Uptowncharlybrown has been one of Pennsylvania’s cornerstone sires for over a decade, and his star power remained strong through the summer of 2025, leading the state’s stallion award earnings through the end of June.

The 18-year-old son of Limehouse compiled $113,621 on behalf of owner Uptowncharlybrown Stud through the first six months of the year, pacing next-best Warrior’s Reward at $85,426. Uptowncharlybrown stands at Mountain Springs Farm in Palmyra, Pa.

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.

Uptowncharlybrown has proven himself to be an incredibly efficient sire when it comes to making money on the Pennsylvania circuit. His 166 lifetime starters boast median earnings of $43,326, and his level of success goes all the way up to the graded stakes ranks, with Dixie Serenade, who won the Grade 3 Victory Ride Stakes in 2018.

Leading the way among Uptowncharlybrown’s stallion award earners through the end of June was Big Boys Answer, who led all Pennsylvania-sired runners with $14,828.

The 5-year-old gelding had an especially strong first half of the year, racing six times – all in allowance optional claiming company at Parx Racing – and never missing the board.

Though the conditions were the relatively similar throughout that span of time, Big Boys Answer did display some depth in the distances of the races he ran. That started by winning two of his first three starts of the year at 6 1/2 furlongs.

The standout effort among those early wins came on March 26, when Big Boys Answer overcame a slow start to loop around the field and leave them in the dust by 6 1/2 lengths under regular rider Jean Aguilar.

Big Boys Answer has stretched out for the remainder of his campaign, following up that win with a third-place effort going 1 1/16 miles. He then found the winner’s circle again going one mile on May 26, this time pressing the pace early on from four wide and getting clear in the stretch to win by 1 3/4 lengths. In his final start of the first six months, he narrowly missed adding a win at seven furlongs, swinging wide and just missing the winner by three-quarters of a length to finish second.

It has been a career season for Big Boys Answer, who has already matched his career-high for wins in a year with three, and surpassed personal best for annual earnings with $149,780 and counting. With three and a half months remaining in the year, the gelding has plenty of time to add to both totals.

Big Boys Answer is a Pennsylvania homebred for Ed Stevenson’s Cavanaugh Breen Farm, and he is trained by Jennifer Trueheart. In addition to bringing in money for his sire’s owner, Big Boys Answer generated $59,315 in breeder’s awards and $35,168 in owner’s bonuses for Cavanaugh Breen Farm.

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The gelding is out of the unraced Empire Maker mare Empire’s Answer, who is the dam of six winners from seven foals to race, also including stakes-placed Lillie’s Answer. Empire’s Answer is herself a half-sister to Grade 3 winners Law Abidin Citizen and Feedback, along with Grade 3-placed Sweet Swingin. Canadian champion Truth of It All and Grade 1 winner I Ain’t Bluffing can be found deeper in the extended family.

Stevenson purchased Empire’s Answer for $80,000 at the 2008 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale.

Leading Pennsylvania Sires By 2025 Stallion Award Earnings, Through June 30

This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Sep 15, 2025, where it first appeared in the Features section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.