We are here to spotlight the new, exciting freshman sires with the most precocious foals of the year - the January debut winners. While few horses get to hold that title, there are a number of freshman sires whose foals have made their mark early this year. We will start with week one and move toward week three.

Ramirez - Represented by debut week one winner Killer Instinct at Green Horse Fields, Ramirez is the latest son of Breeding Hall of Famer Night Stalker to make an early impact at stud. Out of Nightshade, Killer Instinct defeated a field of three other horses in the Stormy Night Maiden Dirt. He has since finished 3rd in the Norman Hall Stakes*. Ramirez is himself half to an absolute slew of grade one HOTY* winners, including full brother Knight Rosseau and recently successful half siblings Fleet Street and Saintly Touch. He has no other reported foals. His current stud fee is $25,000 at Daredevil Stud.

Flashpoint - The next winners were at The Wire, the first of which was filly Armistice by the son of Flash Limits, Flashpoint. Flashpoint was himself a fairly successful racehorse, namely in his final year of racing, and is out of the retired, incredibly successful broodmare Flash At Dawn. A staple mare for Stride of Perfection, she also produced Sizzling Dawn and Fiery Touch, as well as more recent successes Sunrise Spell and Animatia. With such a rich, recent pedigree, it should be no surprise that Flashpoint has produced. The workmanlike stallion may have a very bright future at stud. Armistice has since finished second in the In Reality Stakes*. Flashpoint is listed as open for Y18 breedings at Battle Brook Stable.

Anodyne - The second week one debut winner at The Wire was Head Trip, a strikingly bred colt out of Eternal Phantom. Anodyne himself is by Augusto, always a crowd-pleaser, and is currently the most successful foal of Sun Chaser, though many of her progeny are still racing. Sun Chaser is as old-money as Augusto, being a daughter of Determination. Pedigree aside, Anodyne is a Hall of Famer and Canadian Triple Crown winner, so perhaps it isn't surprising his first colt is quick out of the gate. Head Trip most recently finished 5th in a crowded Unicorn Horn Juvenile Dirt* field. Anodyne has one other registered foal, a juvenile out of Supernatural, and is listed at $35,000 at Daredevil Stud.

Aquatic Addiction - Representing Firestone colors, Borealis took her debut at Battlestone Downs week one. Out of Sophie's Voice, the filly is out of the Shiver Me Timbers son Aquatic Addiction. Aquatic Addiction is half to such horses as Prideful Limits (another freshman sire you'll see on this list), Siren Call, Optimus Unstoppable, and Luminous Wave. He was a good racehorse himself, finding his best season at five though he did win a classic race at three. Borealis has not run since breaking her maiden, though we figure she'll bounce back strongly from her big win. Aquatic Addiction stands at Firestone Stud and is listed for a bargain at $7,500. He has also sired The Fallen Jester ('16) and Sizzling Addiction ('17).

Van Guard - Week two at Green Horse Fields saw the first win of a filly that might take herself to superstar status. Bred by Valkyrie Stud and raced by Battle Brook Stable, Hecate won her debut before going on to win her second start in the Unicorn Horn Juvenile Dirt*, both against large fields. Out of Red Admiral, this filly is by a half to such notable names as Hall of Famers Shenanigans and Sun King, and star producer The Devil's Touch. While Van Guard was not the most successful racehorse (though he did reach grade one status), with such relations it shouldn't be surprising that he's made an early mark. He has one other reported foal, the yearling Fantasma, and currently stands at $75,000, though he is unavailable for Y18 breedings.

Gallant Knight - This stallion had a busy first season at stud, and found one debut winner week two in Gallantry, raced by Valkyrie Stud. One might credit the dam for this win, as he is out of the good broodmare Enchantress, but that would be presumptive. Because though another of his foals, Gala Royale, finished out of the money in his first start, he came back to win the Norman Hall Stakes* in his second. Having two maiden winners in Januray in such a fierce year is nothing at all to sneeze at, and the third and fourth from that first crop, Bellona and Valiant, broke their maidens the first week of February. Results speak for themselves here, but we shall still mention Gallant Knight's pedigree. By News Flash out of Gallant Queen, Gallant Knight's got that coveted old blood and is half to a Hall of Famer in Flashy Wings. He's also got a weanling, Coventry. Gallant Knight stands at Stonegate Stud for reserves only.

