5 "Best Value" Kentucky Stallions for 2010

Here's a little background on how I selected these 5 stallions. First and foremost I was looking for dual threats, stallions that provided commercial breeders and those who breed to race an equal opportunity at success. There are a plethora of stallions whose fees represent excellent value if you are breeding to race, however, with the vast majority of those stallions the breeder is giving up any chance of a profitable sale. To be a true value I felt as though the selection must represent value to both types of breeders. I also avoided stallions in the $50,000+ stud fee range and stallions without any crops of racing age. Using very expensive and very young stallions, especially under the right circumstances, isn't necessarily a bad idea, it's just that the speculative nature of the game makes it difficult to call them a bargain .

So, without any further adieu, here are the 5 "Best Value" Kentucky Stallions for 2010

SKY MESA Stands at Three Chimneys Farm

Stud Fee $25,000

He is already the sire of 8 individual Graded Stakes winners from just 3 crops!!! He was the leading 2nd crop sire in 2008 and the 2nd leading 3rd crop sire in 2009. His progeny earned over $4.6 Million on the track for 2009. At auction his yearlings averaged nearly $90,000 apiece in 2009, with individuals fetching as much as $260,000.

FORESTRY Stands at Taylor Made Stallions

Stud Fee $17,500

Stud fees, like stock prices, are cyclical and just like the most profitable stock deals (buy low/sell high)purchasing seasons when an established stallion is experiencing a "lull" can often provide the best return on the track and in the sales ring. Currently things are pretty quite for this son of Storm Cat however from his 7 crops of racing age his progeny have earned $24,064,442 for an average earnings per year of $3,437,777. In addition he has sired 12 Graded Stakes winners, 3 of which Discreet Cat, Diplomat Lady and Forest Danger are Grade 1 winners. In 2007 he stood for $125,000, fresh from a 2006 year that saw one of his sons set a world record auction price of $16,000,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Calder 2-year-old in-training sale, the progeny from those mares bred in 2007 will be 2-year-olds of 2010.

SUCCESSFUL APPEAL Stands at Walmac Farm

Stud Fee $17,500

His progeny earned over $3.6 Million in 2009 with 9 of those individuals being stakes winners. He also has Grade 1 winning Appealing Zophie and Kentucky Derby-G 1 runner up Closing Argument to his credit. His yearlings averaged nearly $50,000 in 2009 with selected individuals selling for $400,000, $150,000 and $100,000. Great value for $17,500.

YES IT'S TRUE Stands at Three Chimneys Farm

Stud Fee $17,500

The 20th ranked sire in North America with progeny earnings in excess of $5.6 Million in 2009 and he stands for only $17,500. The average stud fee for the other 19 stallions in the top 20 is $69,583. They sell well too. The average price for his yearlings in 2009 was more than $53,000 with 8 individuals selling for 6 figures + and 2 selling for $200,000 apiece. That's value.

DEVIL HIS DUE Stands at Marguax Farm

Stud Fee $3,500

There aren't a lot of stallions in the lower stud fee ranges that give you an opportunity to breed a "big" horse but this is one. Devil His Due is the sire of Roses in May who won The Dubai World Cup-G 1 and Whitney H.-G 1 on route to earning over $5.4 Million for his career. He is also the sire of Grade 2 winner She's a Devil Due. His progeny's performance on the track continued to be solid in 2009 as well with 8 stakes wins and earnings of nearly $3.5 Million. While his sales results are modest, $18k yearling average in 2009, he does give breeders a chance at a big return too with individuals selling for as much as $35K to $60K.