On Dirt and Turf, Constitution Making his Mark in 2024

Two weeks ago, it was noted how little movement we saw in the General Sires List—eight stallions from the top 25 were in a different place than they were previously. The biggest mover wasn't in the top 25 prior to that last examination. The other seven didn't move up or down more than two spots. 

My, how things change.

The tables have turned and all but five of North America's finest sires have shuffled positions. Two sires that made moves that caught our eye were Twirling Candy  , who jumped seven spots from No. 14 to No. 7 thanks in part to Kilwin  claiming the $1 million Untapable Stakes Sept. 8. 

The other is Constitution  , who moved up two spots to secure a position in the top five. Now the fifth-ranked sire by progeny earnings this year has displayed versatility this year in securing this lofty spot. The son of Tapit   stood this year at WinStar Farm near Versailles, Ky., for $110,000.

Constitution has been meeting challenge after challenge as a stallion. He entered stud in 2016, and his first crop (2019) was led by Tiz The Law  . Constitution was the No. 2 first-crop sire by progeny earnings and had the most black-type winners and graded stakes winners in his class while tying for the most winners. 

The next year, he shot up the General Sires List, going from No. 115 to No. 18, again thanks to Tiz The Law, who earned almost $2.4 million. With his progeny earning nearly three times what they did the year before ($6,439,704), Constitution finished as the top second-crop sire in 2020. 

It was another year of progress for Constitution in 2021. He moved higher in the General Sires List to No. 12 with more than $10 million in progeny earnings. Americanrevolution   pocketed nearly $1 million on the track, and the sire's 201 runners averaged $56,539 in earnings, which is the best annual average to date by his offspring. With more than $10 million in progeny earnings that year, Constitution again led his class. The leading third-crop sire also had the most graded stakes winners and black-type runners. 

After steady years in 2022 and 2023 in which Constitution ranked No. 12 and then No. 14 on the final general sires list, he has rocketed back up this year. 

He's already had his best year by earnings ($11,611,723), and his progeny's average winnings have gone up nearly $2,000 compared with last year. Among his sixth-crop sire peers, he leads in graded stakes winners as well as black-type runners and winners. 

His runners are showing surface versatility. Constitution's offspring have already earned the most they have on turf ($4.78 million), which has him fourth among grass sires this year after finishing 2023 at 14th. Leading that charge has been Neat , who has three graded stakes victories to his name—the Transylvania (G3T), American Turf (G2T), and the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (G2T) stakes.

A promising 2-year-old for Constitution is Chasing Liberty , winner of the Juvenile Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs. The colt is perfect in two starts, both on turf, with $639,495 in earnings. 

After coming close numerous times as a 2-year-old and even early in her 3-year-old campaign, Pin Up Betty  looks like she's starting to figure it out with three top-four finishes, including a win in the Regret Stakes (G3T), a game fourth in the Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1T), and second in the Pucker Up Stakes (G3T). 

On dirt, Constitution has not slowed down. He might topple his benchmark for progeny earnings on the surface set in 2021 ($7.7 million). He's at $6.4 million as of Sept. 9.

His top dirt runner this year has been classic-placed Catching Freedom , who has been catching the board every time out. Racing in graded company the past five times, Catching Freedom won the Louisiana Derby (G2) and finished fourth and third in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1), respectively, en route to nearly $2.3 million in earnings.

Mindframe , who finished second in the Belmont (G1) and Haskell (G1) stakes, has added more potential for his sire going forward.