Digging Into the Data: 2017 U.S. Grade 1 Winners

Gun Runner

With 89 different horses winning the 112 Grade 1 races run on the flat in North America in 2017, there was a lot of news throughout the year. The racing season had something for everyone with 71 of the 112 Grade 1s taking place on the dirt and 40 on the turf, ranging from distances of five furlongs (the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint) to 1 ½ miles (six at that distance spread between dirt and turf).

While the names of most of those Grade 1 winners are well known, it’s a good time to dig a little farther into their season – and their families – as we reflect back on the 2017 racing season.

Gun Runner – Probable Horse of the Year Gun Runner (Candy Ride) had the most North American Grade 1 wins of anyone in 2017 with four. He was followed by Kentucky Oaks winner Abel Tasman (Quality Road), Stellar Wind (Curlin), and Breeders’ Cup Mile winner World Approval (Northern Afleet) who have three each. Fourteen other horses have two Grade 1s each.

By The Ages – The Grade 1 winners varied in age from two (15 different winners at that age) to seven (two different winners at that age) with an average of 3.8 years old. Interestingly, 5-year-olds tied with 4-year-olds when it came to having the most Grade 1 winners at 24 apiece with 4-year-olds following them up with 17. Six and seven year olds combined for six Grade 1 winners in North America last year.

2YO G1 winner Free Drop Billy before going
through the ring

Sales - Fifty of the Grade 1 winners went through the auction ring at least once. Those who went through the ring a first time (or only once) averaged $350,229 with those going through a second time averaging $304,333 during that second trip. Only one, Dream Tree (Uncle Mo), went through the ring three times, improving from $80,000 as a weanling to $750,000 as a 2-year-old. Twenty-six horses never went through an auction ring (according to Equineline) and are still at least co-owned by their breeder while one went through a ring and sold but is also still co-owned by his breeder, two RNAed at sales and 10 were bought privately without ever going through a ring. A few were sold recently as broodmare/race prospects (Songbird and Stellar Wind two prime examples) but their prices at the November sales were not calculated in.

By the State – Horses born in seven different countries won Grade 1 races in North America this year. Of the 72 born in the U.S., 63 were born in Kentucky, three in Florida, two in Pennsylvania, one in Louisiana, one in New Jersey, one in New York, one in Oklahoma and one in Virginia. On the world stage, one was born in Argentina, one in Brazil, three in Canada (all Ontario), one in Chile, one in France, three in England and five in Ireland.

Sire Locations – Fifty-seven different stallions sired the winners of the 112 Grade 1 races in 2017. The 51 still active sires stand in 12 different countries and four different U.S. states. After the U.S., Ireland and South Korea are tied with four sires each. While all four of the Irish stallions have winners as the result of their runners being sent to the U.S. (even if just for one race), all four South Korean stallions were sold to the country before their 2017 Grade 1 winner had won. Grade 1 producing sires are also located in Argentina, Brazil, England, France, Japan, Peru, South Africa and Saudi Arabia.

Colonel John now stands in South Korea

Medaglia d’Oro – It was a year of epic proportions for Darley’s Medaglia d’Oro (El Prado) in 2017 with seven of his runners winning a combined 10 Grade 1 races in the U.S. The stallion, who will stand for $250,000 in 2017, had winners on both dirt and turf ranging from seven furlongs to 1 ½ miles. The stallion’s Grade 1 winners were split between the two sexes with three won by colts and seven by fillies or mares with the biggest victories .coming in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint and Breeders' Cup Turf.

Candy Ride – While helped quite a bit by Gun Runner, Candy Ride (Ride the Rails) had two other Grade 1 winners helping take his total Grade 1 count on the year to six, the second highest of any stallion in the U.S. His winners won anywhere from one mile (2-year-old filly Separationofpowers) on the dirt to 1 ¼ miles on both dirt and turf (Gun Runner and Ascend). Candy Ride stands for $80,000 in 2018 at Lane’s End as the No. 1 active sire in the U.S. in 2017.

