Harness: New sires rapidly becoming both prominent and dominant

While the 2-year-old season is just starting and has been primarily contested at the local While the 2-year-old season is just starting and has been primarily contested at the local Sires Stakes level thus far, it is noticeable just how prominent our new first-crop stallions are proving to be. In two cases, the new boys seem on the verge of dominance, not just prominence, especially the New Jersey-based Walner and the Ohio-based Downbytheseaside.

As of this writing (July 26), both Downbytheseaside and Walner lead their respective stallion rivals in the categories of gross 2-year-old pacing and trotting stallion earnings, repectively. Whereas the youngsters are just starting to compete with each other on a National basis, it does appear that Downbytheseaside and Walner are capable of not only stepping out of their regions, but Walner in particular may prove to be a stallion for the ages.

In reviewing the opening leg of the Kindergarten series at The Meadowlands (July 23) in which colts and fillies sired from different State locations competed, we found the following results:

Seven of the races were for trotting colts and fillies. Of those, many of the established leading sires like Muscle Hill, Father Patrick, Cantab Hall and Ready Cash were represented with sons and daughters. Progeny of Walner, the new boy on the block, were on display as well and in fact accounted for three winners, including the filly Lilbitalexis whose 1:53 3/5 clocking turned out to be the fastest of the seven trotting Kindergartens.

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While Walner's performance may not be categorized as "dominant," at least not yet, the first-crop son of Chapter Seven was more than just prominent on what was basically a Grand Circuit-level evening.

At this point, Walner leads all trotting stallions in the category of 2-year-old money earnings, exceeding his own sire Chapter Seven by approximately $180,000. In that these numbers change daily, it's hard to be precise so early in the year.

Also noticeable was the first-crop Somebeachsomewhere stallion Huntsville, whose son Caviart Camden verified his initial "seasons record" showing of 1:51 4/5 with a workmanlike 1:52 2/5 come-from-behind win over Grand Circuit-caliber rivals, tacking on a last quarter in 26 1/5.

There weren't that many Huntsvilles at The Meadowlands that night, but that changed the next day at Saratoga Harness in which his sons and daughters accounted for three winners and six seconds in the nine New York Sire Stakes events accompanying the track's signature event, the Joe Gerrity Jr Memorial.

In that the Huntsville colts and fillies competed and more than held their own against traditional New York Sire leaders American Ideal, Roll With Joe and So Surreal, the first-crop stallion's overall performance can be labeled as prominent though not quite dominant. Therefore, it remains to be seen if he'll eventually emerge as the top sire in New York, but off his initial showings he has a chance.

At this point, Huntsville has accounted for 68 starters and 30 winners, ranking third in the category of 2-year-old money-earners.

Out Ohio way, at Scioto Downs, a total of seven Ohio Sires Stakes events were carded for the 2-year-old pacing set. Of those, five of the seven were won by sons and daughters of first-crop stallion Downbytheseaside, who certainly looks like the leading sire in the Buckeye State at this point.

Significantly, Downbytheseaside produce placed second in the other two events, one behind perennial Ohio siring mainstay McArdle and the other to first-crop stallion Fear The Dragon, 'Seaside's' stablemate during their racing days.

While Fear The Dragon was a factor in those events, Downbytheseaside was downright dominant and could well prove a stallion with national aspirations in the immediate future. So far, Downbytheseaside has accounted for 40 winners out of 74 starters and has a commanding lead over Captaintreacherous in the category of 2-year-old money-earners, accounting for the winners of $747,387 over the 'Captain's' current total of $506,916.

On a smaller scale, What The Hill, Long Tom, Luck Be With You, Dover Dan and Devious Man can be considered prominent in their respective Sire Stake divisions.

What The Hill, an Ohio-based son of Muscle Hill, ranks third nationally in the 2-year-old earnings category with 21 winners out of 64 starters. Long Tom, another Ohio-based son of Muscle Hill, ranks eighth nationally for 2-year-old trotting earnings via 25 winners from his 41 starters.

Over in Indiana, the Hoosier-based Dover Dan (Andover Hall-C R Kay Susie) now has 15 winners from 41 starters. The first-crop pacing stallion Luck Be With You (Western Ideal-Trim Hanover) has 25 winners from his 41 starters and some have been noticeable at the Indiana Sires Stakes level.

In New York, Devious Man, a Blue Chip Farms-based Credit Winner brother to Vivid Photo, has presently 14 winners from his total of 25 starters.

With the Grand Circuit just getting started, the above numbers will change -- some dramatically. However, one can still make the assessment that Walner and Downbytheseaside will continue as dominant sires in their respective regions and both seem destined for national recognition.

Huntsville looks ready to seriously challenge if not surpass American Ideal, the long-time leader in New York. Meanwhile Fear The Dragon, given his ability to "get 'em to the races" will undoubtedly be quite prominent in Ohio.

Much the same can be said for What The Hill, Long Tom, Luck be With You, Dover Dan and Devious Man. Of those What The Hill might prove more than just a regional stallion.

Stay tuned.

Top 2-year-old pacers by record (as of 8/2/21)

Horse Name (Sire) - Sex - Starts - Wins - Earnings - Record

PEBBLE BEACH (Downbytheseaside) H 3 2 $34,800 1:50.1m

I DID IT MYWAY (Captaintreacherous) H 4 4 $89,944 1:50.3m

SLOOPY (Downbytheseaside) M 4 2 $38,800 1:50.3m

SOARING NOW (JK Endofanera) H 3 3 $37,000 1:51.0s

SIX FEET APART (Sweet Lou) H 1 1 $10,000 1:51.0m

FULFULLNMYDESTINY (Tellitlikeitis) G 4 1 $50,190 1:51.1s

HOTSHOT TEMPTRESS (McArdle) M 3 1 $25,200 1:51.2f

TRICK OF THE LIGHT (Odds On Equuleus) M 2 1 $46,125 1:51.2s

GOTTHEGREENLIGHT (American Ideal) M 3 3 $40,000 1:51.2m

GULF SHORES (Downbytheseaside) H 2 2 $40,000 1:51.3f

SEA SILK (Downbytheseaside) M 3 3 $115,000 1:51.3f

MANY MOONS (Sweet Lou) H 3 2 $17,038 1:51.3s

Top 2-year-old trotters by record (as of 8/2/21)

Horse Name (Sire) - Sex - Starts - Wins - Earnings - Record

VENERABLE (Walner) M 3 3 $125,000 1:52.2m

KING OF THE NORTH (Walner) H 4 4 $135,000 1:52.4m

SELFIE QUEEN (Muscle Hill) M 4 2 $36,250 1:53.0m

LILBITALEXIS (Walner) M 2 2 $20,000 1:53.1m

KEG STAND (Bar Hopping) H 5 3 $86,276 1:53.3m

DOVER IN MOTION (Dover Dan) G 2 2 $56,250 1:54.1s

JOVIALITY S (Chapter Seven) M 3 2 $39,433 1:54.1m

TEMPORAL HANOVER (Walner) H 4 2 $80,000 1:54.1m

AMERICAN BEAUTY (Walner) M 5 2 $38,602 1:54.2m

LAWS OF MOTION (Walner) H 4 1 $13,750 1:54.2m

MISSWALNER FASHION (Walner) M 1 1 $10,000 1:54.2m

MON CHEVAL (Father Patrick) M 2 1 $17,500 Q 1:54.2m

*Stats courtesy USTrotting.com