Little change to Three Chimneys stud fees for 2018

The majority of the stud fees for the young Three Chimneys Farm stallion roster are unchanged for 2018, the farm announced Thursday.

Champion Will Take Charge, whose first foals are yearlings this year, is the most expensive stallion on the roster of six, with his fee remaining at $30,000. The son of Unbridled's Song is averaging a solid $177,103 from his 58 yearlings sold this season, including a colt who fetched $975,000 at the Keeneland September yearling sale.

Grade 1-winning juvenile Strong Mandate, also a first-crop yearling sire, recorded a breakout sale with an $825,000 daughter who was the top filly at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected yearling sale. His fee remains at $10,000 for next season.

Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice and Grade 1-placed Fast Anna are first-crop weanling sires this fall. Their fees remain at $20,000 and $7,500, respectively.

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"It is an exciting time at Three Chimneys with the first crops of Strong Mandate and Will Take Charge selling so well at the sales and heading to the track next year," Grant Williamson, the farm's director of stallion nominations and sales, said in a release. "We have high hopes for 2018, and with Gun Runner eventually joining the ranks here at Three Chimneys, the future looks bright.”

Multiple Grade 1 winner Gun Runner, one of the favorites for the Breeders' Cup Classic, is campaigned by Three Chimneys, in partnership with Winchell Thoroughbreds. The colt will then target next January's Pegasus World Cup; a decision on whether he will train on for a full campaign in 2018 will be made following the Breeders' Cup.

Stalwart Sky Mesa remains at a $15,000 fee for 2018. The only change on the Three Chimneys roster is to Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Caleb's Posse, whose fee will drop to $3,500 from $5,000.