WinStar Farm has acquired a significant interest in leading sire Harlan's Holiday and will stand the 11-year-old son of Harlan in 2011. His fee will remain at $25,000 stands and nurses. Harlan’s Holiday formerly stood at Brereton C. Jones’ Airdrie Stud near Midway, Ky.
“Harlan’s Holiday is a stallion we’ve always thought a lot of, and we're excited about the opportunity to build on the early success he's achieved while at Airdrie,” said Elliott Walden, president of WinStar, which is owned by Kenny Troutt and located near Versailles, Ky. “He's a proven stallion that represents the quality we continue to strive for at WinStar. And to that end, Harlan's Holiday greatly compliments our growing stallion roster as well as the farm's broodmare band. For the money, we feel like Harlan's Holiday and Bluegrass Cat now give us the best 1-2 punch from the Storm Cat line.”
Harlan's Holiday is represented by 2010 grade I winner and Eclipse Award contender Majesticperfection , a member of his sire’s second crop. Considered a top sprinter, Majesticperfection earned the two highest Beyer Speed Figures, a 117 and 115, up to a mile. His grade I win came in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (gr. I) at Saratoga over a field that included subsequent Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Sprint (gr. I) winner Big Drama. Majesticperfection will begin his stallion career in 2011 at Airdrie.
Harlan’s Holiday ranked second on the first-crop sires’ list in 2007. His runners from his freshman crop included grade I winner Into Mischief and Denis of Cork, who placed in the 2008 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and the Belmont Stakes (gr. I).
During his career, Harlan’s Holiday has sired 18 stakes winners, including seven graded winners, and the earners of $13.9 million. This year’s runners also include graded winner Riley Tucker.
Harlan's Holiday also has done well in the sales arena, with his offspring selling for $400,000, $300,000, $290,000, and $275,000 in 2010.
Harlan's Holiday is the sire of 121 foals born this year. He was bred to 162 mares in 2010.
“When we studied his recent books of mares, we not only found him to be very popular with the breeders, but the quality of mares was the best he has ever had,” said Robert Hammond, director of bloodstock and stallion seasons at WinStar. “So we think his best is yet to come, and feel like the breeders who utilize him in 2011 will be well pleased in 2013.”
As a racehorse, Harlan’s Holiday won the Florida Derby (gr. I), the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I), and the Donn Handicap (gr. I) and earned $3.6 million.
Harlan’s Holiday is out of the Affirmed mare Christmas in Aiken.