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The surprising Pollard's Vision (TrueNicks,SRO) had leapt to the head of the Freshman class following the victory of Blind Luck in the Oak Leaf Stakes (gr. I) last weekend. That lead was short-lived, however, and Hill 'n' Dale's Roman Ruler (TrueNicks,SRO) now has the top spot after his son Homeboykris (TrueNicks A++) captured the Champagne Stakes (gr. I) in his first start since winning a maiden at Calder on July 11.

Homeboykris is one of 18 first crop winners for his sire, and is his third stakes winner. He's also responsible for Roman Invasion, who took third in the Breeders' Futurity (gr. I) on the same afternoon as the Champagne. Roman Ruler is himself a member of the first crop sired by Fusaichi Pegasus (TrueNicks,SRO), and would qualify as that horse's best U.S. raced runner with wins the Norfolk Stakes (gr. II) and Best Pal Stakes (gr. II) at two, and the Haskell Invitational Stakes (gr. I) and Dwyer Stakes (gr. II) at three. Roman Ruler stands alongside his half-brother, El Corredor (TrueNicks,SRO) , who has the distinction of having already sired grade I winners on dirt, turf and all-weather. This also suggest that Florida breeders should keep an eye on Maimonides (TrueNicks,SRO), a half-brother to Roman Ruler and El Corredor who will retires to Vinery, Florida for 2010.

Gainesway Farm's Cuvee (TrueNicks,SRO) was arguably the fastest juvenile of his crop - he was Experimental co-highweight after winning the Futurity Stakes (gr. I) and two other graded fixtures. With that resume and being by Carson City to boot, expectations for Cuvee to make a splash with his first juvenile crop last year were high. He did have 20 individual winners, and two black-type winners, but both earned their stakes victories in very minor contests. But this year, he's reversed the usual trend and his second crop appears better than his first. He's sitting sixth on the juvenile sires table, with 12 winners, and three stakes winners, headed by Noble's Promise (TrueNicks A++), an upset winner of this weekend's Breeders' Futurity (gr. I).

Noble's Promise is out of the Clever Trick mare, The Devil's Promise, a half-sister to the multiple graded winner, New Economy. The third dam, Far Beyond (by Nijinsky II out of Soaring, also ancestress of Devil's Bag, Saint Ballado, Glorious Song, Rahy and Singspiel, etc.) started her own branch of this famous family, and also appears in the female line of Soaring Softly, Plenty of Grace, Speed Dialer, Wavering Girl, Tricky Creek, and Parade Ground. Cuvee was also represented by the weekend stakes placed filly, Witch's Coven (third in the grade III Mazarine Stakes), and she is out of a mare by Clever Trick grandson, Caller I.D., so this looks a strain to watch with Cuvee.

With City Zip (TrueNicks,SRO) , Pollard's Vision and Cuvee all having a good year, Carson City is doing his best to establish a late revision of his standing as a sire of sires. Cuvee's success is also good news for Pyro, who comes from his immediate family, and who will eventually retire to Darley.
 

Filed under: Recent Winners, Emerging Nicks, Sires, 2-Year-Olds, Pedigree Elements