Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa’s marquee sire Curlin , a two-time Horse of the Year and the leading North American sire by number of grade 1 winners in 2021-22, has had his stud fee bumped to $250,000 for the 2024 breeding season, which puts him even with the fee of multiple leading sire Into Mischief.
Curlin has been a stalwart among the top five of the general leading sires list by progeny earnings but at or equal to the leaders by number graded stakes winners and grade 1 winners. In 2021, he was the leading sire with five grade 1 winners and tied with Into Mischief with 13 graded stakes winners for the year. In 2022, he led again with six grade 1 winners and was the third-leading sire by progeny earnings. Curlin and Into Mischief are again in tight contention for the leading sire by grade 1 winners, with Into Mischief at 6 as of Oct. 12 and Curlin with five. The BloodHorse leading sires lists do not include steeplechase races, but if it did then the two sires would be tied by grade 1 winners.
This year Curlin’s top runners include multiple grade 1 winners Clariere, Cody’s Wish , and Idiomatic . The sire also has been flattered by the second-crop success of his champion son Good Magic , whose first 3-year-old crop included Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mage .
Good Magic, who also stands at Hill ‘n’ Dale, had his fee increased to $125,000 from $50,000 last year. He is the leading second-crop sire with nearly $7.5 million in progeny earnings. Besides Mage, he’s been represented by American Pharoah Stakes (G1) winner Muth and graded stakes winner How Did He Do That and Reincarnate . His son Blazing Seven also finished second in the Preakness Stakes (G1).
Army Mule , a grade 1-winning son of Freisan Fire, has had a strong year as well. He’s tracking among the top five second-crop sires by progeny earnings and is tied in fourth by number of stakes winners with six through Oct. 11. With auction yearlings selling for up to $600,000, Army Mule’s fee has been increased to $25,000 from $12,500 for 2023.
New to Hill ‘n’ Dale’s roster for next year is grade 1-placed Loggins , a son of Ghostzapper , who was purchased for $460,000 for the Brad Cox Colts Group out of Denali Stud’s consignment at Fasig-Tipton’s The Saratoga Sale, its select yearling sale in New York.
Loggins won his debut Sept. 17 at Churchill Downs by 8 1/2 lengths and earning a 100 Equibase Speed Figure. He stopped the timer after running 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.87. Next out he finished a neck behind future 2-year-old champion colt Forte in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland. Both colts earned a 102 ESF for their performances. Trainer Brad Cox said he had been anticipating a brilliant campaign at 3 but a physical setback derailed his racing career.
“He was cut out to be special,” Cox said at the colt’s retirement. “He was a precocious, fast 2-year-old that showed brilliance from day one. His race in the Breeders’ Futurity may have been one of the most impressive races by a 2-year-old that season.”
Loggins will enter stud at $7,500.
Forte, who won this year’s Florida Derby (G1), is a son of top 10 Hill ‘n’ Dale sire Violence . The sire has been represented by six graded stakes winners so far this year that also include Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G2) winner Dr. Schivel , Gala Brand , Newgrange , Order and Law , and Raise Cain . Violence’s fee has been increased to $60,000 from $40,000.
| Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms 2024 Stud Fees | ||
| Stallion | 2024 Fee | 2023 Fee |
| Army Mule | $25,000 | $12,500 |
| Charlatan | $50,000 | $50,000 |
| Curlin | $250,000 | $225,000 |
| Ghostzapper | $75,000 | $75,000 |
| Good Magic | $125,000 | $50,000 |
| Kantharos | $15,000 | $20,000 |
| Loggins | $7,500 | NEW |
| Maclean’s Music | $40,000 | $50,000 |
| Midnight Lute | $10,000 | $12,500 |
| Mucho Macho Man | $7,500 | $7,500 |
| Violence | $60,000 | $40,000 |
| World of Trouble | $5,000 | $5,000 |
