The stallion class of 2018 was headed by a star of the brightest quality, the
great grey Arrogate, Champion 3-Year-Old of his crop. He commanded an introductory
fee of $75,000. Not far behind him at $70,000 was the brilliant Gun Runner from
the same crop, who took over from Arrogate when they were both 4-year-olds, earning
Horse of the Year honors. Then there was a gap, going back to $35,000, the fee
for Classic Empire, Champion 2-Year-Old of the next foal crop. At $30,000 was
his classmate, the sprinter Practical Joke. Lord Nelson and Mastery came in at
$25,000. All had pedigrees and race records to succeed. No rags-to-riches stories
here. The new boys who proved most popular in the breeding shed that year were
Cupid (223 mares), then Klimt (222 mares) and Practical Joke (220 mares). Classic
Empire served 185, Gormley served 180, Keen Ice 176 and Gun Runner 171. Arrogate
served a limited book of 143. This is a big class, with 26 newcomers in 2019
so there are a lot of contenders. Here's a rundown on each of them sending out
their first 2-year-olds in 2021 and my thoughts on how their stud careers might
start out. Arrogate tragically died in June of 2020 so we will only have
three crops to see what he could do. He was a $560,000 yearling, which tells you
what people thought about him then. He was unraced at two and didn't debut at
three until April when third. He impressed when breaking his maiden in June followed
by wins in two allowances before swooping into Saratoga to utterly dominate the
Travers Stakes-G1. This was followed with a win in the Breeders' Cup Classic-G1
beating California Chrome. At four he won the Pegasus Cup and then the Dubai World
Cup-G1 in an astonishing performance. Then his form flattened, losing his final
three starts including defeat by Gun Runner in the Breeder' Cup Classic-G1. He
retired with seven wins from 11 starts and a North American earnings record of
$17,422,600. A big, rugged, lengthy horse so typical of his sire Unbridled's Song,
that which made him so desirable as a yearling may also be his downfall as a stallion.
Sons of Unbridled's Song have been strangely disappointing as sires. His dam is
Bubbler, a nice stakes winner by Distorted Humor. His yearlings sold tremendously,
averaging $225,167, so maybe he'll be exception. Although a brilliant horse up
to 10 furlongs, he was later maturing and I'd expect his progeny may also take
a little more time unless out of smaller, quicker mares. Full disclosure, Gun
Runner is a personal favorite but I'll do my best to remain objective. At
two, he won his first two races and was fourth in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes-G2.
On the classic trail, he won the Risen Star-G2 and Louisiana Derby-G2 before placing
third in the Kentucky Derby behind Nyquist and Exaggerator. He bookended several
high-profile placings (the Travers-G1, Pennsylvania Derby-G2 and Breeders' Cup
Mile-G1) with wins in the Matt Winn-G3 and Clark Stakes-G1. At four, he matured
into the Horse of the Year with victories including the Stephen Foster, Whitney,
Woodward, Breeders' Cup Classic, all Grade 1s. At five he won the Pegasus Cup-G1
before retiring to immediately to stud. Most of his wins were wire-to-wire, showing
speed that could stretch to 10 furlongs. By the brilliant Candy Ride and out of
a Grade 2 winner by Giant's Causeway, he comes from a strong Ned Evans family.
Gun Runner is a picture, elegantly made but still masculine, well muscled and
full of class. He stands just shy of 16.2 hands and could be used to add some
leg and quality where needed. His first yearlings averaged $238,569, surprisingly
higher than Arrogate's and at the top of this sire crop. A winner at two, Gun
Runner has the speed and build to get good two-year-olds. Classic Empire
was a very talented colt with a complicated story. A $475,000 yearling, he won
four of five starts at two, named Champion Two-Year-Old Male after scores in a
maiden, Bashford Manor Stakes-G3, Breeders' Futurity-G1 and Breeders' Cup Juvenile-G1.
