By Elaine Belval
One of my favorite singers, Vince Gill, has a great song called “The Next Big Thing,” which contains the lyrics, “They all hail the brand new king, Everybody’s waiting for the next big thing.”
In a way, this reminds me of stallions. Everyone is hot on the “Next Big Thing, ” that new sire who will be the next Danzig or Mr. Prospector or Northern Dancer. And, sometimes, this leaves older, proven stallions standing in the dust of the stampede to find the next big thing.
This weekend, however, was a great weekend for two “Ole Reliables” standing at Lane’s End Farm in Kentucky.
Wilkinson won the G3 Lecomte S. at the Fair Grounds at just over one mile. He is by the 15-year-old Lemon Drop Kid. It’s hard to believe it has been over 10 years since Lemon Drop Kid spoiled Charismatic’s Triple Crown Bid with his victory in the G1 Belmont S. Lemon Drop Kid was one of the most consistent racehorses in the late 1990s, winning G1 races at two, three and four. As a son of leading sire Kingmambo out of the same female family as A.P. Indy, big things were expected and Lemon Drop Kid has not disappointed.
Over the years, Lemon Drop Kid has sired 74% starters, 54% winners, and an excellent 10% SWs to foals (not including two-year-olds of 2011). His average earnings per starter is over $75,000. His G1 winners include a Kentucky Oaks winner (Lemons Forever) and a two-time Pacific Classic winner (Richard’s Kid). Perhaps a touch surprising considering Lemon Drop Kid was a dirt performer, almost 50% of his progeny earnings come from turf and almost 50% of his SWs are turf SWs, but note his sire was predominantly turf, too.
Lemon Drop Kid has had colts on the Derby Trail before, but despite an impressive resume as a sire, a classic victory is missing. Perhaps Wilkinson (bred and raced by Gaillardia LLC and trained by Neil Howard) can notch that first win for this veteran stallion. His 2011 fee is $35,000.
Also impressing this weekend for an “old-timer” was Euroears, winner of the G2 Palos Verdes S. for owner James & Marilyn Helzer and trainer Bob Baffert. An earlier SW, Euroears notched his first graded stakes victory in his career with the victory. He is by the 19-year-old Langfuhr.
And what has Langfuhr done in his career? As a racehorse, he “only” won three G1 races and was a champion. As a sire, he “only” has over 80% starters, 60% winners, and a solid 5% SWs (not including two-year-olds of 2011). His progeny “only” average over $70,000 in earnings. He only has a Canadian triple crown winner in Wando, a brilliant champion in Lawyer Ron (along with three others), and an Arlington Million winner in Jambalaya. He has “only” ranked in the top 15 on the General Sire List for seven consecutive years. And I could go on. Seriously, it’s hard to think of a sire that has done more than Langfuhr that is currently at stud. His 2011 stud fee is $15,000.
Perhaps, with the early success of Euroears and Wilkinson in 2011, breeders with quality mares will ignore that “next big thing” and take a serious look at two of the best “ole reliables” available in Kentucky.
(Elaine Belval is senior pedigree analyst at WTC.)