The Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1), along with their distaff equivalents, the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2), were all captured by the offspring of established sires. The two weekends, however, were also notable for the success of younger stallions, with the third-crop sires making a particularly strong impact.
Unfortunately, the standout of the crop on the Black-Eyed Susan/Preakness cards, Preservationist, is no longer with us. He moved from Airdrie Stud near Midway, Ky., to South Korea in 2024 and subsequently died of colic while in that country. He struck twice at the Preakness meet with a pair of new graded stakes scorers: Peach Tie, who took the Miss Preakness Stakes (G3) on Black-Eyed Susan Day May 15, and Bring the Smoke, who added the Maryland Sprint Stakes (G3) the following day. A son of Arch, and thus representing one of the last opportunities to continue the Roberto line in North America, Preservationist did not win a black-type event until age 6, when he captured the 2019 Woodward Stakes (G1) and Suburban Stakes (G2). As a result, he was never likely to be a highly commercial prospect, and after siring 83 foals in his first year at stud, his second and third crops numbered just 27 and 29, respectively. From a total of 139 foals in his first three crops, 99 have started, with nine winning black-type events. These include Antiquarian, who has the 2025 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) among his trio of graded successes, and 2025 West Virginia Derby (G3) scorer Chunk of Gold.
The horse currently heading the table, Vekoma (Candy Ride ), has been the dominant force in this group from the outset, leading both the first- and second-crop sire lists. He did not add to his stakes tally over the classic weekends, but had already done enough through the first quarter of 2026 to establish a lead over his pursuers, which he still narrowly maintains. He has six stakes winners this year, headed by Mad House (inbred 3x3 to Vekoma's broodmare sire Speightstown), winner of the Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3). Overall, Vekoma now has 22 stakes winners—16 from his first crop—and eight graded scorers. Equally notable is the fact that he already has 46 black-type horses, representing 20% of his starters.
It is early, but the cross of Vekoma with A.P. Indy-line mares is showing promise, with two stakes winners, including graded scorer Praying, out of mares by Bernardini. There are also stakes winners from daughters of Stevie Wonderboy, Dance With Ravens, and Tapizar. Over Storm Cat-line mares, there are stakes winners out of daughters of Creative Cause , Stormy Atlantic, Tale of the Cat, and Wildcat Heir, as well as a pair of stakes winners out of Indian Charlie mares. Notably, Five G, like Mad House, is out of a mare from Vekoma's own broodmare sire line, Gone West, in this case through Quality Road.
A very close second to Vekoma is Tiz the Law (Constitution ), whose daughter Dixie Law took the Ruling Angel Stakes at Woodbine on Preakness day. Like Vekoma, he has six stakes winners from his Northern Hemisphere crops this year, and his lifetime total stands at 15, nine of them graded. Interestingly, he has the 2025 La Brea Stakes (G1) heroine Usha out of a mare by Leroidesanimaux, and 2025 Mother Goose Stakes (G2) scorer Fully Subscribed out of a daughter of Candy Ride, whose dam is by Leroidesanimaux's sire, Candy Stripes. Candy Ride is a Fappiano-line stallion, and from the Empire Maker branch, Tiz the Law's graded winner Scythian is out of a mare by Empire Maker himself; stakes winner Eunomia is out of a mare by Empire Maker's grandson, American Pharoah; and stakes winner Spirit Doll is out of a mare by Cairo Prince , also from this branch. The previously mentioned Dixie Law, a graded winner last year, is out of a mare by Union Rags , while graded winner Silent Law is out of a mare by Union Rags' sire, Dixie Union. Father-and-son duo Harlan's Holiday and Into Mischief are broodmare sires of stakes winner Wayne's Law and graded scorer Tiz Dashing, while Street Cry and Street Sense fill the same roles for stakes winner Out On Bail and graded winner Non Compliant. Finally, there is the unusual pedigree of Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Tiztastic, who is out of a mare by Tiz the Law's paternal grandsire, Tapit .
