 |
|
| Staff Writer |
 |  |
Ashford Stud's American Triple Crown winners American Pharoah and freshman sire Justify are leading the sire standings by average following the first two 2YO in training sales of the year.
American Pharoah led his sire class at the end of 2021 by cumulative progeny earnings with more than $20 million and by a number of black-type stakes winners with 22. The 10YO son of Pioneerof the Nile has four stakes winners so far this year who are all graded/group stakes winners As Time Goes By, Café Pharoah Forbidden Kingdom (San Vicente and San Felipe Stakes, both Gr.2), and Merneith (Santa Monica Stakes, Gr.2).
Justify topped his sire class with a $490,000 average from five sold. The son of Scat Daddy's top seller sold for $1.1 million to agent Jamie McCalmont, buying on behalf of Coolmore's M.V. Magnier at the Gulfstream sale. Wavertree Stables sold the seven-figure colt out of grade 1 winner Appealing Zophie, who is also the dam of Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) winner and Gainesway's freshman sire Tapwrit.
Spendthrift Farm's freshman sire Bolt d'Oro had the strong representation at the first two juvenile sales of any North American sire with 15 sold of 18 offered. The sire's $367,333 average is the second-highest among freshman sires and the seventh-highest among all sires represented by three or more sold.