Exaggerator tops 2023 general sire list in Louisiana

Skippylongstocking had a memorable year on the track in 2023, and his success played a key role in lifting Exaggerator to the top of the general sire list in Louisiana.

Exaggerator had total progeny earnings of $5,009,737 last year to edge Carpe Diem, who ranked second in the state with $4,960,721, according to Daily Racing Form statistics.

Skippylongstocking was his sire’s chief earner last year, banking $816,375 during a campaign in which he won the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic and finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. Another top runner for Exaggerator was the promising West Saratoga, winner of the Grade 3 Iroquois at Churchill Downs and an earner of $294,140.

“We heard he might be on the Derby trail, which would be exciting,” said Michele Rodriguez, president of the Elite Thoroughbreds Farm in Folsom that’s home to Exaggerator.

Exaggerator ran second in the 2016 Kentucky Derby before winning the Preakness. The 11-year-old son of Curlin stands for Ron Ortowski, who raced the horse in partnership. Exaggerator moved to Louisiana with the start of the 2022 season and brought a new source of stamina to the Pelican State.

“In Louisiana, we breed for speed and that’s great,” Rodriguez said. “The thing I like about Exaggerator is he adds a little classic distance. I bred a few mares to him, hoping to stretch them out, develop a little more classic horse. He can bring that. He can help us with that.”

Rodriguez said Exaggerator is getting a nice amount of interest from mare owners in Louisiana.

“Babies that were born in Louisiana, we’ve gotten pictures, had people calling, saying these are the best-looking babies they ever had,” she said. “That helps, too.

“He’s a very nice stallion. He’s an easy keeper, has a good disposition, and he retired sound. Hopefully, he’ll pass that along.”

Gormley, who won the Santa Anita Derby the year after Exaggerator captured the race, is new to Louisiana for 2024. He is in from Kentucky to stand at Red River Farms in Coushatta for a new ownership group led by residents of Louisiana.

“He got here probably three months ago,” farm owner Jay Adcock said. “I think he’s going to be a welcome addition for us as a Grade 1 winner as a 2-year-old and 3-year-old who has a couple of graded stakes winners running right now. He also has the Louisiana-bred stakes winner Bron and Brow, so he’s got some recognition already built in down here.”

Gormley will stand for $2,500.

Other new stallions in Louisiana for 2024 include Colonelsdarktemper, Faversham, Pound for Pound, and Unified, according to the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association.

Arkansas

Super Stock, who won the Arkansas Derby in 2021, will launch his stallion career this season at Leadem Farm in Leola.

“To my knowledge, he’s the only Arkansas Derby winner of modern times to stand in Arkansas, let alone retire straight there,” said Bob Wolesensky, whose wife, Tyree, owns Leadem Farm.

Super Stock will stand for Erv Woolsey and Keith Asmussen, who raced the earner of $1.2 million. The 6-year-old son of Dialed In is now residing about 50 miles south of Oaklawn Park, where he registered his signature win.

American Freedom is another resident of Leadem Farm. In 2023, he was the leading general sire in Arkansas with progeny earnings of $4,004,119.

“He had a bunch of super solid horses,” Bob Wolesensky said. “He just throws racehorses.”

American Freedom, who is by Pulpit, came to Arkansas in November 2022.

The Big Beast ranked second on the state’s general sire list in 2023, with progeny earnings of $2,939,240. Big and Classy carried the torch for his sire, going 8 for 11 last year to rank as one of the winningest horses in North America. The Big Beast will stand his first full season in Arkansas in 2024 after beginning his career in Florida.

“He had a good year at Gulfstream,” said Alex Lieblong, who with his wife, JoAnn, is standing The Big Beast in partnership with McDowell Farm in Sparkman. “We’ve enjoyed watching them run – not just ours, everybody’s.”

Alex Lieblong said another runner of note for The Big Beast last year was Livingmybestlife, a multiple stakes winner who was third in the Grade 1 La Brea in December at Santa Anita.

Caddo River has retired to stand stud at McDowell Farm, and Sea Foam will join the roster at Starfish Stallions in Hot Springs, according to Deana Echols of the Arkansas Thoroughbred Breeders and Horsemen’s Association.

Texas

Creative Cause is a major addition to the Texas stallion ranks, moving from Kentucky to Marjorie Farms in Fredericksburg, a new operation that purchased the Grade 1-winning millionaire by Giant’s Causeway. His stud fee is set at $6,000, which is the top end of the market in the Southwest.

“Creative Cause’s runners are fast, durable, proven, and precocious,” farm manager Bill Tracy said in a press release provided by the Texas Thoroughbred Association.

Competitive Edge topped the general sire list in Texas with 2023 progeny earnings of $3,423,859. His star runner was Ryvit, a four-time stakes winner last year for earnings of $629,659. Mr Speaker, sire of Grade 2 winner Three Technique, ranked second in the state with progeny earnings of $2,605,383.

Oklahoma

Flat Out dominated the general sire standings in Oklahoma with progeny earnings of $4,694,499. Cowtown Cat ranked second in the state with $1,030,201.

Flat Out’s progeny included Dicey, who went 4 for 8 last year with a win in the Oklahoma Classics Distaff Sprint and Thetruthisthetruth, who with a 9-for-13 record was one of North America’s winningest horses of 2023.

Among the new stallions who have been registered for the state’s program for 2024 are I’m a War Lord, Power Jam, Someday Jones, and The Hunk, according to the Oklahoma Racing Commission.

New Mexico

Marking was New Mexico’s leading general sire last year with progeny earnings of $2,579,388. Attila’s Storm ranked second with $1,740,673.

Marking, a son of Bernardini, was notably represented by stakes winner Sambas Mark, who went 5 for 10 in 2023.

Among the stallions who have entered the state’s program for 2024 are Declined, Tastemaker, and Shame On Dixie, according to records from the New Mexico Horse Breeders Association.