Dumping his rider at the start of the Hopeful Stakes was the only hole in an otherwise
perfect season. In his three-year-old debut he was third in the Holy Bull Stakes-G2,
washing out. He developed a foot abcess. Then he refused to work. Then he developed
a back problem. He returned to win the Arkansas Derby-G1 but was fourth in the
Kentucky Derby-G1 after being repeatedly bumped and bruised. He ran a game second
in the Preakness-G1, beating Derby winner Always Dreaming but losing to Cloud
Computing. Then he developed another abcess, and another refusal to work. That
was enough. He was retired with five wins from nine starts and left the impression
that he was capable of more had circumstances allowed. Another champion by Pioneerof
the Nile, he's one of three stakes winners out of Sambuca Classica by Cat Thief.
Classic Empire is a leggy 16.1 hands with the lengthy frame typical of his sireline,
armed with great shoulders and prominent hindquarter. He's maintained books over
100 mares his first three years. His intitial yearling crop averaged $87,142 which
is more than double his entry fee, but has to be considered a little disappointing.
As the juvenile champion of his class, he's got a strong shot at getting a lot
of good juveniles, although they might do better as they stretch out over a mile.
Practical Joke was one of of the top two-year-olds of 2016 winning the
Hopeful Stakes-G1 and Champagne Stakes-G1 before running second to Classic Empire
in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile-G1. At three, he was second in the Fountain of Youth
Stakes-G2 and Blue Grass Stakes-G2, fifth in the Kentucky Derby-G1, then won the
Dwyer Stakes-G1. After a third in the Haskell Invitational-G1, he was taken back
to a sprint distance and won the H. Allen Jerkens Stakes-G1, was fourth in the
Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile-G1 and third in the Cigar Mile-G1. Practical Joke sold
as a short yearling for $135,000 and resold in September for $240,000. Being by
Into Mischief out of a stakes-placed Distorted Humor mare gives him a good pedigree
with a speed bias. His plain head gives away linebreeding to Halo and Hail to
Reason, but otherwise he's a locomotive. He stands 16.2 hands, has a long neck
and great power in his shoulder and hindquarter. He's maintained three large books
of mares and his first yearlings were very popular, averaging $115,455. Practical
Joke's forte was early speed, which suggests his progeny will figure prominently
as two-year-olds but might be limited in distance like most of the Into Mischiefs.
Lord Nelson is a professional sprinter. A stakes winner at two, at three
he won the San Vicente Stakes-G2 beating Texas Red, and placed second in the Bay
Shore Stakes-G3 but ran a weak fourth the Pat Day Mile-G3. Off for about six months,
he came back to run third in Runhappy's Malibu Stakes-G1. Off for another six
months, he returned to win the Triple Bend-G1, the Bing Crosby-G1 and Santa Anita
Sprint Championship-G1. Retired to Spendthrift Farm, he missed the 2017 breeding
season while he recovered from severe laminitis. From one of the last crops by
Pulpit, his dam is by Seeking the Gold and his second dam is the champion Argentine
mare Miss Linda, by Southern Halo. A $340,000 yearling, he checks in at 16.1 1/2
hands and is a handsome horse, muscular with a good shoulder and hindquarter.
He looks to benefit from a more rugged mare. He's been covering smalller but full
books at Spendthrift and his first yearlings averaged a solid $81,821. With his
brilliant speed, Lord Nelson should get early runners, although like many from
this male line, they'll probably improve with age. Mastery was brilliant
while he lasted, which was for only four starts. At two he was undefeated in three
starts, winning his debut, the Cash Call Futurity-G1 and the Bob Hope Stakes-G3.
