North American Age Group Sire Rankings: A Late-Season Snapshot

Unlike Australasia, where the major age-group features have been run and won for some time, the North American stallion money lists remain a worthwhile late-season reference point. With the exception of the 3YO pacing division — which is still delicately poised — most categories are now effectively settled, offering a clear snapshot of which sirelines are exerting genuine influence across juvenile and sophomore age groups as the calendar draws to a close.

2YO Pacing

Downbytheseaside is set to claim his first North American 2YO pacing sires’ money list title in 2025 — an achievement made all the more impressive given it comes with his fifth crop — banking $5,014,314 from 85 individual starters.

The strength of that result is underlined by the spread of contributors rather than reliance on a single outlier. His juvenile earnings have been led by Seaside Shuffle ($553,323) and Brandon Blvd ($538,419), both multiple winners, with Brandon Blvd already stopping the clock in 1:48.4. They’re closely followed by Lindy Dragonwater ($417,892), Gentlemans Club ($335,511) and Gala ($324,154), giving Downbytheseaside five individual 2YOs over $300,000 in a single season.

Depth continues further down the list. Crocodile Station ($211,343), Downbythelakeside ($155,819), Backninebar ($153,476), Prtynproud Hanover ($141,472), Heerz Corinthian ($127,502) and Ima Beach Girl ($121,450) all clearing six figures — reinforcing just how evenly his earnings have been distributed across the crop.

From a broader production standpoint, the numbers are equally compelling. From 121 foals born in 2023, 85 have already made the races, producing 46 individual winners, including 13 six-figure earners, five above $250,000, and two beyond the half-million mark. More than 54 percent of starters have recorded a winning mile, with 16 juveniles pacing 1:53 or faster and one already dipping under 1:50.

In many ways, this result simply continues the remarkable Somebeachsomewhere legacy in this exact category. Since his first commercial crop debuted by winning the 2YO money list in 2012, only Sportswriter (2014) has interrupted the family’s grip on the title. The crown was then firmly reclaimed by Captaintreacherous, whose first crop repeated the feat in 2018 — and now Downbytheseaside adds his own chapter to that lineage.

For New Zealand breeders, none of this should come as a surprise. Downbytheseaside is enjoying a career-best season in Australasia, with his juveniles currently sitting second on the 2YO sires’ money lists in both New Zealand and Australia, underlining that this North American dominance is not an isolated result — but part of a much broader, global pattern.

Cattlewash has enjoyed an outstanding debut season with his first commercial crop, likely to finish third overall with $4,367,226 earned from 89 starters. A son of Somebeachsomewhere and out of the indomitable broodmare Road Bet, Cattlewash has delivered both a headline act and depth, led by the unbeaten Beau Jangles ($1,688,750) — already a seven-figure earner and one of the dominant juveniles of the season. With 55 individual race winners from his first crop and a strong strike rate across North America, his opening salvo has very much laid the foundations for a long and successful stud career.

Based at Tara Hills Stud in Ontario, that level of performance has almost certainly elevated the quality of mare support he will receive going forward. Importantly for Australasian breeders, Cattlewash has also attracted significant interest south of the equator, receiving what by all accounts has been a strong book in New Zealand via frozen semen through Yirribee Stud.

Also making his presence felt is Perfect Sting, the champion son of Always B Miki out of the fastest Bettor’s Delight mare of all time, Shebestingin. His juveniles have accumulated $2,341,569 from 51 starters, producing 28 individual winners and eight six-figure earners — a solid platform for a sire whose influence is only just beginning to take shape. While his numbers sit below the very top echelon at this stage, the encouraging early signs have already strengthened his Australasian appeal, with breeders clearly encouraged by the balance of speed, soundness and commercial relevance emerging from his first crop.

2YO Trotting

A staple of the New York and broader North American trotting scene since his debut crop in 2015, Chapter Seven has never lacked relevance or durability. What he did have to do, however, was bide his time in a purely juvenile sense. Despite consistently producing elite trotters across multiple age groups, he didn’t secure his first North American 2YO trotting sires’ money list title until last season.

Ironically, the stallion who repeatedly stood in his way was his own brilliant siring son, Walner, who dominated the category from 2021 through 2023.

That balance has now swung decisively back.

In 2025, Chapter Seven sits clear at the top of the North American 2YO trotting sires’ money list with $6,284,493, nearly $2 million ahead of his nearest rival. His juveniles have been led by Spencer Hanover, Nezuko Kamado S and Storybook Love, supported by a deep secondary tier.

An honourable mention is also warranted for Captain Corey, who has made an immediate impact as a first-season sire, finishing second on the North American 2YO trotting sires’ money list. By the pacing-bred Googoo Gaagaa, his first crop returns suggest the next wave is already forming.

3YO Pacing

At the 3YO pacing level, the North American sires’ money list is shaping as one of the tightest races of the season, with Captaintreacherous and Huntsville locked in a virtual dead heat — separated by less than $40,000 as the calendar edges toward its conclusion.

