For the fourth year in a row, Brittany Farms ranks as harness racing’s leading breeder in average earnings per starter, with a 2021 average of $49,952 — more than $12,000 ahead of its closest competitor.

 

This recurring title follows the farm’s exploits in recent years that enabled it to be named the sport’s back-to-back “Breeder of the Year” in both 2020 and 2021. What’s more, this past fall Brittany became the all-time leading breeder of Breeders Crown champions, with 28 now to its credit.

 

Leading the brigade of Brittany breds this past season was Perfect Sting p,3,1:48.1 ($1,808,147), who was the year’s richest Standardbred with $1,273,847 earned in 2021. The beautifully-bred 2-year-old Dan Patch Champion and 2 and 3-year-old Breeders Crown champion headed off to stud duty recently and was “book full” the day the announcement was made.

 

The following horses — all bred, raised and sold as yearlings by Brittany Farms — also made their share of headlines.

 

The $3 million-plus earner Manchego 4,1:49, the world’s co-fastest trotting filly or mare of all time and 3-time Breeders Crown champion, earned her share of the spotlight before her retirement in October to life as a broodmare. She added more than $400,000 to her ledger in ’21 by winning the John Cashman Memorial for the second time, Maxie Lee Memorial, and Spirit Of Massachusetts, also for the second time.

 

There were a pair of $250,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes Final winners in Pebble Beach p,2,1:48.4 ($362,250) and Blue Diamond Eyes p,3,1:47.2 ($1,150,714) — with Pebble Beach notching his Breeders Crown elim as well — and another Breeders Crown elim winner in late bloomer Queen Of Success p,2,1:50.3 ($97,397).

 

The value of Brittany-breds in the marketplace was on display at the Lexington Selected Sale, where Brittany set a record yearling average for itself and sold the top-priced pacer in the sale.

 

Also, at the recent Harrisburg Mixed Sale, the Brittany-bred 3-year-old pacing filly Heart Of Mine, another multiple 2021 stakes winner, sold for $225,000 and will become a new addition to the Diamond Creek Farm broodmare band.