Kantharos Returns to Florida, Tops Ocala Stud's Roster

Ocala Stud has announced fees for its 2027 stallion roster, headed by Kantharos, who is returning to Florida and will stand for $8,500, live foal stands and nurses. Roadster, the Sunshine State's No. 1 first-crop sire and 10th nationally, will stand the upcoming breeding season for $7,500, and Khozan will stand for $6,000. The roster is further bolstered by the addition of Rated by Merit, who will stand his first season at stud for $3,500. A perennial leading sire, Kantharos initially stood in Florida before relocating to Hill 'n' Dale Farms in 2016. That transition year saw him dominate the Florida sire ranks—leading in graded stakes winners, black-type horses, and black-type winners, while finishing the year as Florida's No. 2 general sire behind only Wildcat Heir and the No. 1 Florida sire of 2-year-olds. With his move back to Florida, he tops all Florida sires in 2026 with progeny earnings of more than $6.5 million this season. The son of Lion Heart stood for $10,000 at Hill 'n' Dale in Kentucky this past breeding season. With a proven reputation for siring precocious, fast horses such as grade 1 winners X Y Jet, an earner of more than $3 million, and World of Trouble, as well as multiple graded stakes winner and leading young sire Bucchero, Kantharos is represented this year by multiple graded stakes winner Lagynos, winner of the Wise Dan Stakes (G2T) and the Muniz Memorial Classic Stakes (G2T), and Somerset West, victorious in the Music City Stakes (G2T) and San Clemente Handicap (G2T). Roadster is far and away the leading freshman sire in Florida. The 2019 Santa Anita Derby (G1)-winning son of Quality Road boasts 16 first-crop winners, six black-type horses, and progeny earnings of $1,061,785 through Oct. 21. His runners are led by Hot Rod Honey, winner of the Sharp Susan Stakes and third in the Scandalous Act Stakes, and Road Show, an impressive maiden special weight winner at Saratoga Race Course and runner-up in the Bertram F. Bongard Stakes at Belmont Park. Khozan, a son of Distorted Humor, is currently the No. 2 Florida general sire behind Kantharos and was Florida's top general sire each year from 2020-25. This year, his runners, including 91 winners and three black-type horses, have banked more than $3 million. Colonel Liam's first-crop runners include Liam's Law, impressive winner of the With Anticipation Stakes (G3T) at Saratoga and a possible contender in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T). A three-time grade 1 winner during his racing career, Colonel Liam is a son of Liam's Map—a half brother to leading general sire Not This Time—and was a $1.2 million 2-year-old in training purchase by Robert and Lawana Low. Awesome Slew is represented in 2026 by grade 1 winner R Disaster, a leading contender for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1). Also possible for that Breeders' Cup race is Nooni, by Win Win Win. St. Elias Stable's Florida homebred Rated by Merit swept the 2024 Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association Florida Sire Stakes series at Gulfstream Park as an undefeated 2-year-old. He made short work of his rivals in that year's Florida Sire series, demonstrating speed and stamina. Rated by Merit won all three races by a combined 16 lengths, including the Affirmed division with a 99 Beyer Speed Figure, the fastest by a 2-year-old in his crop. In his first start at 3 for new trainer Chad Brown, Rated by Merit captured the 1-mile Discovery Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack. In that front-running score, he covered the distance in 1:33.45, running a career-best Beyer of 106. He was unplaced in two subsequent graded stakes starts in 2026 Rated by Merit is by Battalion Runner, a multiple graded stakes-placed son of Unbridled's Song, and is produced from the winning Speightstown mare Banner Waving. He hails from the family of the grade 1-winning A.P. Indy mare Runup the Colors, multiple graded stakes winner Revolutionary, and multiple stakes-winning millionaire Bango. Ocala Stud 2027 Stud Fees