Prideful Limits - The second son of Shiver Me Timbers to make this list, Prideful Limits struck gold in week three. Ambush, also bred by Valkyrie Stud and raced by Battle Brook Stable, found a mile over turf to his liking at Green Horse Fields and came away with a debut win. The colt is out of Feline Frenzy, a good broodmare that was raced by Battle Brook. Prideful Limits is not the most successful son of Shiver Me Timbers, but he adds a nice turf touch to his dam's line, which focuses mostly on dirt. Prideful Limits is out of Trust Limits, most notably dam of Limited Edition among other grade one runners. He has a weanling filly, Athena's Pride. Prideful Limits stands at Valkyrie Stud for $70,000, though he is unavailable for Y18.

In Front - A successor to the Touch Up line for Battle Brook Stable, In Front found a first-out HOTY* winner in Zinfandel, who nabbed a win in the Tropical Park Derby* at The Wire in week three. The colt is out of Mizadori, a created mare. In Front himself had a strong career though he was not precocious as a juvenile, and he is half to a number of good producers including The Devil's Touch and Winning Touch on his sire's side and Comeuppance on his dam's, as well as a slew of grade one winners on both sides. In Front also has a yearling, Mercenary, and is slated as private in Y18.

Platinum Fox - Though not a juvenile debut winner, Platinum Fox did have a debut winner in his first crop with Platinum Fuhr, a late-maturing four-year-old filly. Out of Afuhrmative, the filly outran the smaller two-year-olds and hasn't seen back-end of a horse across the wire since. Platinum Fox is a created stallion, and also has a yearling, Rhodium. He stands at Valkyrie Stud for $5,000.



Please note that created maiden debut winners were not listed here, even if they had (CR) sires listed. They did exist, though, and may get their own article at some point!

Ripley Marsh was sitting in the cabin she shared with Brooks and their two children, Keller and Molly, her feet propped up in the table, soaking in a moment of peace and quiet. Her bright green eyes gleamed with excitement as she read the article in her favorite newspaper. Known for her career as a jockey, a trainer and owner, Ripley was leaping full bore into the world of breeding and that tree was finally yielding exciting fruit.

The sound of heavy feet and babbling drew her attention to the front door. A bouncy, blonde boy of four years old rocketed through the door into her arms, followed by her tall husband, who was carrying a bronze-haired baby girl. Like her career, her life was becoming more about the future and she couldn't say she disliked a thing about that.

"Brooks!" Ripley snapped, drawing the broad-shouldered man's attention to her. His eyes were wary until they caught the wide smile on her face. "Look! We've got three stallions in the Freshmen sires list."

Brooks laughed and walked over to peer at the article. Flashpoint... In Front... "Where's the third?"

Scoffing indignantly, Ripley stole her daughter from his arms. Molly cooed happily, fisting her hands in Ripley's thick hair while watching her brother leap onto the couch dramatically. "Van Guard!"

Brooks chuckled and rolled his eyes. "I'm sure that'll be news to Valkyrie... since they are the ones standing him... They also raced him."

"I bred that horse thank you very much!" Ripley said, her eyes flashing. Brooks held up both his hands, not willing to take on his wife. "Plus. We're racing Hecate. 'Superstar potential'," Ripley said excitedly, pointing at the article. "If she keeps it up, I will be finding another mare for that horse."

Brooks shook his head and strolled into the kitchen when Keller started mocking his mother.

"Superstar potential!" Keller giggled right before Ripley sent the child into a wave of hysterics by tickling him.

I would like to request an update.