Volatile (Violence ) was represented by one of the stars of Kentucky Derby Day in the Japanese-trained T O Elvis, a dominant winner of the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1). Volatile has eight other stakes winners, three of them graded. T O Elvis is out of a mare by Curlin , and there are also three Volatile stakes winners out of A.P. Indy-line mares (from daughters of Corinthian, Algorithms, and Malibu Moon), and two out of mares by Storm Cat sons (Consolidator and Bluegrass Cat). Stakes winner Reliable Source is out of a mare by Broken Vow, who, like Volatile's broodmare sire Unbridled's Song, is a son of Unbridled. John Battaglia Memorial Stakes scorer Great White, who would have been a Kentucky Derby participant but for flipping in the gate, is out of a mare by Uncle Mo.
Honor A. P. (Honor Code) made an impact on both classic weekends. His daughter Counting Stars, winner of the Fantasy Stakes (G2) earlier in the year, finished third in the Kentucky Oaks. Another daughter, Margie's Intention—successful in last year's Black-Eyed Susan Stakes—returned to Maryland to capture the Allaire DuPont Distaff Stakes, while A. P.'s Girl finished third in this year's Black-Eyed Susan. In addition, he has six other black-type winners. The most obvious trend is a cross with a variety of Storm Cat-line mares, with Margie's Intention out of a mare by Into Mischief, and other stakes winners out of daughters of Bluegrass Cat and Scat Daddy. Counting Stars is out of a mare by Paynter, and there are additional stakes winners out of mares by Curlin, Not For Love, War Front , and Unusual Heat.
2020 Horse of the Year Authentic (Into Mischief) struck on Black-Eyed Susan day through the Hilltop Stakes winner Coach Mazzula. Overall, Authentic has nine stakes winners, headed by last year's Frizette Stakes (G1) winner Iron Orchard (out of a mare by Brethren, representing a version of the Into Mischief/Distorted Humor cross), along with Rodriguez, winner of the 2025 Wood Memorial Stakes (G2); Westwood, successful in the San Pasqual Stakes (G2); and Brave Deb, who took the 2025 Surfer Girl Stakes (G3T).
McKinzie (Street Sense) has nine stakes winners to date, eight from a very strong first crop. That group is headed by Chancer McPatrick (dam by Bernardini), winner of the 2024 Champagne Stakes (G1) and Hopeful Stakes (G1) at 2; Scottish Lassie (out of a mare by Bodemeister), successful in the 2024 Frizette Stakes (G1) and 2025 Coaching Club American Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1); and 2025 Pennsylvania Derby (G1) scorer Baeza (out of a mare by Big Brown).
Instagrand (Into Mischief) has risen as high as fourth by number of winners among this group in 2026. Having stood at modest stud fees, it is perhaps not surprising that he does not yet have a graded scorer, but he does have five stakes winners to his credit.
Another who scored on a classic weekend was Complexity (Maclean's Music ), who was represented by Bust Out, successful in the Cinema Stakes the day following the Preakness Stakes. Starting at a fee of just $12,500, Complexity opened with a first crop that included 10 stakes winners, among them Black Forza, winner of the 2024 Richmond Stakes (G2) in England at 2; Mo Plex , whose four black-type victories include the 2024 Sanford Stakes (G3) and 2025 Ohio Derby (G3); and Innovative, who took the 2025 John C. Harris Stakes (G3T). Bust Out is the third stakes winner from Complexity's second crop, which is led by Intricate Spirit, winner of the 2025 Futurity Stakes (G3T).
Standing at just $4,000 in Louisiana, Aurelius Maximus is the breakout regional sire from this group. He never took a black-type event, but did win three of eight starts and finished second in the 2020 Fayette Stakes (G2). He is by Pioneerof the Nile out of graded scorer La Reina, a daughter of A.P. Indy out of 1991 champion older mare Queena. He had a runner in the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, but his multiple stakes-winning daughter Braken Poppa was compromised by a stumbling start and a wide trip. Braken Poppa is one of seven stakes winners to date for her sire, from a total of just 59 starters.
Now standing in Canada, Sergei Prokofiev (Scat Daddy) began his stud career in England and was champion first- and second-crop sire in the United Kingdom and Europe. His son Song of The Clyde struck on Preakness day—albeit in Europe—taking a first black-type victory in the Carnarvon Stakes. Sergei Prokofiev has four other stakes winners, headed by Arizona Blaze, a four-time group winner including the 2025 Flying Five Stakes (G1), and Mhally, winner of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup (G3).
