Three-time Champion Sire Tapit’s stud fee remains at $185,000, the primary takeaway from Gainesway Farm’s 2022 stallion roster fee update.
Even as Spendthrift Farm’s Into Mischief continues to draw most of the oxygen and attention on the sire tables, Tapit remains North America’s leading sire over numerous categories. He leads in Grade 1 winners (27), Grade 1 starters (58), graded stakes winners (92), graded stakes starters (177), and stakes performers (284).
This year, Tapit took over as the all-time leading North American sire by progeny earnings. His offspring banked nearly $176 million (and counting) in on-track earnings. Fueling much of this year’s run on that front is Essential Quality. Not only did the likely Champion 3-Year-Old of 2021 bank $2.88 million this year, but his Belmont Stakes victory made Tapit the only stallion to sire four Belmont Stakes winners.
Meanwhile, Tapit’s sire-of-sires record gallops along, with Constitution, Frosted, and young sire Tapwrit. Tapit’s daughters fortified his broodmare sire bona-fides, adding another three Grade 1 winners in 2021. His daughters foaled 25 graded stakes winners.
Keep an eye on Tapwrit going forward
Tapwrit, who will stand for $10,000 in 2022, produced the most six-figure yearlings of any freshman sire at the Fasig-Tipton July Sale. In the auction ring, 20% of the 2017 Belmont Stakes winner’s first crop of yearlings brought more than 10 times his stud fee. His first crop of runners enter starting gates in 2022.
Other Gainesway stallions of note include McKinzie, who commands a $30,000 stud fee in his second season at stud. Last year, the four-time Grade 1 winner covered 214 mares. McKinzie could prove a bargain at this fee, considering he posted 11 triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures. He also won Grade 1s at two, three, and four.
Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Spun to Run joins McKinzie as stallions awaiting their first foals in 2022. He’ll stand for $10,000.
Karakontie has two standout progeny
As will Karakontie. The three-time Grade 1 winner already claims None Above The Law and Princess Grace as stakes-winning progeny. Princess Grace is 3-for-3 in 2021 and 6-for-7 in her career, with four graded stakes scores on the resume. None Above The Law won the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby this summer, one of four stakes scores over three different surfaces on his resume.
Joining this roster in 2022, as previously noted, is multiple Grade 1 winner Raging Bull. A starter of 18 consecutive graded stakes, Raging Bull can add to his $1.6 million in career earnings in his final start, the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar.