GISW Highland Falls (Curlin–Round Pond, by Awesome Again) and MGSW & 'TDN Rising Star', presented by Hagyard First Mission (Street Sense–Elude, by Medaglia d'Oro) will join the Darley America stallion roster with stud fees set at $10,000 each for 2026, according to a press release from Jonabell Farm on Thursday. Darley said that topping the list will be GI Kentucky Derby victor Nyquist (by Uncle Mo)–the sire of ten career GI winners–but his fee will be announced after the Breeders' Cup.
Highland Falls, the 2024 GI Jockey Club Gold Cup hero, posted a 104 Beyer and bested three Grade I winners. The newly-minted Jonabell stallion was a runner-up to champion & 'TDN Rising Star', presented by Hagyard, Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) in this year's GI Whitney Stakes where he clocked a 107 Beyer. Highland Falls is Curlin's only GI-winning son out of a multiple GI-winning mare. Due to a minor injury, the 5-year-old will miss his planned final start in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, but will be available for viewing at the farm during the November sales.
First Mission, a four-time graded stakes winner, is by sire of sires Street Sense (by Street Cry {Ire}), whose sons at stud include star freshman Maxfield and MGISW sire McKinzie. First Mission won the GII Oaklawn Handicap running a 109 Beyer, the GII Alysheba Stakes at Churchill with a 106 Beyer, plus he netted the GIII Essex Stakes and GIII Stonestreet Lexington Stakes.
The current 5-year-old dark bay was also third in the GI Stephen Foster to Mindframe (Constitution) and Sierra Leone, finishing ahead of Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan (Goldencents) and G1 Dubai World Cup winner Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}). First Mission will be available for viewing at Jonabell following his final start in the GII Clark Stakes at Churchill Downs Nov. 28.
Nyquist | Sarah Andrew
Nyquist will once again helm the schedule at Jonabell after a 2025 season which included leading Grade I victories by Cavalieri, Velocity, and Argos, plus graded wins by 'TDN Rising Star', presented by Hagyard, Nysos, Crimson Advocate, Gosger, Verity, Tenma, Johannes, and Randomized. Nyquist is expected to be represented by several Breeders' Cup contenders.
Freshman sire Maxfield's first 2-year-old runners include SW Max Ciao along with three 'TDN Rising Stars', presented by Hagyard, in Magna Victor, GISP Five Bars, and Englishman, who earned a 97 Beyer on debut at Churchill Downs and is a candidate for the GII Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes Nov. 28. Maxfield will stand for $50,000 next year.
Multiple Eclipse Champion Essential Quality (by Tapit), whose first juveniles include Ellis Park Debutante Stakes winner Chopsticks, SW Essential Time and Saratoga debut winner Aye Eye, will stand for $25,000 next season.
Speaker's Corner (by Street Sense) and Mystic Guide (by Ghostzapper) have their first-crop yearlings at the sales and their fees will remain at $10,000 and $7,500, respectively.
Horse of the Year Cody's Wish (by Curlin) and GISW Proxy (by Tapit), who will both have their first weanlings through the ring in November, will stand for $60,000 and $12,500, respectively.
Rounding out the 2026 roster are Street Sense at $40,000, Hard Spun (by Danzig) at $20,000, Midshipman (by Unbridled's Song) at $15,000 and Frosted by (Tapit) at $12,500.
Perennial leading sire Medaglia d'Oro (by El Prado {Ire}), whose 30 career Grade I winners include this year's Kentucky Oaks champ Good Cheer and GI Alabama Stakes winner Nitrogen, will be retired from the roster, while future plans for MGISW Sovereignty (Into Mischief) will be determined after the Breeders' Cup Classic.
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