The mud has settled from Travers Stakes (G1) weekend, and with consideration turning towards the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, the highest of the Normal Sires Checklist is starting to come back into focus.
Into Mischief ‘s maintain on the highest spot shouldn’t be in jeopardy. He is properly on his solution to a sixth straight title by complete Northern Hemisphere progeny earnings. As of Aug. 26, he’s slightly below $10 million forward of the second-ranked sire, Mineshaft . And that is the place the intrigue begins.
Mineshaft has held a snug grip on the second spot many of the 12 months, however the numbers sport is catching as much as him.
His chief earner, Senor Buscador , has banked greater than $11.7 million this 12 months. The issue for his sire is that Senor Buscador’s earnings symbolize greater than 80% of the purse cash gained by Mineshaft’s progeny. Having extra runners win cash would resolve this, however that is simpler stated than accomplished. Mineshaft has had the fewest variety of runners (100) and winners (58) amongst all sires ranked within the high 25. Mineshaft will seemingly be overtaken for the second spot with out extra widespread success.
Nipping at his hooves is Gun Runner , who trails Mineshaft by lower than $1 million. Ought to Sierra Leone , Gun Runner’s high offspring this 12 months win, say, the Breeders’ Cup Traditional (G1), that race’s winner’s share of greater than $3 million would change the standings. Gun Runner additionally has a deep bench, because the main sire thus far by variety of grade 1 winners with 4.
Sitting within the fourth place in the meanwhile is Justify , and his son Metropolis of Troy has an rising quantity of buzz round him. He was just lately given one of the best odds (+400) at successful the Traditional by bet365. For some, Metropolis of Troy’s recognition has turn into just like the Beatles; all motive goes out the door and the world stops on the point out of his identify.
A win at Del Mar by the American-bred, United Kingdom-raced colt might place Justify to complete second in progeny earnings amongst North American sires. It may additionally function the turning level that propels Justify into a brand new stratosphere amongst sires right here and overseas.
This version noticed minimal motion within the high 25, one thing that is perhaps just a little shocking contemplating the caliber of racing held over the past two weeks. Justify and High quality Highway swapped Nos. 4 and 5; Curlin and Uncle Mo exchanged Nos. 8 and 9; and American Pharoah and Mendelssohn did the identical with Nos. 16 and 17. In the meantime, Ghostzapper dropped two spots to No. 25.
There was one addition from two weeks in the past: Metropolis of Mild . The sire has bounced out and in of the rankings all 12 months. The son of High quality Highway has come and gone based mostly on the success of his high runner, Fierceness . All Fierceness did was win the Travers at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 24. Now that he seems to have discovered his type with consecutive wins for the primary time, the query must be requested: Simply how excessive can he take his sire?
A possible Traditional win will not get the sire into the highest 5, however that mixed with high 3-year-old honors could flip Metropolis of Lights right into a most sought-after sire in 2025.
| TOP SIRES BY PROGENY EARNINGS | |
| Aug. 26 rating | Aug. 12 rating |
| 1. Into Mischief | 1 (–) |
| 2. Mineshaft | 2 (–) |
| 3. Gun Runner | 3 (–) |
| 4. Justify | 5 (+1) |
| 5. High quality Highway | 4 (-1) |
| 6. Goldencents | 6 (–) |
| 7. Structure | 7 (–) |
| 8. Curlin | 9 (+1) |
| 9. Uncle Mo | 8 (-1) |
| 10. Sensible Joke | 10 (–) |
| 11. Arrogate | 11 (–) |
| 12. Good Magic | 12 (–) |
| 13. Munnings | 13 (–) |
| 14. Twirling Sweet | 14 (–) |
| 15. Not This Time | 15 (–) |
| 16. Mendelssohn | 17 (+1) |
| 17. American Pharoah | 16 (-1) |
| 18. Nyquist | 18 (–) |
| 19. Kantharos | 19 (–) |
| 20. Laborious Spun | 20 (–) |
| 21. Road Sense | 21 (–) |
| 22. Frosted | 22 (–) |
| 23. Metropolis of Mild | NR |
| 24. Tapiture | 24 (–) |
| 25. Speightstown | 23 (-2) |