The list of stallions joining the ranks of California’s breeding farms for 2012 has created a buzz. It is not often that new bloodlines at the state’s breeding farms include a Kentucky Derby winner – 2005 winner Giacomo, bound for Magali Farms – or a Grade 1 winner – Heatseeker, on his way to Harris Farms. Both horses stood at farms in Kentucky in 2011 and are part of a group of 16 stallions beginning their stud careers or standing in the state for the first time in 2012. The list is larger than last year, when there were nine new stallions in the state, including six starting their stud careers. The larger, and more prominent, group for 2012 has left breeders encouraged that incentive programs for California-breds enacted in the last few years have made the state more attractive for young stallions. Here is a glance at the new stallions and those relocated to the state for 2012.   First-year stallions   Bandido de Amor Event of the Year-Saros Luck, by Saros Farm: SK Racing Stable Fee: Private This unraced 9-year-old has a pedigree steeped in California racing, particularly on the male side. Event of the Year, by Seattle Slew, stood at stud in California and was a millionaire on the racetrack, achieving considerable success locally. Bred and raced by Golden Eagle Farm, Event of the Year won the Jim Beam Stakes and El Camino Real Derby in 1998. The following year, he won the Grade 2 Strub Stakes at Santa Anita and was second to Free House in the Santa Anita Handicap. He stood at stud at Golden Eagle Farms and later at Magali Farms. Saros Luck did not start. She is the dam of three horses to race, including one winner.   Big Bad Leroybrown Wild Again-Saboteur, by Corwyn Bay Farm: Old English Rancho Fee: $1,500 This 7-year-old gray began his career at 3 and raced until earlier this year, winning 6 of 41 starts and $421,543 throughout California. The highlight was a win in the 2007 Real Good Deal Stakes at Del Mar, the year he was second in the Pomona Derby at Fairplex Park. At 5, this California-bred placed in three stakes, including the Golden Gate Fields Sprint and Governor’s Cup Handicap at Fairplex Park. His six stakes wins came at distances ranging from six to seven furlongs. This horse is by top stallion Wild Again, and out of the four-time winner Saboteur, who earned $109,945.   Bold Chieftain Chief Seattle-Hooked On Music, by Seattle Dancer Farm: Victory Rose Thoroughbreds Fee: $3,000 Every season, from his 2-year-old campaign in 2005 through this year, as an 8-year-old, this horse was a race winner in California. He won 18 of 45 starts and $1,653,171, including 14 stakes. Along the way, he was California’s champion grass horse of 2008, the year he won four stakes, including the Bay Meadows Handicap and California Dreamin’ Handicap at Del Mar. Other career highlights included a win in the 2009 California Cup Classic at Santa Anita, and two lucrative wins in 2010 – the Sunshine Millions Classic at Santa Anita and the Grade 2 San Francisco Mile at Golden Gate Fields. Earlier this year, he won the Bull Dog Stakes at Fresno. Hooked on Music was stakes-placed and has produced two other stakes-placed runners.   Informed Tiznow-Cajun Two Step, by Tabasco Cat Farm: Ridgeley Farm Fee: $2,500 His best year came during his 5-year-old season in 2009, the year he won the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar and the Grade 2 Californian Stakes at Hollywood Park. Overall, he won 6 of 26 starts and $521,349, racing throughout California. This 7-year-old began his career at 3, the year he won a maiden race over 1 1/16 miles. He raced until earlier this year. A $500,000 yearling, he was later claimed for $25,000 and went on to win stakes. He is by Tiznow, the only two-time winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic, who has developed into a leading national sire.   