Illinois: Road Ruler is at cruising speed

The aptly named Road Ruler continues to rule Illinois with no signs of slowing. For the third consecutive year, the relatively young stallion is the Prairie State’s top active stallion.

Road Ruler, a 14-year-old son of the late Unbridled’s Song standing at J.B. Stables in Burnt Prairie, Ill., was represented by 22 winners from 37 starters for earnings of $667,767 in 2015. That was enough to edge the late Cherokee Rap, who died in 2012, represented by 27 winners from 38 starters for $625,035. The season continued the success of Road Ruler, who first burst onto the scene as Illinois’s leading freshman sire in 2012. He finished second to Cherokee Rap by progeny earnings in both 2013 and 2014, making him the state’s leading active sire.

Road Ruler was bred in Kentucky by Taylor Made Farm – which stood his late sire – and Brian Kahn. An $800,000 yearling, he won three of his first five starts, with all three victories coming at Fair Grounds. In his career, he competed for three seasons in Louisiana, Kentucky, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Oklahoma, taking 4 of 15 starts.

Road Ruler’s 2015 season was led by the consistent Canette, who became her sire’s fourth career stakes horse when she finished third in the Pershing Handicap at Hawthorne. Armando’s Star was his sire’s chief earner of the year, banking $88,566 in a busy 14-start campaign.

Road Ruler’s progeny represented their sire well on multiple different surfaces – including synthetic racing surfaces, which have dwindled in number in the North America. With Illinois one of the final states where synthetic-surfaces figures are meaningful, due to the presence of Arlington Park’s Polytrack, Road Ruler led the state’s sire list in the category.

Straight Line, a son of Boundary standing at Fairberry Farm in Waterloo, Ill., topped the state’s turf sire list, with Road Ruler third.

Third on the leading sire list was Cashel Castle, standing at Hill ’N Dale Farm in Barrington, Ill. The son of Silver Ghost was the state’s leading 2-year-old sire, with Road Ruler finishing third.