Uncle Mo was the busiest stallion in North America in 2020, according to The Jockey Club's Report of Mares Bred that was released Friday.
After a stellar reception for his first yearlings in the sales ring, the international Coolmore group announced that Group 1 winner Caravaggio, by Scat Daddy, will move from its Irish headquarters to its Ashford Stud in Kentucky for 2021.
Laoban and Nyquist, both sons of Uncle Mo and freshman stallions who will have Grade 1 winners appearing at the Breeders’ Cup, got major votes of confidence in what is a changing marketplace for stallions in 2021.
Tiznow, the only two-time winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic, has been pensioned from stud duty. WinStar Farm made the announcement in revealing its roster and stud fees for 2021.
War Front commanded a stud fee of $250,000 in 2020 at historic Claiborne Farm, reigning as the most expensive stallion in North America. That fee will take a significant drop for 2021 – and he's not alone.
Spendthrift Farm has acquired the future breeding rights to undefeated multiple Grade 1 winner Jackie's Warrior, the early favorite for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
Grade 1 winner Gift Box has officially been retired from racing and will begin his stud career in 2021 at Lane’s End.
McKinzie, one of the top older horses of his age group his entire career, has been retired and will begin stallion duties early next year at Gainesway Farm.
Laoban won his maiden in auspicious fashion, winning the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes in the summer 2016. His son Keepmeinmind nearly pulled off a similar feat Saturday, finishing second as a maiden in the Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland. But the blow of that miss was softened, as Laoban had already recorded a Grade 1 winner on opening weekend at the Lexington track, rocketing up the freshman sire chart thanks to Simply Ravishing's score in the Alcibiades.
Kitten's Joy, North America's leading living turf sire every year since 2013, is currently in a pitched battle as he chases this year's title, with the top five stallions on the earnings list separated by less than $677,000 through Saturday. Kitten's Joy clawed his way to a tenuous lead over English Channel with an outstanding Saturday, as he was represented by a pair of new stakes winners – plus a pair of stakes winners as a broodmare sire.
