North America has a new leading freshman sire: Uncaptured. Who? The unlikely leader is by Lion Heart (who?), a son of Tale of the Cat, not exactly a famed branch of the Storm Cat line in terms of producing sires. Millionaire earner Uncaptured was Canadian Horse of the Year and Two-Year Old Champion, the first horse since Deputy Minister to have that distinction, and was a multiple graded stakes winner at two. But no one expected this relatively unheralded young stud to surpass Goldencents on the leading freshman sires list.

The fast filly who put her sire into the number one spot was Catherinethegreat, who on July 20, won the Schuylerville S.-G3 on Saratoga’s opening day, taking the race wire-to-wire by 4 ¼ lengths. She had previously won a maiden special weight by 10 ¼ lengths, and now boasts earnings of $136,300.

Acquired for owner John Oxley by trainer Mark Casse at the OBS October Yearling Sale for $170,000, Catherinethegreat was selected as the best Uncaptured in the sale. Oxley had raced Uncaptured as well, with Casse training, and wanted to support his young stud. They certainly succeeded. Bred in Florida by Wendy Christ and Kathie Haines, the filly is a half-sister to Katinka (by Kantharos), a stakes winner of $138,000, and out of the Carson City mare Classy City Lady.

Kudos to Floridians for supporting Uncaptured, making him the most popular freshman sire in Florida with large books of mares—someone had an inkling that this was a stallion to be reckoned with. Every so often we Kentuckians need a wake-up call about stallions standing in what we consider to be the provinces. Bravo to the breeders, Oxley and Casse, and to Ocala Stud for standing this horse. Uncaptured is out of the Arch mare Captivating, and has in his family such Canadian greats as Bold Ruckus and Giboulee. Canada to Florida to stardom—an unusual path, but we clearly need to keep an eye on offspring of Uncaptured.

One can’t help but remember the skepticism, initially, about Scat Daddy, with his sire, Johannesburg, not known as a sire of sires…and we all know how he turned out.

-- Roberta Smoodin