Veteran sires Medaglia d’Oro and Speightstown recorded the highest Beyer Speed Figures of the year for juveniles, thanks to their sons Bolt d’Oro and Strike Power.

Curlin emerged as a source of classic stamina early in his stud career, with 2013 Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice emerging from his first crop. The Smart Strike stallion, residing at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm, has been represented by a classic winner or classic-placed runner in each of his crops to follow – and following his best crop of juveniles to date, he is taking dead aim on keeping that streak alive in 2018.

By almost any measure, Into Mischief again had a stellar year with his 2-year-old runners in 2017.

The Spendthrift Farm stallion leads Daily Racing Form’s exclusive Beyer Sire Performance Standings with 16 figures to meet or surpass the benchmark figure of 80 from juvenile action last season. Ten individuals were responsible for those figures, giving him a healthy 12 percent to reach that threshold from his juvenile starters.

Royal Mo, a Grade 3 winner, will begin his stallion career at Klawervlei Stud in South Africa during the 2018 Southern Hemisphere breeding season.

The 4-year-old son of Uncle Mo has been residing in Europe during a quarantine period, and will go through a separate quarantine once he arrives in South Africa. The stallion is still being syndicated, and a fee had not yet been announced.

Marconi

Tapit–Ponche de Leona, by Ponche

:: ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays, and analysis

Bred in Kentucky by Brushwood Stable ($2 million Keeneland September yearling purchase by Bridlewood Farm and Coolmore)

The Northern Hemisphere breeding season officially began in mid-February, and an accomplished class of first-year stallions have adjusted well to their second careers. Horse of the Year Gun Runner and multiple Grade 1 winner Lord Nelson had their first mares confirmed in foal this week, while champion and leading money-winner Arrogate has already had several prominent runners visit his court.

Conquest Tsunami fired off a 106 Beyer Speed Figure while winning the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes on Feb. 24 at Santa Anita Park, the highest turf figure of 2018 to date.

The number was the first three-digit Beyer for Conquest Tsunami, putting him at the forefront of another strong season for turf runners by his sire, Stormy Atlantic, in the Daily Racing Form’s Beyer Sire Performance Standings.

Distilled, a Grade 2 winner in the U.S. and pensioned sire residing in Korea, died on Jan. 10. He was 20.

The son of Hennessy was bred in Kentucky by Craig Singer, was acquired by owner Dogwood Stable, and placed in the barn of trainer Todd Pletcher. He spent his 2-year-old campaign in New York, and broke his maiden at Aqueduct in his fourth start.

Etched, a multiple Grade 2 winner, has been exported to South Korea to continue his stud career for the 2018 breeding season.

The 13-year-old son of Forestry previously stood at Bonita Farm in Darlington, Md., where he was advertised for $2,000.

Records from the Korean Racing Authority show Etched was imported to the country on Feb. 20.

:: DRF BREEDING LIVE: Real-time coverage of breeding and sales

Except for the very top tier of stallions that produce classic winners and Grade 1-winning 2-year-olds, commercial breeders lose interest even in consistently successful sires as the horses age. Sales statistics show that young, unproven sires - most of whom ultimately will be nowhere near as productive as those solid, proven commodities - are far more popular with buyers than the consistent second-tier stallion.