Jaywalk's BC Win Makes Cross Traffic Top Freshman Sire

After stalking Goldencents  and Cairo Prince  on the leading freshman sire list through much of the year, Spendthrift Farm's Cross Traffic will jump to the head of his class after the powerful performance of his daughter Jaywalk in the $2 million Tito's Handmade Vodka Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) Nov. 2 at Churchill Downs.

Cross Traffic, a grade 1-winning son of Unbridled's Song, saw his progeny earnings year to date exceed $1.9 million. He has been represented by four black-type winners so far, with Jaywalk's two grade 1 wins making her his brightest star. Bred by Gainesway Thoroughbreds out of the Orientate mare Lady Pewitt, Jaywalk has four wins out of five starts and $1,384,200 in earnings.

Getting a multiple grade 1 winner, a Breeders' Cup winner, and the winter book favorite for the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) in the first crop means breeding to Cross Traffic just got more expensive. Spendthrift Farm's general manager, Ned Toffey, said the stallion will stand for $25,000 next year, up from $7,500 in 2018.

"Across the board, what you are seeing with his foals is brilliance," Toffey said. "It is gratifying to see him passing that tremendous ability along and affirming what you believe he could do."

Jaywalk became Cross Traffic's first black-type winner Aug. 22 when she won the White Clay Creek Stakes at Delaware Park in her third start. She went on to win the Oct. 7 Frizette Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park in gate-to-wire fashion in 1:34.57, faster than the 1:34.63 it took Complexity to win the Champagne Stakes (G1) the day before. 

Toffey said he knew Jaywalk was coming into the Breeders' Cup in top form when he watched her gallop over the Churchill track Tuesday before the World Championships. 

"You never know when you get these horses together from different parts of the country, but watching her was reminiscent of watching Beholder gallop," said Toffey, referring to Spendthrift owner B. Wayne Hughes' 11-time grade 1 winner and multiple champion mare. "Now, Jaywalk is a lighter, racier type than Beholder, but the way she moves over the ground is jaw-dropping. Then to see what she did in the Breeders' Cup was remarkable. Going through the turn after the race, (jockey Joel) Rosario had trouble pulling her up."

Cross Traffic, the best runner produced by multiple grade 1 winner Stop Traffic (by Cure the Blues), won the 2013 Whitney Invitational Handicap (G1) at Saratoga Race Course by racing straight to the front and challenging the best handicap horses in the country to come get him.

"She runs like her sire," Toffey continued. "She goes straight to the front and says, 'I'm faster and stronger than you.'"

Jaywalk won the Juvenile Fillies by 5 1/2 lengths.

Cross Traffic has had 35% winners from starters so far that are averaging $51,492 per starter. His other black-type winners are Dame Plata, Dancin Shoes, and Capocostello. He has two additional stakes-placed runners in Can't Crosstraffic and Raising the Ante.

As of now, Spendthrift Farm will have the top two sires on the freshman sire list. The farm also stands Goldencents, who won back-to-back editions of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) in 2013-14.