Union Rags's first crop off and running

Union Rags is beginning to break the freshman sire race open, as he recorded the second Grade 1 winner of his nascent stud career when Dancing Rags captured the Alcibiades Stakes on opening day at Keeneland. She will now head to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, along with the stallion’s Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante winner, Union Strike.

Through Sunday, 2012 Belmont Stakes winner Union Rags, who stands at Lane’s End, was the sire of eight winners and led the freshman sire list with earnings of $905,293. The son of Dixie Union is followed by Creative Cause at $599,416 and Dialed In at $586,358.

Leapfrogging into fourth on the list was WinStar Farm freshman Gemologist, also represented by a first-crop Grade 1 winner in Saturday’s Frizette Stakes heroine, Yellow Agate. His eight winners also include impressive debut winner Thory, pointing to the Futurity on Oct. 15 at Belmont.