Lane’s End – Lane’s End Farm leads all stallions farms by Grade 1s won by their stallions this year with 19 Grade 1 races. They also stood Curlin when his four 2017 Grade 1 winners were conceived, taking their overall total up to 23 Grade 1 races. Of the seven stallions responsible for their Grade 1 haul, four still stand at the farm.

Stallion Ages – The stallions (still alive) who sired Grade 1 winners in 2017 vary in age from eight (Bodemeister and Union Rags) to 24 (Northern Afleet) with the average sitting at 14.5 years of age. Eight of the sires are 10 years or younger, 23 are in the 11 to 15 range, 12 are 16 to 19 and seven are 20 or older. Northern Afleet (Afleet) is also the oldest active stallion, standing for $5,000 in 2018 after siring two Grade 1 winners (Denman’s Call with one Grade 1 and World Approval with three) in 2017.

Northern Afleet is the oldest of the sires on the list.

Dams – Eighty-nine different mares produced Grade 1 winners in North America in 2017 with no mare having more than one Grade 1 winner on the year. The mares averaged 13.26 years of age in 2017 with the youngest being eight (eight mares) and the oldest 25 (Win Approval). Twenty five mares were 10 or younger, 40 were 11 to 15, 16 were 16 to 19 and six over 20.

Leslie’s Lady – It was a big year for the 21-year-old Leslie’s Lady, who produced Grade 1 Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Turf winner Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy) in addition to her son Into Mischief (Harlan’s Holiday) siring Grade 1 winner Practical Joke. The mare has produced three Grade 1 winners overall in her career thanks to Mendelssohn’s exploits with Beholder (Henny Hughes) and Into Mischief making up the other two. Overall, Leslie’s Lady is the dam or granddam of five stakes horses. She had a Medaglia d’Oro colt in 2017 and was bred to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) in 2018.

Damsires – Sixty-eight different broodmare sires were represented with North American Grade 1 winners in 2017 with Distorted Humor (Forty Niner) siring the dams of four Grade 1 winners for six Grade 1 wins overall, tying with Giant Causeway’s (Storm Cat) three Grade 1 winners giving him six wins. Others who had more than one Grade 1 winner are A.P. Indy (three winners for four wins), Deputy Minister (2,4), Dixie Union (2,2), Dynafomer (2,2), Ghostzapper (2,2), Honour and Glory (2, 3), Horse Chestnut (2,2), Lemon Drop Kid (3, 4), Malibu Moon (3, 5), Singspiel (2, 2) and Unbridled’s Song (2, 3).

Distorted Humor

Sires As Damsires – Making sure their names were on both sides of the list, Arch (Kris S.), Bernardini (A.P. Indy), Candy Ride (Ride the Rails), Ghostzapper (Awesome Again), Lemon Drop Kid (Kingmambo), Malibu Moon (A.P. Indy), Tiznow (Cee’s Tizzy), and Unbridled’s Song (Unbridled) all were both the sires of Grade 1 winners in addition to being the damsire of Grade 1 winners this year. Of those eight, six are still standing at stud in 2018.

Damsires and Grandsires – A.P. Indy (Seattle Slew), Chester House (Mr. Prospector), Distorted Humor, Dixie Union (Dixieland Band), Elusive Quality (Gone West), Empire Maker (Unbridled), Giant’s Causeway, Honour and Glory (Relaunch), In Excess (Siberian Express), Johannesburg (Hennessy), Street Cry (Machiavellian), Tale of the Cat (Storm Cat), Tiznow, and Unbridled’s Song all played double duty on the list with both their sons and daughters having Grade 1 winners this year. Of the 14 stallions on this list, seven are still available to breeders though two are outside North America.

