred a large book of mares in Ontario in his first season, and his 24 yearlings averaged $21,896 at Harrisburg. They are eligible to the booming Ontario Sire Stakes.

Allamerican Native won the Woodrow Wilson as a 2-year-old, and left the track with almost $1.3 million in the bank. The son of Presidential Ball had 19 sons and daughters selling at Harrisburg, and they averaged $19,368.