Today we will analyze the group of stallions that stand between $30,000 and $50,000.

Best Values

Lemon Drop Kid (Kingmambo) ($35,000): As consistent as they come, Lemon Drop Kid produces a very high percentage of stake winners from foals of racing age (11.4%). He is the classic type of undervalued sire that posts good numbers year after year yet remains well priced for the quality he offers. I will not be surprised to see his fee increase in the next few years.

Lemon Drop Kid reminds me a lot of horses like Dynaformer or Smart Strike who offered very good value to breeders until they were ‘discovered’ by the high end breeders and commercial buyers. I believe that Lemon Drop Kid is in the cusp of taking a similar jump. Especially for the breeder who breeds to race, there does not seem to be a better value than this horse.

Tapit (Pulpit) ($50,000): Tapit has gotten off to a flying start and has proven he can get both quality and precocity. He has been most successful with his fillies siring the likes of Careless Jewel, Stardom Bound and Tapitsfly. In fact, given that his five highest earners in North America are all fillies it is amazing that Tapit can boasts a 2.88 AEI especially because fillies usually have lower earnings potential than their male counterparts. However, this does not mean that he is purely a filly sire; he already sired Testa Matta in Japan who won the Japan Dirt Derby.

In addition, these numbers were achieved on a low stud fee and Tapit is able to give an incredible boost to his mares (1.51 CI). The best should be yet to come as the quality of mares bred to him increases. I believe that Tapit still has a lot of upside potential even at this price. All that he is missing is to sire a top class colt to break out of his “filly sire” reputation.

Henry the Navigator (Kingmambo) ($40,000): It is hard to remember every having a sire with as much class as Henry the Navigator standing for this low a price. Add to that extreme good looks and perfect balance and you have one of the best values in the market today.

A precocious 2 year-old, Henry the Navigator was a top class miller at age 3, winning both the English and Irish 2000 Guineas, the Sussex Stakes and the St James Place Stakes, all of them at a mile and all of them Group 1. He was named champion 3year old colt in Ireland and finished second to Raven’s Pass in the Breeder’s Cup Classic.

Standing only his second season at stud his yearlings should be attractive to both European and local horsemen. If you would like to take a shot on Henry the Navigator, now is the time to breed to him.

Worst Value:

Stormy Atlantic (Storm Cat) ($35,000): Another horse with a high price tag despite low AEI (1.58), he produces very good horses but it is difficult to get exited about his price tag. He is a better value in the $20,000 level and we expect to see him in that range in the near future.