first-year stallions

With the 2-year-old sales season having kicked off and the first 'baby' races of the year ready to get going in a few weeks, laser focus will be placed on the up-and-coming first-crop stallions. Rightfully so, as we all hunt in earnest for the next breakout young sire. Could there possibly be another Gun Runner in the freshman class of 2023? A total of 16 young guns in North America have 50 or more current 2-year-olds resulting from their first covers in 2020. A great many more have fewer than...

Breeders' Cup winner Life Is Good (Into Mischief) and Keeneland track record-setter Nashville (Speightstown), both 'TDN Rising Stars' and first-year stallions at WinStar Farm, have each had their first mares confirmed in foal, according to WinStar. Four-time Grade I winner Life Is Good has multiple mares confirmed in foal, including graded winner Tiz Breathtaking (Tiznow) and Tapas (Tapit), an unraced mare acquired for $1.3 million by CHC Inc. at the 2016 Fasig-Tipton sale. Nashville also has multiple mares scanned in foal. Undefeated in his first three starts, Nashville set a...

Cyberknife, Greatest Honour, Jackie's Warrior, and Mo Donegal--the four first-season stallions standing at Spendthrift Farm for 2023--have all stopped their first mares, according to the Central Kentucky farm. The first mare reported in foal to GI Arkansas Derby and TVG.com Haskell S. winner Cyberknife, a son of sire sensation Gun Runner, is graded producer Afleet Lover (Northern Afleet), who is located at Wynnstay Farm. Likewise, the beautifully bred GII Fountain of Youth S. winner Greatest Honour, a son of Tapit, also had his first mare confirmed in foal. She is...

"When you figure it out, let me know." Those were the parting words of a highly esteemed breeder this week, after we exchanged a few thoughts on the diminishing viability of stallions once they have covered their first book of mares. Not that "diminishing," as an adjective, is really equal to the case. I suppose you could diminish down a lift shaft, but it wouldn't be the first word that would occur to you in the time available. Spoiler alert: I haven't figured it out. But I think I know...