Darley Lowers Majority of 2021 Stud Fees

Citing trying times for breeders, Darley America announced reduced 2021 stud fees for most of its stallions, topped by Medaglia d'Oro , whose fee dropped from $200,000 to $150,000. The only Darley America sire to see an increase in price is first-crop stallion Nyquist , whose fee will rise from $40,000 to $75,000.

"We gave great consideration to this when setting our fees to reflect the economic reality of today," said Darley America sales manager Darren Fox. "Breeders are attempting to navigate a sales environment that is both unpredictable and difficult. Subsequently, all but one of our stallions will see a decrease in stud fee from last year. We sincerely appreciate the past support from breeders, and we are looking forward to a better and brighter 2021."

Progeny of Medaglia d'Oro had a banner sales year in 2020. The 21-year-old son of El Prado is currently the number one yearling sire in North America by both average and median and was represented by four million-dollar-plus offerings in 2020, the same number he was represented by in 2019. No stallion can match his 20 million-dollar yearlings since 2016, according to the farm.

With a total of 75 worldwide group or graded winners—25 at the highest level—Medaglia d'Oro's propensity to consistently produce quality racehorses was further exemplified this year when his son Moretti won the Birdstone Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, making him the all-time leading sire of black-type winners at Saratoga with 20, according to Darley America. His grade 1 winner Higher Power  is a possible starter in this year's Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).

Nyquist's 10 juvenile winners to date include Spinaway Stakes (G1) winner Vequist and Summer Stakes (G1T) winner Gretzky the Great. Both are slated to run in the Breeders' Cup next month. His progeny were also popular at the sales, with three fetching prices of at least a half-million or more. Currently the second-leading first-crop sire behind Not This Time  in Northern Hemisphere earnings, Nyquist is the leader of his sire crop by yearling average and median two years running. 

Street Sense , down from $75,000 to $60,000, is the sire of 2020 graded winners Maxfield, McKinzie , Cazadero, and Shared Sense.

Bernardini  and Hard Spun  will both stand for $35,000 next year after fees of $40,000 apiece this year. Bernardini's Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1)-bound son Art Collector joined the list of the nation's best sophomore colts with a win in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2), while daughters Lady Kate and Micheline have both recorded grade 1 placings. Hard Spun's current top runners include grade 1 winner Hard Not to Love and Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes winner and multiple grade 1-placed Antoinette. 

Frosted , the record-breaking Mohegan Sun Metropolitan Handicap (G1) winner, is priced at $25,000 for 2021, down from $40,000. His nine juvenile winners to date include a number of promising, fast winners.

Street Boss  has also sired a number of stakes-quality juveniles this year. His new fee will be $15,000 after standing for $20,000 this year.

Medaglia d'Oro's grade 1-winning son Astern will shuttle from Australia again and his first foals will be 2-year-olds of 2021. His fee will be $7,500 next year. Midshipman , with 17% career black-type horses, is also priced at $7,500, as is Enticed , another son of Medaglia d'Oro who bred 148 mares in 2020.