Tapit's stud fee reduced to $225,000

Perennial leading sire Tapit will stand for an advertised fee of $225,000, a reduction from his continent-leading price of the last several seasons, Gainesway Farm announced Wednesday. His book will again be limited to 125 mares.

Tapit set the single-season earnings record for a North American stallion in 2014, and his fee rose to $300,000 beginning with the following season, making him the most expensive stallion on the continent. He broke his own single-season earnings record in 2015 and 2016. This year, his top runners include Unique Bella, an Eclipse Award champion in 2017 who was a multiple Grade 1 winner this year before her retirement. He currently sits fifth among living sires on the general sires earnings list.

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Tapit, also a perennial commercial leader, was represented by a pair of seven-figure yearlings at the Keeneland September yearling sale. He finished with 25 yearlings sold at that bellwether auction for $15,280,000, finishing fifth by gross sales. All who finished ahead of him had more yearlings in the catalog, owing to his limited book. His average price, $611,200, trailed only War Front.

War Front, who stands at Claiborne Farm, and Medaglia d'Oro, standing for Darley, each stood for an advertised fee of $250,000 in 2018. While their 2019 fees have not yet been announced, one or both will presumably assume the mantle of North America's most expensive stallion.

In announcing Tapit's fee, Gainesway did not yet make public the rest of its roster, including classic influencer Empire Maker. The farm did previously announce that newcomer Tapwrit, one of three Belmont Stakes winners by Tapit, will debut for $12,500.