by David Carr

The Standardbred Horse Sale at Harrisburg started in solid fashion on Monday. Through the first 136 yearlings sold, the average price was $47,129, more than $17,000 greater than the final average from the 2004 sale.

The sale topper thus far is Modern Desire, a colt from the first crop by Real Desire and out of Wendy M Hanover, going to agent Gregory Peck for $255,000. The next highest price was $225,000 that Bob McIntosh paid for Vulcanize, a Muscles Yankee filly first foal out of My Starchip. Perretti Farms consigned both of these yearlings.

Jeff Snyder, who has owned a remarkable collection of pacing colts in recent years, hopes to have similar success with Cowboy Hanover, a Western Hanover colt out of Castanet Hall that he purchased for $180,000. Also selling for $180,000 was Merculese, an Artsplace filly out of Mercy Mercy Mercy, dam of freshman star Palone Ranger. Arthur Pronti had the winning bid.

Artsplace sired the other two yearlings selling for $150,000 or more, a colt out of Lilting Laughter ($155,000), and a filly out of Subtle Charm ($150,000). Both were purchased by Charles Karp, agent.