Five of the Top Freshmen Sires of 2014 Profiled

 

The 2014 class of Freshmen Sires is stellar and includes Blame, Lookin at Lucky, Midshipman, and Summer Bird, all Champions, plus Kentucky Derby hero Super Saver, and three-time track record setter Quality Road. I expect at least three or four of these young stallions to become mainstays in the years ahead. 

 

We’ve seen a slight shift in the race for leading first crop sire throughout the year, and this is to be expected as the late-blooming progeny of distance-oriented stallions catch up to their more precocious counterparts. 

 

There are a number of ways to rank sires, including by money earned by progeny, number of winners and number of stakes winners. Sire lists can be deceiving if they are calculated by the most money earned by the stallion’s offspring. One big stakes winner can propel a stallion to the top of the list and skew the ranks, making us realize that money isn’t everything. One can argue that the sire whose progeny generated the most money shows that sire’s ability to produce quality runners, but one must take into account that repeat winners add to the stockpile.  One of the best ways for a handicapper to ascertain the sires that produce the most winners is by determining the number of winners vs. the quantity of runners, and the amount of stakes horses vs. winners. Using this viewpoint, let’s take a look at five stallions who should develop as strong second crop sires.

 

BLAME (Arch - Liable, by Seeking the Gold)

Stands at:  Claiborne Farm $20,000

Current 2YO: 76

Starters: 24 (34%)

Winners: 6 (8%) |Stakes winners: 0| Stakes placed: 3

 

 

Outlook: Blame’s first winner visited the winners circle in June; however, his babies aren’t bred to be precocious. A few have won at sprint distances, but, the majority of his offspring to hit the board have done so at a mile to 1 1/6 miles.  All three of his stakes placed youngsters, two-time stakes placed Hollywood Critic, Golden Rod runner-up No Fault of Mine and Jimmy Durante (G-3) third place finisher Don’t Blame Me at distances ranging between a mile and 1 1/16 miles, over turf, dirt and polytrack.   Blames babies will improve as three and four year olds as distances stretch out.  His offspring are adaptable to all surfaces, especially mud.

 

 

ESKENDEREYA (Giant's Causeway - Aldebaran Light, by Seattle Slew)

Stands at:  Taylor Made Stallions $17,500

Current 2YO: 104

Starters: 39 (38%)

Winners:  6 (6%) |Stakes winners: 0| Stakes placed: 1

 

 

Profile:  Eskendereya has one of the best pedigrees in this group of freshmen stallions. His sire Giant's Causeway is routinely in the top five sire lists nationally and has international acclaim as both a stallion and sire of sires. Eskendereya's damsire Triple Crown Champ Seattle Slew and second damsire, the courageous Triple Crown runner-up Alydar add plenty of stamina attributes to Eskendereya's pedigree.

 

Offspring:  Eskendereya’s first winner, the talented Isabella Sings, who later became her sire’s sole stakes placed runner, appeared on the track in early July.  The son of Giant’s Causeway doesn’t have a precocious pedigree, and only 39 of over 100 of his offspring have entered the starting gate.  Eskendereya’s offspring should improve as three and four year olds and appreciate two turns.  Two of his five winners won or placed at a mile.  Despite his stellar pedigree, Eskendereya needs to get some three year old stakes winners to solidify his status as a stallion. Look for more of his offspring to emerge this coming year. They’ll be proficient over all surface, but especially dirt and turf.   

 

 

 

SUMMER BIRD (Birdstone - Hong Kong Squall, by Summer Squall)

Stands at:  Deceased

Current 2YO: 93

Starters: 27 (29%)

Winners:  8 (9%) |Stakes winners: 0| Stakes placed: 1

 

 

Profile:  Belmont Stakes winner and Champion Three Year Old Summer Bird is by a Belmont/Travers Stakes winner out of a mare by a Preakness winner. His second damsire Alysheba won the Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup Classic. Summer Bird stood only one season in the U.S. before being exported to Japan. He died in December of 2013. 

 

Offspring: Summer Bird imparted stamina to his few offspring that are racing in the U.S.  Only eight have won, from distances ranging from 5 ½ furlongs to 1 1/6 miles. Summer Bird’s sole stakes placed runner Kid Brock finished second in the six furlong Iowa Cradle Stakes in August.  Three of his eight winners have preferred the lawn. Two precocious sons won in early July, however, the other six earned victories from October onward.  Expect to see more of Summer Bird’s babies in the coming year and don’t be surprised to see a few on the Triple Crown trail or competing in summer and fall stakes races.

 

 

 

SUPER SAVER (Maria's Mon - Supercharger, by A.P. Indy)

Stands at:  WinStar Farm, KY $35,000

Current 2YO:  116

Starters:  56 (48)

Winners:  13 (11%) | Stakes winners: 6 | Stakes placed: 3

 

 

 

Profile:Super Saver is the second of Maria's Mon's Kentucky Derby winning sons to stand at stud. He has one of the best distaff families of all the freshman sires. His dam Supercharger is nearing blue hen status.  From five starters, she has two graded stakes winners and two stakes placed runners. Super Saver descends from the same distaff line as the great Buckpasser and Private Account, the sire of champion and blue hen Personal Ensign. This should help impart class to his babies.  That, added with the stamina oriented genes should result in classy two-turn winners.

 

Offspring: Super Saver was exceptionally precocious as a two year old, and some of his offspring have inherited his early speed.  He has already sired six stakes winners, including Hopeful Stakes (G-1) victor Competitive Edge and Saratoga Special (G-2) hero I Spent It.  Super Saver’s status near the top of the Freshmen Sire List resulted in WinStar doubling Super Saver’s Stud fee for 2015.  Super Saver’s babies are winning primarily over dirt and off tracks. His less precocious offspring will appreciate running two turns and Super Saver should continue as a top five leading sire through at least his next three crops.

 

 

 

TEMPLE CITY (Dynaformer - Curriculum, by Danzig)

Stands at:  Spendthrift Farm $12,500

Current 2YO: 89

Starters: 34 (38%)

Winners: 11 (12%) |Stakes winners: 3| Stakes placed: 3

 

 

 

Profile: Temple City, a son of Dynaformer, is a pleasant surprise. Dynaformer has a few lesser sons at stud, but he was a better known as a significant broodmare sire.  The influences of Temple City’s female family, who bore the acclaimed sire Malibu Moon, are certainly being passed along to Temple City’s progeny. 

 

Offspring:  Temple City’s earliest runners hit the track in early June, but he didn’t get his first winner until late July. They started winning with increasing frequency in August through December at longer sprints and routes. Temple City over turf and polytrack and was unplaced in his sole dirt start.  What has been surprising is that 22 of his offspring have won/placed over dirt and mud compared to only 12 on turf. His son Startup Nation won the With Anticipation (G-3) over turf and a month later, Saratoga Heater was successful in the seven furlong Bertram F. Bongard Stakes.  A graded stakes winner from 1 1/8 miles to 1 ½ miles, Temple City should provide plenty of stamina to his babies.  Look for them to continue their winning ways as older horses over all surfaces.

 

Other stallions whose offspring should light up the headlines next year include Lookin at Lucky, who will maintain his spot as a top five stallion. His babies may be distance challenged beyond 1 1/8 miles.  The offspring of Munnings, Quality Road, Kantharos and Warrior’s Reward will also continue to be a presence as notable sires.