Marking will begin stud career in New Mexico

Marking, a Grade 1-placed runner, will debut at stud in 2017 at A & A Ranch in Anthony, N.M., for an advertised fee of $3,500.

The 4-year-old son of Bernardini won three of eight starts for earnings of $426,200 racing as a homebred for Sheikh Mohammed Al-Maktoum’s Godolphin operation and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. He finished second in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes in his third start, and finished his career with a runner-up effort by a head in the Grade 3 Belmont Sprint Championship Stakes in July.

Marking is out of the multiple Grade 1-winning Street Cry mare Seventh Street, who was a $1 million Godolphin purchase out of the 2007 Fasig-Tipton Florida select 2-year-olds in training sale. Marking is her first winner from two foals to race.

The extended family includes U.A.E. Group 1 winner Reynaldothewizard and Grade 1-placed stakes winner American Gal.

"We are thrilled and believe Marking is one of the most exciting stallion prospects to ever come to New Mexico," said Fred Alexander of A & A Ranch. "His dam, Seventh Street, was a $1 million 2-year-old and is a multiple Grade 1 stakes winner."

Among the returning stallions on the A & A Ranch roster, Diabolical’s fee was moved to private after being advertised for $6,000 in 2016, while Roll Hennessy Roll’s fee was lowered to $2,500 from $3,500. All other returning stallion fees will be unchanged.

The advertised fees for the 2017 stallion roster at A & A Ranch:
Archwarrior - $2,500
Attila’s Storm - $4,000
Diabolical – Private
Marking - $3,500
Roll Hennessy Roll - $2,500
Southwestern Heat - $2,500