Freshman sires Animal Kingdom, Morning Line get first stakes winners

Two freshman sires recorded their first stakes wins over the weekend: Animal Kingdom’s Sunny Skies won the Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs, and Surrender Now, by Morning Line, won the Landaluce Stakes at Santa Anita.

Sunny Skies had no problems with the sloppy, sealed track for the Debutante following a weather delay on closing night at Churchill Downs, scoring by 1 3/4 lengths in front-running fashion. The Normandy Farm homebred is the lone North American winner for Kentucky Derby and Dubai World Cup winner, Eclipse Award champion, and dual-hemisphere freshman sire Animal Kingdom, having romped by nine lengths in an April 27 debut at Keeneland.

Animal Kingdom began his stud career in the 2013 Southern Hemisphere season at Arrowfield Stud in Australia before shuttling to Darley’s Kentucky base. The Leroidesanimaux horse is represented by five winners in Australia, led by Lord Cecil, who finished third in the Group 3 Moreton Hire Ken Russell Memorial Classic.

Grade 1 winner Morning Line is represented by two winners from his first crop, led by Surrender Now, who put away challengers after a speed duel and drew clear to win the Landaluce by eight lengths.

Morning Line, by Tiznow, stands at Lane’s End Farm.