By the numbers: North America's top sires in 2021

Into Mischief remains the king of North American bloodstock.

For the third year in a row, the Spendthrift Farm stallion is on pace to lead all North American-based sires in progeny earnings, number of winners and stakes winners. And the margins are not even close.

Through Saturday, Into Mischief had sired 250 winners from 439 starters this year, which includes 29 stakes winners. Last year he became the first stallion to eclipse $20 million in progeny earnings in a single season ($22,188,256), but this campaign has been even more lucrative – his runners had banked $24,534,454 through Saturday, according to statistics from The Jockey Club.

Into Mischief's top earners this season are Mandaloun, with $1.56 million, followed by Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Life Is Good ($1,025,000) and potential champion female sprinter Gamine ($851,900).

This is the third year in a row Into Mischief has topped North America’s general sire list. Only two other stallions have accomplished that feat in the four-plus decades since Bold Ruler dominated the sire list with seven straight titles from 1963-69: Tapit, who did so from 2014 to 2016; and Danzig, who was North America’s leading sire from 1991 to 1993.

Into Mischief stood this year for $225,000 a cover at Spendthrift Farm in Central Kentucky, owned by the late B. Wayne Hughes, who died in August at the age of 87. For the 2022 breeding season, Into Mischief’s North American-high fee has been boosted to $250,000.

(Eclipse Sportswire)

Into Mischief, a soon-to-be 17-year-old son of Harlan's Holiday, entered stud in 2009 at Spendthrift. As a refresher – or for those who maybe were not around – Into Mischief was a Grade 1-winning 2-year-old for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella whose racing career entailed only six starts.

He was a debut winner sprinting in October 2007 during the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita in the fall. Two starts later, Into Mischief comfortably defeated the subsequent Santa Anita Derby (G1) and Travers (G1) winner Colonel John in a 12-horse field in the $760,000 Cashcall Futurity (G1) at Hollywood Park.

Back six weeks later as a 3-year-old, he would finish a solid second in the seven-furlong San Vicente (G2). But that would be it for a Triple Crown run.

Into Mischief went to the sidelines with a foot injury, then came back in October and promptly won the Damascus Stakes. Sent off the favorite in the Malibu (G1) two months later, he finished second. It would cap the career of Into Mischief on the racetrack, per the direction of Hughes.

Mandella recently reflected on the sire with Horse Racing Nation.

"He had a problem on a back foot in the spring" Mandella explained of the layoff as a 3-year-old. "But Wayne had his mind made up early to retire him after the Malibu. He was very sound at the time, but (Hughes) was trying to get Spendthrift started with stallions."

Approaching 13 years later, the decision continues to pay massive dividends for Spendthrift.

The top of the general sire list might remain unchanged from a year ago, but there will be a new No. 2 stud to replace Tapit. A close multi-way battle is ongoing for that spot with current runner-up Ghostzapper ($16,186,323 in progeny earnings) and Curlin ($15,528,106) leading the way, according to The Jockey Club statistics. (See below.)

Ghostzapper, who will stand in 2022 for $75,000 at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms, has been led on the track by Mystic Guide. The winner of this year’s rich Dubai World Cup (G1) banked $7.4 million in only three starts this campaign. In all, Ghostzapper has had 14 stakes winners through Saturday, including Fearless (Gulfstream Park Mile, G2, Harlan’s Holiday, G3) and Award Winner (Charles Whittingham, G2).

Curlin has had more stakes winners this year with 19, which trails only Into Mischief among North American-based stallions. That stakes-winning group is led by a trio of 3-year-old fillies: Malathaat, the likely division champion who has banked $1,563,000, Clairiere ($1,203,500) and Obligatory ($706,714).

Curlin is set to stand the 2022 breeding season at Hill ‘n’ Dale for $175,000 a cover.

Rounding out the top five North American-based stallions of 2021 by progeny earnings are Speightstown, who will stand next year for $90,000 at WinStar Farm, and the aforementioned Tapit, who will stand at Gainesway for $185,000.