The Blood-Horse: 1/9/2010 issue

Photo: BLOOD-HORSE

WILD SIRE RACE: Offlee Wild became the top freshman sire by $11,332; his best runner, She Be Wild, won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Photo: ANNE M. EBERHARDT

Azeri's first foal, Take Control, won as a 2-year-old at Santa Anita in his initial start.

Photo: BENOITPHOTO.COM

Giant's Causeway was the top North American Sire for 2009. Swift Temper, left, is one of four grad/group I winners by Giant's Causeway in 2009.

Photo: ADAM COGLIANESE

The San Gorgonio Handicap (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita Jan. 2 could not have come up any better for Cat by the Tale, who seized the lead from pacesetter Century Park on the final turn and burst home to a 2 1/2-length victory on the turf course.

Photo: BENOITPHOTO.COM

In his first race since his famous starting gate tantrum prior to the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), odds-on favorite Quality Road was much the best in the Hal's Hope Stakes (gr. III), winning by 2 3/4 lengths on opening day at Gulfstream Park Jan. 3.

Photo: ADAM COGLIANESE

A winner of six of 10 starts in 2009, Tuscan Evening got the New Year off to a great start when she captured the Monrovia Handicap (gr. IIIT) s the favorite on the turf Jan. 3 at Santa Anita.

Photo: BENOITPHOTO.COM