The Pennsylvania breeding program offers one of the country's most generous state-bred incentive structures, meaning a breeder can find plenty of money in their mailbox with a few good runners born in the Keystone State.
Through the first four months of 2022, Richard Miller of Mountain Springs Stable experienced this first hand, finishing at the top of the list by Pennsylvania breeder's awards earned, with $110,721.
Breeders of horses born and sired in Pennsylvania are eligible for a 50 percent bonus on purse earnings for maiden races run in the state, and a 40 percent bonus for all other races within the state lines. Pennsylvania-bred runners by an out-of-state sire can earn their breeders a 25 percent bonus for maiden races and a 20 percent bonus for other races.
Miller's graduates were led through the end of April by Empress Irene, who had racked up $24,528 in breeder awards.
Empress Irene is a daughter of Emperor Tiberius, who stands at Miller's Mountain Springs Stable in Palmyra, Pa. In addition to the breeder's awards the filly has generated for Miller, she has also accumulated $6,312 in stallion awards.
The bulk of that award money came from the three-race winning streak that kicked off Empress Irene's 2022 campaign.
Trained by Michael Catalano Jr., for Just In Time Racing, Empress Irene started her season in a 5 1/2-furlong claiming race at Parx Racing on Jan. 12, where she led at every point of call and kicked away to win by a dominant six lengths.
On Feb. 9, she stretched out to six furlongs, and went wire-to-wire again with a bit more competition, en route to a three-quarter-length score.
A few weeks later on Feb. 28, Empress Irene prevailed on the lead at six furlongs once again, this time by 5 3/4 lengths.
Miller's breeding operation has also been represented well this year by Alpha's Candy Man, a son of Pennsylvania stallion Red Vine who has earned $24,528 in breeder's awards through April.
The gelding, owned and trained by J. Guadalupe Guerrero and campaigned in partnership with Elmer Orantes, had an active spring at Parx Racing and Penn National.
Alpha's Candy Man raced seven times through the end of April, including four maiden claiming races to start the season. He graduated on March 8, after taking a seven-furlong sprint at Parx by two lengths. Two starts later on April 6, he won a 5 1/2-furlong Parx claiming race by a nose.
In addition to his victories, Alpha's Candy Man finished second in a pair of maiden claiming races, which took advantage of the 50 percent bonus on the runner-up shares of solid purses.
The post Pennsylvania Leaderboard Presented By Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association: Empress Irene Propels Miller To Front Of Breeder Award Race appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