For now, Captaintreacherous holds a slender advantage, having accumulated $7,898,097 from 84 individual 3YO starters, a figure that underlines both scale and depth. Should he hold on, it would mark the third time he has claimed the North American 3YO pacing sires’ title — and his first since 2020 — a reminder that longevity at the very top of this category remains exceptionally hard-earned.

As has become his hallmark, the strength of Captaintreacherous’ 3YO crop lies in its balance rather than reliance on a single headline act. Captain Optimistic ($1,573,723) and Prince Hal Hanover ($1,532,194) have spearheaded the charge, both already proven at the million-dollar level, while Rodeo Drive Deo ($1,399,877) and Fallout ($1,208,897) give him four individual 3YOs beyond $1.2 million. Behind them sits a deep supporting cast, including Captain Arturorovico, Sammy Jo Hanover and Ayeaye Captain Deo, all contributing meaningfully to the overall tally.

The broader production metrics reinforce just how formidable this crop has been. From 106 foals born in 2022, 89 have already started, producing 82 individual winners and a remarkable $12.6 million in lifetime earnings to date. More than 92 percent of starters have recorded a winning mile, with nine pacing in 1:50 or faster and 45 stopping the clock at 1:53 or better — figures that speak to both speed and durability.

Whether Captaintreacherous can fend off Huntsville in the closing stages remains to be seen, but regardless of the final order, the margins involved tell their own story. This is not dominance by default — it is a genuine heavyweight contest between two elite stallions operating at the very peak of the North American 3YO pacing landscape.

Huntsville’s surge at the 3YO level should come as no surprise. He came within a whisker of claiming the North American 2YO pacing sires’ title last season, only to be pipped at the post by Captaintreacherous, and that same crop has simply carried its momentum forward at three.

The New York–based giant sits just $40,000 adrift in the 2025 3YO standings, having generated $7,861,216 from 78 individual starters, and the shape of his returns is every bit as compelling as the headline number. His crop has been driven by The Last Martini ($1,599,347) and Madden Oaks ($1,006,547), alongside Unreasonable ($995,518) — giving Huntsville three near- or above-million-dollar earners at this stage of the season.

Depth has again been a defining feature. Send It Down Slim ($581,667), Thirsty Thursday ($560,605), Cowgirl Hanover ($516,220) and Shes A Streaker ($431,197) have all made meaningful contributions, reinforcing a profile built on consistency rather than reliance on a single outlier.

From a production standpoint, the numbers remain rock-solid. From 103 foals born in 2022, 84 have already started, producing 71 individual winners and $12.1 million in total earnings. The crop includes 28 six-figure earners, 12 above $250,000, six over $500,000, and two millionaires, with an average of $145,115 per starter — marginally edging Captaintreacherous on a per-runner basis. Speed has not been lacking either, with five pacing 1:50 or faster and 23 at 1:53 or better.

With Captaintreacherous and Huntsville once again trading blows at the very top of the 3YO ladder, the margins underline just how finely balanced the modern North American pacing scene has become. And for New Zealand breeders, the timing is difficult to ignore. Demand for Huntsville’s genetics has been growing steadily in recent seasons, and those calls have now been answered — not only with Huntsville himself, but also with his outstanding son Legendary Hanover both available to Southern Hemisphere breeders in 2025/26.

In a battle this tight, the final ledger may still swing either way — but whichever name ends up on top, the broader message is clear: this is elite, generational pacing blood operating at full throttle.

3YO Trotting

In line with his dominance of the juvenile rankings, Chapter Seven is also clearly on top of the North American 3YO trotting sires’ money list, with $9,225,704 accumulated from 70 individual starters — opening up a gap of more than $3 million on his closest rival, Walner ($6,138,691).

That margin has been forged through both elite top-end performers and exceptional depth. The crop is headed by Super Chapter ($2.42m) and Maryland ($2.35m) — both already proven at the very highest level — alongside My Debt Collector ($1.05m), giving Chapter Seven three individual millionaires at the age group. Beyond them sits a strong second tier, with Variegated, Happy Jack B, Monserrate, Royal Mission and Karinchak all contributing meaningfully to the overall tally.

From 97 foals born in 2022, 79 have made the races, producing 65 individual winners and a striking $16.56 million in total earnings to date. The crop includes 32 six-figure earners, 18 above $250,000, seven over $500,000 and three millionaires, with an average of $209,710 per starter — numbers that underline not just dominance, but sustainability as these horses progress deeper into their 3YO season.

In a year where Chapter Seven has already asserted himself as the benchmark juvenile trotting sire, his command of the 3YO rankings only reinforces what the data is now making increasingly clear: this is a stallion exerting influence across multiple age groups, at scale, and with remarkable consistency having for a long while lived in the shadow of the legendary Muscle Hill.