Breeders' Cup sire standings likely to change this week
World-renowned sire Galileo, whose death in July sent shockwaves through the racing world, will look to posthumously extend his lead as the Breeders’ Cup’s all-time leading sire by money won. Meanwhile, the action this week at Del Mar also could shift the leaderboard of the event’s leading living sires.
The top five sires by money won in the 37 editions of the Breeders’ Cup are all deceased, with Galileo leading Unbridled’s Song, who died in 2013, with a bankroll of $13,876,287 to $10,922,400. They are followed by Storm Cat, Smart Strike, and Street Cry. Galileo is the only one of those top five sires with young crops remaining on the racetrack to add to his totals. His contingent for this year’s Breeders’ Cup is led by the star filly Love, entered in the Filly and Mare Turf. Galileo also has Japan in the main body of the field for the Turf, along with Bolshoi Ballet and Mogul, both currently relegated to the also-eligible list.
One has to go down to sixth on the earnings leaderboard to find the leading living sire, Tapit, with $7,585,690. Gainesway’s perennial leading sire, Tapit has just two entries in this year’s Breeders’ Cup, but one of them is champion and Classic candidate Essential Quality.
Tapit is closely followed among living Breeders’ Cup leading sires by Curlin (seventh overall) with $7,470,000. Curlin’s Breeders' Cup entrants are led by Malathaat and Clairiere, both prominent contenders in the Distaff. The leaderboard is close enough to see some shuffling this week, as the next leading living sires are Medaglia d’Oro (ninth) with $7,245,345; Into Mischief (10th) at $7,080,000; and More Than Ready (13th) with $6,571,900.
Into Mischief’s strong hand of Breeders’ Cup entrants is made up of defending Filly and Mare Sprint winner Gamine, who is part of a short field; Life Is Good, one of the favorites for the Dirt Mile; the improving Private Mission in the Distaff; and Barossa in the Juvenile.
Into Mischief is chasing more than just Breeders’ Cup success. The Spendthrift Farm resident is well on his way to his third consecutive North American sire title, with progeny earnings of $20,806,514 this year through Sunday. He is easily clear of Ghostzapper, whose progeny have earned $14,779,699. Moreover, Into Mischief is well within reach of his own single-season earnings record of $22,506,085, established last year.
Mark Toothaker, stallion sales director for Spendthrift, pointed out that Into Mischief’s record last year was paced by Authentic, who earned more than $7.1 million in 2020. He lacks such a dominant runner this season.
“For him to be right there again . . .” Toothaker marveled. “And not only that, the quality of mares just keeps going up again, another rung.”
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WinStar Farm resident More Than Ready quietly leads all sires with seven Breeders’ Cup victories for his progeny, to six for Tapit and Unbridled’s Song. More Then Ready will have Breeders’ Cup chances with Slipstream in the Juvenile Turf; three entrants in the Juvenile Fillies Turf; and Hit the Road in the Mile.
“More Than Ready continues to prove he’s as potent today as ever,” Tom Ryan of SF Bloodstock posted on his Twitter. “Defies lots of myths about stallions’ viability as they grow older. Good stallions thrive on opportunity.”