Rolling down the highway with a load of mares and foals headed to Lexington, Kentucky, Jay Metzler explained how he acquired a multiple stakes producing broodmare and got into the thoroughbred breeding business. “I was at Ed Price’s Mohns Hill Farm, and he asked me if I wanted to see a mare he had for sale. I said sure, and he showed me the mare, Polarized. Since I have a show horse back ground, I look at horses differently than race horse trainers do. I thought she was a nice show horse prospect because she is a good looking mare and a good mover, so I bought her. She already had Aoife’s Magic, but she hadn’t raced yet. Just a few days ago, Polarized had a nice colt by Smarty Jones, so now I have a full brother to Aoife’s Magic.”
A jack-of-all-trades, Jay Metzler operates a horse transportation business from WinRose Farm called equine limousine service based in Quakertown, PA. He specializes in mare and foal transportation and is on call 24/7 for emergency trips to local veterinary hospitals. His customized tractor trailer is configured for eight box stalls or fifteen single stalls. “I have quite a few great private clients in the area like Pat Chapman and Rodney Eckenrode at Equistar Farm. I brought the stallion Brody’s Cause up from Kentucky to Equistar in Annville,” said Metzler. “I treat all horses with the same special care whether they’re million dollar race horses or show ponies. I have a smaller goose neck trailer too for local runs.”
“My background is with hunters and jumpers, but I like all disciplines, and I ship some Arabians and van horses to shows and events and breeding farms and race tracks. After I bought Polarized, I sent her to a friend to ride and school. I buy race horses and retrain them as hunters or jumpers, so I’ve had experience with horses off the track. Polarized had some good days, but she just didn’t seem to adapt to the routine, so I decided to breed her to Smarty Jones again. Polarized is a winner by Drosselmeyer out of a Citidancer mare named Immune to Gloom,” explained Jay.
Sharon Eckenroad Photo
Polarized raced as a two and three year old at Penn National and won over $73,000. As a two year old, she broke her maiden second time out maiden special weight and was fourth in the $100,000 Blue Mountain Juvenile Fillies Stake. She ran twelve times and had two wins, but she was injured at three and retired from racing.
“Last year, Polarized had a filly by Smarty Jones. She is a full sister to Aoife’s Magic, so when Aoife’s Magic ran for the first time last September at Parx and won by over ten lengths, it was exciting. Aoife’s Magic is trained by David Dotolo and owned by A and J Racing Stable LLC. She was undefeated at two and won four races including two PA-bred stakes, the Imply Stakes and The Miss Behaviour Stakes at Parx. She won over $280, 000,” said Metzler.
Aoife’s Magic was named 2023 Parx Horse of the Year. This year she ran three times and was fourth in the Busher Stakes at Aqueduct, third in the Beyond The Wire Stakes at Laurel Park, and fourth in the Unique Bella Stakes at Parx. “Aoife’s trainer David Dotolo wanted to try her in open races and against tougher competition. We’ll see how she does this year,” said Metzler. “I sold Aoife’s full sister to the same people, and Dotolo will train her too. They’re great people, and David’s a good horseman. He takes his time and does what’s best for the horse, so that’s why I sold her to them. She’ll have the same connections and go through the same program as Aoife’s Magic. I’m not just concerned with the money, I want to do what’s best for the horses. There are already several people interested in the colt that was just born. I don’t race horses, so I’ll probably sell him too. Pennsylvania has such a great breeder’s program, I’ll be happy with breeder’s rewards. Owning Polarized turned into a lucky outcome for me,” said Metzler.
Cover Photo Credit to Kim Pratt