Turning three, he won the San Felipe Stakes-G2 by wide daylight but was pulled
up with a condylar fracture in his left front ankle and retired. A $425,000 yearling,
he's by Candy Ride out of a winning daughter of Old Trieste who already produced
a stakes winner and is a half-sister to the good sire Jump Start. She's also from
the family of the important sire Miswaki, so the family has a history of producing
high class sires. A slashing big (16.2 hands) good looking horse, he's very lengthy
and appears to be taller at his tremendously prominent hindquarter than he is
at the withers. He's been very popular his first three years at stud and his yearlings
averaged $125,736, third overall for this class of freshman sires. There's every
reason to believe he'll be among the leading first-crop sires by the end of 2021.
The ill-fated Battle of Midway had two racing careers, before and after
retiring to stud. Unraced at two, he broke his maiden first time out at three
in January. He placed in the San Vicente-G2, Santa Anita Derby-G1 and Kentucky
Derby-G1 before winning the Affirmed-G3, Shared Belief Stakes-L and Breeders'
Cup Dirt Mile-G1. He entered stud and bred 61 mares before fertility issues brought
his season to a close. Put back into training, he was second in his return in
the Pat O'Brien-G2, then won the Comma to the Top Stakes and Native Diver-G3.
Returning at five he won the San Pasqual Stakes-G2, but disaster struck when he
had to be destroyed after a training injury. By the top sire of sires Smart Strike
out of a Grade 1-winning filly by Concerto, his female line was a little unusual
with his second dam by Who's For Dinner and third dam by Soy Numero Uno. At 16.1
hands, he was a great-looking, leggy indivdual in the deceiving Smart Strike "plain
brown wrapper" mold, and built for middle distances. Battle of Midway got
only five foals, three of which sold as yearlings for an average of $38,333. Being
unraced at two suggests his progeny will be later maturing. With this small foal
crop it would be amazing if he made any sort of mark. Connect proved
himself a top class miler which adds great value to his resume. Third in his only
start at two, he didn't return at three until May, breaking his maiden, taking
an allowance and scoring in the Curlin Stakes (named for his sire) at Saratoga.
Although he was sixth in the Travers-G1, he won the Pennsylvania Derby-G2 and
the Cigar Mile-G1 in a late season surge. He returned at four to win the Westchester
Stakes-G3 but suffered a "soft tissue injury" and didn't start again.
By Curlin out of a Holy Bull mare who had already produced a black type winner,
his second dam produced four stakes winners, so the family is there. A $150,000
yearling, Connect grew to a stout 16.2 hands and is a great bodied, muscular horse
with a lot of bone, similar in type to his sire Curlin. He's covered three books
of over 100 mares each and his first yearlings averaged $51,266. He doesn't seem
like the type to get a lot of early juveniles, so we'll wait until they mature
to expect more of Connect's babies. Keen Ice was one of the best in a
crop dominated by American Pharoah, and one of only two horses to ever beat him.
A winner at two, Keene Ice was also third in the Remsen Stakes-G2. At three he
won the Risen Star Stakes-G2, was third in the Belmont-G1 to American Pharoah
and Frosted, second to American Pharoah in the Haskell-G1 but beat him and Frosted
in the Travers Stakes-G1. He had an off year at four and was sidelined with a
hind leg fracture but came back in the fall to run third in Arrogate's Breeders'
Cup Classic-G1. At five, he won the Suburban Handicap-G2 followed by placings
in the Whitney-G1 and Jockey Club Gold Cup-G1 before retiring after wrenching
an ankle. A gritty campaigner, he ran 21 times over four seasons at the highest
level and loved a mile and a quarter. He was a $40,000 weanling, then a $120,000
yearling. He matured to 16.3 hands. He's leggy with a great, deep shoulder and
good hindquarter. He's one of these tough Curlins who gets better with age, out
of a mare by another sire of tough runners, Awesome Again. He entered stud at
$20,000 and got 176 mares in his first book, then 73 and 49 in the next two years.
