Kentucky Derby (G1) weekend has come and gone, and for as much as things changed—and boy, did they—that change brought a sense of familiarity to North America's General Sires List.
Thanks in large part to the high-caliber, high-purse racing at Churchill Downs last weekend, 21 of the top 25 spots are now occupied by a different sire than they were two weeks ago. And that movement was sometimes significant, as only two sires moved up or down one spot (they swapped, more on that later), and 13 moved at least three places in either direction.
First, the familiar. Sovereignty's exciting win in the Kentucky Derby thrust his sire, Into Mischief , back into the top spot where he's ended each of the last six years based on progeny earnings. That big pay day was enough to jump over Candy Ride , who had been occupying the top spot for a few weeks thanks to his son Hit Show's triumph in the Dubai World Cup (G1).
Now, Into Mischief's offspring have earned more than $11 million this year, and we aren't a full week into May. Just for context, Into Mischief's progeny earnings this year ($11,481,413) would have been good for 16th overall for last year.
Sovereignty wasn't the sole reason Into Mischief reclaimed the top spot. There is a reason he has been the top sire for so long, and that is because he has fathered a long line of competitive runners. Just between Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Derby Days, Into Mischief's children did the following:
- Citizen Bull ran 15th in the Kentucky Derby
- Extra Anejo was 10th in the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1)
- Eclatant was 9th in the Eight Belles Stakes (G2)
- Princess Aliyah was 10th in the Eight Belles
- Beauty Reigns won an Allowance Optional Claiming race
- Patch Adams won an Allowance Optional Claiming race
- Shred the Gnar won an Allowance Optional Claiming race
- Hypnus was second in an Allowance Optional Claiming race
Into Mischief stands for $250,000 at Spendthrift Farm near Lexington.
Just as his son winning the Derby helped Into Mischief, Good Cheer winning the May 2 Kentucky Oaks helped her sire Medaglia d'Oro climb six places and into the top 5.
Medaglia d'Oro was the 22nd-ranked sire by progeny earnings ($9,589,580) last year and was 11th two weeks ago. After Derby, a weekend in which his offspring gave him much to be excited about at Churchill Downs, he's already earned more than half ($5,232,125) of his 2024 pot.
In addition to Good Cheer, who won the Oaks by 2 1/4 lengths, Medaglia d'Oro benefited from these performances among others:
- East Avenue was eighth in the Kentucky Derby
- Ballerina d'Oro was 10th in the Kentucky Oaks
- Spirit of St Louis won the Bourbon Turf Classic Stakes (G1T)
- Megalodon was 11th in the American Turf Stakes (G1T)
- Nitrogen won the Edgewood Stakes (G2T)
Medaglia d'Oro stands for $75,000 at Darley near Lexington.
Two sires joined the top 25 after not being ranked two weeks ago. One speaks to the success of one of our aforementioned sires.
Omaha Beach went from beyond The List to No. 15. His daughter Kopion thrilled in the Derby City Distaff (G1T) with a terrific turn of foot down the stretch. The sire stands at Spendthrift Farm for $35,000.
The other previously not ranked sire is Bolt d'Oro . If the name wasn't a dead giveaway, he is a son of Medaglia d'Oro. Bolt d'Oro was well represented at Churchill Downs with Look Forward, whose broodmare sire is Into Mischief, winning the Eight Belles; Drexel Hill coming in second in the Oaks; and Bourbon Memory a seventh in the Eight Belles. Bolt d'Oro stands for $15,000 at Spendthrift.
| TOP SIRES BY PROGENY EARNINGS | |
| May 5 ranking | April 21 ranking |
| 1. Into Mischief | 2 (+1) |
| 2. Candy Ride (ARG) | 1 (-1) |
| 3. Gun Runner | 3 (--) |
| 4. Practial Joke | 4 (--) |
| 5. Medaglia d'Oro | 11 (+6) |
| 6. Curlin | 13 (+7) |
| 7. Constitution | 7 (--) |
| 8. Vekoma | 5 (-2) |
| 9. Good Magic | 6 (-3) |
| 10. Not This Time | 10 (--) |
| 11. Nyquist | 9 (-2) |
| 12. Munnings | 8 (-4) |
| 13. Justify | 17 (+4) |
| 14. Quality Road | 12 (-2) |
| 15. Omaha Beach | NR |
| 16. Twirling Candy | 22 (+6) |
| 17. City of Light | 24 (+7) |
| 18. Bolt d'Oro | NR |
| 19. Liam's Map | 14 (-5) |
| 20. Uncle Mo | 16 (-4) |
| 21. Mendelssohn | 15 (-6) |
| 22. American Pharoah | 18 (-4) |
| 23. Speightstown | 20 (-3) |
| 24. Street Sense | 19 (-5) |
| 25. Connect | 23 (-2) |
