by Carol Hodes, for the SBOA of New Jersey

Manalapan, NJ — The Breeders Committee of the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey has selected White Birch Farm of Allentown, N.J., as the 2011 New Jersey Breeder of the Year.

White Birch Farm will be honored at the 55th annual New Jersey Breeders Awards Luncheon at 1 p.m. on January 15, 2012 at Charley’s Other Brother in Eastampton Township, N.J.

White Birch-bred I Fought Dalaw, a son of Western Ideal out of In For Life, has ranked among the top 2-year-old pacers of 2011. He won his first four lifetime starts, has finished in the money in six of 10 outings and banked $211,741. He posted his mark of 1:50.4 in capturing the $175,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Final on July 16 at the Meadowlands.

White Birch’s owner and general manager, Michael A. Parisi, co-owns the Sam DePinto trainee with Shannon DePinto and Jerry and Theresa Silva.

Two other freshman pacing colts who were bred at White Birch Farm have also acquitted themselves well in 2011 — Major Bombay out of Armbro Bombay and Ideal Champ out of Female Champs.

Major Bombay has finished first or second in six of seven starts, earning $209,916, thanks in large part to his victory in the Woodrow Wilson Pace on August 20 at the Meadowlands. Ideal Champ won a division of the Arden Downs at the Meadows, finishing on the board in four of 11 efforts.

The 800-acre White Birch Farm, a breeding farm and training center, was founded by Michael Parisi’s parents, Joseph Parisi, who passed away in 2008, and his wife, Marie Parisi, who preceded him in death.

This is the second time White Birch has been selected New Jersey Breeder of the Year, having won the honor in 2004.

Among the farm’s past champions were 1996 3-year-old Pacer of the Year and Meadowlands Pace winner Hot Lead, 1998 2-year-old Colt Pacer of the Year Island Fantasy, 2002 3-year-old Filly Pacer of the Year Worldly Beauty, 2005 2-year-old Filly Pacer of the Year My Little Dragon and 2006 3-year-old Filly Pacer of the Year Darlin’s Delight.

Previous New Jersey Breeder of the Year winners include Perretti Farms (a two-time winner, 2003 and 2010), Valley High Stables, Southwind Farms, Kentuckiana Farms, Fair Winds Farm and Heritage Hill Farms.

Tickets for the luncheon are $27.50 each and should be ordered from the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, Division of Markets & Development — Horse Industry, P.O. Box 330, Trenton, NJ 08625 no later than January 3. Call 609.984.4389 for further information and menu selections.