Into Mischief continues reign as leading North American sire in 2023

With the flip of the calendar earlier this week, Into Mischief has officially claimed his fifth consecutive leading general sire earnings title in North America.

Into Mischief, by Harlan’s Holiday, stands at Spendthrift Farm in Lexington, Ky. He easily outdistanced Curlin, standing at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm in Paris, Ky., by 2023 earnings, at $26,126,182 to $18,770,794, according to Daily Racing Form statistics.

Into Mischief also led the nation by individual winners, individual graded stakes winners, and individual Grade 1 winners, with six in the latter category. That group includes Kentucky Oaks winner Pretty Mischievous. Into Mischief also is the sire of Grade 1 winners Atone, Doppelganger, Gina Romantica, Played Hard, and Timberlake.

Curlin’s season was highlighted by five Grade 1 winners, including Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Cody’s Wish, Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Idiomatic, and Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Elite Power – all of whom have been mentioned as Horse of the Year finalist candidates. Curlin, by Smart Strike, also was represented on the season by Grade 1 winners Bright Future and Clairiere.

Rounding out North America’s top 10 sires by earnings were Gun Runner (Three Chimneys Farm), Uncle Mo (Coolmore’s Ashford Stud), Quality Road (Lane’s End Farm), American Pharoah (Ashford Stud), Munnings (Ashford Stud), Not This Time (Taylor Made Farm), and Practical Joke (Ashford Stud).

In other major Northern Hemisphere breeding and racing jurisdictions, in Europe, Juddmonte homebred Frankel claimed the leading general sire title over Dubawi. The unbeaten two-time European Horse of the Year, a son of the great Galileo, stands at his owner-breeder's Banstead Manor Stud. He was represented by top-level runners on the season, including one familiar to U.S. fans in Inspiral. She captured the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf after taking a pair of Group 1 events in Europe.

Lord Kanaloa, who stands at Shadai Stallion Station, was Japan's leading general sire by worldwide earnings over the late Duramente; both were sired by King Kamehameha. Lord Kanaloa’s leading earner was Panthalassa, winner of the world’s richest race, the Saudi Cup.

In Korea, where imported American stallions have been a cornerstone in building the country’s Thoroughbred industry, Eclipse Award champion juvenile Hansen is the leading general sire. He is followed on the earnings list by fellow expatriates Cowboy Cal and Musket Man, according to statistics published on the Korean Stud Book.

In another jurisdiction where imports play a major role, Torok, bred in Ireland, is the leading general sire in Turkey. According to The Jockey Club of Turkey, North American imports make up the next three spots on the general earnings list, in Victory Gallop, Mendip, and the late Lion Heart.

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