His first yearlings averaged $15,444 which is not encouraging commercially, but
like his own record and his pedigree suggests, his offspring should get better
with age and distance. I don't expect him to be a leading sire of two-year-olds
but he could turn things around like his sire did as his runners grow up. Astern
(AUS) is one of several really brilliant colts sired by Medaglia d'Oro in
service in Australia. At two Astern won a pair of Group stakes at five and a half
furlongs, and at three he graduated to win the G1 Golden Rose Stakes over six
furlongs. His sire Medaglia d'Oro is growing in reputation as a sire of sires,
including Violence, Warrior's Reward and Fast Anna. His dam, who has also produced
champion sprinter Alizee, is by the global sire Exceed and Excel. Astern entered
stud at $15,000 to a first book of 116 mares, followed by 90 and 90 in the next
two years. His first yearlings averaged $32,300 so he's not a strong commercial
play until his babies run. At 16.1 hands, he's not as big as most Medaglia d'Oros,
but he's got the great body that usually comes with this line, and a strong hindquarter
and hind leg typical of the Danzigs found in his dam. He might get more turf horses
but precociousness and sprinter speed is his forte, so don't forget him. Bal
A Bali (BRZ) proved his world class talent winning Group/Grade 1 races in
his Brazilian homeland and in the U.S. In Brazil he was a Group 3 winner at two
and a dominating Horse of the Year at three with wins from five furlongs to a
mile and a half. Brought to the U.S., he nearly died after contracting laminitis
in quarantine but recovered almost miraculously to win the American Stakes-G3T
at five, place in Graded stakes at six and reach the highest level, taking the
Frank E. Kilroe Mile-G1T and Shoemaker Mile-G1T at seven. He's by Put It Back
(by Honour and Glory, by Relaunch), an expatriate who sired Grade 1 winners In
Summation and Jessica Is Back, Canadian Champion Noholdingback Bear, and many
champions in Brazil. His dam is a Group 3 winner in Brazil by one of the all-time
great Brazilian sires Clackson. Bal a Bali covered 125 mares in his first season
at $15,000, then 74 and 22 the next two years, but his first yearlings averaged
a demoralizing $7,166. Being a good two-year-old, a top miler, albeit on the grass,
and built in the mold so typical of his In Reality sireline, a 16.0 hands bulldog
type, he has all the qualifications of getting good juveniles, so don't ignore
him. Cupid was a $900,000 yearling but a late starter, running fourth
in his only run at two in December. After a fourth and a second, he won brilliantly
in his third start in February and next time out won the Rebel Stakes-G2 wire
to wire. He underwent surgery for an entrapped epiglottis following a bad run
in the Arkansas Derby. He came back with front end wins in the Indiana Derby-G2
and West Virginia Derby-G2 over the summer. At four he won the Gold Cup at Santa
Anita-G1 in his season debut, and the Harry F. Brubaker Stakes at Del Mar. A big,
strong horse at 16.2 hands, he's powerfully muscled on a great frame, looking
more like a sprinter than the router he was. He retired to a $12,500 fee and drew
223 mares, the leader for this sire crop showing his eye appeal. The next season
he was yesterday's news with just 53 mares, then jumped back up to 75 mares his
third year, suggesting breeders liked his first foals. His yearlings averaged
an encouraging $46,762. He's by Tapit and his dam Pretty 'n Smart has produced
three other stakes winners, two Graded, although her sire Beau Genius might not
have such name recognition. Although he didn't do much at two, he had moments
of brilliance and will have a huge first crop of two-year-olds this year. Midnight
Storm is a rare item, having run out to the age of six, and not because he
lacked the pedigree to be a stallion prospect. He won 10 of 27 starts including
seven Graded stakes on dirt and turf, from seven to nine furlongs. Unraced at
two, at three he won the Del Mar Derby-G2T and at four won the Seabiscuit Handicap-G2T.
