Curlin Makes History With Three Same-Year Champions

The 2022 racing season was a record-breaking year for multiple stallions.

Spendthrift Farm's marquee sire Into Mischief  set a single-season North American progeny earnings record while pursuing his fourth consecutive general leading sire title. Three Chimneys Farm's Gun Runner  also set a progeny earnings record as a second-crop sire and captured his second consecutive sire title.

Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa's Curlin  captured his own piece of history Jan. 26 during the Eclipse Awards ceremony, during which he became the first sire in the program's 52-year history to be represented by three unique champions in the same year. The 19-year-old son of Smart Strike has sired six unique champions.

Curlin's daughter Malathaat was honored with her second championship as 2022's champion older dirt female. The 4-year-old out of grade 1 winner Dreaming of Julia won four races and was second twice out of six starts. She saved her best for the second half of the year, when she won consecutively the Personal Ensign Stakes (G1), Spinster Stakes (G1), and Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1). In 2022 alone she earned $2,055,675 for owner Shadwell Stable and trainer Todd Pletcher.

Malathaat was bred by Barbara Banke's Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, which bred and raced Dreaming of Julia and also co-owned Curlin during his two Horse of the Year campaigns in 2007 and 2008.

Three-time grade 1 winner and classic-placed Nest became Curlin's third champion 3-year-old filly following the accomplishments of Malathaat (2021) and Stellar Wind (2015). Bred by Ashview Farm and Colts Neck Stables out of stakes winner Marion Ravenwood, Nest distinguished herself by winning the Ashland Stakes (G1), Coaching Club American Oaks (G1), and the Alabama Stakes (G1) and finishing a good second in the Belmont Stakes (G1). Pletcher trained Nest for Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and Michael House.

Juddmonte Farms' Elite Power  won five of six starts last year and capped off his season with victories in the Vosburgh Stakes (G2) and Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), which earned him the title of champion sprinter. Alpha Delta Stables bred Elite Power out of the grade 1-placed, grade 2 winner Broadway's Alibi. The now 5-year-old horse is trained by Bill Mott.

Fourteen other stallions have been represented by two unique champions in the same year. They are:

• Alydar (Alysheba and Easy Goer, 1988);
• Cee's Tizzy (Tiznow and Gourmet Girl, 2001);
• City Zip (Work All Week and Dayatthespa, 2014);
• Cox's Ridge (Life's Magic and Vanlandingham, 1985);
• Deputy Minister (Go for Wand and Open Mind, 1989);
• Into Mischief (Authentic  and Gamine, 2020);
• Mr. Prospector (Conquistador Cielo and Gold Beauty, 1982);
• Nureyev (Theatrical and Miesque, 1987);
• Quality Road (Abel Tasman and Caledonia Road, 2017);
• Sadler's Wells (High Chaparral and Islington, 2003);
• Saint Ballado (Ashado and Saint Liam, 2005);
• Seattle Slew (Swale and Slew o' Gold, 1984);
• Seeking the Gold (Flanders and Heavenly Prize, 1994);
• Smart Strike (Curlin and English Channel, 2007).

Mr. Prospector owns the record for the most champions sired with 10 who were honored with 11 total championship titles from 1978 to 2003.

Two mares have the extraordinary honor of having produced multiple champions. Juddmonte Farm royal blue hen Hasili (Kahyasi) produced seven graded/group stakes winners, including 2001 champion grass mare Banks Hill and 2005 champion grass mare Intercontinental, who are both by Danehill. Live Oak Stud's homebred Win Approval produced four graded stakes winners during her broodmare career, who include 2006 champion grass horse Miesque's Approval (Miesque's Son) and 2017 champion grass horse World Approval (Northern Afleet).