Pennsylvania features one of North America's most lucrative breeder's awards for Thoroughbred racing, and no farm took advantage of that in 2023 quite like Blackstone Farm.
The Pine Grove, Penn.,-based operation of Christian Black and Douglas Black (no relation) finished 2022 as the state's leading earner of breeder's awards, bringing in $423,292, well ahead of second-place William J. Solomon with $312,162.
For horses bred and sired in Pennsylvania, breeders earn a 50 percent bonus on purse earnings for maiden races run within the state. Runners bred in the state but sired by a horse standing elsewhere are eligible for a 25 percent bonus. For all other races within the Keystone State, runners bred and sired in Pennsylvania can earn a 40 percent bonus, while those by out-of-state sires earn their breeders a 20 percent bonus.
Blackstone Farm's fortunes were led in 2022 by Divine Miracle, a Distorted Humor gelding who generated $42,682 in breeder's awards. Last year's campaign was the strongest by Divine Miracle to date, racking up six wins in 11 starts, all at Parx Racing, with just one out-of-the-money effort.
His season started with a three-race winning streak, starting with a pair of seven-furlong sprints and concluding in a 1 1/16-mile starter handicap, where he set the early pace and held on by a neck. Divine Miracle finished second in the following start, then he won three of his next four races, with the most lucrative being a $75,400 one-mile allowance optional claiming race on Aug. 3, where he stalked the leader, took command in the stretch, and drew off by 6 3/4 lengths.
Divine Miracle is trained by Jamie Ness, who co-owns the gelding with Morris Kernan Jr., and Yo Berbs Racing.
He is out of the unplaced Giant's Causeway mare La Boheme, who was purchased by Blackstone Farm for $65,000, pregnant for the first time to Exchange Rate, at the 2013 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.
La Boheme was sold again for $75,000 at the 2019 Keeneland January Horses of All Age Sale, notable for the fact that she was offered as one of just five mares that was ever impregnated by the subfertile Battle of Midway before his ill-fated return to the racetrack. The ensuing foal, a filly named Velvet Revolution, is unraced.
Finishing closely behind Divine Miracle among Blackstone Farm's award earners was Love in the Air, a daughter of Constitution who earned $42,360 for her breeders in 2022.
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If you appreciate our work, you can support us by subscribing to our Patreon stream. Learn more.Like Divine Miracle, Love in the Air enjoyed a career season in 2022, winning three of seven starts for owner Main Line Racing Stable and trainer John Servis.
After starting her season with a runner-up effort at Gulfstream Park and a win at Monmouth Park, Love in the Air raced in her home start for the first time in the Lyphard Stakes at Penn National on June 3, where she recovered from a troubled start to finish second by 1 1/2 lengths to Maldives Model, and 16 3/4 lengths ahead of third-place Wildcat Cartridge.
Love in the Air continued to climb the class ladder in her next start, where she finished third in the Grade 3 Dr. James Penny Memorial Stakes at Parx Racing. Her next two starts were convincing victories against state-bred competition at Parx, trouncing the Mrs. Penny Stakes on Aug. 22 by six lengths, then leading at every point of call to take the Plum Pretty Stakes on Sept. 24 by two lengths.
Love in the Air is out of the multiple stakes-winning Freud mare Lovely Syn. Blackstone purchased the mare, with Love in the Air in utero, for $50,000 at the 2017 Keeneland November sale.
Leading Earners Of Pennsylvania Breeder's Awards In 2022
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