Peaking at five, he won four Graded stakes, the Shoemaker Mile-G1T, Eddie Read
S-G2T, Del Mar Mile-G2T and Native Diver Stakes-G3, the latter at nine furlongs
on dirt. At six he won the San Pasqual Stakes-G2, also on the dirt. By Pioneerof
the Nile, also sire of champions American Pharoah and Classic Empire, his dam
is a winning daughter of Bertrando and a half-sister to two stakes winners, Ask
Shananie and Valid Direction. He was a $38,000 RNA as a yearling but grew to a
handsome, typey horse in the mold of his sire and standing 16.1 hands. He's on
the leggy side but beautifully made with a good shoulder and strong hindquarter.
With a debut stud fee of $12,500 he got 119 mares his first year, then 88 and
69 in his next two seasons. His first yearlings averaged a moderate $37,354. Being
unraced at two suggests he needs more precocious mares but he was versatile which
offers great potential since they probably won't be limited to turf. Wait and
see. (continued in left column under tables)
| My
picks for 2021 Leading Freshman Sire | Practical
Joke | Gun Runner | Classic
Empire | Mastery | Klimt | Mohaymen |
| | Kentucky
sires with first runners (2yos) in 2021 | 2018
stud fee | 2018 mares bred | 2019 mares bred | 2020
mares bred | 2020 yrlg ave | 2021
fee | Arrogate (16.2 1/5
h) | $75,000 | 143 | 149 | 139 | $225,167 | Died
in 2020 | Gun Runner (16.1 1/2
h) | $70,000 | 171 | 166 | 156 | $238,569 | $50,000 | Classic
Empire (16.1 h) | $35,000 | 185 | 104 | 122 | $87,142 | $17,500 | Practical
Joke (16.2 h) | $30,000 | 220 | 200 | 188 | $115,455 | $22,500 | Lord
Nelson (16.1 1/2 h) | $25,000 | 127 | 131 | 123 | $81,821 | $10,000 | Mastery (16.2
h) | $25,000 | 139 | 143 | 138 | $125,736 | $25,000 | Battle
of Midway (16.1 h) | $20,000 | 61 | - | - | $38,333 | Died
in 2019 in training | Connect (16.2
h) | $20,000 | 163 | 112 | 114 | $51,266 | $15,000 | Keen
Ice (16.3 h) | $20,000 | 176 | 73 | 49 | $15,444 | $12,500 | Astern
(AUS) (16.1 h) | $15,000 | 116 | 90 | 90 | $32,300 | $7,500 | Bal
A Bali (BRZ) (15.3 3/4 h) | $15,000 | 125 | 74 | 22 | $7,166 | $5,000 | Cupid (16.2
h) | $12,500 | 223 | 53 | 75 | $46,762 | $5,000 | Midnight
Storm (16.1 h) | $12,500 | 119 | 88 | 69 | $37,354 | $7,500 | American
Freedom (16.2 h) | $10,000 | 152 | 96 | 54 | $27,410 | $6,000 | Gormley (16.0
h) | $10,000 | 180 | 127 | 72 | $35,389 | $5,000 | Klimt (16.2
h) | $10,000 | 222 | 187 | 172 | $28,540 | $10,000 | Unified (16.1
h) | $10,000 | 152 | 102 | 68 | $43,742 | $10,000 | Mohaymen (16.0
1/2 h) | $7,500 | 121 | 52 | 59 | $45,305 | $7,500 | Mr.
