Grade 1 winner Cupid , a son of Tapit who is scheduled to make his next start in the Las Vegas Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), will retire to Ashford Stud for the 2018 breeding season, the farm announced Oct. 26.
Trained by Bob Baffert, Cupid earned a 113 Equibase Speed Figure when he took this year's Gold Cup at Santa Anita (G1) by 3 1/4 lengths. He followed the Gold Cup with a win in the Harry F. Brubaker Stakes. He was among the best 3-year-olds of 2016, as Cupid accumulated more than $1.3 million in earnings last season, winning the Rebel Stakes, West Virginia Derby, and the Indiana Derby (all G2).
Cupid also is pre-entered in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), but that is his connections' second preference.
He was purchased as a yearling at the Keeneland September sale for $900,000 by M.V. Magnier who also signed for his full sister who topped the same sale this year at $2,700,000. Their dam, Pretty 'n Smart, already has produced two other graded stakes winners—Ashley's Kitty (Tale of the Cat ) and Heart Ashley (Lion Heart).
"We loved Cupid as a yearling and he has developed into a smashing horse just like you would have hoped," said Coolmore America manager Dermot Ryan. "He's a quality individual with plenty of size and great balance and the pedigree and race record to match. He's an exciting prospect."
Ashford also released most of its stud fees for 2018. Multiple grade 1 winner and 2016 Eclipse champion 2-year-old Classic Empire will enter stud for $35,000. Fees for both Cupid and multiple grade 1 winner Practical Joke will be announced following their starts in the Breeders' Cup World Championships. Practical Joke is entered in the Dirt Mile with second preference in the TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1).
American Pharoah , the 2015 Triple Crown winner, will stand for a fee that will remain private. The fee for leading third-crop sire Uncle Mo has been dropped slightly to $125,000 from $150,000. Top 10 second-crop sire Stay Thirsty has had his fee dropped from $10,000 to $7,500 for 2018.
| Ashford Stud 2018 Fees | ||
| Stallion | 2018 Fee | 2017 Fee |
| Air Force Blue | $20,000 | $25,000 |
| American Pharoah | Private | Private |
| Classic Empire | $35,000 | NEW |
| Competitive Edge | $7,500 | $10,000 |
| Cupid | TBA | NEW |
| Declaration of War | $25,000 | $35,000 |
| Fusaichi Pegasus | $7,500 | $7,500 |
| Giant's Causeway | $75,000 | $75,000 |
| Lookin At Lucky | $17,500 | $17,500 |
| Magician | $7,500 | $7,500 |
| Munnings | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Practical Joke | TBA | NEW |
| Shanghai Bobby | $15,000 | $25,000 |
| Stay Thirsty | $7,500 | $10,000 |
| Tale of the Cat | $25,000 | $30,000 |
| Uncle Mo | $125,000 | $150,000 |
| Vancouver | $15,000 | $15,000 |
| Verrazano | $17,500 | $17,500 |
