Although established stars Medaglia d’Oro and More Than Ready both sired two of this year’s Breeders’ Cup winners, no stallion benefited more from the event than Quality Road.
Quality Road’s daughter Caledonia Road probably earned a champion 2-year-old filly Eclipse statuette with her victory in the Juvenile Fillies, and another daughter Abel Tasman almost certainly clinched a 3-year-old filly championship with her closing second to the older Forever Unbridled in the Distaff.
Tapit will continue to stand for an advertised fee of $300,000 in 2018, continuing his reign as the most expensive stallion in North America.
The 16-year-old son of Pulpit stands at Gainesway Farm in Lexington, Ky., and has maintained his $300,000 fee since the 2015 season. He is followed on the list of North America's most expensive sires by War Front and Medaglia d'Oro, who will command fees of $250,000 at Claiborne and Darley, respectively.
Kobe’s Back, a multiple Grade 2 winner, has been retired from racing and will debut for the 2018 breeding season at Bonita Farm in Darlington, Md., for an advertised fee of $3,000.
The 6-year-old son of Flatter finished his on-track career with five wins in 26 career starts for earnings of $1,116,595. His most notable victories came in the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes, San Vicente Stakes and Palos Verdes Stakes, the Grade 3 Commonwealth Stakes, and the non-graded Willard L. Proctor Memorial Stakes.
With Distinction, a regular presence near the top of Florida’s sire lists, has been sold to stand in Korea, beginning with the 2018 breeding season.
The 16-year-old son of Storm Cat arrived in Korea on Nov. 3, and previously resided at Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds in Florida, where he was advertised for $7,500 in 2017.
Grade 1 winner American Patriot has been retired and will enter stud at the international Darley operation’s Japanese farm on Hokkaido, seeking to capitalize on his international pedigree.
The son of War Front, who raced as a homebred for WinStar, will stand for a fee of 1.5 million yen, or about $13,237 U.S. at the current conversion rate.
Market Rally, a Group 3 winner in the U.A.E., has been retired to Irish Hill Century Farm in Stillwater, N.Y., for the 2018 breeding season. He will stand for an advertised fee of $3,000.
The 4-year-old son of Unbridled’s Song finished his on-track career with three wins in four starts for earnings of $324,270. He debuted in the U.S. in 2015 with a 4 3/4-length win at Monmouth Park for owners Gary and Mary West and trainer Wayne Catalano, then was sold to Sheikh Ahmed Al-Maktoum and put in the shedrow of trainer Dhruba Selvaratnam.
Grade 3 winner Iron Fist has been retired from racing, and will debut during the 2018 breeding season at Whispering Oaks Farm in Carencro, La., for an advertised fee of $6,500.
The 5-year-old Tapit horse retired with eight wins in 23 starts for earnings of $1,014,199. He won the Grade 3 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap, along with the non-graded Governor’s Cup Stakes, Maxxam Gold Cup Stakes, and Evangeline Mile Stakes. His six graded placings include a third in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity.
Gun Runner, the winner of the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Classic and likely favorite for Horse of the Year, will stand his debut season at Three Chimneys Farm in Midway, Ky., for an advertised fee of $70,000.
The 4-year-old son of Candy Ride will be available for inspection at Three Chimneys until Friday, after which he will ship to Fair Grounds to resume training in preparation for his final start in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational on Jan. 27, 2018.
The stud fee for champion Arrogate has been set at $75,000 for his debut season in 2018 at Juddmonte Farms in Lexington, Ky.
The 4-year-old son of Unbridled’s Song’s initial book will be restricted to 142 mares. He will be available for inspection during the Keeneland November breeding stock sale.
"Our goal is always to provide the best value to our breeders,” said Garrett O'Rourke, manager of Juddmonte's U.S. operation. “We will select the highest quality of mares to offer Arrogate the best chance to be as great a sire as he was a racehorse."
