Harlan’s Holiday establishes earnings record for juvenile sire

WinStar Farm stallion Harlan’s Holiday established a North American record for 2-year-old earnings in 2012 when his progeny finished the year with $2,954,556. He eclipsed the previous record of $2,811,337 set by Tapit in 2008.

In 2012, 2-year-olds by Harlan’s Holiday won 26 races, and he sired five stakes winners. His top runner was undefeated Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner and $1,687,000-earner Shanghai Bobby, the leading candidate for the Eclipse Award as champion juvenile male.

“We are extremely proud of Harlan’s Holiday,” WinStar president and chief executive officer Elliott Walden said. “The neat thing about him is he just turned 14, so the best is yet to come. His books and mares continue to improve each year.”

Danzig was the first stallion to break the $2 million threshold in juvenile earnings for a single year, accomplishing the feat in 1984. Prior to Tapit’s record, the single-season mark was held by Capote in 1996 with more than $2.7 million in progeny earnings.

Harlan’s Holiday, who is by Harlan out of the Affirmed mare Christmas in Aiken, finished 2012 ranked 11th on the general sire list. A three-time Grade 1 winner and earner of more than $3.6 million on the track, he will stand his ninth season in 2013 at WinStar for a fee of $35,000.