Ironhorse Stallions announced Oct. 25 that Bucchero will stand the 2026 breeding season for $12,500, with an early-bird discount available through Dec. 31 for mares foaling in New York and a breeder-friendly mare cap of 140. Bucchero stood for $10,000 in 2025.
With the fewest named foals of the top 15 fourth-crop sires, Bucchero continues to distinguish himself among the elite of his generation, producing results despite covering mares with a lower average quality index than some of his four-crop stallion counterparts. The Comparable Index of mares bred to Bucchero is 1.03, demonstrating that Bucchero's foals continue to perform well above expectations.
CI measures the average earnings of progeny produced from the annual book of mares bred to a sire when those same mares were bred to other sires.
"While we recognize that Bucchero's credentials and performance could justify a larger rise in his stud fee, we wanted to send a clear message," said Harlan Malter, managing partner of Ironhorse Stallions. "With the top stallion in New York, our goal is to be partners with breeders, to make top-quality stallions accessible at a level that allows loyal New York breeders not just to survive, but to thrive. We believe that kind of collaboration is what will strengthen and grow this program for years to come."
Further underscoring his consistency, Bucchero leads all fourth-crop sires with 100 or more starters in two key productivity measures: more than 60% winners from named foals, and an impressive 82% starters from named foals. These numbers highlight the hallmark of the Bucchero line: durability, soundness, and the ability to compete and win at a remarkably high rate.
"Bucchero just keeps showing up where it matters," said John Dowd of Ironhorse Stallions. "He's proven he belongs in the same conversation as the top young sires in the country, and he's done it the right way, through consistency, toughness, and results. When you pair that with the opportunities in the New York-bred and New York-sired programs, it's an unbeatable formula for breeders who want both quality and value."
Bucchero's success has carried through to the sales ring, where demand for his progeny continues to surge. His 2025 yearlings sold strongly at Fasig-Tipton New York Yearlings Sale and the Ocala Breeders' Sales October Yearling Sale. One such highlight was a $240,000 yearling sold at Fasig-Tipton, just a few miles from Saratoga Race Course, the same venue where his star son Book'em Danno swept a historic trio of graded sprint victories this summer.
Along with multiple grade 1 winner Book'em Danno, a leading contender for the Eclipse Award for champion male sprinter, Bucchero is also the sire of multiple graded stakes winner Queen Maxima and multiple stakes winner Buccherino. Bucchero is also on of the leading synthetic sires in the United States, second behind only Not This Time in 2025 after being atop the list in 2024, further proof of his ability to sire fast, durable, and versatile runners across all surfaces.
When Belmont Park reopens following its ongoing renovation, one of its track surfaces will be a synthetic Tapeta surface.
Standing at Ironhorse Stallions near Schuylerville, N.Y, Bucchero offers breeders the rare chance to access a proven national-caliber sire while staying in-state and taking advantage of one of the most lucrative breeding incentive programs in North America.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
