Dominus is the leading sire in Ohio by number of winners, stakes winners, stakes horses, and progeny earnings but breeders outside his ownership group don't have access to the stallion.
The 14-year-old son of Smart Strike is the private stallion for Duncan Farms, Dr. George Sikora, and Huntertown Farm. Sikora, a veterinarian and owner/breeder, bought Dominus from Spendthrift Farm prior to the 2022 breeding season with the intention of standing a private stallion. He then brought in as partners Daryl and Sally Duncan, who stand Dominus at their farm near Warsaw, Ohio, and Huntertown.
"Dr. Sikora wanted to control what kind of mares were going to the stallion," said Daryl Duncan. "His thinking has been if someone wants a Dominus, they can buy a weanling or yearling at the sales."
Dominus is certainly doing his part to enhance the value of his progeny. As of Dec. 29, he has a nearly $2 million lead by progeny earnings over second-ranked Itsmyluckyday. He sired 60 winners and four stakes winners this year, with his top runners including grade 3-placed stakes winner Thin White Duke. The 4-year-old gelding out of Aberdeen Alley (by Distorted Humor) won the Lucky Coin Stakes at Saratoga Race Course and was third in the Troy Stakes (G3T). Thin White Duke has now compiled a 5-3-6 record from 21 starts and earned $513,001 so far.
Other stakes winners by Dominus this year include three-time stakes winner Amadevil, who has won 10 of 12 lifetime starts; Best of Ohio Norm Barron Queen City Oaks winner Candlelight Hours; and, Iowa Breeders' Oaks winner Miss Peach.
"He really throws stone-cold runners," said Duncan. "They can run long or short, dirt or turf. Even though he's private, he has been good for the farm but more importantly he is going to be a big benefit to the state."
Dominus' status as a sire also got a bump this year from his son Straight Fire , a multiple grade 1-placed winner who is a freshman sire. From a first crop of 45 foals, Straight Fire has been represented by 23 winners from 33 runners. His runners include three black-type winners: Mine That Bird Derby winner Straight Up G, Echo Eddie Stakes winner Smuggler's Run, and Evening Jewel Stakes winner Power Surge. Straight Fire stands at Legacy Ranch near Clements, Calif., for $7,500.
Duncan said one of the attractions to buying into Dominus was that he was a multiple graded stakes winner by Smart Strike, who has a couple high-profile sons at stud in Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa's Curlin and Ashford Stud's Lookin At Lucky. The stallion was bred by the late leading breeder Edward "Ned" Evans out of the Lord At War graded-placed stakes winner Cuando, a half sister to grade 1 winner Honey Ryder and to grade 3 winner and multiple stakes producer Cuando Puede.
For his stud career to date, Dominus has sired 153 winners that represent 54% winners from named foals worldwide. The average for all North American stallions is 48% winners from foals. Dominus' top performers include 12 black-type winners and 11 black-type-placed performers. He has total progeny earnings to date of more than $13.1 million, and he averages $63,424 per runner.
