Top Broodmare Sires by 2016-18 Stakes Winners

What makes a good broodmare sire? Generally, exceptional sires will later prove themselves as top broodmare sires.

This rule of thumb is certainly supported by the list of top broodmare sires by black-type runners from 2016-18. Among the top 10 stallions by number of stakes winners on dirt, six were also among the top 10 broodmare sires by stakes winners on turf for last year. These six stallions all held, at some point, the title of leading North American sire, some of them multiple times.

These six standout broodmare sires are: A.P. Indy (leading sire for 2003, 2006, and runner-up in 2007), Distorted Humor  (2011 leading sire, runner-up in 2005, 2009, and 2010), Giant's Causeway (leading sire in 2009-10 and 2012 and runner-up in 2008 and 2014), Smart Strike (leading sire 2007-08 and runner-up in 2011), Storm Cat (leading sire 1999-2000 and runner-up in 1994), and Unbridled's Song (leading sire 2017). 

Unbridled's Song was the leading broodmare sire by number of 2016-18 black-type dirt winners with 34 that won 61 stakes. A.P. Indy is the runner-up by dirt stakes winners with 33 that won 69 stakes but is the leading sire by dirt graded stakes winners with 18. These two stallions traded places in turf stakes results, with A.P. Indy being the top turf broodmare sire with 22 stakes winners (35 stakes wins) and Unbridled's Song the runner-up with 17 turf stakes winners (29 stakes wins).

See the corresponding 2016-18 stakes-winner counts on dirt and turf table for the other four broodmares sires whose representatives excelled on both surfaces.

Among these six broodmare sires, Giant's Causeway has gotten off to the strongest start this year with representation by eight stakes winners so far, including three graded stakes winners: Mucho Gusto (by Mucho Macho Man ), who won the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3); Blamed (by Blame ), who won the Royal Delta Stakes (G3); and Tax (by Arch), who won the Withers Stakes (G3). The son of Storm Cat has been represented by 105 black-type winners as a broodmare sire to date.

The late Storm Cat has also been represented by three graded stakes winners through Feb. 16 out of five black-type winners for the year so far. Storm Cat's top runner to date is Sparky Ville. The 3-year-old gelding by Candy Ride  out of Lorelei K won the San Vicente Stakes (G2).

A.P. Indy has three black-types winners as well this year, and all of them are graded winners. Interestingly, two of them are by Street Sense : Aztec Sense, who won the Fred. W. Hooper Stakes (G3) and Doctor Mounty, winner of the Tropical Turf Stakes (G3T). The third graded winner is W.L. McKnight Stakes (G3T) winner Zulu Alpha, a gelded son of Street Cry, the sire of Street Sense.