Noble Court Doneraile Court-Grey Dawn Grey, by Grindstone Farm: Magali Farms Fee: $2,500 He won from six to 7 1/2 furlongs on dirt, turf and synthetic surface in a six-year career that featured 6 wins in 20 starts and earnings of $465,230. Racing in Southern California, this 7-year-old was most effective on dirt and synthetic tracks, winning the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes over seven furlongs in 2007. His most lucrative season came two years later with a win in the Grade 3 Ack Ack Handicap over 7 1/2 furlongs at Hollywood Park and placings in two Grade 1 races – a second in the Pat O’Brien Stakes at Del Mar and a third in the Triple Bend Handicap. The same year, he won the Joe Hernandez Stakes on turf at Santa Anita.   Rendezvous Victory Gallop-Halo Babe, Southern Halo Farm: Daehling Ranch Fee: $1,500 He heads to stud following a career of 5 wins in 26 starts and earnings of $447,805. This 5-year-old had his best season at 3 in 2009, the year he won the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby, finished second in the Grade 2 La Jolla Handicap and was third in two stakes – the El Camino Real Derby and Oceanside Stakes. Last year, he placed in three stakes, including the Grade 2 Jim Murray Handicap over 1 1/2 miles on turf. By a stallion who was second in the Kentucky Derby, this horse thrived at distances, winning a maiden race at a mile at 2 and winning at distances ranging from 1 1/16 miles to 1 1/8 miles later in his career.   Royal Memory Royal Academy-Memorable Moment, by Secretariat Farm: SK Racing Stable Fee: Private Winless in one start at 3 in 2007, this 7-year-old horse is a rare stallion by Royal Academy standing in California. Royal Academy was the champion 3-year-old in Ireland and won the 1990 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Belmont Park. He is the sire of such notable stakes winners as the Hong Kong Horse of the Year Bullish Luck, the Brazilian champion Top Hat, and the South African champion Eyeofthetiger. Out of an unraced Secretariat mare, this horse’s dam produced the multiple stakes winner Song of the Moment, who had her greatest success on the Northern California fair circuit.   Run Brother Ron Perfect Mandate-Aloha Mangos,by Bold Badgett Farm: Paradise Road Ranch Fee: $500 His 2-year-old season in 2007 was the highlight of his career. In a seven-race campaign, he won three times – a maiden race at Bay Meadows, the Everett Nevin Alameda County Futurity over five furlongs at Pleasanton, and the Beau Brummel Stakes over 6 1/2 furlongs at Fairplex Park. During that season, he was second in the Willard Proctor Memorial Stakes at Hollywood Park. Overall, this 6-year-old won 6 of 19 starts and $190,781. He was stakes-placed at Mountaineer Racetracki as a 4-year-old in 2009. His female family is notable. Aloha Mangos placed in six stakes, and produced the stakes-placed Aloha Mangos Kitty.   Scorewithcater Even the Score-Runaway Cater, by Runaway Groom Farm: R.M. Master Racing Stables Fee: $2,000 Sunland Park was the venue of this colt’s biggest win, the Borderland Derby in 2008. In his following start, he finished third in the Sunland Park Derby, behind race winner Kelly Leak, but one position in front of Mine That Bird, who later won the Kentucky Derby. This 6-year-old won 4 of 18 starts and $332,753, racing throughout western North America. He was second in the Grade 3 Canadian Derby over 1 3/8 miles at Northlands Park in Canada and third in the Grade 2 Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park. As a 2-year-old, he won twice at Hollywood Park – over six furlongs and 1 1/16 miles.   Sierra Sunset Bertrando-Toot Sweet, by Pirate’s Bounty Farm: Rancho San Miguel Fee: $2,500 He never had a season without a stakes win. At 2, he won the California Cup Juvenile and Bay Meadows Juvenile. As a 3-year-old, in 2008, he won the Rebel Stakes before being knocked off the Triple Crown trail by injury. In his final racing season as a 4-year-old, he won the Alamedan Handicap at Pleasanton. By the former leading California stallion Bertando, the now 6-year-old won at distances ranging from 4 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/16 miles. His dam won twice and placed in two stakes in California. A $25,000 bonus will be available to the breeder of this stallion’s first graded stakes winner in the United States.   