Freshman sires: Rock Your World has a Ky. Oaks hopeful
Yaupon continues to pace the 2025 freshman sire crop with 18 winners from 72 starts, maintaining his position atop the standings. The son of Uncle Mo has built a solid lead over Knicks Go, who is in second with 12 wins from an equal 72 starts.
Maxfield rounds out the top three with 11 wins from 50 starts, showing strong efficiency among the leaders.
Rock Your World became the sire of a Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks contender when Taken by the Wind scored a classy victory in the Pocahontas (G3) at Churchill Downs. The Kenny McPeek-trained filly earned the first 10 points towards the Kentucky Oaks starting gate going one mile on dirt. It was her second lifetime start and second win.
Recent winners
Three freshman sires registered multiple winners during the last week. Essential Quality scored twice, with El Barrio winning at Woodbine on Friday for trainer Mark Casse and Misinformation capturing a Churchill Downs maiden the same day, also for Casse.
Beau Liam added two wins to his total when Vern broke through at Prairie Meadows on Friday for trainer Doug Anderson. Meanwhile, Charlatan matched that total with Law and Disorder winning at Prairie Meadows and Separator scoring at Los Alamitos on Thursday for trainer Michael McCarthy.
Other notable winners included Sweet Agenda giving Known Agenda his latest victory at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, and Silver State added to his tally with Miss Call's triumph at Belmont at Aqueduct the same day for McPeek.
Two European sires marked their first starters in North America. Breeders' Cup Mile winner Space Blues was represented at Kentucky Downs Wednesday with Vasy, a 2-year-old colt trained by Brendan Walsh who finished second in his first career start. Multiple Group 1 winner St. Mark's Basilica had his first North America starter at Woodbine Saturday in the Summer Stakes with Thesecretadversary, a 2-year-old colt trained by James Stack.
Freshman sire standings
| Sire | Starts | Wins | Places | Shows | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yaupon | 72 | 18 | 9 | 11 | 25.0 |
| Knicks Go | 72 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 16.7 |
| Maxfield | 50 | 11 | 6 | 8 | 22.0 |
| Beau Liam | 54 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 16.7 |
| Rock Your World | 58 | 8 | 11 | 6 | 13.8 |
| Uncle Chuck | 32 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 25.0 |
| Essential Quality | 47 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 14.9 |
| Modernist | 39 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 15.4 |
| Charlatan | 39 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 15.4 |
| Basin | 28 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 21.4 |
| Independence Hall | 52 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 9.6 |
| Silver State | 48 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 10.4 |
| Code of Honor | 35 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 14.3 |
| Leinster | 24 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 20.8 |
| Raging Bull | 53 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 7.5 |
| By My Standards | 36 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 11.1 |
| Engage | 32 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 12.5 |
| Lexitonian | 31 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 12.9 |
| Known Agenda | 38 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7.9 |
| Tacitus | 36 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 8.3 |