Mitole finishes fast to become top first-crop sire of 2023

In his racing days, sprint champion Mitole was known for his blazing speed. However, it was a late burst by his offspring in the final weeks of the season that propelled Mitole to the top of the first-crop sire list for 2023.

In addition to Mitole, stallions standing at Spendthrift Farm took down the next three placings on the first-crop list as well. That trio was Maximus Mischief, Vino Rosso, and Omaha Beach.

Mitole was represented by 35 individual winners worldwide in his first crop, with progeny earnings in excess of $2.6 million. The two stakes winners that emerged from the crop were mentioned in the last installment of this series, with one having enhanced her record since then.

When we last visited Ice Cold, the Kenny McPeek-trained filly was exiting a 10-length, maiden-breaking score in the Miss Indiana S. at Horseshoe Indianapolis. In the interim, Ice Cold finished second against allowance foes at Churchill Downs before posting a three-quarters of a length victory in the Year's End S. over one mile at Oaklawn Park, a victory that boosted Mitole's progeny earnings by $114,000.

The colt Carbone also made hay at Oaklawn on Dec. 31, capturing a lucrative allowance by four lengths going a mile. That followed an eight-length maiden triumph at Churchill Downs going six furlongs on Nov. 19.

Racing for Mitole's connections, Carbone earned a combined $153,000 for the two wins while receiving Brisnet Speed ratings of 93 and 90. He might be seen in an upcoming Kentucky Derby (G1) prep, such as the Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn.

The Louisiana-bred Freeburn made swift progress in the span of three weeks in December. After taking a state-bred maiden at Fair Grounds on Dec. 10, she came back to run second in the filly division of the Louisiana Futurity on the last day of the year.

Other progeny of Mitole to earn black type since our last installment were Typhoon Fury, who finished third in the Nov. 19 Central Park S. on the turf at Aqueduct, and Halina's Forte, who finished second in both the Nov. 25 Fern Creek S. at Churchill Downs and Dec. 23 Letellier Memorial at Fair Grounds.

Mitole will again stand for a fee of $15,000 live foal for the 2024 breeding season.