Dirt Form Merits Respect

Trashing American racing is a popular pastime among some Europeans and other international turfistes: race-day medication, of course (a/k/a drugs), but also that European turf horses often do move up a grade when they come to America, suggesting European turf racing is stronger than America's. That is very likely true. Most 'internationals' don't give a hang about dirt racing, so it's not a huge leap to dismiss American racing as inconsequential.

I've been a critic of American racing myself, and still am in many respects. I hope 'safe dirt' is becoming a reality, but on the whole I wouldn't be the biggest fan of dirt racing. However, none of this should confuse good analysis: in spite of everything – in spite of the 'brain drain' of American pedigrees and the re-establishment of parity for European sires, steadily over the last 30 years – in spite of all its problems and shortcomings, the true laboratory for the best racing on the planet is turf racing in Europe, and dirt racing in North America. The best in Japan are of international standard, and Australia is improving fast; but when the time comes to evaluate which are the world's best horses, the answer is: Europe for turf, North America for dirt; and the best North American horses actually are as good as what they do (and they're tough) as are the best turf horses in Europe. American Pharoah 134, Golden Horn 130–that's what I'm talking about. It's fine not to be a fan of American dirt racing; but it's never good business to let biases trump reality. I'm just saying.

In respect of the issue of sire parity, we took a look at the division of the last 12 'sire crops', sires whose first foals were born from 2006 through 2015, plus sires whose first foals are arriving this year, and stallions standing their first seasons in 2016. It's a little bit subjective but mostly based on stud fee and APEX A Runner Index, but on this list of 48 sires (let's say an average of the top four per sire crop), 25 stand in North America, 23 in Europe. Among sires with first foals 2006-2009, eight stand in Kentucky, three stand in Europe. Kentucky is particularly strong right now in this department, including the F2006 'fearsome foursome' of Tapit, Medaglia D'Oro, Candy Ride, and Speightstown (Ranked # 1-2-5-8 on the, with the first three named # 1-2-4 on the ); F2007 Kitten's Joy and Ghostzapper; and F2008 War Front and Bernardini. From those crops Darley sires F2006 Exceed And Excel and F2007 Dubawi and Shamardal represent Europe – big news, but not a big number of sires.

Among sires with first foals 2009-2012, Europe has the edge, nine sires to seven. Europe's F2009 sires include Dark Angel, Teofilo, and Dutch Art. New Approach had first foals 2010. F2011 European sires include Sea The Stars, Le Havre, Mastercraftsman, and (not counted) Fastnet Rock. Siyouni and Lope De Vega top F2012 European sires. Top Kentucky F2009-F2012 sires include Scat Daddy (died); the Darley F2009 pair of Street Sense and Hard Spun; F2010 Curlin and Spendthrift bombshell Into Mischief. Pioneerof The Nile is the top North American F2011 sire, and Super Saver is the top NA F2012 sire.

When you look at the top younger sires and prospects, first foals 2013-2016 and sires standing their first seasons this year, Europe again has a slight edge, 11 to 10. Of the freshman sires of 2015 with their first 3-year-olds this year, Uncle Mo stands out (and how) in Kentucky, and Zoffany in Europe. The European debutants with their first 2-year-olds in 2016 include the mighty Frankel, as well as Nathaniel and Excelebration, neither of whom could never beat him but beat nearly everything else. European sires with their first yearlings in 2016 are headed by Dawn Approach, Camelot, and Intello. Kingman and Australia stand out among European sires whose first foals are arriving this year; and leading the group which retires to stud in 2016 are Golden Horn and Gleneagles.

On the American side, 2016 Freshman sires with their first 2-year-olds are headed by Union Rags, Bodemeister, and The Factor. Declaration of War (Irish crop), Animal Kingdom, and Orb head those with their first yearlings this year. Will Take Charge is the top Kentucky sire with first foals arriving this year; and of course American Pharoah, and Honor Code, headline the list of sires retiring in Kentucky in 2016.

So here's the takeaway: for European and other international owners and breeders, turf form is paramount, dirt form a side issue. Turf racing is advancing in America, but dirt is king; for better or worse, that's still what American racing is mostly about. It's fine if Europeans decide they don't need to know about it, but that's doesn't mean American racing isn't as good; it is. For all its faults, succeeding generations of American-breds continue to rate at the very top of the rung on the world's racehorse class ladder.

UPDATE: QUALITY ROAD

After topping WinStar's Super Saver by $25,000 to claim the title of Leading North American Freshman Sire in 2014, Lane's End's Quality Road ran fourth ion the 2015 North American second-crop sire list, with exactly one 2015 black-type winner. He doubled that total last weekend, and now leads the TDN 2016 North American third-crop sire list by around $200,000 over Munnings, Temple City, and Super Saver. It just could be that Quality Road is the new Curlin. Meanwhile, Ashford's Uncle Mo has even higher 2016 earnings than Quality Road, including eight Black-Type horses from his first crop already this year. It's dangerous to make predictions about sires until they have 3-year-olds (well, it's always dangerous), but with this sort of record just six weeks into the year, Uncle Mo looks like he is heading straight to the top.

Bill Oppenheim may be contacted at bopp@erb.com (please cc TDN management at suefinley@thetdn.com). Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/billoppenheim.