Kentucky stallions: Quality Road joins the elite

Another majorly successful season for Quality Road cemented his place among North America’s leading stallions, and for 2019 he joins the ranks of North America’s six-figure sires.

Quality Road’s advertised stud fee has more than doubled for 2019 at Lane’s End, with his $150,000 price tag placing him among the elite on the continent. He stood for $70,000 in 2018 – up from $35,000 the prior year – after a 2017 season in which he was represented by champions Abel Tasman and Caledonia Road.

Abel Tasman continued on to be a multiple Grade 1 winner in 2018 to again become a divisional Eclipse Award finalist – one of three for her sire this season, along with multiple Grade 1 winners City of Light and Bellafina.

Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner City of Light is expected to make his final start in the Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 26 before joining his sire at Lane’s End. City of Light has recorded six consecutive triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures, topped by a 110 in the BC Dirt Mile, demonstrating that he inherited some of his sire’s brilliance. Quality Road earned a remarkable six Beyers of 110 or higher, topped by a 110 in the 2010 Donn Handicap, which he won by 12 3/4 lengths.

In addition to his trio of Eclipse Award finalists, Quality Road was represented in 2018 by Grade 1 winners Salty and Spring Quality, tying him with More Than Ready for the most Grade 1 winners by a North American sire.