Upstart Rises to the Top of Airdrie's Roster
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Photo: Courtesy of Airdrie Stud/EquiSport
Upstart at Airdrie Stud
Rising third-crop sire Upstart leads the Airdrie Stud roster at $30,000 for next year, the farm announced Oct. 27 along with its full roster and fees for 2023.
Upstart, a son of Flatter and third-leading North American third-crop sire by progeny earnings, has been represented by five stakes winners this year, including Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) winner Zandon and multiple grade 2 winner Kathleen O. Last year, Upstart stood for $10,000.
Airdrie recently announced newcomers Girvin and Happy Saver for the upcoming season.
Girvin, a son of Tale of Ekati , began his stud career at the O'Farrell family's Ocala Stud in Central Florida and quickly became one of the hottest freshman stallions in America on the performances of his three juvenile stakes winners that include Saratoga Special Stakes (G2) winner Damon's Mound and stakes winner Atomically , who has been entered in the Nov. 4 NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). Girvin's fee has been set at $20,000.
Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) winner Happy Saver's initial fee has been set at $12,500 as he prepares for his career finale in the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). The son of Super Saver won his first five lifetime starts, which included the Jockey Club Gold Cup. He recently finished second to Flightline in the Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) and second to Life Is Good in the Whitney Stakes (G1). His dam is Happy Week , a daughter of Lassie's Legacy, who is a half sister to the late leading sire A.P. Indy.
"These are very exciting times for our team at Airdrie as we believe we have a great future in front of us with our young stallion roster," said Airdrie's Bret Jones. "Upstart and Girvin have been two of the most exciting young stallions of 2022, and their success is all the more impressive when considering that they both began their careers at modest stud fees. They will be hugely popular this year and the mare quality that awaits them has us extremely bullish on their futures.
Cairo Prince at Airdrie Stud
"Cairo Prince has settled in as arguably the best proven value in his stud fee range as he is the leading sire of his crop, a top 20 active national stallion, and a perennial commercial success," Jones continued. "We have been so fortunate to bring in Happy Saver, Complexity , Collected , Preservationist , Beau Liam , and Divisidero in the last few years. With the past and continued support of our incredible breeders, we believe all of these stallions possess the potential to emulate Upstart and Girvin as great success stories in the coming years."
Airdrie Stud Fees
| Stallion | 2023 Fee | 2022 Fee |
| Upstart | $30,000 | $10,000 |
| Girvin | $20,000 | $6,000 |
| Cairo Prince | $15,000 | $15,000 |
| Happy Saver | $12,500 | NEW |
| Complexity | $12,500 | $12,500 |
| Collected | $10,000 | $15,000 |
| Preservationist | $10,000 | $10,000 |
| Creative Cause | $7,500 | $7,500 |
| Summer Front | $7,500 | $7,500 |
| Beau Liam | $6,000 | $6,000 |
| Divisidero | $5,000 | $5,000 |
All stud fees payable live foal stands and nurses