Slew’s Tiznow Tiznow-Hepatica, by Slewpy Farm: Rancho San Miguel Fee: $2,500 From Saratoga to Del Mar, this 6-year-old won four races, including two stakes. He won a seven-furlong maiden race for 2-year-olds at Saratoga in 2007, the year he was second in the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland. At 3, he won the El Cajon Stakes at Del Mar and set a track record over 1 1/16 miles at Hollywood Park with a victory in the War Chant Stakes. As an older horse, he placed in two stakes in 2010 – the Santana Mile at Santa Anita and the Californian Stakes at Hollywood Park. By top stallion Tiznow, he is a full brother to Slew’s Tizzy, who won three graded stakes and earned $619,619.   Unbridled Justice Unbridled’s Song-Rose Park, by Plugged Nickle Farm: Pretty Paint Ranch Fee: Private This unraced 7-year-old enters stud with fashionable bloodlines. Rose Park is the dam of the multiple stakes winner Wild Rush, who won the Met Mile and Carter Handicap in his career; and Almuhathir, who was stakes-placed and earned $233,636. Rose Park was a stakes winner at Woodbine and Philadelphia Park who earned $217,839. The male side of the pedigree is equally strong. Unbridled’s Song is the sire of such stakes winners as Octave, Midshipman, and Splendid Blended and stands for $85,000 in Kentucky. He has sired more than 90 stakes winners.   Relocated stallions   Aragorn Giant’s Causeway-Onaga, by Mr. Prospector Farm: Tommy Town Thoroughbreds Fee: $4,000 His oldest foals are 3-year-old this year, including the two-time West Virginia stakes winner Paco Smart. A winner of five stakes in California in 2005 and 2006, he previously stood at stud at Lane’s End Farm in Versailles Ky, for $5,000 in 2011. A 9-year-old, he won 6 of 14 starts and $1,529,325. His major stakes wins included the Grade 2 Oak Tree Derby in 2005, and two Grade 1 races in 2006 – the Eddie Read and Shoemaker Mile. He was later second to Miesque’s Approval in the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Churchill Downs.   Giacomo Holy Bull-Set Them Free, by Stop The Music Farm: Magali Farms Fee: $5,000 Best known for winning the 2005 Kentucky Derby, this 9-year-old won 3 of 16 starts and $2,537,316. As a 4-year-old, he won the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar. In 2011, Giacomo stood for $5,000 at Adena Springs Farm in Kentucky. He is the only Kentucky Derby winner standing in California. In his three-year career, he won at 2, 3, and 4, and was second in the Hollywood Futurity in 2004. His oldest foals are 3-year-olds this year, and are led by Disposable Pleasure, the winner of the Grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct in November. Other notable progeny include the stakes winner Lady Giacomo and By By Inheritance. His current crop of 2-year-olds includes the Prairie Meadows stakes winner Jake Mo and the Mexican stakes winner Go Vivian Go.   Heatseeker Giant’s Causeway-Rusty Back, by Defensive Play Farm: Harris Farms Fee: $6,500 This 8-year-old’s first foals are 2-year-olds in 2012. By top stallion Giant’s Causeway, he previously stood at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm in Kentucky for $10,000. On the racetrack, he won 7 of 17 starts and $1,180,233. Third in the Group 1 National Stakes in Ireland in 2005 in his final start in that country, Heatseeker was at his best in early 2008, winning the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap and Californian Stakes and finishing second in the San Antonio and Oaklawn handicaps. As a 2-year-old in Ireland, he won a maiden race over six furlongs and an allowance race over seven furlongs, both on turf.   Rocky Bar In Excess-To The Post, by Bold Ego Farm: E.A. Ranches Fee: $2,500 Formerly standing at stud at Triple AAA Ranch in Arizona, this 13-year-old is well-known as the sire of the six-time stakes-winning filly Carlsbad, who won 7 of 10 starts and $437,126; and Got an Itch, a three-time stakes winner who won 5 of 19 starts and $162,024. He has had 10 stakes winners to date, who won primarily in California and the Midwest. This year, his 2-year-old filly Page Springs has won 5 of 6 starts at Turf Paradise. He won 5 of 24 starts and $236,659 on the racetrack, including the Harry Henson Stakes for 3-year-old turf sprinters at Hollywood Park in 2001.