Freshman sire watch: Knicks Go, Maxfield are on the rise
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The 2025 freshman sire crop continues to build momentum, with Yaupon establishing a commanding lead atop the standings. The son of Uncle Mo has registered 12 winners from 42 starters for an impressive 28.6% win rate, well ahead of his nearest competitors in the win column. Tied for second with six wins each are Knicks Go and Maxfield, though with vastly different strike rates.
While Yaupon leads in total victories, several stallions are posting strong percentages with limited opportunities. Listing boasts a 50.0% strike rate with three wins from six starts, and Leinster has four wins from 13 starters for a solid 30.8% rate.
It's a what-might-have-been feeling for the late Uncle Chuck, who also has impressed with five wins from 17 starts and a 29.4% strike rate. The half-brother to top sire Maclean's Music died after only 2 years at stud. Meanwhile, Maxfield's 25.0% rate from 24 starts shows consistent quality.
Recent winners
The freshman sires have been active in the last week, with 10 stallions registering winners from the top tier of the standings. Yaupon added two more victories to his tally when Snappy Comeback broke through at Gulfstream Park on Saturday and Mohaven won at Del Mar on Sunday. Among the leaders, Maxfield scored with Max Ciao at Del Mar on Friday, and Knicks Go registered a winner with Go to Girl at Ellis Park the same day. Uncle Chuck contributed with Zevi's Zone taking a race at Gulfstream Park on Sunday.
Essential Quality had a productive week with two winners. Chopsticks became a stakes winner in her second lifetime start when she scored in the Ellis Park Debutante on Sunday, and Aye Eye captured a race at Saratoga in dramatic fashion Friday. Chance It, who ran third to Yaupon in the 2021 Grade 1 Forego, also registered two winners, with Bettinonit scoring at Charles Town on Friday and Tosca winning at the same track Aug. 7. Other notable recent winners include Zeus's Echo by By My Standards at Ellis Park and Ixchel by Basin at Charles Town.
Freshman sire standings
| Sire |
Starts |
Wins |
Places |
Shows |
Win% |
| Yaupon |
42 |
12 |
8 |
7 |
28.6% |
| Knicks Go |
38 |
6 |
7 |
5 |
15.8% |
| Maxfield |
24 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
25.0% |
| Uncle Chuck |
17 |
5 |
1 |
2 |
29.4% |
| Rock Your World |
32 |
4 |
6 |
6 |
12.5% |
| Beau Liam |
30 |
4 |
3 |
5 |
13.3% |
| Modernist |
17 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
23.5% |
| Leinster |
13 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
30.8% |
| Raging Bull |
30 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
10.0% |
| Essential Quality |
22 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
13.6% |
| Listing |
6 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
50.0% |
| By My Standards |
25 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
8.0% |
| Chance It |
21 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
9.5% |
| Code of Honor |
19 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
10.5% |
| Charlatan |
19 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
10.5% |
| Known Agenda |
18 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
11.1% |
| Basin |
14 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
14.3% |
| Tap Back |
9 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
22.2% |
| Tacitus |
15 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
6.7% |
| Combatant |
14 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
7.1% |
This week's entries
The freshman sires have 84 entries in the next five days, with heavy action expected at Saratoga and other major tracks. Several well-bred runners are set to make their debuts, including multiple offspring of the leading sires.
