He’s an Indiana-bred who was a multiple graded stakes winner in Kentucky while racing worldwide. His current runners were conceived while he was standing in Florida. His best performer to date is a New Jersey-bred. And along the way, he’s become the profile of the type of stallion who’s valued in the rising New York market. Ironhorse Stallions standard-bearer Bucchero moved to New York for 2024 after standing his first five seasons in Florida. His runners conceived during that time include the New Jersey-born Book’em Danno, a Grade 1 winner in 2024 who returned to win 4 of 5 starts in 2025. Those included a sweep of three high-profile sprints at Saratoga – the Grade 3 True North, Grade 2 Alfred G. Vanderbilt, and Grade 1 Forego. Bucchero also is the sire of multiple graded stakes-winning turf sprinter Queen Maxima and multiple stakes winners Beauty of the Sea, Buccherino, and Ms. Bucchero. Bucchero was represented by 89 individual winners from 144 runners in 2025 for progeny earnings of $5,873,316. That makes the stallion – whose first New York foals are yearlings of 2026 – the state’s leading sire by earnings, regardless of progeny conception area. Central Banker, who has stood at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds throughout his career, had 76 winners from 146 runners for earnings of $5,239,826. Bucchero is best known for winning two editions of the Grade 2 Woodford on the Keeneland turf, although he also was a multiple stakes winner on dirt in Indiana and was stakes-placed on synthetic. He has sired graded stakes winners on both dirt and turf. That versatility is fueling his popularity in New York, where the new Belmont Park is scheduled to debut in fall 2026. The track will hold the majority of racing dates in the state and will have dirt, turf, and synthetic surfaces, leading to a desire for versatility in the state’s stallions. Accordingly, Bucchero covered a robust book of 192 mares in his second New York season in 2025, according to The Jockey Club’s Report of Mares Bred. He broke into the top 20 nationally, a rarity for a non-Kentucky stallion. The desire for performance and versatility is seen in other stallions shifting to the state for 2025. Leinster, a multiple graded stakes winner on turf, is attempting to follow in Bucchero’s footsteps, moving from Florida to Mountain View Farm. He was the only stallion outside of Kentucky to finish in the top 10 on the 2025 freshman earnings list, checking in eighth. Leinster was led by Lennilu, who, after winning a maiden race on dirt, was a multiple stakes winner on turf and a solid third in the Group 2 Queen Mary at Royal Ascot. She is Leinster’s lone stakes winner to date, but he does have stakes-placed runners on dirt. Meanwhile, Preakness Stakes winner War of Will, who also was a Grade 1 winner on turf, moves to Rockridge Stud in New York from Claiborne Farm in Kentucky. His bloodline has already proven to work on the state’s mare population, as War Dancer, by the dam sire in War Front, is one of the state’s perennial leading turf sires. War of Will’s racing owner, Gary Barber, indicated that he plans to support the stallion, and Claiborne will continue to be a shareholder in his new syndicate. “I am very much looking forward to supporting War of Will in the lucrative New York breeding program,” Barber said in a press release. “With the new Belmont facility coming online with three surfaces, I know War of Will can provide many opportunities for my mares and stable to become a large part of the New York program.” As Barber alluded to, the New York market is becoming more lucrative. This season, New York-bred juveniles will run for purse parity with open maiden races on the New York Racing Association circuit, with equal purses for other divisions to follow. With these exciting developments in the state and one of the leading sires powering its stable, Bucchero’s Ironhorse team has deepened its commitment to New York’s industry. Ironhorse announced last fall that it had established a permanent base at the former Stone Bridge Farm Training Center in Schuylerville, with Bucchero standing there and the team’s broodmare band residing there. Ironhorse also will accept boarders and develop an integrated hub for breeding, foaling, raising young stock, and training and race preparation. The stallion’s managing partner, Harlan Malter, said the move was about the team’s “belief and commitment to New York’s breeding and racing industry.” In addition to supporting the New York program, such an operation also will create jobs in the state and keep investment dollars local. “I’ve spent my career working across farms, tracks, and sales, and I know how critical it is to offer breeders a complete program,” manager John Dowd said in a press release. “With this facility, we can stand stallions, manage our mares, and raise top-class foals that never have to leave the state. New York breeders gain a true cradle-to-track solution while continuing to benefit from the broader national industry.” Ironhorse is not the only new stallion station and full-service operation broadening its involvement in the state. Mountain View, where Leinster will stand in Gansevoort, is an expansion of the Willow Brook Stables operation of owner-trainer David Cannizzo and his wife, Carolyn. Mountain View will be a full-service operation, offering breeding, boarding, foaling, layup, rehabilitation, and sales prep services. There are plans to add a training track. The farm’s debut roster will have three stallions. Along with Leinster, Fire At Will, who will be represented by his first runners in 2026, moves within the state after starting his career at Sequel Stallions in Hudson. He won three stakes, highlighted by the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. Meanwhile, New York-bred Mo Plex, a graded stakes winner at 2 and 3, retires for 2026. “We’re expanding our wings a little more,” David Cannizzo said in a press release. “We’ve added Mo Plex, and there might be one more before the season starts next month.” Bill Leak, well known in the local breeding community, has been hired to serve as Mountain View’s stallion manager. He most recently served in a similar role at Irish Hill Century Farm in Stillwater.