18 Jan New Year, New Stallions
With the new year comes new stallions, heading off to the breeding shed for their first season at stud. The new stallions joining the ranks this year in Horse Country accomplished impressive feats on the racetrack, and combined with their top quality pedigrees, make for an exciting crop of new studs.
Let’s take a look at some of the newest additions to Kentucky’s stallion ranks!
One of the most talked about new stallions for 2023 is arguably Flightline, winner of the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic and a frontrunner for the Horse of the Year title. Flightline retired undefeated after his victory in the G1 Breeder’s Cup Classic, with five other stirring victories on his resume. The son of Tapit will stand at Lane’s End Farm, with a stud fee of $200,000.
Life is Good, winner of the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and four other G1 races, will become the second highest priced stallion in the WinStar Farm barn with a stud fee of $100,000. Also joining the WinStar Farm roster for 2023 is Nashville, who will stand for $15,000.
Darley at Jonabell Farm has two new additions to their stallion roster, both homebred G1 winners for the racing and breeding operation. Mystic Guide, winner of the G1 Dubai World Cup, will stand for $15,000 and G1 Carter Handicap winner Speaker’s Corner will stand for $20,000.
Spendthrift Farm’s roster is growing by four stallions, with the addition of a handful of new horses to their roster. Five time G1 winner Jackie’s Warrior enters stud with a fee of $50,000 along with G1 Belmont Stakes winner Mo Donegal, standing for $20,000, and G2 Fountain of Youth Stakes winner Greatest Honour, standing for $7,500. Multiple G1 winner Cyberknife is set to race in the G1 Pegasus World Cup in the coming weeks before retiring to Spendthrift Farm with a fee of $30,000.
Aloha West, winner of the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Sprint, joined fellow Breeders’ Cup winner Oscar Performance on the Mill Ridge Farm stallion roster, and will stand the 2023 season for a fee of $10,000.
Darby Dan Farm added one new stallion for 2023, graded stakes winner Title Ready, who will stand for a private fee.
Coolmore at Ashford Stud is set to welcome five new stallions to their roster, including Breeders’ Cup winners, a Preakness Stakes winner and winners of other grade one races. Corniche, winner of the 2021 G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, will stand for a stud fee of $30,000, 2022 G1 Preakness Stakes winner Early Voting will stand for a fee of $25,000, G1 Travers Stakes winner and runner-up in the G1 Kentucky Derby and G1 Preakness Stakes Epicenter will stand for $45,000, two-time Breeders’ Cup winner (2020 G2 Juvenile Turf Sprint and 2021 G1 Turf Sprint) Golden Pal will stand for $30,000 and multiple G1 winner Jack Christopher will stand for $45,000.
Taylor Made Farm welcomed one new stallion for the 2023, G1 winner Idol, who is a full brother to leading three year old filly in 2022, Nest, and will stand for $10,000.
We last saw Olympiad finishing a gallant second to Flightline in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and now the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup winner is readying to stand stud at Gainesway Farm for a $35,000 fee in the 2023 season. G1 Woody Stephens Stakes winner Drain The Clock will join the Gainesway roster as well, with a 2023 fee of $10,000.
Airdrie Stud has three new additions to their roster in 2023, with two first year stallions and a seasoned sire who is moving from Florida to Kentucky. Happy Saver, winner of the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup, starts his breeding career at $12,500 in 2023, and graded stakes winner Highly Motivated, who stands for $7,500, will both begin their breeding careers in 2023, while leading first crop sire Girvin will stand his first Kentucky season for a $25,000 fee.
Interested in learning more about the Thoroughbred breeding business? Horse Country offers a variety of tours that focus on stallions, where guests are able to learn more about and meet these champions.
About Horse Country, Inc.
Based in Lexington, Ky, Horse Country is a not-for-profit membership organization that offers fans a behind-the-scenes look at the equine industry through tours of member farms, veterinary clinics and other equine attractions in Kentucky. Check out Horse Country on social media: Instagram @visithorsecountry Facebook @visithorsecountry and Twitter @kyhorsecountry. For more information: www.visithorsecountry.com.