With Whitney Week approaching—and 11 races scheduled from August 2 to 4—the top of the list of top stallions is likely to see a change not seen in weeks.
Saratoga Race Track will be the highlight of the event with seven graded events, including the Whitney Stakes (G1), Test Stakes (G1) and Saratoga Derby (G1T) with a total prize value of $2.1 million.
These 11 ranked races will offer a total of $5 million in prize money. That’s potentially a big chunk of change. Just to give you an idea, less than $5 million is the gap between the fifth-placed stallion and his offspring’s earnings, Gold money with number 25, Liam’s Map .
There hasn’t been any significant change in the top 25 since the Belmont Stakes (G1). Stallions come, stallions go, but six weeks later, the same 25 stallions lead the pack. The top eight stallions remain the same as in the June 17 issue of The List. It’s worth noting that Curlin who is currently at number eight, has changed places in the past six weeks. In just the past two weeks, Curlin has climbed three places from number 11 to reclaim eighth place.
The biggest motivation ever is Mendelssohn who was 21st six weeks ago and is now 16th.
Candy spinner also rose three places from No. 18 to No. 15, a position he held for a month.
There wasn’t even a significant move down as only two stallions dropped three places, and even with that in mind, the difference between where they were and where they are now in terms of earnings is just a rounding error. Everything is that thing close.
And to round out the picture, a dozen sires remain in the same positions as six weeks ago. That’s not to say they aren’t up and down, but especially with the five sires outside the top seven, it really illustrates once again just how competitive North American sires are.
A weekend of racing can go a long way in determining long-term standings. Looking at the three biggest Spa races by prize money on August 3, there are 11 entries representing nine breeds in the top 25. Curlin and Gun Runner will be represented by two starters each in Whitney—Curlin by Crupi and Bright Future, and Gun Runner by Disarm and Il Miracolo.
Other ranked tournaments this weekend that will have a significant impact on the standings are the $400,000 Saratoga Oaks Invitational (G2T), the $500,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (G2T), the $400,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1), the $300,000 Troy Stakes (G2T), the $400,000 Pucker Up Stakes (G3T), the $500,000 West Virginia Derby (G3), the $200,000 West Virginia Governor’s Stakes (G3) and the $200,000 Adirondack Stakes (G3). Ellis Park is organizing six Kentucky Downs Previewing the stakes, five $250,000 prizes and one $300,000 prize, could help influence the rankings.
| TOP BREEDS BY CHILDREN’S EARNINGS | |
| Ranking July 29 | Rankings July 15 |
| 1. Into mischief | first (–) |
| 2. Coal mine | 2 (–) |
| 3. Gun dealer | 3 (–) |
| 4. Quality Road | 4 (–) |
| 5. Gold coins | 5 (–) |
| 6. Alignment | 6 (–) |
| 7. Constitution | 7 (–) |
| 8. Curly hair | 11 (+3) |
| 9. Uncle Mo | 8 (-1) |
| 10. Practical joke | 9 (-1) |
| 11. Arrogance | 10 (-1) |
| 12. Good magic | twelfth (–) |
| 13. Munnings | 13 (–) |
| 14. Not this time | 14 (–) |
| 15. Rotating Candy | 15 (–) |
| 16. Mendelssohn | 18 (+2) |
| 17. American Pharaoh | 16 (-1) |
| 18. Kantharos | 17 (-1) |
| 19. Nyquist | 20 (+1) |
| 20. Street feel | 19 (-1) |
| 21. Hard rotation | 21 (–) |
| 22. Frost | 22 (–) |
| 23. Carpet | 23 (–) |
| 24. City of Light | Do not have |
| 25. Liam’s Map | 25 (–) |
