Keen Ice , Bal a Bali , War Correspondent , and Mr. Z have been added to the Calumet Farm stallion roster for 2018, as the farm announced it's fees for the upcoming season Nov. 15.
Keen Ice, a son of Curlin , is a grade 1 winner with earnings of more than $3.4 million. His most notable accomplishment was defeating Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in the 2015 Travers Stakes (G1).
"Keen Ice has everything we look for in a stallion," said Jak Knelman, director of stallion season sales for Calumet. "He defeated the likes of American Pharaoh, Frosted , and Shaman Ghost . He is by leading sire Curlin out of a deep female family, and he has an impressive physical, standing over 16.2 (hands), with the balance and strength that American breeders look for."
Bal a Bali, a son of Put It Back, won 11 of 12 races in Brazil and captured the Brazilian Triple Crown. After shipping to the United States and overcoming laminitis, Bal a Bali won the American Stakes (G3T) in 2015, and the Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes (G1T) and Shoemaker Mile Stakes (G1T) in 2017.
"Bal a Bali has as much heart as you could ask for from a stallion prospect," Knelman said. "To be such a dominant 2-year-old and 3-year-old, and then to overcome laminitis and return to be a multiple grade 1 winner in the U.S. really shows how much grit and determination he has as a racehorse.
"We are going to support Bal a Bali heavily with Calumet's broodmare band. As he won from five furlongs up to 12 furlongs, with his preferred distance at one mile, he has the ability to sire a speedy 2-year-old while giving his progeny every chance to win at the classic distance."
A son of the internationally successful sire War Front and full brother to multiple group 1 winner Declaration of War , War Correspondent is a graded stakes winner and grade 1 placed.
"War Correspondent is an exciting prospect, with one of the most relevant sire-producing female families in the book," Knelman said. "Not only is he a full brother to Declaration of War, but he is also out of a half sister to leading sire Union Rags . Physically he is a very attractive War Front, and that should be very appealing to commercial breeders."
Mr. Z, a grade 1-placed son of Malibu Moon , was campaigned for the latter half of his career in the black and gold chevron silks of Calumet and earned more than $1 million.
"Mr. Z hails from the impressive Amelia Bearhart family. He was a gritty horse that showed up to every big dance on the track, and we look forward to instilling that in his foals," Knelman said.
"The new stallions we have coming to Calumet this season will nicely complement our existing roster," said Eddie Kane, Calumet's general manager. "We support all of our stallions in the breeding shed and at the track. Without this support it is impossible for the breeder to get full value for their investments."
The fee for six-time grade 1 winner English Channel will remain unchanged at $25,000. The 2007 John Deere Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T) winner has 16 black-type performers in 2017 and has a lifetime percentage of 13% black-type winners from starters.
"Our roster features a wide variety of bloodlines possessing soundness, quality conformation, and a propensity to winning classic two-turn races on both dirt and turf," Knelman said. "We are focused not only on building long-term relationships with breeders, but also sharing in the commercial and racing success of our stallions. I am certain we will have something to fit the needs of almost any breeder."
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Calumet Farm 2018 Fees
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| Stallion | 2018 Fee | 2017 Fee |
| English Channel | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Keen Ice | $20,000 | NEW |
| Oxbow | $20,000 | $20,000 |
| Bal a Bali (BRZ) | $15,000 | NEW |
| Big Blue Kitten | $15,000 | $15,000 |
| Red Rocks (IRE) | $10,000 | $10,000 |
| Americain | $7,500 | $10,000 |
| Mr. Z | $7,500 | NEW |
| Smarty Jones | $7,500 | $7,500 |
| War Correspondent | $7,500 | NEW |
| Aikenite | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| Behesht (FR) | $5,000 | NEW |
| Grey Swallow (IRE) | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| Musketier (GER) | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| Optimizer | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| Producer (GB) | $5,000 | NEW |
| Raison D’Etat | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| Ready’s Image | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| Real Solution | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| Slumber (GB) | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| Eye of the Leopard | $2,500 | $2,500 |
| Snapy Halo (ARG) | $2,500 | $2,500 |
