Fitz Fits

Back in late March, I wrote a couple of posts (March 28 and March 29) in which I expressed interest in the Buck Pond Farm stallion Seattle Fitz (ARG).  For those of you who agreed (or already shared that opinion, or have since discovered him), you won't want to miss Dede Biles' feature article "Seattle Surprise" in this week's edition of The Blood-Horse.

Seattle Fitz (on SRO) had his first crop of 2-year-olds hit the sales this year; the freshman sire entered stud the same year as standouts Congaree (on SRO), Lion Heart (on SRO), Smarty Jones (on SRO), Spanish Steps (on SRO), Speightstown (on SRO), Tapit (on SRO), and many other notables.

In addition to insights from Buck Pond's owner Doug Arnold, Dede explores the sales results of the sire (2008 average $350,000 and median $290,000)  relative to other first-crop sires.  I won't give anything away, but you might be surprised who he beats.... 

The article delves into Seattle Fitz's rare-for-the-U.S. bloodlines, the history of his arrival at Buck Pond, and the highs and lows of his first years at stud (including the unimpressive 17 mares covered in 2007... don't you wish you'd made it 18?!?).  When I was researching studs late last year, I liked "Fitz" for one of my mares; now I wish I'd jumped on his low 2008 fee -- you know it'll spike next year!

While you wait for your copy of the magazine to arrive, check out Dede's auctions-themed blog here in the Blood-Horse Blog Stable:  Hammer Time.