Lexington, KY – Trotting filly Zoetry, a daughter of Volstead–Walner Payton, sold for $250,000 to Armitage Farm on Thursday night (Oct. 8) at Fasig-Tipton Pavilion to top the fourth and final session of the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, which concluded with a gross of more than $60 million and record average of $81,320.
This year’s sale, shortened from the past standard of five sessions, totaled $60.66 million, marking the fifth consecutive year the sale eclipsed $60 million. This year’s event saw 746 yearlings go through the auction ring, 140 fewer than any of the previous four years.
Last year, 890 yearlings sold for $60.89 million, an average of $68,417. This year’s average bettered that mark by 18.8% and was a 10.3% increase over the previous record average of $73,690, for 886 yearlings, set in 2022.
Thursday’s final session saw 125 yearlings sell for a total of $4.97 million, an average of $39,824. Last year, the final session had 124 yearlings go for $4 million, an average of $32,290.
Zoetry was one of 12 yearlings to sell for six figures on Thursday, and one of three to sell for at least $150,000. She is the first foal out of Walner Payton, a multiple graded stakes winner and New Jersey Sire Stakes champion. She was bred by Steve Stewart, Black Creek Farm, Urie Byler, and Oakwood Farms and consigned by Hunterton Sales Agency. She is Ohio and Kentucky eligible.
Next on the list of best sellers was pacing colt Paulas Master Plan, a son of Downbytheseaside-Paulas Bet Hanover, purchased for $190,000 by Patricia Stables. His family includes Grand Circuit winner Pirouette Hanover, the dam of O’Brien Award-winner Nijinsky. He was bred by Robert Miller and consigned by Anvil And Lace Farm. He is Ohio and Kentucky eligible.
Pacing filly Sugar Beach, a daughter of Pebble Beach-Hula Shuffle, completed the top three. She was purchased for $150,000 by Odds On Racing. She is a half-sister to two-time Ohio Sires Stakes champion Seaside Shuffle. She was bred by William Walters and Joseph McLead and consigned by Alliance Bloodstock. She is Ohio, Kentucky, and Buckeye Owner Bonus eligible.
The top sires in gross were trotting stallions Walner ($11.2 million – 75 yearlings), Chapter Seven (9.7 million – 56) and Tactical Landing ($5.1 million – 52). Chapter Seven led in average, at $173,929.
The top pacing stallions were Confederate (4.3 million – 51), Captaintreacherous ($4.2 million – 49) and Sweet Lou ($3.5 million – 47). Huntsville led in average, at $93,348 for 23 yearlings.
Hunterton Sales Agency was the leading consignor, totaling $11.7 million for 106 yearlings, an average of $110,538.
For complete sale details, visit lexingtonselected.com.