The breeding game is rooted in patience, but any long-term strategy is best balanced out with some short-term yields, and a high-performing Pennsylvania-bred and -sired juvenile can provide just that.
Through the first 10 months of the year, no 2-year-old displayed that better than Notice of Action, a Hoppertunity colt who brought in a combined $178,800 in state incentive awards to his various connections through Oct. 31. That made him the second-highest earner of Pennsylvania incentives in 2023 through that time period, trailing only the 4-year-old Twisted Ride at $178,944.
Notice of Action went unbeaten in three starts through the end of October, all at Parx Racing, running for owner Andy Hawthorne and trainer Bobbi Anne Hawthorne.
The colt put the Pennsylvania-bred juvenile ranks on notice in his debut, a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight on Aug. 21, where he led at every point of call and drew away to win by four lengths.
After an eye-popping debut, Notice of Action rocketed up the class ladder to test the Prince Lucky Stakes, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for Pennsylvania-bred and -sired juveniles on Sept. 23. He was never far off the pace in the Prince Lucky under jockey Andy Hernandez, and after drawing clear in the stretch, he fended off a late charge from Lost and Confused to prevail by a half-length.
Notice of Action closed out the run with a six-furlong allowance optional claiming race on Oct. 25, where he decimated the field by five lengths.
In addition to the purse money, Notice of Action earned the Hawthornes $12,000 in owner bonuses. Depending on the track within the state, owner bonuses can tack on a boost of up to 40 percent on an overnight race's purse.
Notice of Action was bred in Pennsylvania by Bryan Minnich, out of the unraced Jump Start mare Be a Gem. His three-race winning streak earned Minnich $67,920 in breeders' awards.
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.
The colt also earned Northview Stallion Station, owner of sire Hoppertunity, $16,080 in stallion awards.
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.
NOTICE OF ACTION wins the Prince Lucky Stakes for 2yo PA Breed horses. Great ride by Andy Hernández at @letsgoracingpa
NOTICE OF ACTION se lleva la victoria en el Prince Lucky Stakes para dosañeros nacidos en Pennsylvania, la primera de 10 clásicos que se correran hoy en PARX pic.twitter.com/EmImAw8DSK
— Agentes305 (@agentes305) September 23, 2023
Another six-figure earner of Pennsylvania incentives was Aoife's Magic, who brought in a combined $138,600 awards through the end of October.
The daughter of Smarty Jones won both of her starts in that timeframe, both at Parx, taking a maiden special weight by 10 3/4 lengths, then winning the Imply Stakes by 4 1/4. David Dotolo trains Aoife's Magic for owner A and J Racing Stable.
Aoife's Magic was bred in Pennsylvania by Mohns Hill Farm, which picked up a $45,120 breeder's award for the filly's first two wins. Patricia Chapman, owner of champion Smarty Jones, earned $10,680 in stallion awards from her success.
Leading 2-Year-Old Earners Of 2023 Pennsylvania Incentives, Through Oct. 31
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