Who's Hot, Who's Not

Stonewall Stallions becomes the first Kentucky stud farm to announce their 2008 stud fees. Here they are: A. P. WARRIOR — $15,000 — DOWN from $20,000 in 2007 DA STOOPS — $10,000 — NO CHANGE from 2007 DONERAILE COURT — $6,000 — DOWN from $10,000 in 2007 FRISCO STAR — $3,500 — DOWN from $5,000 … Continue reading Stonewall Stallions first out of the gate for 2008!

Over the past weekend, Wild Again was the broodmare sire of three first-time SWs: Strike Softly (by Smart Strike) – won the G3 Hendrie Stakes at Woodbine Charley Papa (by Indian Charlie) – won the Cool Air Stakes at Calder Shampoo (by Gulch) – won the U.S. Bank Stakes at Emerald Downs Wild Again was, … Continue reading I’m Wild About Wild Again mares!

I’ve never subscribed to the notion that older stallions tend to become lesser sires because of some breakdown in the quality or composition of their sperm — quantity maybe, but not quality. Rather, I believe it is the quality of mares booked to older stallions that make the difference. Fertility problems and/or fashionable new stallions … Continue reading Sticking Up for the “Old-timers”

So, you want to breed a Kentucky Derby winner. Well, there’s Storm Cat for $500,000, A.P. Indy for $300,000, or Kingmambo for $250,000. But, it takes more than money. The three highest-priced stallions in North America have yet to sire a Kentucky Derby winner. In fact, the combined stud fees of the sires of the … Continue reading Things That Make You Go Hmmmmm!

It’s no secret that both Deputy Minister and Dixieland Band are outstanding broodmare sires. They ranked 3rd and 4th, respectively, among 2006’s Leading Broodmare Sires by progeny earnings (behind Mr. Prospector and Sadler’s Wells). And, Dixieland Band is currently 2007’s leading broodmare sire of unrestricted SWs with nine, and Deputy Minister is in 5th place … Continue reading Did you know . . . .

After his impressive second-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, there is little doubt that Hard Spun is the real deal. Now sporting a record of five wins (four of them in stakes races) in seven starts, he is a G2 winnner and G1 placed, with earnings just shy of $850,000. Not only does he have … Continue reading Hard Spun Could Have Been Yours . . . perhaps!

Lauren Stich’s April 11th article “Female Inbreeding Makes a Comeback” on the Daily Racing Form website (www.drf.com) brought back some fond memories of my longtime association and friendship with Leon Rasmussen. Having already known Leon for several years at the time, I attended the Owner/Trainer banquet during the Derby week of 1988 where Leon was … Continue reading The Rassmussen Factor

1. VINDICATION I love Vindication’s chances to become 2007’s leading freshman sire, as well as becoming a major long-term success. He’s got almost all the things I like to see in a stallion prospect. He was a brilliant runner. He retired undefeated, won the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, and was named Champion 2YO of 2002. … Continue reading My 2007 Freshman Sire Selections