Z (16.0 h) | $7,500 | 61 | 23 | 15 | $5,417 | $2,500 | War
Correspondent (16.1 h) | $7,500 | 53 | 23 | 21 | $17,196 | $5,000 | Wildcat
Red ( )
| $7,500 | 29 | 16 | 18 | $45,560 | $7,500 | Tom's
Ready (16.0 1/2 h) | $6,000 | 48 | 5
(LA) | -- | $9,300 | Pensioned
2020 | Behesht (FR) ( ) | $5,000 | 12 | 4 | -- | (none
sold) | Private | Bird
Song (16.0 h) | $5,000 | 30 | 20 | 10 | $15,338 | Saudi
Arabia | Hootenanny (16.0 h) | $5,000 | 41 | 18 | 7 | $13,750 | Private | Tu
Brutus (CHI) ( ) | $5,000 | 30 | 22 | Turkey |
$7,000 | Turkey |
|
(continued from right column) American Freedom
is from the last crop of sire-of-sires Pulpit (sire of Tapit, Sky Mesa and Lucky
Pulpit). He's out of the stakes winner Gottcha Last by Pleasant Tap, so is also
a half-brother to the warrior Gottcha Gold. He was a $500,000 yearling and did
not race at two but won the Sir Barton Stakes and Iowa Derby-G3 at three besides
placing in the Travers-G1 to Arrogate, beating Gun Runner, and in the Haskell
Invitational-G1 to Exaggerator. At 16.2 hands, he's a big, ruggedly handsome stallion
harking back to the Pleasant Tap/Pleasant Colony side of his pedigree. He entered
stud at a $10,000 fee and covered 152 mares, dropping to 96 in Year 2 and 54 in
Year 3. His yearlings averaged $27,410 which is nearly three times the stud fee,
but still disappointing. Like others in this group who were unraced at two, I
don't expect a lot of precocious babies, but with speedy mares, he's got the numbers
to get some good representation with his first crop racing this year. Gormley
was a Grade 1 winner at two and three, which makes him very interesting in this
class. He was a $150,000 RNA yearling due to "a bad scope" that he eventually
outgrew. He won two of his three starts at two including an impressive maiden
debut at Del Mar and the FrontRunner Stakes-G1 upseting Klimt, but he finished
unplaced in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile-G1 won by Classic Empire. At three he won
the Sham Stakes-G3, ran fourth in the San Felipe Stakes-G2 and rebounded with
a win in the Santa Anita Derby-G1. He was ninth in the Kentucky Derby-G1 and fourth
in the Belmont Stakes-G1 and Shared Belief Stakes before retiring. By Malibu Moon
out of a stakes-winning daughter of Bernstein, he comes from a classy family,
going back to the Champion mare Estrapade. Although not particularly big (16.0
hands), he's a good-looking, leggy sort, well muscled with a great hindquarter
and hind leg typical of the Seattle Slew/A.P. Indy line. Starting at $10,000,
he bred 180 his first year, 127 in his second, then 72 in his third year. His
first yearlings averaged a respectable $35,389. Being a Grade 1 winner at two
and three, he's got the right to get a good number of juvenile winners and there
will be a lot of them out there. Klimt was the best two-year-old
in the West in his year and is by Quality Road. He was a $140,000 Fasig-Tipton
July yearling, graduating to a $435,000 OBS two-year-old. At two he ran six times,
winning half including the Best Pal Stakes-G2 and Del Mar Futurity-G1 before running
second in the FrontRunner Stakes-G1 behind Gormley. Both of them were off the
board in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile behind Classic Empire. Early in his three-year-old
year, showing some ankle soreness, he was moved from Bob Baffert's barn to Art
Sherman's and given time off. He didn't come back until July, when second in the
Los Alamitos Derby-G3 and third in the Shared Belief Stakes before retiring. He's
by the high class Quality Road and out of stakes-placed Inventive by Dixie Union,
going back in female line to the top racemares Tennis Lady and her dam Fara's
Team. He stands 16.2 hands and is a great looking horse, strongly made with a
grand shoulder, hindquarter and a lot of quality. His first season fee was $10,000
and he bred 222 mares, second in this class behind only Cupid by number of mares,
so he'll have a lot of two-year-olds. He remained popular with 187 mares in Year
2 and 172 in Year 3. The problem came when his yearlings averaged a disappointing
$28,540, so he's got a hill to climb commercially. Being a great two-year-old
with a very large first crop, he ought to make a good showing among first-year
sires. Unified is one of three brilliant sons of Candy Ride in this
class of stallions. He was a $325,000 Saratoga yearling who was unraced at two
but won his first three races at three in impressive fashion. These included a
maiden at Gulfstream, the Bay Shore Stakes-G3 and Peter Pan Stakes-G3 before running
fifth in the Pegasus Stakes-G3 in June. Given time off, he returned at four to
beat Mind Your Biscuits in the Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship-G3, then was
second in the Carter Handicap-G1 and unplaced in the Belmont Sprint Championship
before retiring. Out of a mare by Dixie Union, Unified is a bigger version of
Candy Ride, standing 16.1 1/2h, with a lot of length and tons of muscle. He retired
at a fee of $10,000 and got 152 mares his first year, then 102 the second year
and 68 in his third. His yearlings averaged a strong $43,742 for the stud fee.
