Just finished reading the top picks for the juvenile sires (Who Will be the Leading Freshman Sire of 2026? and More Predictions), and rubbing more than two nickels together over calling Essential Quality as top second-crop sire and having clients with mares already under that horse, I thought I would take a crack at the 2023 sires.
Top Pick: Life Is Good ($60,000, WinStar)
The classic Into Mischief-over-Distorted Humor has proven to be a winner and that nick will unabashedly continue to produce runners. The horse was fast, and his progeny will run early. And with today's line up of sires with short or virtually no racing career, it points to soundness. A nod goes to Golden Pal whose runners may not light up the tote board with one turn, but watch them stretch out and get it done.
Sleeper: Speaker's Corner (Darley, $10,000)
Darley does pedigree well and this horse has a nice one. Not only does the page exude class, the horse too is put together well. His offspring do not rock physically like his sire's other son, Mcknizie, but they are solid and look to be fast when it counts. Accolades to Darley who supports their horses with breeder incentives in the lean second and third seasons, thereby helping the stud to roll on post his first crop.
–Vickie Hewitt, Co-Owner, Cambrey Farm LLC, Paris, Kentucky
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