The 6th Sire: VOTE for our final First-Crop Sire to watch in 2024 [POLL]
(c) Coady Photography/Keeneland
August 12th, 2024
For the fourth consecutive year, the stable of writers at TwinSpires will offer thoughts and analysis on six of the most compelling freshman sires whose offspring hit the track for the first time this year. Some have impressive starts to their careers already! Now, it's time to hear from you.
Five horses have been preselected, with the sixth being chosen by YOU!
Which stallions have the TwinSpires team decided to follow for 2024?
Authentic wins the Kentucky Derby (Photo by Coady Media/Churchill Downs)
- Authentic (followed by James Scully)
- 2020 Horse of the Year, Champion 3-Year-Old Male
- Top performers as of Aug. 7
- Adeera at 2-1-0-0 with $75,630
- Truly Legit at 1-1-0-0 with $19,200
Authentic is the standout stud of Into Mischief and Flawless with a lifetime career of 8-6-2-0. Winning the Kentucky Derby (2020) and Breeders' Cup Classic (2020) and finishing second in the Preakness S. (2020) gives an insight into his impressive career. He is standing at Spendthrift Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, for a fee of $50,000.
Aderra broke her maiden at Churchill Downs in her first day out and finished fifth at the Debutante S. Truly Legit broke his maiden at Horseshoe Indianapolis during his first start just like his half sister.
Complexity winning the Champagne Stakes (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
- Complexity (followed by Kellie Reilly)
- Top performers as of Aug. 7
- Black Forza
- ENG 1-1-0-0 with $126,608
- IRE 2-1-0-0 with $11,918
- Mo Plex at 2-2-0-0 $137,500
- Mensa
- CAN 1-1-0-0 at $55,007
- USA 1-1-0-0 at $47,000
- Black Forza
- Top performers as of Aug. 7
Complexity is bred from Maclean's Music and Goldfield with an impressive record of 10-5-1-0 and a career earning of $616,350. His wins include the Kelso H. (G2) in 2020) and the Champagne S. (G1) in 2018. Complexity is standing at Airdrie Stud in Midway, Kentucky, with a $12,500 fee.
Black Forza has seen great success over seas in Ireland and English horse racing, while Mensa's success in Canada and the U.S. is notable, such as the Victoria S. at Woodbine.
Mo Plex has stuck to the States, claiming his first win at Belmont At The Big A and winning the Sanford S. (G3) at Saratoga.
Game Winner (Photo by Coady Media)
- Game Winner (followed by Vance Hanson)
- Top performers as of Aug. 7
- Conquering Cat at 3-1-1-0 with $99,330
- Top performers as of Aug. 7
Game Winner had an impressive career of 8-5-2-0. Bred by Candy Ride (ARG) and Indyan Giving, Game Winner's victories include the Del Mar Futurity (G1), the American Pharoah S. (G1), and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) in 2018 as well as the Los Alamitos Derby (G3) in 2019. He can be found at Lane's End in Versailles, Kentucky, after entering stud in 2021 for a $20,000 fee.
Conquering Cat has made a couple of impressive strides at Churchill Downs, winning first and second for maiden special weights but placing fifth during the Bashford Manor S.
Thousand Words wins the Shared Belief S. at Del Mar. (Photo by Horsephotos)
- Thousand Words (followed by Ashley Anderson)
- Top performers as of Aug. 7
- The Queens M G at 4-3-0-0 with $254,380
- Vodka With a Twist at 3-2-0-0 with $209,320
- Top performers as of Aug. 7
Thousand Words has an impressive career at 9-4-1-0 that began with a win in his debut at Santa Anita in 2019. He followed up with firsts at the Los Altamitos Futurity (G2) and the Robert B Lewis S. (G3) in 2020. Thousand Words is by Pioneerof the Nile and Pomeroys Pistol. He entered stud in 2021 and can be found standing at Spendthrift Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, for a $5,000 fee.
The Queens M G is enjoying a great start after breaking her maiden at Keeneland. Among her three starts at Saratoga are two wins, the most recent being the Adirondack S. (G3). Vodka With a Twist broke her maiden two starts in at Churchill Downs and followed up with another win at the Debutante S.
Vekoma wins the Sir Shackleton Stakes (Adam Coglianese- Ryan Thompson)
- Vekoma (followed by Keeler Johnson)
- Top performers as of Aug. 7
- Louisiana Jess at 2-2-0-0 with $82,320
- Anakarina at 3-1-0-0 with $75,600
- Viggiedal at 2-1-0-0 with $70,313
- Top performers as of Aug. 7
Vekoma, by Candy Ride (ARG) and Mona de Momma, by Speightstown, entered stud in 2021. He now stands at Spendthrift Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, for a $15,000 fee.
He is known as Candy Ride's fastest with a record to back it up. Some of Vekoma's wins include a maiden win at Belmont Park in 2018 and the Blue Grass S. (G2) in 2019. His last two races were wins at Belmont Park a month a part in 2021 at the Carter H. (G1) and Metropolitan H. (G1).
Louisiana Jess sports an impressive record with two starts, breaking his maiden at Churchill Downs and snatching another win at Evangeline in the D. S. Shine Young Futurity.
Anakarina broke her maiden two starts in at Churchill Downs. Viggiedal followed suit with her half sister and half brother to break her maiden at Churchill. Both Anakarina and Viggiedal are waiting for a successful stakes run but are worth the watch.
