For the second consecutive year, Giant's Causeway claimed the top spot on the 2010 leading sires’ list, according to final figures provided by Equineline Company. His 2010 runners earned $8,806,163, down from his 2009 total of $11,078,843, which is the third-highest figure of all time.
Giant’s Causeway, who stands at John Magnier and partners’ Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky., registered strength in numbers in 2010. A total of 160 of his 369 starters were winners and 23 of them were stakes winners. Giant’s Causeway (Storm Cat—Mariah’s Storm, by Rahy) will stand for $85,000 in 2011.
Finishing behind Giant’s Causeway for the second straight year was Distorted Humor , whose runners earned $8,719,841. Distorted Humor, whose leading earner, Drosselmeyer, won the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), stands at Kenny Troutt’s WinStar Farm near Lexington. Distorted Humor (Forty Niner—Danzig’s Beauty, by Danzig) will stand this year for $100,000.
Malibu Moon , third on the leading sires’ list, led all stallions by North American progeny earnings. His North American earnings were $8,462,649 compared to his overall earnings total of $8,558,872. Malibu Moon (A.P. Indy—Macoumba, by Mr. Prospector) will stand in 2011 for $60,000 at B. Wayne Hughes’ Spendthrift Farm near Lexington.
Rounding out the top five on the general sires’ list are deceased Maria’s Mon (Wavering Monarch—Carlotta Maria, by Caro) and 2007-08 leader Smart Strike (Mr. Prospector—Classy ‘n Smart, by Smarten). Both stallions were represented by a classic winner. Maria’s Mon’s son Super Saver won the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and Smart Strike’s son Lookin At Lucky took the Preakness Stakes (gr. I).
Smart Strike, whose 2007 progeny earnings of $14.3 million remains a record, stands at William S. Farish’s Lane’s End Farm near Versailles, Ky. His 2011 fee is $75,000.
More Than Ready , who finshed sixth on the leading sires' list, topped the leading sires’ of 2-year-olds list, outdistancing Indian Charlie by about $42,000. More Than Ready, whose juveniles earned $1,970,306, holds court at Tom Simon’s Vinery near Lexington. His 2011 fee is $40,000.
Indian Charlie (In Excess—Soviet Sojourn, by Leo Castelli) stands at Brereton C. Jones’ Airdrie Stud near Midway, Ky. His 2011 fee is $70,000.
Topping the first-crop sires list was Congrats , whose progeny earnings of $1,660,269 also placed him fifth on the overall sires of 2-year-olds list. Congrats (A.P. Indy—Praise, by Mr. Prospector) will stand for $15,000 in 2011 at Vinery.
Bluegrass Cat , who finished second on the freshman list, with $1,365,350, stands at WinStar. The son of Storm Cat out of the A.P. Indy mare She’s a Winner will stand for $25,000 in 2011.
The leading second-crop sire, Wildcat Heir, bested his closest rival, Afleet Alex , by about $21,000. Wildcat Heir (Forest Wildcat—Penniless Heiress, by Pentelicus) sired the earners of $4,584,404. He will stand for $10,000 in 2011 at Brent and Crystal Fernung’s Journeyman Stud near Ocala, Fla. Afleet Alex (Northern Afleet —Maggy Hawk, by Hawkster) holds court at the Beck family’s Gainesway Farm near Lexington. His 2011 fee is $25,000.
Lion Heart, who stands at The Jockey Club of Turkey Stud Farms in Turkey, topped the third-crop list, with $6,955,390 in progeny earnings. By Tale of the Cat, he is out of Satin Sunrise, by Mr. Leader. Runner-up Speightstown was represented by the earners of $6,791,937. By Gone West out of the Storm Cat mare Silken Cat, Speightstown will stand for $50,000 in 2011 at WinStar.
Dynaformer, who holds court at Robert N. Clay’s Three Chimneys Farm near Midway, Ky., headed the leading turf sires’ list, with progeny earnings of $3,232,643, compared to $3,115,618 for second-place finisher More Than Ready. Dynaformer (Roberto—Andover Way, by His Majesty) will stand for $150,000 in 2011.
Canadian stallion Bold Executive proved the dominant sire when it came to racing over synthetic surfaces. His runners earned $2,805,165. Runner-up Candy Ride ranked second, with $2,541,833. Bold Executive (Bold Ruckus—Arctic Vixen, by Victoria Park) will stand for $15,000 (Canadian funds) in 2011 at Gardiner Farms Limited near Caledon, Ontario. Candy Ride (Ride the Rails—Candy Girl, by Candy Stripes) stands for $40,000 at Lane’s End.
Sadler’s Wells, who dominated European racing while standing at Magnier and partners’ Coolmore Stud in Ireland, headed the leading broodmare sires’ list for the third consecutive year. The pensioned son of Northern Dancer out of the Bold Reason mare Fairy Bridge was represented by the earners of $15,995,848.
Finishing second was deceased Woodman (Mr. Prospector—Playmate, by Buckpasser), with $13,456,122.