Although unraced at two himself, his speed should allow him to get some precocious
babies. Mohaymen is a Grade 2 winner by Tapit out of the outstanding
mare Justwhistledixie by Dixie Union. She was not only a Grade 2 winner but has
been an outstanding producer, dam of four Graded stakes winners including Breeders'
Cup Juvenile-G1 winner New Year's Day. Mohaymen was a $2,200,000 yearling, the
joint sales topper at the 2014 Keeneland September Sale. Undefeated in three starts
at two, his wins included the Nashua Stakes-G2 and Remsen Stakes-G2. At three,
he won the Fountain of Youth Stakes-G2 and Holy Bull Stakes-G2 but was fourth
in the Florida Derby, Kentucky Derby and Jim Dandy Stakes-G2. He tailed off inexplicably,
off the board in the King's Bishop Stakes-G1, and could not win in four starts
at four, his best being fourth in th Weschester Stakes-G3. Mohaymen is similar
to his great sire physically, being a medium-sized horse at 16.0 1/2 hands, nicely
put together with a deep shoulder and big hind end. He entered stud for a bargain
$7,500 and got 121 mares his first year but dipped to 52 and then 59 in his second
and third years. His yearlings averaged $45,305 last year, a nice multiple on
his stud fee. Being a good juvenile himself and half-brother to a Breeders' Cup
Juvenile-G1 winner, he could be a late season surprise among the freshman sires.
Mr. Z campaigned for four years, although it was probably two years too
many. One of the best two-year-olds of his year, he ran eight times, breaking
his maiden in June, then second in the Sanford Stakes-G3 and Saratoga Special-G2,
second in the Breeders' Futurity-G1 and Delta Downs Jackpot-G3 and third in the
Los Alamitos Futurity-G1. At three, he made 12 starts, placing in the Smarty Jones
Stakes, Southwest Stakes-G3 and Arkansas Derby-G1 before winning the Ohio Derby,
and running second in the Indiana Derby-G2. He couldn't maintain this high form,
even though he continued to race in Graded stakes although a much lighter schedule,
with just three starts at four and two starts at five. He's by the top sire Malibu
Moon out of the Storm Cat mare Stormy Bear, a half-sister to champion Chief Bearhart
from the great Gold Digger family. In fact, Mr. Z is 4x4 to Gold Digger. He was
run through the ring twice as yearling, as a $60,000 RNA in September and then
sold for $135,000 in October. He stands 16.0 hands and is rather lanky, made more
like a router than a speed horse. He stood his first season at $7,500 and covered
61 mares, dropping to 23 in his second year and 15 in his third. His first yearlings
averaged a forgettable $5,417. He was a good early two year old like his sire
and although he doesn't have strong numbers, he could have a few good ones to
make a showing this year. War Correspondent is a later maturing horse
and a multiple Graded stakes winner on grass. Unraced at two, he won two races
in France at three at 7.5 and 10 furlongs. Brought to North America, he ran twice
at four, winning an allowance at Monmouth at a mile on turf and placed in the
Autumn Stakes-G2 on the all weather at Woodbine. At five, he won the Appleton
Stakes-G3T and finished third in the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap-G1T. At six
he was unplaced in three starts. At seven he won the Miami Mile Stakes-G3T and
was third in the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap-G1T and third in the Presque Isle
Mile Stakes on all weather. He's by the top sire War Front and out of the multiple
stakes producer Tempo West by Rahy. This makes him a full brother to the Group
1 winner Declaration of War who has now sired 33 stakes winners from five crops
to race before he was sent to Japan for the 2019 season. War Correspondent went
to stud at $7,500 and covered just 53 mares, then 23 and 21 in his next two crops.
