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Given that he never raced at 2, Pulpit would seem to be an unlikely influence for precocity, but we are noting that seems to be a trait associated with his stallion sons. A few weeks ago, we mentioned his son Stroll, a middle-distance turf horse, who already has three 2-year-old stakes winners from his first crop.

Pulpit has another first-crop freshman son in Tapit (TrueNicks,SRO) (who did win the Laurel Futurity (gr. III) at 2). He has no fewer than 14 first-crop winners, including Stardom Bound (TrueNicks B), who has asserted herself as the leader of the West Coast juvenile filly division with wins in the Del Mar Debutante Stakes (gr. I) and Oak Leaf Stakes (gr. I).

Then there is Pulpit's Hopeful Stakes (gr. I) winner Sky Mesa (TrueNicks,SRO) , who has second-crop juveniles this year. He is currently leading sire of 2-year-olds by individual winners, with 19, including the Arlington-Washington Futurity (gr. III) winner Terrain (TrueNicks A) and Sky Haven (TrueNicks A), who took the Presque Isle Debutante Stakes (incidentially both are out of mares by sons of Mr Prospector). In fact Tapit and Sky Mesa currently sit in third and fourth on the Leading Sires of 2-Year-Olds list. It's obviously going to be worth keeping an eye on the offspring of Purge (TrueNicks,SRO) , who will be 2-year-olds of 2009.  (Other Pulpit sons who are at stud but yet to have runners are Corinthian (TrueNicks,SRO) , Oratory, and Ecclesiastic (TrueNicks,SRO) ).

Perhaps the key to Pulpit's influence is to be found in his pedigree. His sire, A.P. Indy (TrueNicks,SRO) , is more noted for his runners at classic distances, but he did win the Hollywood Futurity (gr. I) at 2. And Pulpit's dam, Preach, a daughter of Mr. Prospector, captured the Frizette Stakes (gr. I) as a juvenile.

Filed under: Recent Winners, 2-Year-Olds