2017 U.S. Grade 1 Winners

Race	Horse	Sire	Dam
Acorn	Abel Tasman	Quality Road	Vargas Girl
Alabama	Elate	Medaglia d'Oro	Cheery
Alcibiades	Heavenly Love	Malibu Moon	Darling My Darling
Alfred G Vanderbilt	El Deal	Munnings	Spirit of Wailea
American Oaks	Daddy's Lil Darling	Scat Daddy	Miss Hot Salsa
Apple Blossom	Stellar Wind	Curlin	Evening Star
Arkansas Derby	Classic Empire	Pioneerof the Nile	Sambuca Classica
Arlington Million	Beach Patrol	Lemon Drop Kid	Bashful Bertie
Ashland	Sailor's Valentine	Mizzen Mast	Sortilege
Awesome Again	Mubtaahij	Dubawi	Pennegale
Ballerina	By the Moon	Indian Charlie	By the Light
Beholder Mile	Stellar Wind	Curlin	Evening Star
Beldame	Elate	Medaglia d'Oro	Cheery
Belmont	Tapwrit	Tapit	Appealing Zophie
Belmont Derby	Oscar Performance	Kitten's Joy	Devine Actress
Belmont Oaks	New Money Honey	Medaglia d'Oro	Weekend Whim
Beverly D	Dacita	Scat Daddy	Daja
Bing Crosby	Ransom the Moon	Malibu Moon	Count to Three
Breeders' Cup Classic	Gun Runner	Candy Ride	Quiet Giant
Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile	Battle of Midway	Smart Strike	Rigoletta
Breeders' Cup Distaff	Forever Unbridled	Unbridled's Song	Lemons Forever
Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint	Bar of Gold	Medaglia d'Oro	Khancord Kid
Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf	Wuheida	Dubawi	Hibaayeb
Breeders' Cup Juvie	Good Magic	Curlin	Glinda the Good
Breeders' Cup Juvie Fillies	Caledonia Road	Quality Road	Come a Callin
Breeders' Cup Juvie Fillies Turf	Rushing Fall	More Than Ready	Autumnal
Breeders' Cup Juvie Turf	Mendelssohn	Scat Daddy	Leslie's Lady
Breeders' Cup Mile	World Approval	Northern Afleet	Win Approval
Breeders' Cup Sprint	Roy H	More Than Ready	Elusive Diva
Breeders' Cup Turf	Talismanic	Medaglia d'Oro	Magic Mission
Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint	Stormy Liberal	Stormy Atlantic	Vassar
Canadian International	Bullards Alley	Flower Alley	Flower Forest
Carter	Green Gratto	Here's Zealous	Starship Smokester
Cash Call Futurity	McKinzie	Street Sense	Runway Model
Champagne	Firenze Fire	Poseidon's Warrior	My Every Wish
Chandelier	Moonshine Memories	Malibu Moon	Unenchantedevening
Cigar Mile	Sharp Azteca	Freud	So Sharp
Claiborne Breeders' Futurity	Free Drop Billy	Union Rags	Trensa
Clark	Seeking the Soul	Perfect Soul	Seeking the Title
Clement L Hirsch	Stellar Wind	Curlin	Evening Star
Coaching Club American Oaks	Abel Tasman	Quality Road	Vargas Girl
Cotillion	It Tiz Well	Arch	It Tiz
Del Mar Debutante	Moonshine Memories	Malibu Moon	Unenchantedevening
Del Mar Futurity	Bolt d'Oro	Medaglia d'Oro	Globe Trot
Del Mar Oaks	Dream Dancing	Tapit	To Dream About
Delaware Handicap	Songbird	Medaglia d'Oro	Ivanavinalot
Diana	Lady Eli	Divine Park	Sacre Coeur
EP Taylor	Blond Me	Tamayuz	Holda
First Lady	Zipessa	City Zip	Precious Princess
Florida Derby	Always Dreaming	Bodemeister	Above Perfection
Flower Bowl	War Flag	War Front	Black Speck
Forego	Drefong	Gio Ponti	Eltimaas
