Uptowncharlybrown has been a fixture among Pennsylvania's top stallions for nearly a decade, and last year, that long climb saw him finish atop the list by Pennsylvania stallion award earnings. Through the first two months of 2024, he once again sat at the top of the mountain.
The resident of Blackstone Farm in Pine Grove, Pa., topped the leaderboard among 2024 Pennsylvania stallion award earnings through the end of February, bringing in $29,861 for owner Uptowncharlybrown Stud. He sets the pace for last year's runner-up Weigelia, who earned $26,034 through the first two months of the year.
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.
In 2023, Uptowncharlybrown finished atop the stallion award standings for the first time, earning $236,389 and surpassing the 2022 leader Weigelia, who finished the year with $199,144.
The early leader among Uptowncharlybrown's stallion award earners was Big Boys Answer, a gelding out of the Empire Maker mare Empires Answer, who compiled $3,080 in stallion awards through the end of February.
Big Boys Answer started the year with a game half-length score in a one-mile starter optional claiming race at Parx Racing on Jan. 2. He came back to the same track on Feb. 27 to finish second by a neck in a 6 1/2-furlong starter allowance race.
The 4-year-old Big Boys Answer races as a homebred for Cavanaugh Breen Farm, and he is trained by Jennifer Truehart.
Also putting a significant amount toward his sire's total was Downtownchalybrown, a gelding out of the Speightstown mare Torchwood who brought in $2,700.
Downtownchalybrown raced at Penn National on Jan. 18, easily winning a six-furlong allowance optional claiming race by a widening 3 1/2 lengths. After the February cutoff point, Downtownchalybrown has ventured out to run fifth in the Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap at Aqueduct, and he most recently finished third in an April 14 starter allowance at Keeneland.
Downtownchalybrown is owned by In or Out Stable, and he's trained by Panagiotis Synnefias. He was bred in Pennsylvania by Godric LLC.
Uptowncharlybrown, a 17-year-old son of Limehouse, has resided in Pennsylvania since entering stud in 2013. He stands for an advertised fee of $2,500 with special consideration to Pennsylvania-foaling mares.
After winning on debut at Tampa Bay Downs during his 2-year-old campaign, Uptowncharlybrown followed up with a victory in the Pasco Stakes in his 3-year-old bow.
From there, the colt tested the classic trail, and earned third-place finishes in the G3 Sam F. Davis Stakes and Lexington Stakes.
Bred in Kentucky by Juan Bruno and Rose Hill Farm, Uptowncharlybrown is out of the winning Langfuhr mare La Iluminada, whose eight winners from 10 foals to race also includes stakes winner Startjumpin Marnie and multiple black typer producer Cooking Mama.
His extended family includes Irish St. Leger winner Leading Counsel and Argentine Group 1 winner Sally Girl.
Leading 2024 Pennsylvania Stallion Award Earners, Through Feb. 29
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