Bernardini retired (fee is 100K)
 

He is officially retired. Too bad.

Hmm, wonder if they were trolling higher fees around on purpose or they just decided it. My dad did say they hadnt made a final decision as of this morning.

Can someone tell me how Smarty Jones somehow has the same fee as him?

George Washington (the poster here) said they couldn't justify a higher fee than Mineshaft. I don't know exactly what that means, but that is what he said and that is why the fee is $100K.

any reason why he shouldn't?

mineshaft, HOTY, and son of ap indy. if they put bernardini higher, they would encourage trips to mineshaft instead.

It is really stupid that they retire a good horse like Bernadini. If I were them I would avenge thier loss and start a new campaign next year to rematch with Invasor. I am pretty sure he accomplished (3 G1 and a G2) enough to uphold his stud fee even if he loses every race next year. Its not like they need the money to begin with.

I would love to see them ship over to So. Cal and race against Lava Man in the Big Cap. But thats just a dream.

they have discreet cat to right any perceived wrongs for them--at least, that's what they plan.

and we all know how well plans work...on paper! they always look good in theory.

Gee, I don't know. Let's see.

Smarty is by Elusive Quality ($100k stud fee) out of a good mare by Smile.

Bernardini is by A.P. Indy ($300k stud fee) out of a G1-winning mare by Quiet American.

I'm no pedigree guru, but I'd say Bernardini would be the MUCH more desirable sire at equal fee, and that's putting on-track accomplishments aside..

On the track? The difference is negligible, but figure-wise, Bernardini was faster, and he also did something Smarty never did, which was beat older horses.

elusive quality is a record setting miler who has done very well at stud in a very short time, and smartys record is fantastic. both have legit pedigrees.
i don't see tho, what one fee has to do with the other. both deserve to be at their price. really not sure at all why you brought up smarty. i'd have brought up bluegrass cat, or even ap warrior with their bloated fees. at least bgc has a grade one...
as for more desirable, depends on the mare.

I thought it was pretty obvious that I brought up Smarty because he and Bernardini are two recent retirees who stand at equal fees. I agree that Bluegrass Cat and A.P. Warrior stand for too much, but the point is that there's no way Smarty should be standing for as much as Bernardini does. I guess I'm just making a point in retrospect because I never chimed in when Smarty's fee was first announced. I also thought Bernardini would be at least $150k.

One is a Kentucky Derby winner, one isn't.

Why not? What is it that makes you draw this conclusion?

one is one length removed from the triple crown as well, and ran for more than one year--which is evidently a rarity these days.

had they put bernardini at 150, they'd have lost mares to mineshaft and others.

Sigh, what a shame and for no good reason, with a very talented, perhaps special horse who is sound as a dollar.

I will never feel the same way about another horse as I do Bernardini - he was truly special to me. What a kick in the teeth and a great reason to never latch onto any horse again. I wish I could root for Bernardini to fail just to stick it to the Sheikh, but there's no way I can. I love the horse too much.

What a disgrace - there aren't words enough to convey how angry and frustrated I am.

You might want to read my post above. Bernardini has a much better pedigree and accomplished about just as much on the track.

I guess, but I think people way overvalue the Derby. I guess that's my point here.

no, you're right in that respect. thing is, smarty won more than just the derby. ran over a multitude of tracks, and at differing distances. won two classic and barely lost a third.
not many derby winners go on to huge success at stud, so you're not far off in wondering why they get so much attention! but then, 8-9 in 10 horses are failures in the shed...so i'm not so sure that derby winners fare any better or worse.

I'm glad he lost now because I can afford to breed my best mare to him now for only 100K....if he wins the BC Classic he stands for a quarter million....I couldn't be happier :D