In the tightest race in years, a third-place finish by Heavenville in a division of the Louisiana Futurity at Fair Grounds on the final day of the year was enough to give Darley's freshman stallion Offlee Wild   honors as the nation's top first-crop sire over Hill 'n' Dale Farm's Roman Ruler  .

Rallying in the stretch to just miss second in the state-bred stake for jockey Shaun Bridgmohan, the 2-year-old colt Heavenville earned $12,040 to give his sire Offlee Wild total progeny earnings of $1,951,283. As a result, the son of  Wild Again--Alvear, by Seattle Slew, edged Roman Ruler by $11,332.

Roman Ruler, by Fusaichi Pegasus  --Silvery Swan, by Silver Deputy, had taken the lead into the final day of the year by a mere $708 after Tiny Woods won an allowance race at Santa Anita Dec. 30, putting the first-crop sire's season-ending total at $1,939,951.

Only on two occasions since 2001 has the freshman sire race been decided by less than $100,000 in progeny earnings. In 2002, WinStar's Distorted Humor   (Forty Niner) won by $43,330 over Adena Springs' Awesome Again   (Deputy Minister). In 2005, WinStar's Tiznow   (Cee's Tizzy) topped Hill 'n' Dale stallion El Corredor   (Mr. Greeley) by $78,145.

Heavenville, who runs for Heiligbrodt Racing Stable, is trained by Steve Asmussen.