For all the incentives in the Pennsylvania program geared toward breeding and standing stallions in the Keystone State, the bonuses for racing those horses on their home turf are just as lucrative.
Owners of Pennsylvania-breds that race at Parx Racing, Penn National, or Presque Isle Downs can earn “owner bonuses,” paying out extra money on a percentage of overnight purses. Over $3 million has been paid out in owner bonuses this year, with Admiral Abe bringing in the most for owner Stefcon Racing.
Admiral Abe, a 5-year-old Midshipman gelding, has made $50,592 in owner bonus earnings in 2021, racing exclusively at Parx.
Pennsylvania-breds earn a 40 percent owner bonus on their share of the purse, paid for by the racetrack, for overnight races at Parx. Overnight races at Presque Isle are eligible for a 30 percent owner bonus, while races at Penn National net a 20 percent bonus. Restricted stakes races for horses bred and sired in Pennsylvania are also eligible for a 25 percent owner bonus.
Admiral Abe was bred in Pennsylvania by White Diamond Inc. and Five Ring Stables. He was claimed by Ed Stefanski and Bill Conlin's Stefcon Racing for $25,000 in January 2020; a transaction that was later named Outstanding Claim of the Year by the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association.
Though the accolade was for the 2020 racing season Admiral Abe has rewarded his new owners in 2021 with his best season to date, winning five of 11 starts and earning $265,972. Adding the owner bonus, the money the gelding has brought in this season exceeds $300,000.
Racing for trainer Robert Mosco, Admiral Abe shook off a rusty trip in his 2021 debut to win his next two starts, both one-turn allowance races at Parx. The springtime months saw him take another pair of Parx allowances, both at 5 1/2 furlongs.
Admiral Abe has found his best form in the second half of the year, highlighted by a front-winning score over the slop in the Marshall Jenney Handicap on Aug. 23. He then proved that his form could carry over to the grass, switching surfaces to finish third in the G3 Turf Monster Stakes.
Ninetypercentbrynn sits in second on the list by Pennsylvania owner bonus earnings, bringing in $32,560 for LC Racing on top of the $153,760 she made in purse earnings.
The 3-year-old Weigelia filly has won three of 10 starts in 2021, and she has finished fourth or better each time she has entered the starting gate this season, which helped her compile owner bonus money.
After finishing second in three straight races, Ninetypercentbrynn broke her maiden at Parx in June, and she immediately followed up with a Parx allowance score in July. After running fourth in the Mrs. Penny Stakes and Plum Pretty Stakes, trainer Robert Reid Jr. moved Ninetypercentbrynn to Penn National for her most recent start on Oct. 19, where she overcame traffic trouble to win by 2 1/2 lengths.
Ninetypercentbrynn was bred in Pennsylvania by her owner, LC Racing.
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