Famous Studs in 2025

Any suggestions for new studs to consider this year? Remember that to qualify for stud in FF, a horse needs to be currently standing at stud in real life.

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Pulling from our October chat:

Into Mischief:
2005 bay stallion
Harlan’s Holiday - Leslie’s Lady, by Tricky Creek

No FF relations until 4th generation, via Storm Cat and Affirmed in his topline.

Race Record
6 Starts: 3 - 3 - 0, $592,080

At 2: 1st Cashcall Futurity (G1, 8.5f); 2nd Hollywood Prevue S. (G3, 7f)
At 3: 1st Damascus S. (7f); 2nd Malibu S. (G1, 7f), San Vincente S. (G2, 7f)

Sire highlights:
2019 Leading Sire in N. America
2018 Leading Sire of Juveniles in N. America

Sire of Authentic (G1 Kentucky Derby, G1 Haskell S), Goldencents (G1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (x2), G1 Santa Anita Derby), Audible (G1 Florida Derby, G2 Holy Bull S), Practical Joke (G1 Champagne S, G1 H. Allen Jerkens S), Mia Mischief (G1 Humana Distaff S, G2 Eight Belles S), Covfefe (G1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint G1 Test S), Gamine (G1 Acorn, G1 Test S), Kid Molave (Philippines Triple Crown winner), and others.

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Gunnevera

Dialed In – Unbridled Rage, by Unbridled | 2014 Chestnut

21-6-5-3 $5,561,800

Won at 2
Saratoga Special S.
$1,000,000 Delta Downs Jackpot S.
A maiden special weight race at Gulfstream Park

Won at 3
Xpressbet Fountain of Youth S.
Tangelo S.

2nd at 3
Travers S. Presented by NYRA Bets
Lambholm South Holy Bull S.]

3rd at 3
Xpressbet Florida Derby

Won at 4
An allowance optional claiming race at Gulfstream Park

2nd at 4
Breeders’ Cup Classic
Woodward S. Presented by NYRA Bets

3rd at 4
Pegasus World Cup Invitational S.

3rd at 5
Dubai World Cup Sponsored By Emirates Airline

I will copy my suggestions from that thread:

Oscar Performance
(Kitten’s Joy x Devine Actress)
4x4 inbred to Northern Dancer, 4x5 inbred to Special (dam of Nureyev and Sadler’s Wells), 5x5 inbred to Hail to Reason

15 Starts: 8 - 0 - 1, $2,345,696

At 2:
Won Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1,SA,8fT), Pilgrim S. (G3,Bel,8½fT)

At 3:
Won Belmont Derby Invitational S. (G1,Bel,10fT), Secretariat S. (G1,AP,10fT), Pennine Ridge S. (G3,Bel,9fT)
3rd Joe Hirsch Turf Classic S. (G1,Bel,12fT)

At 4:
Won Woodbine Mile S. (G1,Wo,8fT), Poker S. (G3,Bel,8fT)

“At 4, Oscar Performance broke a 20-year course record at Belmont Park when he completed a mile in 1:31.23 in capturing the Poker Stakes (G3T). He would follow that victory with another top-level score two starts later in the Ricoh Woodbine Mile (G1T).” - Mill Ridge Announces 2021 Fee for Oscar Performance

Ghaiyyath
(Dubawi x Nighttime)
4x5 inbred to Northern Dancer and Mr. Prospector

2020 Cartier Horse of the Year and Champion Older Horse.
He would qualify for stud in Final Furlong. We already have his sire Dubawi in the game, so we would have to choose between them.

13 Starts: 9 - 1 - 2, £879,923

At 2: 1st Autumn Stakes (Nmk,G3,2yo,8fT) At 3: 1st Prix du Prince d’Orange (Lon,G3,3yo,10fT) At 4: 1st Grosser Preis von Baden (Bad,G1,12fT), 1st Prix d’Harcourt (Lon,G2,10fT); 3rd Prix Ganay (Lon,G1,10.5fT)
At 5: 1st Coronation Cup (Nmk,G1,12fT), 1st Eclipse Stakes (San,G1,10fT) 1st International Stakes (Yor,G1,10.5fT) 1st Dubai Millennium Stakes (Mey,G3,10fT) 2nd Irish Champion Stakes (Leo,G1,10fT)

“The son of the outstanding Dubawi won the Masar Godolphin Autumn Stakes (G3) as a juvenile in 2017, struck in the Prix du Prince d’Orange (G3) at 3, and opened his group 1 account in sensational fashion in the Longines Grosser Preis von Baden (G1) at 4.
Ghaiyyath took his form to another level this year when starting off the campaign with a wide-margin win in the Dubai Millennium Stakes Sponsored by Jaguar (G3) at Meydan, before defeating 2019 Investec Derby (G1) hero Anthony Van Dyck in the Hurworth Bloodstock Coronation Cup (G1) at Newmarket.”
- Ghaiyyath Retired to Stand at Kildangan Stud

Siskin
(First Defence x Bird Flown)
4x5 inbred to Sir Ivor, 5x5 inbred to Northern Dancer and Mr. Prospector

Some of his ancestors are in the game, but retired; such as Unbridled, or Seattle Slew.

7 Starts: 5 - 0 - 1, £426,904

At 2: 1st Phoenix Stakes (Ire-G1,6fT,Cur), Railway Stakes (Ire-G2,6fT,Cur), Marble Hill Stakes (Ire-L,6fT,Cur)
At 3: 1st Irish 2000 Guineas (Ire-G1,8fT,Cur); 3rd Sussex Stakes (GB-G1,8fT,Goo); 4th Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (Fr-G1,8fT,Lon)

“The Juddmonte homebred was unbeaten in a striking juvenile campaign, which culminated in victory in the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (G1) at the Curragh.” - Siskin to Stand Stud in Japan After Breeders’ Cup Bid

And one dirt runner… maybe this one?

