Stakes Winner Laddie Liam Sets Midlantic December Mixed Sale Record

Laddie Liam
Lydia A. Williams

The Midlantic December Mixed & Horses of Racing Age sale held Tuesday in Timonium, Maryland was marked by across-the-board increases and an all-time sale record high price. With 367 horses of all ages catalogued, the sale was bolstered by the dispersal of Joseph Besecker.

Maryland-bred stakes winner Laddie Liam (Hip 302) set a new sale record when sold to DJ Stable for $450,000 (video). The two-year-old colt by Golden Lad was offered by Northview Stallion Station (David Wade), agent for Dispersal of Joseph Besecker. Laddie Liam was a gate-to-wire winner last time out, capturing the Maryland Juvenile Futurity on December 7 at Laurel Park by 4 1/2 lengths. To date, Laddie Liam has won three of five starts this year at two and earned $128,556 for Besecker, who purchased the colt at last year's Midlantic December Mixed sale for $14,5000.

Another colt from the first crop of Golden Lad, Mine Not Mine (Hip 310), accounted for the second highest price of the sale. Prominent Midlantic racing supporter Charles Zacney purchased the first-out winner for $210,000 from Northview Stallion Station, agent for the Dispersal of Joseph Becker (video). Mine Not Mine broke his maiden on first attempt on November 14 before finishing fourth in the Maryland Juvenile Futurity on Saturday. A $72,000 Midlantic Fall Yearling sale purchase last year, Mine Not Mine has earned $30,453 to date.

The sale's top racing and/or broodmare prospect came in the form of Panthera Onca (Hip 328), a two-year-old daughter of Super Saver purchased for $175,000 by Lane's End Bloodstock (video). Panthera Onca has a record of 1-1-0 in three starts with earnings of $27,600 to date. She was consigned by Northview Stallion Station (David Wade), agent for Dispersal of Joseph Besecker.

The top broodmare came in the form of Altar Issues (Hip 1), a four-year-old daughter of Broken Vow carrying her second foal, from the second crop of multiple Grade 1 winner Practical Joke (video). Altar Issues was purchased for $105,000 by Three Diamonds Farm from the consignment of Northview Stallion Station (David Wade), agent for Dispersal of Joseph Besecker. The mare is a half-sister to recent Zia Park Oaks winner and multiple graded stakes placed Motion Emotion, from the immediate family of 2019 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) winner Sharing.

A colt from the second crop of Champion Sprinter Runhappy led the weanlings when sold for $60,000 to Jeff Runco, agent for David Raim (video). Offered as Hip 151 by breeder Takaro Farm, the West Virginia-bred is a half-brother to seven winners out of Grade 2 placed Grey Traffic, including stakes winners Ullapool and John Barley.

A filly by the late Jump Start topped a short contingent of 17 yearlings offered, selling for $57,000 to Mo Thoroughbreds from the consignment of Crane Thoroughbred Services, agent for Dispersal of Joseph Besecker. Offered as Hip 221, the Pennsylvania-bred daughter of five-time Pennsylvanian champion sire Jump Start is from the immediate family of Horse of the Yearling and Laurel Futurity (G1) winner L'Enjoleur.

Overall, 249 horses sold for $4,383,700, up 129% from when 201 horses sold for $1,911,000 last year. The average rose 85% to $17,605 from $9,508, while the median grew 60% to $8,000 from $5,000. The RNA rate was 18.9%, down 3.5% from 2018.

Results are available online.