HIP 313 Upgrade and HIP 439 Ellie Hanover shared top honors on Tuesday at the Standardbred Horse Sale as both went for $300,000.
A daughter of Green Manalishi consigned by agent Concord Stud Farm, Upgrade's dam Uptown Classic is a sister to Flawless Lindy, the dam of $1.9 million earner Southwind Frank. Upgrade was purchased by Bax Stables as agent.
Ellie Hanover, a filly from the first crop of Captain Corey bred and consigned by Hanover Shoe Farm, went to Captain Corey's trainer Ake Svanstedt. Ellie Hanover's 2-year-old brother Elan Hanover was the runner-up in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championship and a Bluegrass Series division at The Red Mile this year.
Coming in behind Upgrade and Ellie Hanover at $225,000 was HIP 458 Tavern Onthe Green, who was acquired by Serge Godin's Determination stable. Consigned by Concord Stud Farm as agent, Tavern Onthe Green is a Green Manalishi colt and is a half-brother to Mr Grant ($128,345, 1:54 3/5).
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Rounding out the top five sellers were HIP 202 Kountry Sill and HIP 277 Studio Boss at $200,000. A daughter of Chapter Seven consigned by Anvil And Lace Farm as agent, Kountry Sill is the second foal out of the Explosive Matter mare Phaetosive ($898,561, 1:51), and Studio Boss, who was consigned by Preferred Equine Marketing, Inc. as agent, is a Bettor's Delight colt. Studio Boss's dam is a sister to several top performers, led by double millionaire Glowing Report.
Through two sessions the average is down year-over-year ($59,605 in 2024 versus $60,187 in 2023), but the gross is up from $29,913,000 to $31,531,000. 497 horses sold through two days in 2023 while 529 have gone through the ring so far in 2024.
The yearling-only portion of the Standardbred Horse Sale concludes tomorrow with HIPs 553-910. The action gets underway at 10 a.m. (EST). On Thursday and Friday, the mixed sale will take place, with "first post" 11 a.m. (EST) both days.