The 2018 advertised fees for Darley’s U.S. stallion roster have been revealed, with cornerstone sire Medaglia d’Oro entering rarified air at $200,000.
The son of El Prado stood at Darley’s Jonabell Farm in Lexington, Ky., for $150,000 in 2017. Just two North American stallions met or exceeded the $200,000 threshold last year, Gainesway’s Tapit and Claiborne Farm’s War Front.
Kentucky stallions perennially dominate the top of the list on The Jockey Club’s annual Report of Mares Bred, but the most active stallions in other major breeding states drew large books of their own in 2017.
The most active stallion outside of Kentucky during the 2017 breeding season was Uncaptured, a resident of Ocala Stud in Florida, who covered 140 mares. The 7-year-old son of Lion Heart met his second book of mares this year, after covering 108 mares in his debut season.
California Chrome covered 145 mares in his first season at stud, according to The Jockey Club’s Report of Mares Bred.
California Chrome is based at Taylor Made Farm in Kentucky, and is currently standing the Southern Hemisphere breeding season at Haras Sumaya in Chile. His first Northern Hemisphere book included graded winners and producers including Champagne Royale, the dam of Grade 1 winners Danza and Majestic Harbor.
Young stallions typically garner strong books of mares when they retire to stud, with their supporters looking to get them off to a strong start, then cool down for a few years until their progeny are proven on the racetrack or in the sale ring.
But Triple Crown winner American Pharoah is a special case, and has not followed that trend.
Off an outstanding season with their juveniles last year, Into Mischief and Dialed In were the two most active stallions in North America in 2017, The Jockey Club announced Wednesday.
All-time great racehorses almost always make very good sires. Among what are generally considered the six greatest racehorses of the 20th century in Europe and America - Man o’ War, Citation, and Secretariat in America, and Nearco, Ribot, and Sea-Bird in Europe - only one can be judged a failure.
Valor Farm in Pilot Point, Texas released the advertised fees for its 2018 stallion roster, topped by the state’s perennial leading sire Too Much Bling at $6,500.
Too Much Bling, a son of Rubiano, saw his fee increase from $4,500 during the most recent breeding season. He has led all Texas sires by progeny earnings each season from 2012 to 2016, and is represented this year by Puerto Rican Group 2 winner Too Much Tip and U.S. stakes winners Prada’s Bling, Rumpole, and Ruby Rumba.
Lane’s End in Versailles, Ky., has released the advertised fees for the bulk of its 2018 stallion roster, including Grade 1 winner Connect, who will debut at $20,000.
Connect, a son of Curlin, is one of two debuting stallions on the Lane’s End roster for the coming season, joined by Unified, a Candy Ride colt who will stand for $10,000.
Fees for three of the farm’s most notable residents – Candy Ride, Quality Road, and Union Rags – will be announced at a later time, pending the results of the Breeders’ Cup.
Taylor Made Stallions in Nicholasville, Ky., revealed its 2018 stud fees, led by two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome at $40,000. The son of Lucky Pulpit stood for the same advertised fee during his debut season in 2017. His first foals will arrive in 2018.
Debuting at Taylor Made for the 2018 season is Midnight Storm, a Grade 1-winning son of Pioneerof the Nile who will stand for $12,500.
Multiple Grade 1 winner Lord Nelson will debut at stud for Spendthrift Farm in 2018 after missing what would have been his first breeding season due to laminitis.
The son of Pulpit will debut for an advertised fee of $25,000, Spendthrift announced as it revealed next season’s stallion lineup and fees Sunday night.
