The Jockey Club announced that the number of foals born live in 2023 dropped 2.5 percent, with only four states reporting more foals born than in 2022.

Witty winning the Maryland Million Turf Sprint (Photo by James McCue)Pennsylvania's number of foals dropped 25.5 percent, with only 250 live foals reported this year.

In 2022, there were 340 live foals reported from 448 mares reported bred.

Considering the fact that only a much smaller percentage of those 250 foals will ever make it to the track,it might be hard to fill some Pa-red races starting in 2025.

And considering the terrific breeder's award program in Pennsylvania, breeders might consider breeding more mares this year.

Maryland was one of only four states that reported a rise in the number of live foals, with a rise of 3.5 percent.

Maryland had 498 foals in 2023 as opposed to 481 in 2022.

Kentucky, New York and Indiana were the other three states that reported an increase in the number of foals.

Also dropping in the number of foals reported were California ,Florida, Louisiana, Ontario and Oklahoma.

LIZ MERRYMAN saddled Witty to win the $102,030 Maryland Million Turf Sprint Stakes on the turf by 1 1/4 lengths on Oct.14.

That was Witty's fifth stakes win, and the 4-year-old gelding now has 6wins and seven seconds from 18 starts and $464,460 in earnings.

 

GRAHAM MOTION has had nine winners in the past three weeks, including Team Valor International''s Romagna Mia winning the G3, $300,000, 1 1/2 mile Rood and Riddle Dowager Stakes on the turf by 3 lengths at Keeneland on Oct. 22.

He had two allowance winners, Queen of the Mud in a $110,000, 5 1/2 furlong allowance by 1/2 length at Keeneland on Oct. 22 and La Traviesa in a $59,200, 5 1/2 furlong Allowance on the turf by a neck at Laurel on Oct.13.

Motion also had six maiden special weight winners,including Zipadoo winning a $100,00, 1 1/8 mile Maiden for fillies and mares 3 and up on the turf by 1 1/2 lengths at Keeneland on Oct, 14.

Pavoni won a $3.200, 1 1/16 mile Maiden race on the turf for 3, 4,and 5-year olds by a neck at Laurel on Oct.6, Ask Amanda won a $53.200, 5 1/2 furlong Maiden for 2-year-old fillies y 2 1/4 lengths at Laurel on Oct.1, and Sanderson won a $53,200, 1 1/16 mile Maiden race for 2 year olds by 1 1/4 lengths at Laurel on Oct.22.

Surprenant Cocca won a $52,900, 1 1/16 mile Maiden for 2-year-old fillies on the turf by 2 3/4 lengths at Laurel on Oct.20, and American War Hero won  $41,245, 5 1/2 furlong Maiden for 2 year olds by a neck at Delaware Park on Sept.30.

MICHAEL MATZ had three winners,including Chorus Girl winning a $54,600,1 1/16mile Allowance race for fillies and mares 3 and up on the turf by 1 length at Laurel on Oct.8.

Parish Lane won a $53,200, 1 1/16 mile Maiden Special Weight race for 2-year-old fillies on the turf by 3/4 length at Laurel on Oct. 20, and K's Storm Ready won a $38,000, 7 1/2 furlong Maiden Special Weight race for 2-year-olds by 1 length at Delaware Park on Oct.11.

KERI BRION also had three winners, including saddling the first and second placed fillies in a $30,000, 1 mile and 70 Yards Maiden Special Weight for fillies and mares 3 and up at Presque Isle on Oct. 16, with Mary Katherine winning by 1/2 length over I'm glad, who was 6 lengths over the third placed horse.

Haint Blue won a $37,980,1 mile Maiden Claiming race on the turf for fillies and mares 3, 4 and 5 years old by 1/2 length at Laurel on Oct. 13,and Summer Anthem won a $19,000 Claiming race for 3 year olds and up by a neck at Delaware Park on Oct. 11.

BERNIE HOUGHTON also had first and second placed horses in a race. with the winner being the homebred Chapa, owned by his mother's Sylmar Farm, who won a $18,100, 6 furlong Maiden Claiming race by 2 lengths at Penn National on Sept. 22.

Houghton also had the second placed horse in that race, Banjo, also owned by Sylmar Farm.