Unbridled's Legacy: North American Second-Crop Sires

It hasn't taken long for the second-season sires of 2014 to make their presence felt, and already four of them have been represented grade I winners. The leader among horses who began their careers in the U.S. is Kingmambo's much-traveled son Thewayyouare (TrueNicks), who now stands in Ireland. He has 16 winners from 37 runners, and had a big earnings boost through the victory of Toast of New York (out of a mare by the Danzig horse Syncline) in the UAE Derby (UAE-II). The Fappiano/Unbridled line supplied the leader of this crop year to the end of 2013 in the shape of Unbridled's Song son Dunkirk (TrueNicks). By 2014 earnings, those of this group standing in the U.S. are still headed by a Fappiano line horse, but with Pioneerof the Nile (TrueNicks), a son of Empire Maker, showing the way. He's had six first-crop stakes horses so far, and until fairly late in the day had a trio of graded stakes performers pointing to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) in Cairo Prince (dam by Holy Bull), who was sidelined by injury; Vinceremos (dam by More Than Ready), the only one to ultimately run in the classic; and likely Preakness Stakes (gr. I) third Social Inclusion (dam by Saint Ballado, like More Than Ready, a Halo line horse). Another Unbridled line horse who has made very good headway this year is Old Fashioned (TrueNicks), who is in second among the U.S. contingent, and who has been represented by the Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I) and Las Virgenes Stakes (gr. I) victress Fashion Plate (dam by Citidancer, by the frequently good Unbridled foil Dixieland Band) and Old Hat Stakes (gr. III) victress Sweet Whiskey (out of an El Corredor mare who is inbred to Deputy Minister). One of the surprise packets in this group is Two Step Salsa (TrueNicks). A talented sprinter/miler by Petionville (TrueNicks) out of a Seattle Slew mare, Two Step Salsa earned his biggest payday in the Godolphin Mile (UAE-II). From a very modest stud fee, the Florida-based Two Step Salsa has 19 winners from 33 first crop starters, including Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) winner Dance With Fate (dam by Saint Ballado) and two other stakes performers. Fourth of the U.S. stallions, and leading by individual winners, is Pioneerof the Nile's stud companion Colonel John (TrueNicks). He has two stakes winners, including the graded stakes winning and grade I-placed juvenile Concave (dam by Ascot Knight), as well as grade I-placed Colonel Joan, and his race record and pedigree will give his supporters hope of further improvement as his runners get more time and distance. Sprint star Zensational (TrueNicks) is another of the quartet of Unbridled's Song sons in the top 10 second crop stallions. He has multiple stakes winner Zensational Bunny (dam a Storm Bird mare, bred on the same cross as Storm Cat), and two other stakes performers. Another sprint ace, champion Kodiak Kowboy (TrueNicks), has four stakes horses including the sharp multiple stakes scorer Cool Cowboy (dam by Grand Slam). Next is another pair of Unbridled's Song offspring, last year's champion freshman sire Dunkirk and the now-exported Noonmark. Dunkirk already has seven total stakes horses, including grade I winner Havana (dam by In Reality son Kyle's Our Man), graded winner Dunkin Bend (Vindication), and stakes winner Conniption Fit (Miswaki). Noonmark, who is now in the Philippines, would have been New York's leader in this category, and has California Derby winner Exit Stage Left to his name. The top 10 are rounded out by Giant's Causeway's son Cowboy Cal (TrueNicks), who already has 21 individual winners including Mr. Ninja (out of a mare by Congaree), a champion in Peru. There are also a handful of other second-crop sires worthy of a quick mention. Dixie Chatter (TrueNicks) is the leader of his sire crop in California, as he was last year, and has two stakes winners and five total stakes horses from 32 starters. In the same region Papa Clem (TrueNicks) and Square Eddie are a pair of Smart Strike (TrueNicks) sons also making a solid start. Twice-raced Maimonides (TrueNicks), who started in Florida but is now in Kentucky, has five winners from 10 starters this year, including multiple stakes winner Brewing (dam by Johannesburg). The very fast [InSummation] is No. 2 in Florida by earnings and has 22 winners from 39 starters, including stakes winner Puntrooskie (dam by Montbrook). In New Mexico, the very fast Diabolical (by Artax) is making a splash and has two stakes winners and seven stakes horses from only 41 starters.