Don’t overlook older stallions

In the sport of harness racing, the most prolific racehorses soon make their way to the breeding shed, typically after an outstanding 3-year-old season. In Ohio, there are 94 stallions registered for the 2023 breeding season, with those fresh off the track likely to garner the most mares.

However, there are a handful of Ohio-based stallions, that despite their ages, still garner a healthy crop of mares each year, due to the fact that they continue to sire a nest of prolific foals. The following are six that stand in the Buckeye State worth noting who are still producing champions at elevated ages.

Full Count, a son of Striking Sahbra, who has stood at Marvin Raber’s farm in Baltic Ohio since 2006, has produced the winners of $10,092,255 from 170 starters, with 85 in two minutes and 12 in 1:55 or faster. This robust, dark bay stallion, who was foaled on April 3, 2001 in Streetsboro, OH, earned $238,692 and recorded a mark of 4, 1:55.4f. He is out of the Final Score 3, 1:56.3 ($625,989) mare Sibyl Score and is a half-brother to Delayofgame (by Sand Chaser) 5, 1:57.3f ($118,459). In 2022, at age 21, Full count had a respectable book of 32 mares.

One of Full Count’s top performers is Jeffrey P, a winner of countless opens for trainer Ron Burke on the Ohio Circuit. This gelding took a 2022 mark of 1:51.3f at age six, with lifetime earnings of $449,341. Another top progeny in 2022 was the 4-year-old mare Celebrate With Me , 4, 1:53.3f ($374,053), along with her full brother, the 2-year-old Black Magic, 2, 1:55.1f ($231,578), while another full sibling, the 3-year-old Hustlenomics 3, 1:54.1f ($107,346) was a viable threat in the Buckeye Stallion Series last year.

Other members at the top of Full Count’s genetic prize list include the full siblings Count Me In 5, 1:53.2f ($443,019) and Contessa Leigh 3, 1:56.4f ($300,442); Annie’s Rocketman 8, 1:55h ($356,388); Dark Roast 5, 1:56.1f ($240,446); and Count On Kami 3, 1:57.3h ($232,396).

Another Marvin Raber protégé is the former world champion pacer, The Panderosa p, 3, 1:49.3 ($1,452,418), a son of Western Hanover who stood in Pennsylvania from 2000 through 2012, before moving to Ohio in 2013. The Panderosa serviced 21 mares in 2022 and to date in his career has sired the winners of $118,769,702, with 555 pacing in 1:55 or better.

The Panderosa is out of the Coal Harbor p, 4, 1:52.3f ($4465,620) mare Daisy Harbor p, 3, T1:53.3 ($293,482), and his popularity hasn’t waned over the years, with good reason. Foaled February 12, 1996 at Hanover, PA, this striking bay has sired the likes of Shadow Play p,4,1:47.4 ($1,549,881); Ponder p,5,1:58.1 ($1,522,936); Mypanmar p,5,1:48.3s ($1,490,996); Yagonnakissmeornot p,5,1:49.3 ($1,458,850), Dapper Dude p,4,1:49f ($1,395,297), Metropolitan p,3, 1:50.1 ($1,175,63), P-Forty-Seven p, 3, 1:48.2 ($707,660), and countless other sub 1:50 pacers.

Another foal of 2006 who continues to grab impressive numbers is the SJ’s Caviar stallion Triumphant Caviar, 4, 1:51.4s ($796,794) who stands at Abby Stables in Sugarcreek, Ohio. Foaled on May 22, 2006 in Lewistown, PA, this solid bay stallion covered 46 mares last season and from 210 starters, has 123 who have trotted in 2:00 or faster and 31 who have been clocked in 1:55 or better, with total foal earnings of $16,812,346.

At age 17, Triumphant Caviar continues to sire a plethora of starters and winners in some of Ohio’s top stakes, including these standout performers: Pure Chance 3, 1:52.2s ($644,312); Gabby’s C Note 3, 1:54.3f ($629,938), Rose Run Sydney 4, 1:54.1h ($597,703); Winning Ticket 3, 1:53.1f ($560,240), Kanthaka 3, 1:53.4f ($425,718); Kestrel 4, 1:52.1f ($391,845); and Yanks Dugout 5, 1:52.3 ($343,627).

Western Vintage, a 12-year-old son of Western Ideal-Major Harmony-Art Major, also resides at Abby Stables, and has been standing in Ohio since 2015, breeding 26 mares in 2022. This dark bay horse, who was foaled on April 22, 2011 in Versailles, KY, earned $402,478 and recorded a freshman record of p, 2, 1:49.4. From just 116 starters, he’s sired the winner of $4,920,861 from 69 two-minute performers and 47 who have paced in 1:55 or faster.

This stallion’s progeny have proved to be solid raceway horses as well as stakes winners, including Rose Run Ulysses p, 6, 1:50.3f ($420,163); Ellagator p, 5, 1:49.3h ($332,672) Authentic Hanover p, 5, 1:51.4h ($192,180); and Western Boots p, 5, 1:50.1f ($139,580).

Uncle Peter, a 14-year-old son of Cantab Hall, out of the Enjoy Lavec mare Victory Treasure,had an impressive book of broodmares in 2022, with 75 bred. Standing at Hickory Lane Farm in Findlay, Ohio, Uncle Peter has sired the winners of $17,644,505, including Katie’s Lucky Day, who won the 2021 edition of the Filly Kentucky Futurity. This bay horse, who was foaled March 29, 2009 at Lancaster, Ohio, racked up solid trotting credentials, earning $1,290,660 with a 4-year-old record of 1:50.3f.

Uncle Peter’s top performers include Katie’s Lucky Day 4, 1:50 ($544,156), It’s Academic 5, 1:50.1 ($1,359,312); Refined 5, 1:51.3f ($752,380); Action Uncle 5, 1:52.2f ($595,175), and Super Schissel 3, 1:52.3 ($399,492).

Yankee Cruiser, a $1,150,123-winning son of Artiscape, who resides at Midland Acres in Bloomingburg, OH, continues to be a strong producer at age 23. This bay stallion, who was foaled on May 16, 2000, at Frederick, MD, stood in Ohio from 2004 through 2007; spent six years in Pennsylvania; and returned to Ohio in 2014. Last season he bred 23 mares. From 957 registered foals he’s produced 779 starters with 551 pacing in 2:00 or better, and 322 who have been clocked in 1:55 or faster. His total foal earnings are $59,374,859.

Yankee Cruiser’s dam, A Yankee Classic p, 3, 1:56.1f ($79,378), is a daughter of world champion Jate Lobell p, 4, 1:49.2 ($3,085,082) while her dam, Choice Yankee p, 3, 1:52.4 ($732,442), hails from the Meadow Skipper line (Albatross/Colt Fortysix). As a result, it’s no surprise that Yankee Cruiser has produced such standouts as Sweet Lou p, 5, 1:47f ($3,478,894); Dancin Yankee p, 6, 1:47.2f ($2,003,907); Yankee Bounty p, 3, 1:49.3f ($840,831); Elver Hanover p, 2, 1:48.3 ($811,620); and Hare Craft p, 3, 1:49.3s ($553,379), to name just a few.