In this economic downturn it is very important for breeders to select stallions very carefully. One of the best places to invest, if you are breeding to sell, is to invest in a first year stallion. However, breeders must be very selective if they want to optimize the chances that the resulting foal will be profitable in the sale ring. In addition, breeders should also select a sire that will give them the best possibilities that the resulting foal will be able to run since there is a probability that the breeder may end up owning the foal if the reserve is not met by the market.

With this in mind we have the following recommendations to make to breeders regarding this crop’s freshman sires:

Under $10,000:

Indygo Shiner (A.P. Indy) ($7,500): He absolutely represents the best value of any new stallion and perhaps of any stallion offered. He has an impeccable pedigree being by AP Indy out of a full sister to Toussaud, one of the best broodmares of recent history and dam of the likes of Empire Maker and Chester House. In addition, he is a superb looking individual from a physical standpoint able to sire very marketable and extraordinary looking foals.

He has already covered a couple of southern hemisphere seasons. With those two crops he managed to sire the Argentine Derby and the Argentine Oaks winner in the same year. His son, Tecla Shiner, captured the Nacional-Argentine Derby (Arg-I), and his daughter, Miss March, won the Seleccion-Argentine Oaks (Arg-I) and another of his sons Mi Amiguito also won the Argentine 2,000 Guineas. This is no small feat by any measure.

I don’t think there is a better value being offered anywhere and I cannot stress enough the quality of his progeny in Argentina. He has a pedigree that is well suited to the American market and at I think that this horse will very quickly climb in stud fee value in the coming years.

Under $25,000

First Defense (Unbridled Song) ($17,500): By Unbridled Song and out of the incredibly racer Honest Lady by Seattle Slew, First Defense is looking like a horse that is being offered for fantastic value. His female family includes the likes of Empire Maker and Chesterhouse since Honest Lady is also by the great broodmare Toussaud.
He was a G1 winner at 7 furlongs, probably his most effective distance, he possessed great speed and power and good physical qualities.

Seeking the Dia (Storm Cat) ($10,000): Another top value sire by Vinery. Seeking the Dia was very much the real deal on the racetrack. He banked over $5 Million dollars and won some of Japan’s most prestigious dirt races, he also placed second twice in the Japan Cup Dirt G1. He comes from a solid female family; he is by G1 Winner Seeking the Pearl. When you look at horses like Bluegrass Cat who command a stud fee of $40,000. Here is another son of Storm Cat who was just as good, if not better on the racetrack for a fraction of the cost.

J Be K (Silver Deputy) ($10,000): From the same sire that gave us the champion freshman sire Posse. J be K began his career in impressive fashion setting a track record at Saratoga at 2, for that alone he is worth the price. He still returned the following year to win 3 graded stakes at 6 and 7 furlongs. A top prospect with plenty of upside if you can get over his unfortunate name.

Over $25,000

Henry the Navigator (Kingmambo)($65,000): The English 2,000 Guiness winner trained on very well to win 4 consecutive Group 1 events and finishing second in the Breeders Cup Classic. He is impeccably bred being by Kingmambo out of the Saddlers Wells mare, Sequoyah. This Great physical specimen has very little down side at this price. Consider that Giant’s Causeway, who has similar credentials, stood for $125,000 in his first season.

Curlin (Smart Strike)($75,000): Curlin was really: the horse of the world. He is a much more recognized name on an international scale than Big Brown and was a sounder more durable individual, which is why we are picking him here instead of that one. He has a more attractive pedigree and I think that he is a much better physical individual. Considering that over the last few years the top horses have stood for over $100,000 including Ghostzapper at $200,000. Curlin at $75,000 definitely seems like a real bargain for the right type of mare. There is a lot of upside for him at this price and we believe that a high percentage of his foals will be profitable for breeders.