Vino Rosso, Yaupon Continue Rise Among Stallion Ranks

It has been an extended run since the top 25 North American sires by progeny earnings had their rankings included in this space. In the time since the usual table that accompanies this check-in with the stallion scene, it has been a tale of two cities. 

The first, which features the 14 top-ranked sires, saw business as usual. Four stallions changed their ranking—none by more than one spot—but there were no name changes in that group. The second? The 11 stallions listed there all had new spots, including two who were not ranked. Five, excluding the two newcomers, moved multiple places. In other words, chaos. 

There are plenty of big racing days between now and the Breeders' Cup World Championships. But that number gets smaller with each passing weekend. The opportunities to climb and improve their position as well as their appeal heading into the 2027 breeding season are dwindling.

The big mover is Vino Rosso , who is looking to finish in the top 25 for the first time. The son of Curlin  has four crops on track and has moved up the rankings quickly. 

After ranking 148th by progeny earnings as a freshman sire, Vino Rosso jumped to No. 53 as a second-year sire, before reaching No. 38 last year. He climbed five spots into the top 20 at No. 18. 

Having sired such notable runners as The Wine Steward, a career earner of more than $749,000, and grade 1 winner Bottle of Rouge, this year has brought him a new benchmark for his earners. 

Baby Vino has banked just under $775,000 this year and is pushing $800,000 dating back to his 2-year-old campaign. Last time out, he won the Haskell Stakes (G1) in his first attempt at a graded race.

Vino Rosso stood this year for $7,500 at Spendthrift Farm near Lexington. 

Elsewhere in the rankings, Yaupon , the top freshman sire of 2025, enters the top 25 at No. 25 after ranking 112th overall a year ago. 

His runners this year have positioned him for more success for the remainder of the year. His top runners this season include Local Knowledge, a 3-year-old colt, who recently proved the best in the Amsterdam Stakes (G2); Sippin Pretty, winner of the Victory Ride Stakes (G3); Booked, the precocious 2-year-old who claimed the Sanford Stakes (G3) and was second in the Saratoga Special Stakes (G2); and Albus, winner of the Wood Memorial Stakes (G2).

Yaupon, like Vino Rosso, stood at Spendthrift Farm this year. His stud fee was $60,000.

Another sire to watch as the stallion battle enters the second turn is Liam's Map . Positioned in the top 10 most of the summer, if he were to hold on to his status (currently No. 8), it would be another feather in the cap of Miss Macy Sue. The late mare produced both Liam's Map and current top-ranked sire Not This Time . She is the only mare to currently have two of her sons in the top 10-ranked sires. 

Liam's Map stood this year for $50,000 at Lane's End near Versailles, KY.