There are many pitfalls in the breeding industry but perhaps none are as deep as the uncertainty surrounding the fourth crop of a new stallion. That the breeding season starts and ends before most 2-year-olds from the first crop even step on the track for a pari-mutuel race creates this uneasiness among those with mares as they flock to a proven stallion or the newest hot retiree rather than rolling the dice a fourth time with no evidence of success. The number of stallions anxiously awaiting their first crop's debut in 2023 is quite large and includes trotters like Greenshoe and Six Pack, as well as pacers Captain Crunch, Lather Up, Courtly Choice and others. While hopes are high for all and proof of concept in terms of fast training miles and baby races are still months in the future, some trainers were willing to go "on the record" with general observations from their soon-to-be 2-year-old prospects. Richard 'Nifty' Norman has 30 2-year-olds in training and was quick to admit that most conditioners are happy with what they have in early February. He has a number of first-croppers in the group, including four from Six Pack, a pair of Greenshoes and two from Bettor's Wish. "I have four from Six Pack and all of them trot pretty nicely," said Norman. "They all are good-gaited, have good heads and are professional to the point where you definitely think they are going to make it. "They are also very light on their feet and a bit more athletic than some others." Of his quartet of Six Pack youngsters, Norman called out Road Soda, a son of three-quarters-of-a-million-dollar winner Magic Presto who was purchased for $35,000 at the Lexington Selected Sale. "He definitely acts above average," said Norman. Norman added that his Greenshoe babies are also good-gaited and that the ones from Bettor's Wish are "small but can go." For Norman, while the anticipation of his 2-year-olds will continue to build as the months flip off the calendar, so too will be for the return of his stable star 5-year-old Bella Bellini. She is slated to return in May and hopefully conclude her career with a win in the Prix d'Amerique in Paris according to reports. The trainer also named Toulouse Lautrec and Blonde Bombshell - two fillies with limited starts that displayed ability in 2022 - as horses he is looking forward to when stakes season approaches. Julie Miller is another with a large number of first-year equine students in her barn. From her 28-head the trainer has some by Greenshoe, as well as a pair of Six Packs. "The Six Packs are doing everything right and I'm glad I have them. The Greenshoes seem to have a lot of go so far," said Miller, who tends to keep her cards close to the vest and didn't want to reveal too much early in the game. "They are only going 2:45 right now and are all a long way from being a champion. They are going out in sets of four and six and most are behaving. Everything you want from the foundation of a 2-year-old is happening. My goal is for them to have good manners, to be focused on their tasks and when I ask them a little bit down the lane for them to respond." In addition to the 2-year-olds, Miller feels she has a nice group of 3-year-old trotters led by her Hambletonian hopeful French Wine. That son of Bar Hopping-Creamy Mimi won four of 10 starts in 2022 and earned $378,658 as a 2-year-old. ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter In what is perhaps a rare combination, trainer George Ducharme has three Six Pack 2-year-olds eligible to the Sire Stakes in New Jersey and Massachusetts. "They are all homebreds for Raymond Campbell," said Ducharme, who has 23 first-year pacers and trotters in training. "The Six Packs all trot and seem very sensible. They are heavier horses and seem to fall more in the Muscle Mass-line type, but they are very athletic on their feet. The Muscle Mass line was always good to me when he stood in New York. As good a horse as he was, I have to think Six Pack will throw some good horses." Ducharme called out an unnamed colt from Crystalline, a full sister to $417K earner Hashtagmadeyalook, as his Six Pack standout from his threesome. When discussing Six Pack, perhaps no one is better suited to provide an opinion than Sarah Svanstedt, who, along with her husband Ake, took care of the $1.9 million winner with a 1:49 1/5 career mark. "They remind me a lot of him. He was the biggest sweetheart. You could drop a bomb next to him and it wouldn't bother him at all. I see that same temperament in them," said Svanstedt. The Svanstedt's have 58 2-year-olds under their care with 56 of them trotters - eight from Six Pack and four from Greenshoe. While Sarah admits she may be biased, she likes what she sees so far from her Six Pack octet. "They are very uncomplicated horses. They were nice to break, nice to work with and nice to drive. They all seem to have a nice gait and aren't nervous. They also have light equipment cards. I said to Ake, 'they are doing their job while some other horses aren't.' They are very nice horses so far," concluded Svanstedt on the Six Pack youngsters before mentioning that the Greenshoe horses seem to be very much like their sire Father Patrick. To be fair, Svanstedt did point out that despite what any of the babies are showing at this point, they all must be able to eventually show speed and the ability to go fast quarters. Though a manageable horse in February has a better chance to remain easy to work with down the road. The ultimate battleground to decide which of the first-crop stallions will have the most success is the racetrack. Interestingly for Six Pack and Greenshoe, those initial wars will take place in the newly-enriched New Jersey Sire Stakes program at the Meadowlands. The first $30,000 legs are scheduled for July 14 and the $240,000 finals during the first weekend in August. For the rest of them, those battles will be in Ohio and other states before they meet up on the Grand Circuit and the true champions are revealed.