The ranks of elite turf sires are in a period of major change, both in North America and Europe, with the loss of several titans in recent years. Emerging as a leader of the group is War Front, a stallion popular on both sides of the Atlantic.
The flagship of the Claiborne Farm roster, War Front is the leading living turf sire by earnings in North America, with several other stallions also emerging as horses to keep an eye on in the coming years.
At this point in his record-setting stud career, Into Mischief's rivals are not only his contemporaries - who he outdistanced again to claim his fourth straight North American sire title in 2022 while again breaking his own single-season earnings mark. He is starting to reach a position of comparison to some of the legends of the industry.
Bucking a national trend, Indiana was one of a few states that had an increase in mares bred in 2022, showing a response to a robust statebred program that has contributed major economic activity to the state.
According to The Jockey Club’s Report of Mares Bred released last fall, of the top 10 states and provinces by the number of mares reported bred in 2022, only New York and Indiana had more mares bred than the prior year. In Indiana, 39 stallions covered 496 reported mares, ranking the state eighth by number of mares bred. The prior year, 45 stallions covered 475 mares.
Ghaaleb claimed his second consecutive Illinois sire title, and third overall, in 2022, outdistancing his closest competitor while doing so.
Ghaaleb, who stands at Wildwood Farm, amassed progeny earnings of $1,382,315 on the season. That more than doubled the bankroll of his closest competitor, McCrosky Farm’s Forest Attack with $538,564.
North America’s leading sires are a diverse cast. The 10 earnings leaders on the general sires list for 2022 represent eight different farms, with stud fees ranging from $10,000 to $250,000. They range in age from 9 to 25, and in accomplishment from champion juveniles to horses unraced at 2 who became champions as older horses. Their progeny have had success on a variety of surfaces and in major events around the globe.
Two stallions on this list share something very important in common, though.
Sustained excellence has been a theme of Curlin’s career, first as a multi-time champion on the racetrack and now as one of North America’s established elite stallions.
The two-time Grade 3 winner Tizamagician has been retired and will enter stud at Milky Way Thoroughbreds in Temecula, Calif., next month.
Tizamagician was recently acquired by a syndicate and was sent to the farm from trainer Richard Mandella’s stable at Santa Anita to the farm in early January. Tizmagician will stand for $4,000.
Hot Rod Charlie, a four-time stakes winner who was third in the 2021 Kentucky Derby, has been retired to stud at Shadai Farm in Japan, co-owner Bill Strauss said Tuesday.
Hot Rod Charlie, a 5-year-old by Oxbow, finished sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 5 at Keeneland in his final start. A winner of 5 of 19 starts, Hot Rod Charlie earned $5,676,720 for the partnership of Gainesway Stable, Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing, and Strauss Brothers Racing.
Strauss said that Hot Rod Charlie will leave for Japan after meeting quarantine requirements this month.
A season to unbeaten Flightline, among the most valuable stallion prospects in recent history, is likely to be a major financial draw at the Thoroughbred Charities of America’s annual stallion seasons auction in the coming week.
More than 200 seasons will be available via the TCA’s auction, presented by Mt. Brilliant. The majority of those will be presented in an online auction on Equiring.com, kicking off the annual fundraiser from Jan. 4 through Jan. 6, with staggered closing times.