His first yearlings averaged only $17,196. He's a typey War Front, but with a
little more leg, stands 16.1 hands. Although I don't expect him to be among the
top first-year sires, it's possible he could pick up where his brother Declaration
of War left off as a sire. Wildcat Red was a good sprinter/miler
although often raced beyond his best distance. He made three starts at two, winning
twice and second in the Juvenile Sprint Stakes, all at Gulfstream. At three he
was second in the Gulfstream Park Derby before winning the Fountain of Youth Stakes-G2
and Hutcheson Stakes-G3. He was second in the Florida Derby-G1 (to Constitution)
but finished very far back in the Kentucky Derby-G1. He came back in late June
to win the Quality Road Stakes at Gulfstream, then was third in the Haskell Invitational-G1,
fifth in the King's Bishop-G1, third in the Oklahoma Derby-G3 and second in the
Millions Classic Preview Stakes. At four he was third in the Smile Sprint Stakes-G2
before winning the Teddy Drone Stakes, and at five, he was second in the Sunshine
Millions Sprint Stakes to X Y Jet. Wildcat Red is a Florida-bred, by D'Wildcat
out of Grade 3-placed Racene by Miner's Mark and was a $30,000 OBS two-year-old.
He entered stud at $7,500 but has never covered substantial books, with 29 mares
in his first year, 16 in his second and 18 in the third. His first yearlings averaged
a surprising $45,560, very good for the stud fee. He might have got some respect
were he standing in Florida, but he gets very little in Kentucky, so his few juvenile
runners will have to duke it out against the hordes of Cupids and Klimts and Gun
Runners to get any of the big purses. Tom's Ready was a classy sprinter/miler
with a good pedigree, by More Than Ready out of Goodbye Stranger by Broad Brush.
A $145,000 RNA as a weanling, he was a $145,000 Saratoga yearling. Tom was a nice
two-year-old. He broke his maiden going seven furlongs by daylight at Churchill
and was a close second in the mile Street Sense Stakes. At three he was second
in the Lecomte Stakes-G3 and Louisiana Derby-G2 before a bad run in the Kentucky
Derby-G1. Taken back in distance, he won the Woody Stephens Stakes-G2 and Ack
Ack Handicap. At four he was third in the Churchill Downs Stakes-G2, won the Leemat
Stakes, and ran third in the Forego Stakes-G1 and Kelso Handicap-G2 before winning
the Bold Ruler Stakes-G3. He was clearly at his best at seven furlongs. He retired
to stud at $6,000 and covered only 48 mares resulting in 11 foals. This apparent
fertility issue may be what precipitated his move to Louisiana the next season
where he covered only five mares (four foals), and no mares were listed as bred
in his third year. He's now out of business and retired to Old Friends in Kentucky.
His first yearlings averaged $9,300. He was a good two-year-old and had a ton
of speed, but a leading sire title is unlikely based on 11 foals. The final
four stallions on my table entered stud at $5,000 and the only one who would seem
to have a chance this season is Hootenanny, winner of the 2014 Breeders' Cup Juvenile
Turf. The other three, Behesht, Bird Song, and Tu Brutus had first books of 30
or less. Tu Brutus was sent to Turkey after his second book of mares and Bird
Song now stands in Saudi Arabia. To pick through this class of freshman
sires, I'm projecting that Practical Joke comes out on top as Leading Freshman
Sire at the end of 2021, although I see a strong case can be made for Gun Runner,
Classic Empire, Mastery, Klimt, and my wildcard choice, Mohaymen. Copyright
by Anne Peters 2021 |