CNL R1: Lady Valor (Maxfield) 7-2
CNL R1: Niecey (Rock Your World) 9-2
PID R2: Go Simple (Knicks Go) 4-1
PID R2: Leo Q (Leinster) 10-1
PID R2: Jes See Me (Raging Bull) 9-2
PID R4: In the Aggregate (Raging Bull) 10-1
SAR R3: She's Country (Combatant) 5-2
SAR R3: My Devine One (Essential Quality) 9-2
SAR R9: Lexico (Lexitonian) 15-1
SAR R9: R P Byrne (Supremacy) 8-1
BTP R3: Cuzin Roscoe (Modernist) 10-1
BTP R3: Hey Batter Batter (By My Standards) 4-1
CNL R5: Li Grand Zombi (Raging Bull) 5-1
CNL R5: Smols (Rock Your World) 10-1
DEL R2: The Rizzler's Girl (Engage) 10-1
DEL R2: Soul Stealer (Three Rules) 8-1
DEL R2: Capos Sugar Kane (Capo Kane) 6-1
DEL R5: Lilies N Paradise (Maxfield) 2-1
DEL R7: Wall Art (Code of Honor) 4-1
DEL R7: Max Capacity (Maxfield) 7-2
IND R8: Lil Chance (Sombeyay) 8-1
SAR R6: Belgian (Beau Liam) 8-1
SAR R6: Augustinian (Galilean) 7-2
SAR R6: Silver Sniper (Silver State) 15-1
SAR R6: Hawkeye State (Rock Your World) 30-1
TDN R2: Crown the Buckeye (Yaupon) 2-1
DEL R4: Freely Held (Independence Hall) 8-1
DMR R5: If Not for Cas (Listing)
GP R3: Sweet Agenda (Known Agenda)
GP R6: Bundalay (Waiting)
GP R6: Epigram (Code of Honor)
GP R6: Coqueta Blue (Maxfield)
MTH R3: Senga (Maxfield)
MTH R3: Fitz Right (Charlatan)
PID R1: A Million Dreams (By My Standards) 2-1
PRM R10: Sugaree (By My Standards) 3-1
PRM R10: Ritzaphena (Lexitonian) 12-1
PRM R10: Somavia (Basin) 10-1
RP R9: Girls Knicks Now (Knicks Go) 12-1
SAR R1: Honoree (Code of Honor) 3-1
SAR R1: Force (Waiting) 5-1
SAR R1: Genie (Waiting) 5-1
SAR R1: Jack's World (Rock Your World) 6-1
SAR R6: Arctic Beast (Yaupon) 5-1
SAR R6: Froutien (Galilean) 7-2
CBY R4: Perfect Gamble (Independence Hall) 5-1
CNL R2: Ever Yours (Silver State)
CNL R2: Knickoletta (Knicks Go)
CNL R2: Bitter Battle (Combatant)
CNL R3: Anita Glassofwine (Capo Kane)
CNL R3: Zirconia (Silver State)
ELP R4: Tizianna (Beau Liam) 10-1
ELP R7: Givemethebeat (Beau Liam) 20-1
ELP R7: Alta Avenue (Tacitus) 7-2
EMD R6: She's Back (Tap Back)
EMD R6: Vesta (Raging Bull)
EVD R1: Runforjustice (Independence Hall)
EVD R1: Parole Drama (No Parole)
EVD R1: Unlawful (Sky Mischief)
GP R7: Josh Ready (Leinster)
GP R7: Polizon (Modernist)
IND R6: Divot Digger (Knicks Go)
IND R6: Veneno Futuro (Known Agenda)
PRM R6: Nurse Lucy (Lexitonian) 3-1
PRM R6: Aye Bay Bay (Independence Hall) 7-2
PRM R6: She's Never Wrong (Independence Hall) 10-1
SAR R2: Victory Hall (Independence Hall)
SAR R2: Maxpower (Maxfield)
SAR R4: Tennessee Belle (Yaupon)
SAR R7: Supreme Good (Supremacy)
SAR R9: Monster (Leinster)
ELP R1: Compressed (Basin)
ELP R6: Swamp King (Silver State)
ELP R6: Strong (Raging Bull)
ELP R7: Dancewhenyoucan (Known Agenda)
ELP R7: Annie's Allie (Tacitus)
GP R5: Science Rockets (Leinster)
GP R5: Gold Rules (Three Rules)
MNR R6: Silver Wishes (Silver State)
ELP R9: Essentially Gold (Essential Quality)
ELP R9: Riotous (Charlatan)
PRM R7: Pardoned (No Parole)
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