Mitole
(Eskendereya x Indian Miss)
5x5 inbred to Northern Dancer

His grandsire Giant’s Causeway is in the game, now retired. Eclipse Champion Male Sprinter, 2019. I think he would qualify for stud in Final Furlong, too. Or almost.

14 Starts: 10 - 2 - 2, $3,104,910

At 3:
Won Bachelor S. (OP,6f), Chick Lang S. (Pim,6f)
2nd Gazebo S. (OP,6f)

At 4:
Won Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1,SA,6), Metropolitan H. (G1,Bel,8f), Forego S. (G1,Sar,7f)[NSR], Churchill Downs S. (G1,CD,7f), Count Fleet Sprint H. (G3,OP,6f)
3rd Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. (G1,Sar,6f)

“His six-for-seven campaign, incorporating four Grade Is, is absolutely Horse of the Year material and even before the summer Bill Landes, long-serving manager at Hermitage, was already able to identify Mitole as the fastest horse ever raised on the farm. That seasoned judgement was vindicated by brilliant scores in races of such stallion-making resonance as the GI Met Mile and the GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint, not to mention a new stakes record in the storied GI Forego S.” - Kentucky Value Sires 2020, Part 1: New Stallions

Authentic is my vote instead of Into Mischief (suggested above, his sire) - 2021 is his freshman year at stud.

Owner: Spendthrift Farm LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, and MyRacehorse.com
Breeder: Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds, LLC
State Bred: KY
Winnings: 8 Starts: 6 - 2 - 0, $7,191,200

Foaled Mary 05, 2017

At 3: 1st: Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1,Kee,10f), Kentucky Derby (G1,CD,10f), Haskell S. (G1,Mth,9f), San Felipe S. (G2,SA,8.5f), Sham S. (G3,SA,8f); 2nd: Preakness S. (G1,Pim,9½f), Santa Anita Derby (G1,SA,9f)

Most Recent Auction Result: $350,000 Keeneland Association September Yearling Sale 2018

Stud Career:
2021 - 20XX: Spendthrift Farm, KY

Sire: Into Mischief (Harlan’s Holiday x a Tricky Creek mare)
Dam: Flawless (Mr. Greeley x a Wild Again mare)

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Maybe also Nyquist? I don’t think we ever voted him, and he’s a leading sire currently.

Nyquist
(Uncle Mo x Seeking Gabrielle)
5x5 inbred to Northern Dancer

11 Starts: 8 - 0 - 1, $5,189,200

Foaled March 10, 2013

At 2: 1st in debut June 5, 2015, 5f MSW at Santa Anita, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1,Kee,8½f), Del Mar Futurity (G1,Dmr,7f), FrontRunner S. (G1,SA,8½f), Best Pal S. (G2,Dmr,6½f)
At 3: 1st Kentucky Derby (G1,CD,10f), Florida Derby (G1,GP,9f), San Vicente S. (G2,SA,7f); 3rd Preakness S. (G1,Pim,8.5f)

2015 Eclipse Champion 2-Year-Old Colt

Sire of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Vequist. Nyquist has nearly $2.4 million in progeny earnings.

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I’ll leave this thread open for 2 more days so we have 10ish days to vote before February starts. :smiley:

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@Hilda_with_Clicker I almost suggested his sire, Uncle Mo, as well - especially if Nyquist’s damline (with Storm Cat & Mr. Prospector in there) is considered too close to in-game lines!

Uncle Mo
Breeder: D. Michael Cavey DVM
State Bred: KY
Winnings: 8 Starts: 5 - 1 - 1, $1,506,000

At 2: 1st Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1,CD,8.5F), Champagne S. (G1,Bel,8F)
At 3: 1st Kelso H. (G2,Bel,8F), Timely Writer S. (GP,8F); 2nd King’s Bishop S. (G1,Sar,7F); 3rd Wood Memorial (G1,Aqu,9F)

Foaled March 10, 2008

  • ECLIPSE Champion 2-Year-Old Colt

2012 stands at Ashford Stud, KY (2021 Fee $175,000)

  • 2020 Leading Sire of Graded Stakes Winners
  • 2015 Leading Freshman Sire
  • Sire of 2015 Two-Old Champion colt Nyquist
  • Sire of sires: Nyquist, Outwork, Laoban

Sire: Indian Charlie (In Excess x a Leo Castelli mare)
Dam: Playa Maya (Arch x a Dixieland Band mare)

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I don’t know how easy this would be to code but, instead of voting for RL Stallions every year, maybe we could do it a slightly different way.

First of all, increase the number of RL Stallions to 12.

Every year, the 4 that have been in the game the longest have to ‘stand for reelection’ along with 6 new Stallions for 4 spots. Then, the next year, the next four who have been in the game the longest go up against 6 new ones for 4 spots, and the third year, the last two go up against 6 new ones for 4 spots. It would be possible for a Stallion who was voted off one year to stand for election the next year.

After that, every year the 4 who were elected 3 years before go up against 6 new stallions for 4 spots.

That way, each RL Stallion is guaranteed to be in the game for a minimum of 3 years.

Thoughts on this idea?

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Maybe as a way to simplify, all RL studs are kept a minimum of 2-3 years, and those who have been in the game longer than that are the ones up for vote? This still results in fewer studs to vote on each year and gives them some extra time in game. Or just make it the 4 oldest studs (or 5, so it’s half the current number) get a yay/nay vote and the others are safe for a year.

I’m fine with the current system, but I also see the merits in 1) keeping stallions long enough for at least their first crops to run, and 2) simplifying voting each year.

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