by David Carr, the U.S. Trotting Association

Lexington, KY — The hall was rockin’ as the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale flexed its muscle Tuesday night (Oct. 2) with an opening session that posted an average price of $86,455, a gain of more than eight percent compared to the first session a year ago. A pair of former Horses of the Year, the resurgent Rocknroll Hanover and the eagerly anticipated first crop of trotting sire Muscle Hill, led the way for their respective gaits.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Monarch Kemp attracted a winning bid of $360,000 from Brixton Medical Ab of Sweden.

Muscle Hill dominated the leader board, with the two highest priced youngsters, and three of the top five. The colt Monarch Kemp claimed honors for the evening, attracting a winning bid of $360,000 from Brixton Medical Ab of Sweden. Dam Emilie Cas El was Canadian Horse of the Year in 1994, an international winner of more than $400,000, dam to three foals that have earned at least $100,000 and is a full sister to the terrific troika of Andover Hall, Angus Hall and Conway Hall. Hunterton Sales Agency consigned the colt for owners Steve Stewart, John Bootsman and Kemppi Stable.

The runner-up position went to Deepdish, a filly out of Pizza Dolce, herself a Dan Patch Award divisional winner and dam of a pair of foals earning more than $600,000 each. Another Swede, Robert Lindstrom, made the final bid for this dark filly that was consigned by Hunterton Sales Agency for Steve Stewart, Black Creek Farm and Donald Robinson.

Rocknroll Hanover had only two yearlings sell for six figures in 2011, both for $120,000. What a difference a year can make, as he had four selling for more than $130,000 on Tuesday, including the leading pacing-bred yearling, Rock The Casbah, hammered down for $300,000. This colt, out of former divisional champ and world record-holder Stienam’s Place, is a full brother to the $2 million winner Put On A Show. Kentuckiana Farms served as agent for raising and consigning the colt for Kentuckiana Farms General Partners and Green Mountain Farms. Trainer Mark Harder signed for the colt on behalf of fellow Aussie Emilio Rosati.

Harder and Rosati were the winning combination in turning their attention to trotters and nabbing the filly Mother Night for $280,000. By Cantab Hall, she is the first foal of multiple stakes winner Lunar Dream Om, a three-quarter sister to Victory Dream and Dream Valley Om. Consignor Preferred Equine Marketing Inc. acted as agent for owner Moni Market Breeders.

A total of 99 yearlings passed through the ring on Tuesday, for a total sale of $8,559,000. Exactly one-third, 33, sold for at least $100,000.

Here are the top priced horses and averages.

Yearling-Sire-Dam-Sex-Gait-Price-Buyer
Monarch Kemp-Muscle Hill-Emilie Cas El-C-T-$360,000-Brixton Medical Ab
Deepdish-Muscle Hill-Pizza Dolce-F-T-$320,000-Robert Lindstrom, Agent
Rock The Casbah-Rocknroll Hanover-Stienam’s Place-C-P-$300,000-Mark Harder, Agent
Mother Night-Cantab Hall-Lunar Dream Om-F-T-$280,000-Mark Harder, Agent
Deyrolle-Muscle Hill-Danae-C-T-$250,000-Myron Bell, Agent
Rock N Delight-Rocknroll Hanover-Darlin’s Delight-C-P-$230,000-John Cancelliere
Cyber Attack-Rocknroll Hanover-Arterra-C-P-$150,000-Casie Coleman, Agent for Jeffrey Snyder
Skyful Of Lighters-Bettor’s Delight-Lisheen-C-P-$150,000-John Cancelliere
Southwind Fury-Muscle Hill-Freeze Frame-C-T-$145,000-Gregory Peck
Ivory Pearl-Muscle Hill-Pure Ivory-F-T-$135,000-Martti Ala-Seppala
Readington-Rocknroll Hanover-Dolphins Can Talk-C-P-$135,000-Craig Henderson
Impatience-Somebeachsomewhere-Restive Hanover-F-P-$130,000-Dustin Jones
That’s Some Plan-Somebeachsomewhere-That’s The Plan-C-P-$130,000-John Cancelliere

Group-No. Sold-Total Price-Average Price-Top Price-Median-$100,000+
Pacing Colts-24-$2,485,000-$103,542-$300,000-$93,500-11
Pacing Fillies-22-$1,412,000-$64,182-$130,000-$60,000-4
Trotting Colts-30-$2,660,000-$88,667-$360,000-$77,000-12
Trotting Fillies-23-$2,002,000-$87,043-$320,000-$70,000-6
Total-99-$8,559,000-$86,455-$360,000-$72,000-33

The Lexington Selected Sale continues with sessions starting at 7 p.m. through Saturday (Oct. 6) at the Fasig-Tipton Pavilion.