Journalism’s hard-charging victory in the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown, added another jewel to the crown of sire Curlin, who is firmly ensconced among the reigning kings of the American classics.
“He has the physical likeness to Curlin,” trainer Michael McCarthy said of the strongly-built bay colt.
It was the third winner of a Triple Crown race for Curlin, who is also the sire of 2013 Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice and 2016 Preakness winner Exaggerator. The two-time Horse of the Year, who stands at Hill ‘n’ Dale in Paris, Ky., raced with distinction himself through the 2007 Triple Crown series, finishing third in the Kentucky Derby, winning the Preakness, and running a hard-fought second in the Belmont.
He has shown similar consistency throughout his stud career. Since Curlin’s first crop turned 3 in 2013, 38 American Triple Crown races have been contested. Along with his three individual winners, Curlin has also accounted for top-three finishes in another eight races.
The only other stallions with comparable progency accomplishments and levels of consistency in the Triple Crown during this timeframe are six-time reigning leading sire Into Mischief and perennial leading stallion Tapit.
Into Mischief, who entered stud the same year as Curlin, has three wins in this span – all in the Kentucky Derby, tying him for the all-time sire record in the race. Another three of his individuals have placed in three additional Triple Crown races.
Perennial leading sire Tapit – who entered stud in 2005, four years prior to Curlin and Into Mischief – is the only stallion since 2013 with slightly better numbers in the classics. He has a record-tying four winners of the Belmont Stakes, and another nine top-three finishes by his runners in the classics during this span.
Curlin, 21 this year, moved closer to the Preakness sire record with Journalism’s win. The great Lexington, who also co-holds the Belmont’s all-time record, led the sire list a record 16 times despite his career spanning, and being impacted by, the Civil War. He set the Preakness standard with three winners – Tom Ochiltree (1875), Shirley (1876), and Duke of Magenta (1878). The accomplishment was matched by Broomstick, with Holiday (1914), Broomspun (1921), and Bostonian (1927). Curlin is now one of 10 stallions with two, joining his own sire Smart Strike, along with Bull Lea, Fair Play, Leamington, Nasrullah, Sir Gallahad, Sovereign Dancer, Watercress, and Woodman
In addition to Palace Malice, Exaggerator, and Journalism, Curlin’s other classic-placed runners are Good Magic, second to Triple Crown winner Justify in the 2018 Derby; Ride On Curlin, second in the 2014 Preakness; Tenfold, third in the 2018 Preakness to Justify; Keen Ice, third in the 2015 Belmont to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah before defeating that champion in the Travers Stakes; Irish War Cry, second in the 2017 Belmont; and the filly Nest, second in the 2022 Belmont.
For good measure, Curlin is the sire of 2021 Kentucky Oaks winner Malathaat; Nest, second in the filly classic before going on to the Belmont; and Lady Apple, third in the 2019 edition. His success in the Kentucky Oaks is more evidence of his ability to impart stamina, along with runners such as Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and Eclipse Award champion Vino Rosso, and Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner and two-time Eclipse champion Idiomatic.
Curlin does have the odd outlying shorter-distance runner: 2023 Horse of the Year Cody’s Wish was a two-time winner of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, and Elite Power won two editions of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint to earn two divisional titles. Still, the average winning distance for Curlin’s progeny is 7.67 furlongs – an outstanding figure, considering the preponderance of sprint races in America.
The Coolmore group announced this spring that it had acquired the future breeding rights to Journalism, and will stand him at its Ashford Stud in Versailles, Ky., upon the conclusion of his career. The Coolmore partners have also joined the colt’s ownership team for his racing career, along with Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, breeder Don Alberto Stable, Robert LaPenta, and Elayne Stables.
Encouragingly for Coolmore, Curlin’s sons are following in his footsteps in the classic sires department. Chief among those is Good Magic, who stands alongside his sire at Hill ‘n’ Dale. Good Magic sired 2023 Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness third-place finisher Mage, along with Preakness runner-up Blazing Sevens, in his first crop; and 2024 Belmont Stakes winner Dornoch in his second crop.
Keen Ice, standing at Calumet Farm, had 2022 Kentucky Derby upset victor Rich Strike in his first crop, while Exaggerator – who began his career in Kentucky before moving to Louisiana – is the sire of Skippylongstocking, third in the 2022 Belmont.
“Good Magic needs no introduction,” said Adrian Mansergh Wallace, part of the nominations and sales division at Coolmore America. “We’re just so proud to be part of this ownership group. It’s a dream come true.”
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