War Front's stud fee to remain at $250,000 for 2018

Prominent international sire War Front will stand for an advertised fee of $250,000 in 2018, continuing to rank him among the most expensive stallions in North America, Claiborne Farm announced on Thursday.

The son of Danzig stood for the same fee in 2017, ranking as the second most-expensive stallion in the U.S., behind only leading sire Tapit at $300,000. War Front has continued his international success, with his Grade/Group 1 winners this season alone including American Patriot, Avenge, Roly Poly, U S Navy Flag, and War Flag. He was represented by four seven-figure yearlings at the Keeneland September yearling sale.

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Claiborne also announced the fees for two young stallions, with Eclipse Award champion Runhappy, coming to his second season, and unbeaten Grade 1 winner Mastery, debuting at stud, both standing for $25,000. Claiborne will unveil the rest of its roster and fees, including that of popular freshman sire Orb, following the Breeders' Cup in just over three weeks.

Mastery won the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity last year, and pushed his career mark to 4 for 4 by winning the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes by 6 3/4 lengths on March 11 at Santa Anita. However, the post-race celebration was short lived, as he was pulled up past the wire and vanned off. Radiographs revealed a condylar fracture to his left front leg, and he was retired to stud following repair surgery. The colt is by Candy Ride, who has several young stakes-producing sons at stud. Mastery’s female family also points to stud success. The colt is a half-brother to stakes winner Clear Sailing. Their dam is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Jump Start, now a perennial leading sire in Pennsylvania. His extended family includes the prominent sire Miswaki.