Strategos Dominates as 2025 Freshman Sire, Showing Class and Promise

Led by earnings, winners, and stakes victories, though several of his fellow freshman sires also showed promise to make their mark.

Strategos Made a Sensational Debut as a Stallion / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

The numbers are what they are, and the final tally for the 2025 freshman sire standings shows Strategos (Zensational) topping all major categories. However, a deeper analysis reveals that this new group of stallions holds significant promise for the future.

Alongside the gray son of Zensational, sires such as Gouverneur Morris (Constitution), Gidu (Frankel), The Great Day (Harlan’s Holiday), Leofric (Candy Ride), Roman Joy (Fortify), Springdom (Sebi Halo), and Tetaze (Equal Stripes) have already proven their potential. Others, like Nicholas (Equal Stripes) and Mootasadir (Dansili), are expected to make their mark as their progeny mature further, with strong pedigrees backing them.

In earnings, Strategos nearly doubled the total of his closest rival, with ARS $212,252,300 compared to Gouverneur Morris’s $129,925,000. Gidu, The Great Day, and Leofric rounded out the top five.

By winners, Strategos led with 10, followed by Gouverneur Morris (8), Gidu (6), Leofric (6), and The Great Day(5). However, when assessing by percentage of winners to runners, Tetaze topped the list with a perfect 100% strike rate (3 runners, 3 winners), ahead of Leofric (50%), Gouverneur Morris (47.1%), Roman Joy (44.4%), and Strategos (41.7%). In terms of total wins, the order mirrored the earnings list, with 17, 11, 10, 7, and 6 victories, respectively.

An impressive six freshmen sires produced stakes winners in their debut crop. Strategos led with six black-type wins, while Gidu (4), The Great Day (G3), Gouverneur Morris (G3), Roman Joy (1), and Springdom (G1) also got on the board.

Strategos sired three individual stakes winners in the first half of the year: Charm, Calle de Tierra, and Campo Verde. Gidu matched that total with Takeshi Frank (already exported), Alado Frank, and Bolero Frank. Gouverneur Morris was represented by two – Roshita and Amor de Contramano – as was The Great Day, with The Great Cash and The Great Wells.

At G1 level, Strategos and Gouverneur Morris each recorded two top-tier victories. For Strategos, both came courtesy of Charm, winner of the Gran Premio de Potrancas and the Gran Premio Estrellas Juvenile Fillies. For Gouverneur Morris, Roshita captured the Gran Premio Jorge de Atucha while Amor de Contramano secured the Gran Premio Montevideo.

Adding to his resume, Strategos also topped the overall two-year-old sire list, ahead of the prolific Distinctiv Passion(With Distinction), who produced five stakes-winning juveniles in the semester: Sarzana Pass, Fantasioso Pass, Lindo Tono Pass, Baby Pass, and Gardel Pass. It is worth noting that Distinctiv Passion led by total wins and winners.

Fortify (Distorted Humor), Gouverneur Morris, and Daddy Long Legs (Scat Daddy) completed the top five by earnings.

While the data confirms Strategos as a clear-cut 2025 freshman sire champion, it also fuels optimism that this group will continue to strengthen over the coming months and deliver the fresh talent essential for the breed’s ongoing renewal.

With the second half of the year now underway and the biggest races on the horizon, several of these young stallions have the chance to further enhance their credentials.