After a long rein by the late Jump Start at the top of the Pennsylvania sire ranks, it appears there is a new sheriff in town.
After leading all Pennsylvania sires by stallion awards earned for the first time in 2022, Wyn Oaks Farm's Weigelia is once again setting the pace through the first quarter of 2023, leading longtime rival Jump Start by a margin of $61,206 to $44,250.
The owner of a Pennsylvania-based stallion at the time of a foal's conception is eligible for stallion awards generated by that foal. Stallion owners receive 10 percent of the purse earned when a registered Pennsylvania-bred and- sired runner finishes in the top three in any pari-mutuel race within the state.
Weigelia's rapid ascent in 2023 makes plenty of sense when one accounts for the fact that the top five individual earners of stallion awards on the racetrack were each by the leading sire.
Chief among them is Disco Ebo, who earned $9,996 in stallion awards for Weigelia's owner through the end of March.
The 4-year-old filly went three-for-three in that time frame, taking a pair of allowance races at Parx Racing in January and February, then leading at every point of call and drawing off by 6 3/4 lengths to win the Penn's Landing Stakes at the same track on March 7.
Date Night Kisses was Weigelia's second-leading earner of stallion awards, bringing in $7,728.
Also a 4-year-old filly, Date Night Kisses went unbeaten in two starts through the end of March, leading all the way around to win a Parx starter allowance on Jan. 18 by 7 3/4 lengths, then going to the front once again in a Feb. 13 Parx optional claiming race, where she hung on to win by three-quarters of a length.
Rounding out the quintet of top earners on behalf of Weigelia were Captain Chazz ($4,872); Ninetypercentbrynn ($4,872); and Beren ($4,788).
Weigelia, a 22-year-old son of Safely's Mark, stands at WynOaks Farm in Delta, Pa., for a private fee.
He won 13 of 48 starts during his on-track career and earned $1,007,708, highlighted by victories in the Grade 3 Carry Back Stakes and Kenny Noe Jr. Handicap, with four additional graded stakes placings.
Leading Pennsylvania Stallion Award Earners, Through March 2023
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