Reigning leading sire Into Mischief, perennial classic sire Curlin, and young phenom Gun Runner will all stand for $250,000 in 2024, sharing the highest stud fee in North America as farms begin to roll out their rosters and fees for the upcoming season. Of that trio, Into Mischief already stood for $250,000 in 2022 and 2023, giving him the solo high-water mark on the continent. Spendthrift Farm announced that his fee would remain unchanged in late September, shortly after the close of the Keeneland September yearling sale, at which Into Mischief sired 12 seven-figure yearlings, the most in a single Keeneland sale since the late, great Storm Cat had 12 in 2005. “Into Mischief just continues to wade further and further into unchartered waters when it comes to the long and storied history of stallions in this industry,” Spendthrift general manager Ned Toffey said in a release. “Not only is he well on his way to capturing his fifth straight champion general sire title, he is also backing up that success on the racetrack, by breaking more records at the sales, and, perhaps most excitingly, as an emerging sire of sires.” Along with Kentucky Oaks winner Pretty Mischievous, Into Mischief is the sire of 2023 Grade 1 winners Atone, Doppelganger, Gina Romantica, Played Hard, and Timberlake. Led by those, his progeny have earned $21,545,297 through Oct. 15, well clear of Gun Runner, second on the North American earnings list at $14,171,865. Into Mischief is chasing his own single-season earnings record of $28,560,653. In the past week, fees were releases for Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm in Paris, Ky., and Three Chimneys Farm in Midway, Ky. Hill ‘n’ Dale’s Curlin and Three Chimneys’ Gun Runner have both had their fees bumped to $250,000, joining Into Mischief as the most expensive stallions in the country. Curlin, who currently sits in fourth on the national earnings list, with his progeny bankrolling $13,772,468 through Oct. 15, stood for $175,000 from 2020 through 2022. His fee was bumped to $225,000 for 2023, after he sired 2022 Eclipse Award champions Elite Power and Nest. Curlin is having a strong season on the racetrack with Grade 1 winners Bright Future, Clairiere, Cody’s Wish, Elite Power, and Idiomatic. He is also continuing to emerge as a sire of sires, with Good Magic, the sire of Mage, his second son to have a Kentucky Derby winner in his first crop. Keen Ice sired 2022 Derby winner Rich Strike in his first crop. Curlin is one of the nation’s most consistent classic sires. Palace Malice kicked things off in his first crop by winning the 2013 Belmont Stakes. He has also been represented by 2016 Preakness Stakes winner Exaggerator, 2018 Derby runner-up Good Magic, 2014 Preakness runner-up Ride On Curlin, 2018 Preakness third Tenfold, 2017 Belmont runner-up Irish War Cry, 2022 Belmont runner-up Nest, and 2015 Belmont third Keen Ice. Gun Runner has reached this height at a younger age than his contemporaries. The 2017 Horse of the Year was standing for $50,000 in 2021, the year his first crop raced. Represented that season by champion Echo Zulu, his price rose to $125,000 in 2022. After he added several Grade 1 winners, including first-crop Preakness winner Early Voting, he stood for a private fee this year. In addition to Echo Zulu, again a Grade 1 winner this season, Gun Runner is the sire of 2023 Grade 1 winners Gunite and Locked. Following the $250,000 trio as the most expensive stallions in North America among announced fees for 2024, is perennial leading sire and breakout broodmare sire Tapit, standing for an unchanged $185,000 at Gainesway. Flightline, the 2022 Horse of the Year, stood for $200,000 in his debut season at Lane’s End, with stablemate Quality Road also standing for the same amount. Lane’s End has not yet released its 2024 fees. Farms will continue to announce their fees and adjust their rosters through the next month or so, with the Breeders’ Cup on Nov. 3-4 certainly playing a role. Two of the most anticipated incoming stallions for 2024 are Elite Power, who will seek to defend his win in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, and Cody’s Wish, defending winner of the Dirt Mile. Other farms may also adjust their fees based on Breeders’ Cup results. For example, Spendthrift recently set early-bird fees for Maximus Mischief ($25,000), Mitole ($15,000), Vino Rosso ($20,000), and Omaha Beach ($40,000), currently first, second, third, and fifth, respectively, on the freshman sire list. All those fees are subject to change pending future results. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.