Fourstardave	World Approval	Northern Afleet	Win Approval
Frank E. Kilroe Mile	Bal a Bali	Put It Back	In My Side
Frizette	Separationofpowers	Candy Ride	Shehadmefromhello
FrontRunner	Bolt d'Oro	Medaglia d'Oro	Globe Trot
Gamely	Lady Eli	Divine Park	Sacre Coeur
Gold Cup	Cupid	Tapit	Pretty 'n Smart
Gulfstream Park Turf	Almanaar (GB)	Dubawi	Baqah
H. Allen Jerkens	Practical Joke	Into Mischief	Halo Humor
Haskell	Girvin	Tale of Ekati	Catch the Moon
Hollywood Derby	Mo Town	Uncle Mo	Grazie Mille
Hopeful	Sporting Chance	Tiznow	Wynning Ride
Humana Distaff	Paulassilverlining	Ghostzapper	Seeking the Silver
Jenny Wiley	Dickinson	Medaglia d'Oro	Little Belle
Jockey Club Gold Cup	Diversify	Bellamy Road	Rule One
Joe Hirsch	Beach Patrol	Lemon Drop Kid	Bashful Bertie
Just a Game	Antonoe	First Defence	Ixora
Kentucky Derby	Always Dreaming	Bodemeister	Above Perfection
Kentucky Oaks	Abel Tasman	Quality Road	Vargas Girl
La Brea	Unique Bella	Tapit	Unrivaled Belle
La Troienne	Big World	Custom for Carlos	Tensas Wedding Joy
Madison	Paulassilverlining	Ghostzapper	Seeking the Silver
Maker's 46	American Patriot	War Front	Life Well Lived
Malibu	City of Light	Quality Road	Paris Notion
Man O' War	Zhukova	Fastnet Rock	Nighttime
Manhattan Stakes	Ascend	Candy Ride	Ghost Dancing
Matriarch	Off Limits	Mastercraftsman	Ravish
Met Mile	Mor Spirit	Eskendereya	Im a Dixie Girl
Natalma	Capla Temptress	Lope de Vega	Mrs Beeton
Northern Dancer	Johnny Bear	English Channel	In Return
Ogden Phipps	Songbird	Medaglia d'Oro	Ivanavinalot
Pacific Classic	Collected	City Zip	Helena Bay
Pegasus	Arrogate	Unbridled's Song	Bubbler
Penn Derby	West Coast	Flatter	Caressing
Personal Ensign	Forever Unbridled	Unbridled's Song	Lemons Forever
Preakness	Cloud Computing	Maclean's Music	Quick Temper
Queen Elizabeth II	La Coronel	Colonel John	Listen
Rodeo Drive	Avenge	War Front	Lerici
Santa Anita Derby	Gormley	Malibu Moon	Race to Urga
Santa Anita Handicap	Shaman Ghost	Ghostzapper	Getback Time
Santa Anita Oaks	Paradise Woods	Union Rags	Wild Forest
Santa Anita Sprint Champ	Roy H	More Than Ready	Elusive Diva
Santa Margarita	Vale Dori	Asiatic Boy	Valerina
Secretariat	Oscar Performance	Kitten's Joy	Devine Actress
Shadwell Turf Mile	Suedois	Le Havre	Cup Cake
Shoemaker Mile	Bal a Bali	Put It Back	In My Side
Spinaway	Lady Ivanka	Tiz Wonderful	Lady Leftennant
Spinster	Romantic Vision	Lemon Drop Kid	Perfect for You
Starlet	Dream Tree	Uncle Mo	Afleet Maggi
Stephen Foster	Gun Runner	Candy Ride	Quiet Giant
Sword Dancer	Sadler's Joy	Kitten's Joy	Dynaire
Test	American Gal	Concord Point	American Story
Travers	West Coast	Flatter	Caressing
Triple Bend	Denman's Call	Northern Afleet	Maggie McGowan
United Nations	Bigger Picture	Badge of Silver	Glory Dancer
Vosburgh	Takaful	Bernardini	Sablah
Whitney	Gun Runner	Candy Ride	Quiet Giant
Woodbine Mile	World Approval	Northern Afleet	Win Approval
Woodford Reserve	Divisidero	Kitten's Joy	Madame Du Lac
Woodward	Gun Runner	Candy Ride	Quiet Giant
Zenyatta	Paradise Woods	Union Rags	Wild Forest