Grade 1-placed, multiple graded stakes winner Gunnevera tops the 2021 stallion roster at Pleasant Acres Stallions near Ocala, Fla., where he is entering stud next year at $6,000.
The 6-year-old son of Dialed In was competitive with the best of his sophomore class, winning the Xpressbet Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) and finishing second in the Travers Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) and third in the Xpressbet Florida Derby (G1). At 4, he was runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) and Woodward Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) and ended his career at 5 with a third in the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1). He retired with a 6-5-3 record out of 21 starts and earned $5,561,800.
Next-highest on the roster at $5,000 each are Breaking Lucky, Bucchero , Neolithic , and Ride On Curlin.
Breaking Lucky was relocated to Florida from Blue Star Racing in Louisiana, where he entered stud last year. The 8-year-old son of Lookin At Lucky was a multiple grade 1-placed, grade 3 winner who banked $1,196,376 while racing from 3 to 7.
Multiple grade 2 winner Bucchero has been well received so far by breeders. He covered 131 mares during his first year at stud and another 161 mares earlier this year. The son of Kantharos ' book this year was second only to current leading Florida sire Khozan .
"We were excited to bring the Kantharos bloodline back to Florida and once the breeders were able to see him in person, he really sells himself," said Joe Barbazon, owner of Pleasant Acres. "Breeders realize that the Florida program and 2-year-olds sales put a lot of emphasis on speed and precociousness, and they see that Bucchero checks these boxes. We have had the chance to see many of his first crop foals and breeders report back that he is really stamping them-smart, correct and fast looking."
Multiple grade 1-placed Neolithic is a first-crop yearling sire of 2020. The 7-year-old son of Harlan's Holiday, the same sire of North America's leading sire Into Mischief , finished third in the Dubai World Cup, Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1), and the Woodward Stakes.
Multiple grade 1-placed Ride On Curlin, a 9-year-old son of top five North American sire Curlin , is the second-leading freshman sire in Florida this year. His top runner so far is Roc's Princess, who won in her debut at Keeneland and went on to finish third in the Songbird Stakes on the Friday undercard of Breeders' Cup World Championships.
Treasure Beach, a 12-year-old son of top international sire Galileo, is a top 10 Florida sire this year and is one of three stallions in the Sunshine State to sire a graded stakes winner this year. His top performer is Raymundos Secret, who won the John C. Mabee Stakes (G2T). Treasure Beach's fee has been reduced this year from $7,500 to $4,000.
Also new to the Pleasant Acres roster this year is Sweetontheladies , a 6-year-old son of Twirling Candy and a grade 1-placed, black-type stakes winner of $408,012. He will enter stud at $2,500.
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Pleasant Acres Stallions Stud Fees |
||
| Stallion | 2021 Fee | 2020 Fee |
| Amira's Prince | $2,500 | $2,500 |
| Breaking Lucky | $5,000 | $5,000* |
| Bucchero | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| Gunnevera | $6,000 | NEW |
| Handsome Mike | $4,000 | $4,000 |
| Long On Value | $2,500 | $2,500 |
| Neolithic | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| Ride On Curlin | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| Squadron A | $2,500 | $2,500 |
| Sweetontheladies | $2,500 | NEW |
| Treasure Beach | $4,000 | $7,500 |
* Breaking Lucky stood at Blue Star Racing in Louisiana in 2020
