The Virginia Harness Horse Association (VHHA), which introduced a new Sired Stakes program last year, announced that the number of stallions standing in the state for the 2023 breeding season has risen to 20, up from 12 in 2022. Two years ago, prior to the introduction of this initiative, just four stallions stood in the Commonwealth.
Among the 2023 class is first time stallion Doctor Butch, winner of $1.6 million in purse earnings. His career triumphs include wins in the New York Sire Stakes final at age two and in the Art Rooney Pace at age three. The 13-year-old Art Major pacer is out of Classical Yankee by Jennas Beach Boy. He will stand in Central Virgnia, at Stony Ridge Farm in Charlottesville, along with pacing stallion Neptune, who is also new to the program. The son of Riverboat King bankrolled $324,764 and won eight different New York County Fair Stakes at the age of two.
Also in the Central Virginia region is trotter Great George Two, who along with pacer Toms Titan, will stand at Willow Hill Equestrian in Orange. The former won a Virginia Breeders Championship at Colonial Downs as a freshman and went on to earn $448,132. His career-best time of 1:52.1 was taken as a three-year-old. The latter accumulated $242,372 in earnings and a mark of 1:51. Trotter Climb Higher will stand in the same region as well. The son of Muscle Hill will be based at the Stoltzfus Farm in Dillwyn.
Six stallions will stand in the South Central part of the state, spread out among four farms. Trotter Dusty Winner, based at Charlie Dunavant's Woodhill Farm in Victoria, has sired 30 starters that have earned a combined $1.8 million. Calgary Seelster (pacer) and Shibboleth Hanover (trotter) will stand at Dan Chansky's Double C/C Ranch in Keysville. The former won $387,067 with a mark of 1:50.3 while the latter earned $242,079 with key wins in the Pennnsylvania Sire Stakes at age two and in a consolation at age three. Trotter Armed Dangerously, winner of the Fall Harvest Stakes at Yonkers as a freshman, will stand at Joe Coblentz's Farm in Nathalie along with another trotter, Secular, who was in the program last year. Lightly raced trotter Snow King, who has stood in Virginia for several years, has enrolled again at David Troyer's farm in Halifax.
Another six xtallions will stand in the Southwest portion of Virginia, including pacers Artzina and Jeneral Patton, at Michael Viars' Farm in Pilgrim Knob. The former bankrolled more than $800,000 during an impressive racing career and has sired 51 starters that have earned $3.4 million. The latter bankrolled $470,404 and earned 29 wins, and stands his first season in 2023. Trotters Gregory Pecs and Crime Fighter will both stand at Gideon Brenneman's Farm in Tazewell. Gregory Pecs has sired 21 foals that have placed in the Virginia Breeder's Fund races while Crime Fighter earned $185,211 in six years on the track and took a mark of 1:55.1. Trotter Love Hunter, who also boasts a 1:55.1 best, will be based at the Cedar Bluff Farm in Jonesville. Finally, trotter Winning Fireworks will stand at Tracy Bradshaw's TNT Racing Stable in Bland. The son of Credit Winner, who won the International Stallion Stakes at age two, has sired 47 starters that have earned a combined $1.7 million.
Two stallions will stand in Nothern Virginia at Equine Reproduction Services in Amisville. Pacer Well Of Fire is by Well Said and has a career mark of 1:51.2 while trotter Show Stopin Monkey won the Plesac Stakes elimination and final at the age of two. He has a career-best time of 1:55.1.
Virginia's Eastern Shore is represented this year too with a Muscles Yankee trotter out of Rosecroft Survivor. He will stand in Bloxum, which is near Chincoteague.
The Sired Stakes program will offer bonus payments for foals that meet qualifying times and dates as outlined in the rules at vhha.net. Both the stallion owner and breeder will receive $1,500, and if the mare and foal remain in Virginia for the entire foaling year, the mare owner will receive an additional $1,500.
Sired Stakes races will be run based on age, sex and gait as two and three-year-olds. Elimination races will feature a $6,000 purse and finals will go for $60,000 (est.). Sired foals are also eligible to compete in the Breeder's Fund races during the same years, which feature $8,000 elims and $80,000 (est.) finals.
Horsemen are encouraged to book their mare's 2023 breeding to one of these 20 stallions. More details, contact information and pricing for each is available at vhha.net or by calling Debbie Warnick at 443-463-0917.
The Sired Stakes initiative will complement other VHHA incentive programs like Breeder's Fund Races and the Certified Residency program. An enhanced 2023 racing schedule at Shenandoah Downs will feature a pair of seven-week meets. The spring session will run from April 1 - May 14 and the fall meet, pending Virginia Racing Commission approval, will run from Sept. 16 - Oct. 29.
(With files from Virginia Harness Horse Association)