Princess of Sylmar named 2013 Pennsylvania Horse of the Year

The Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association named Princess of Sylmar, a four-time Grade 1 winner, its Horse of the Year for 2013.

The Majestic Warrior filly was one of North America’s elite 3-year-olds last year, with wins in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, Coaching Club American Oaks, and Alabama Stakes. She also defeated two-time champion older female Royal Delta in the Grade 1 Beldame Invitational Stakes.

In total, Princess of Sylmar won six of eight starts in 2013, all of them in stakes company, for earnings of $1,607,220. The campaign earned her an Eclipse Award nomination for champion 3-year-old female, where she was edged out by Beholder.

Princess of Sylmar races as a homebred for Ed Stanco’s King of Prussia Stable and is trained by Todd Pletcher. She also received top Pennsylvania-bred 3-year-old filly honors for 2013.

Princess of Sylmar is the first foal out of stakes-placed Catienus mare Storm Dixie, who was named Pennsylvania’s champion broodmare.

Also receiving multiple awards was Real Solution, who was named champion Pennsylvania-bred older male and turf male.

The 5-year-old son of Kitten’s Joy won one of five starts in 2013, earning his marquee score by disqualification in the Grade 1 Arlington Million. Homebred by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, Real Solution also finished third in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes and Manhattan Handicap last year to earn $675,500. He is trained by Chad Brown.

Dani’s Storm, an allowance-level runner at Parx Racing and Delaware Park was the top breeding fund recipient among Pennsylvania-breds, earning $60,491 in breeder’s awards, $20,164 in stallion awards, and $51,096 in owner bonuses for a grand total of $131,750.

Racing primarily for owner Elliot Krems and trainer Scott Lake, the 5-year-old Changeintheweather mare won five of 11 starts in 2013 for on-track earnings of $214,226. She was bred by Xanthus Farms Inc.

Dani’s Storm’s contribution made up a large portion of the money that helped make Xanthus Farms the state’s leading breeding fund award recipient among breeders. The Gettysburg, Penn. farm earned $179,138 in breeder’s awards last year.

For the seventh year in a row, George Strawbridge Jr.’s Augustin Stable finished as the leading overall breeder of Pennsylvania-breds, with horses bred by his operation earning over $1,804,000. Leading runners of 2013 bred by Strawbridge include Grade 3 winner Kitten’s Point and Irish stakes-placed Sir Ector.

Following is a complete list of Pennsylvania’s state-bred champions for 2013.

Champion 2-year-old male: Storming Inti
Ch. c., 2011, by Stormy Atlantic—Tarfaya, by Pulpit
Owner: Santa Rosa Racing Stables
Trainer: Chad Brown
Breeder: Brushwood Stable (PA)

Champion 2-year-old female: Miss Behaviour
B. f., 2011, by Jump Start—by Successful Romance, by Successful Appeal
Owner/Breeder: Cal MacWilliam, Neil Tietelbaum, and Associates (PA)
Trainer: Phil Schoenthal

Champion 3-year-old male: Edge of Reality
Dk. b. or br. c., 2010, by Lawyer Ron—Our Nancy Lee, by Touch Gold
Owner/Breeder: The Elkstone Group LLC (PA)
Trainer: Anthony Dutrow/Philip Serpe

Champion 3-year-old female: Princess of Sylmar
Ch. f., 2010, by Majestic Warrior—Storm Dixie, by Catienus
Owner/Breeder: Ed Stanco/King of Prussia Stable (PA)
Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Champion older male: Real Solution
B. h., 2009, by Kitten’s Joy—Reachfortheheavens, by Pulpit
Owner/Breeder: Ken and Sarah Ramsey (PA)
Trainer: Chad Brown

Champion older female: Moon Philly
B. m., 2009, by Malibu Moon—Astor Place, by Deputy Minister
Owner: Country Life Farm
Trainer: Michael Trombetta
Breeder: Ellen Dale Racing (PA)

Champion male turf horse: Real Solution

Champion female turf horse: Emotional Kitten
Ch. f., by Kitten’s Joy—Silent Emotion, by Ghazi
Owner/Breeder: Ken and Sarah Ramsey (PA)
Trainer: Wesley Ward

Champion male sprinter: Zeewat
B. c., 2010, by Harlan’s Holiday—Delizia, by Distant View
Owner: Jerry Hollendorfer and George Todaro
Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer
Breeder: Derry Meeting Farm (PA)

Champion female sprinter: So Many Ways
B. f., 2010, by Sightseeing—Happy Scene, by Dehere
Owner: Maggi Moss
Trainer: Tom Amoss
Breeder: John R. Penn and John C. Penn (PA)

Champion steeplechase horse: Divine Fortune
Ch. g., 2003, by Royal Anthem—My Tombola, by Northern Fling
Owner/Breeder: William Pape and Jonathan Sheppard (PA)
Trainer: Jonathan Sheppard

Horse of the Year: Princess of Sylmar

Leading Breeding Fund Recipient (Horse): Dani’s Storm
Ch. m., 2009, by Changeintheweather—Stormy Danyelle, by Storm Broker
Owner: Elliot Krems/Home Team Stable/Jamer Racing
Trainer: Scott Lake/Carlos Soto
Breeder: Xanthus Farms Inc (PA)

Leading Breeding Fund Award Recipient (Human): Xanthus Farms (Barbara Rickline)

Leading overall breeder of Pennsylvania-breds: George Strawbridge Jr.

Champion Stallion: Real Quiet

Champion Broodmare: Storm Dixie