The dark bay with the flashy blaze and white stockings first walked into a breeding shed in New York in 2002. That same season, his full brother, European Horse of the Year Giant’s Causeway, headed to Coolmore’s Ashford Stud in Kentucky after standing one year at the outfit’s Irish headquarters due to high demand from U.S. breeders. That strategy of bringing highly sought-after bloodlines to New York and making them available at a reasonable price point in the regional market has proven wildly successful for Sequel Stallions over the last two decades. Freud, the full brother to late perennial leading sire Giant’s Causeway, continues to reign supreme in his adopted home state, while Sequel continues to add well-related stallions. New York’s most anticipated newcomers this year are graded stakes winners Destin and The Lieutenant – the latter a half-brother to Triple Crown winner Justify. “Justify is a very special horse,” Sequel owner Becky Thomas said at the time of the announcement. “When the opportunity presented itself to stand his brother in New York, I just couldn’t pass it up. Standing brothers of famous horses has served me very well. Giant’s Causeway’s brother Freud has become the very cornerstone of the breeding program in New York.” Freud, a Group 2-placed son of Storm Cat, began his career at Thomas and Lewis and Brenda Lakin’s Lakland North near Hudson, N.Y. That farm later became Sequel Stallions New York, as it was announced in November 2006 that Dennis Narlinger had bought out the Lakins’ interest in the farm, with Thomas retaining her half. But Sequel later took a two-year hiatus because of poor economic conditions as long-awaited slots money had yet to be infused into New York’s breeding industry and purse structures. Freud and the other stallions temporarily relocated to Keane Stud in Amenia, N.Y., then returned home when Sequel reopened in time for the 2012 breeding season. Regardless of location, farm name, or ownership, Freud made his quality known, and in 2018, continued to reign supreme. He led New York’s general sires list last year with progeny earnings of $5,545,390 in 2018, outpacing Bellamy Road’s $4,732,927. This marks the 11th straight time Freud has finished first or second on the list of general sires with state-sired runners. Freud also easily led New York’s turf-sire rankings for the 11th straight year, with a bankroll of $2,706,762, to Courageous Cat’s $979,402 in a distant second. Freud’s dominance on both lists was helped by his daughter Fourstar Crook, who became a Grade 1 winner when she took the Flower Bowl Invitational in October at Belmont Park. The mare’s season also included victories in the Grade 2 Hillsborough Stakes and Grade 2 New York Stakes, defeating eventual Eclipse Award-winning stablemate Sistercharlie in the latter. She was second to Sistercharlie in a pair of Grade 1 events, the Jenny Wiley and Beverly D. stakes. Freud is the sire of 66 stakes winners – including 16 graded/group winners – in his career. In addition to Fourstar Crook, his Grade/Group 1 winners are Alex Rossi, Franny Freud, Giant Ryan, Must Go On, Sharp Azteca, and Summer Love. Meanwhile, Sequel has continued to bring in well-related sires in the pattern of Freud and has continued to build relationships with major national and international entities. One prime example was multiple Grade 1 winner Alpha, a freshman sire of 2018 who was brought to New York via a relationship with the international Godolphin operation, which continues to showcase the stallion under its Darley banner. Mission Impazible is a son of the late Unbridled’s Song, who many bloodstock pundits believe will continue emerging as a sire of sires. Mission Impazible has been one of his most successful sons yet, finishing as New York’s leading freshman sire and second-leading juvenile sire of 2016; he finished in the top dozen nationally among freshmen. The Sequel resident followed up by edging Freud on the 2017 juvenile sire list and finishing among New York’s top five general sires in 2017 and 2018. Next in the pipeline for Sequel are Stephanoatsee, a freshman sire of 2019; Laoban, whose first foals are yearlings; and Union Jackson, whose first foals are arriving now. All have notable bloodlines. Stephanoatsee, a stakes-winning son of A.P. Indy, is out of Broodmare of the Year Oatsee, making him a half-brother to classic winner Shackleford and Grade 1 winner Lady Joanne, among others. Grade 2 winner Laoban is from the first crop of successful young classic sire Uncle Mo, whose first sons at stud have been well received in Kentucky. Union Jackson, a stakes winner by Curlin, is out of Grade 1 winner Hot Dixie Chick; that mare is a half-sister to Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming. Union Jackson represents the first participation in the New York breeding program for Stonestreet Stables, whose owner, Barbara Banke, said she was “very excited” to be moving into the regional market and planned to “strongly” support the young stallion with her stellar broodmare band. At the time of Union Jackson’s retirement, Thomas said Union Jackson might be the best-bred stakes winner to ever begin his career in New York. That title may only be threatened by this year’s Sequel newcomers, as graded stakes winner The Lieutenant, a half-brother to unbeaten Triple Crown winner Justify, leads a strong incoming duo. The Lieutenant, by Street Sense and out of the Grade 3-placed Ghostzapper mare Stage Magic, will stand for an introductory fee of $6,500 at Sequel. Justify is, of course, set to begin his stud career at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud in Kentucky for $150,000, making the son of Scat Daddy the most expensive incoming stallion on the continent. The Lieutenant was purchased by trainer Michael McCarthy out of the 2015 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s March sale of 2-year-olds in training. He emerged with his best season of racing this year at age 5, winning the Grade 3 All American Stakes in May at Golden Gate. He also finished second to Diversify in the Grade 2 Suburban Handicap, was third in the Grade 2 Californian, and finished second in the Santana Mile. He retires with an overall record of 15-4-2-1 and earnings of $345,882. “His looks, mechanics, and desire to train reminded me of some of the most talented horses I had ever been around, before an unfortunate injury after the Suburban Handicap ultimately curtailed his career,” McCarthy said in a Sequel press release. “I’ll miss watching him train in lock step with [Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and Pegasus World Cup winner] City of Light and was sure he was geared up to make some noise in the fall schedule’s biggest races. I have no doubt that his looks, heart, and strong female family will be a bonus to the New York breeders for years to come.” Sequel also adds three-time graded stakes winner Destin, who finished a close second in the 2016 Belmont Stakes. The Giant’s Causeway horse is a full brother to classic-placed Grade 1 winner Creative Cause and to graded stakes winner Vexatious, all out of Grade 1 winner Dream of Summer. Creative Cause is standing for $20,000 at Airdrie in Kentucky off a career year in which he sired Grade 1 winner Pavel, multiple graded stakes winner My Boy Jack, and stakes winner Significant Form. Destin, who will stand for $6,500 at Sequel, raced for Twin Creeks Farm and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners; Gainesway also will partner in his stallion career. Twin Creeks also campaigned Mission Impazible and now deepens its relationship with Sequel. “Having participated in the New York program for a while now, and having learned what works, I believe Destin is the perfect fit,” Randy Gullatt of Twin Creeks said in a Sequel press release. “I am very excited about this horse. Destin’s beautiful body, great bone, and ability to go a distance of ground will be an easy match for much of the mare population. . . . I think New York is a perfect fit based on the influence Giant’s Causeway has had on both turf and dirt. We are very excited about the team and support that Destin will have getting started as a stallion.”