First-crop sires started strong

In times of economic uncertainty, the Thoroughbred market often tends toward proven stock – as was seen following the market crash in fall 2008, when stud fees and sale prices for young sires took a hit. That makes the results for young sires during the only 2-year-old sale of 2020 thus far, the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s March sale, even more impressive.

With the stock market crashing as the COVID-19 crisis turned the world upside down, and the sale as a whole posting declines, six of the top 10 juveniles on the leaderboard were from the first or second crops of their sires, with some optimism shown for another accomplished freshman class that will look to build momentum during the second take of the season.

Grade 2-winning millionaire Upstart, who stands at Airdrie Stud, recorded the top price for a first-crop juvenile at OBS March, with a $600,000 colt purchased by bloodstock agent Mike Ryan, on behalf of Jeff Drown. That was the second-highest price of the sale overall, behind only a $650,000 filly from the second crop of Triple Crown winner and leading freshman sire American Pharoah. Other freshman sires of 2020 represented in the top 10 prices at that early-season sale were Eclipse Award champion sprinter Runhappy (Claiborne Farm) with a $475,000 colt, multiple Grade 1 winner Frosted (Darley) with a $420,000 colt, European champion Air Force Blue (Coolmore) with a $390,000 colt, and Grade 1 winner Outwork (WinStar Farm) with a $380,000 colt.

Upstart, Runhappy, Frosted, and Outwork are among the 16 North American freshman sires with starters thus far, as the delay in sale season has provided young stallions a bit of a chance to begin building their credentials. However, only one member of this freshman class had broken through as of Wednesday – Grade 3-winning juvenile Not This Time, who stands at Taylor Made Farm. The stallion has recorded a pair of winners, at Churchill Downs and Gulfstream Park, from three starters to date.

Frosted and a Darley freshman stablemate, Kentucky Derby winner and champion Nyquist, both had their first runner finish third at Gulfstream Park. Two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome began his stallion career at Taylor Made before moving to Japan this season. In another international twist, his first runner finished fifth in a

Russian maiden.

Other notable horses in this freshman class include Eclipse Award champion turf horses Big Blue Kitten (Calumet Farm) and Flintshire (Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm), Australian champion Vancouver (Coolmore), Preakness Stakes winner Exaggerator (WinStar), Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Texas Red (Crestwood Farm), Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Tourist (WinStar), Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Tamarkuz (Shadwell), Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Hit It a Bomb (Spendthrift), and Grade 1 winners Brody’s Cause (Spendthrift), Dads Caps (Barton Thoroughbreds), Java’s War (Darby Dan), Majestic Harbor (Harris Farms), Mshawish (Taylor Made), Outwork (WinStar), Sahara Sky (Indy Dancers Training Center), Slumber (Calumet), Tamarando (Harris Farms), and V. E. Day (Buck Pond Farm).