Harness: First-crop stallions making an early name for themselves

For many the most significant part of the beginning of "baby race" season is the appearance of those colts and fillies sired by first-crop stallions. After all, we've seen the incumbents and for the most part have a pretty good idea of where they fit in the overall ranking of stallions. While it's true some incumbent stallions may or may not maintain what we thought was impressive, or for that matter unimpressive debuts, we still have a reasonably good idea of what to expect from their offspring.

However, the ongoing great mystery are those "first-croppers" as the only initial expectations can be gleaned from impressive and/or unimpressive training reports. Then the question becomes will they prove as "advertised."

Thus far this year the first-crop brigade feature a quartet of stallions who have indicated they will be strong factors in the production of quality stakes colts and fillies. Among them are trotting sire Walner and pacing stallions Downbytheseaside, Huntsville and Fear The Dragon. Each has accounted for a multitude of starters and more importantly "winners," suggesting that they will emerge as not only factors in their respective regions but on a National basis as well. In addition, regional first-crop stallions Devious Man, Dover Dan, Luck Be With You and Long Tom have been showing up primarily on the fair circuits and will warrant some attention in the future.

Let's take a look.

WALNER

Prior to his premature retirement, Walner looked to be potentially an all-time great and possibly on a par with or even better than the great sire Muscle Hill. That however will never be determined. Walner is the leading son of current exceptional New York-based stallion Chapter Seven, sire also of such greats as Atlanta and Gimpanzee.

As of June 29 Walner had accounted for 40 starters and 17 winners, including the visually impressive King Of The North and Wall Of Moni. Walner himself was a brilliant 2-year-old, lowering the world record to 1:51 3/5 in 2016, a season in which he won seven of eight starts and $434,037. As is well known, Walner raced but twice at age 3 winning both starts, including the Dancer Memorial in 1:50 3/5. Ironically, Walner stands alongside Muscle Hill at Southwind Farm of New Jersey and is genetically compatible to cross with Muscle Hill mares. Whether or not that becomes a golden cross of the future remains to be seen, although undoubtedly it will be attempted quite often.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: As of July 6, three of the top four fastest 2-year-old trotters in North America were sired by Walner.]

DOWNBYTHESEASIDE

By the apparent "sire of sires" Somebeachsomewhere from Sprig Hanover, Downbytheseaside has made perhaps the most auspicious debut of any recent stallion in terms of sheer numbers. From his base at Ohio's Sugar Valley Farms, Downbytheseaside has accounted for 67 starters and an eye-catching number of 30 winners thus far. Those numbers appear destined to increase significantly as this season progresses. Ironically two major trainers -- Brian Brown and Peter Wrenn -- described the "Seasides" as a tad tough to get gaited initially but once they caught on, they were great. Brown indicated that since he himself did not initially break Downbytheseaside he wasn't sure what to expect, but he is extremely happy with them now.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: By virtue of her Next Generation win at Scioto Downs on July 3, Sea Silk, from Downbytheseaside's first crop, is the fastest (1:51 3/5) 2-year-old pacer as of July 6.]

FEAR THE DRAGON

Perhaps the last outstanding son of the great Dragon Again and his potential line extender, Fear The Dragon functioned as the other half of the formidable Brian Brown entry in seasons 2016 and 2017. It often appeared if either Downbytheseaside or Fear The Dragon failed to win a major stake during those seasons, it was because the "other colt" beat them too it. Fear The Dragon from the well-bred Armbro Cinnamon (Western Ideal-Mattaroni) is a half-brother to Art Official's all-time best Cinamony p, 4,1:49 3/5.

Fear The Dragon p,3,1:48 4/5 ($1,578,547) thus far has 60 starters and 12 winners, though with that many starters more winners will surely come. For the record, the dam Armbro Cinnamon, who carried Fear The Dragon, was purchased from the final Perretti Farms dispersal by leading Ohio Breeder Bruce Trogden for $16,000. Fear The Dragon stands at Ohio's Midland Acres.

HUNTSVILLE

Here is another son of Somebeachsomewhere and "crop-mate" of Downbytheseaside and Fear The Dragon, having been foaled in 2014. Huntsville was the Dan Patch and Breeder's Crown champion 2-year-old of 2016. In all, the Somebeachsomewhere-Wild West Show son earned more ($1,707,202) and took a faster mark (p,3,1:47 4/5) than his above mentioned crop-mates. Huntsville is managing a noticeably impressive siring debut with 50 starters and 17 winners, including the stakes filly River Ness, from his New York home base at Cameo Hills Farms.

Of the others, Devious Man, a son of Credit Winner, has managed 19 starters from a small initial crop numbering 37. Of those eight have already won and it's noticeable that some are making appearances in the New York Sires Stakes program. In fact, son Middleman won an Excelsior B NY Sires event at Yonkers on June 28. Devious Man stands at Blue Chip Farms.

Dover Dan (Andover Hall- C R Kay Susie) and Luck Be With You (Western Ideal-Trim Hanover) have primarily impressed on the Indiana Fair Circuit thus far and we'll be checking to see if some graduate to the Indiana Sires Stakes as well. Dover Dan has accounted for 30 starters and 12 winners thus far while Luck Be With You checks in at 26 starters and 10 winners.

In Ohio, Long Tom, a son of Muscle Hill standing at Midland Acres, has been attracting noticeable attention at the Buckeye tracks like Northfield and Scioto. At this point Long Tom has 35 starters and 16 winners, several of whom appeared and earned money in Ohio-Sired events. He could be one to "keep an eye on."

With the stakes season getting underway it'll be interesting to see how these "first-croppers" fare down the road when the going gets tougher, but an educated guess suggests they'll be just fine if not significantly better than fine.