They are:
- BANDINI — $17,500
- CACTUS RIDGE — $6,500
- EAVESDROPPER — $7,500
- IS IT TRUE — $5,000
- SONGANDAPRAYER — $45,000 (up from $35,000 in 2006)
- SUCCESSFUL APPEAL — $40,000 (up from $25,000 in 2006)
- SUNDAY BREAK — $7,500
- TENPINS — $6,500
- THUNDERELLO — $5,000
- ZAVATA — $7,500
Final score: 2 stud fees UP, 0 stud fees DOWN, and 8 stud fees remain the same.
It looks like Walmac has ‘struck lightning in a bottle’ not once, but twice with Songandaprayer and Successful Appeal. Interestingly, both stallions began their stud careers in Florida at what has turned out to be bargain stud fees. Successful Appeal first stood at Walmac South in 2001 for $5,000, and Songandaprayer at Marablue Farm in 2002 for $10,000.
With just 41 foals from his first crop, Successful Appeal became 2004’s Leading First-Crop Sire with 15 winners, 6 SWs, and over $1.7 million in earnings. Incredibly, he’s had 8 SWs (19.5%) from his first crop. One of those, Closing Argument, finished 2nd in the 2005 Kentucky Derby. All of this on a $5,000 stud fee! From his third crop (traditionally a weaker book of mares) of 43 foals, 2yo’s of 2006, he’s sired 10 winners and 3 SWs, including the G1 Spinaway Stakes winner Appealing Zophie. Considering what he’s done so far, his $40,000 still looks like a bargain.
Songandaprayer’s first crop ran in 2005. From 53 foals, he sired 18 2yo winners (34%), 3 SWs, and $1.06 million in progeny earnings, ranking him 4th among 2005’s Leading First-Crop Sires. He has 4 unrestricted SWs in 2006, including two graded winners from his first crop. With their improved books of mares since moving to Kentucky, Songandaprayer and Successful Appeal appear to be headed for stardom.