Freshman sires: Yaupon adds to tally, Engage gets 1st winner
The freshman sire crop of 2025 continues to show impressive depth as the season progresses, with several stallions establishing themselves as sources of quality runners. Yaupon leads the way with an outstanding 31.9% strike rate from 47 starts, and Maxfield has produced eight winners from 33 starts for a solid 24.2% average.
La Resolana gave Engage his first winner at Monmouth Park on Saturday. It was the filly's second lifetime start and the 22nd start for a progeny of Engage since May.
Curlin's fillies perform, earn $5,000 more per start
Engage is a son of leading sire Into Mischief out of a Speightstown mare. He won the Grade 3 Belmont Futurity at six furlongs as a juvenile, and he excelled at sprinting the rest of his career. His biggest win came in the Phoenix (G2) at Keeneland, and he finished fourth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint behind Mitole in his next start.
Engage stands in Maryland at Northview Stallion Station for $5,000.
Leading freshman sires
Yaupon continues to set the standard for the freshman sire class with his exceptional 31.9% strike rate. The son of Uncle Mo has produced 15 winners from 47 starts. Uncle Chuck follows closely at 31.6%, though from a smaller sample of 19 starts.
Maxfield maintains impressive consistency with eight winners from 33 starts for a 24.2% average, and Knicks Go shows volume production with 11 winners from 50 starts at a 22.0% clip.
| Sire | Wins | Starts | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yaupon | 15 | 47 | 31.9 |
| Uncle Chuck | 6 | 19 | 31.6 |
| Maxfield | 8 | 33 | 24.2 |
| Knicks Go | 11 | 50 | 22.0 |
| Leinster | 4 | 19 | 21.1 |
| Basin | 4 | 19 | 21.1 |
| Modernist | 5 | 25 | 20.0 |
| Beau Liam | 7 | 37 | 18.9 |
| Code of Honor | 5 | 27 | 18.5 |
| Rock Your World | 6 | 43 | 14.0 |
This week's entries and opportunities
Yaupon leads the week's activity with 10 entries across multiple tracks, including Scorch in race 9 at Saratoga Wednesday at 3-1 morning-line odds and Embrace the Moment in race 4 at Delaware Park at 3-1. The son of Uncle Mo has multiple runners at Saratoga, including Rina's Revenge in race 6 at 6-1 odds.
Knicks Go has seven entries, headlined by Mashie Niblick in race 5 at Del Mar at 5-1 odds and C C Fanta C in race 5 at Evangeline Downs at 3-1. Maxfield sends out six runners, including the favored Fourth and One in race 2, the Funny Cide stakes at Saratoga at 8-5 morning-line odds.
Upcoming entries
Friday
EVD R5: Sarah's Rolling (Knicks Go) 5-1
EVD R5: C C Fanta C (Knicks Go) 3-1
RP R1: Honey Cafe (Tacitus) 20-1
RP R1: Lady Beau (Beau Liam) 6-1
RP R6: Cool American Babe (Very Cool) 15-1
TIM R5: Sticktothesystem (Engage) 9-2
Saturday
EVD R3: Outtasight Seester (Uncle Chuck) 10-1
EVD R7: Silver Nate (Silver State) 6-1
LAD R6: Fly Strong (Yaupon) 7-2
LAD R8: Runforjustice (Independence Hall) 12-1