Oppenheim: Third-Crop Sires

In this week's column, Bill Oppenheim focuses on this year's third-crop stallions, i.e. first 4-year-olds of 2011, and the cream of the crop looks a lot like it did in 2009 and 2010, with Afleet Alex, Roman Ruler and Wildcat Heir the only three have cumulative progeny earnings in excess of $5 million. Those three sires also feature prominently among the leaders of the crop by A Runner Index, while Ghostzapper lags in progeny earnings, but is among the best by ABC Runner Index.