Here’s a rewritten version of the content in my own words:
If your stallion has endured the challenges from prior seasons and the offspring are performing on the track, what now?
This issue poses a real challenge for farms standing stallions at fees under $20,000. Over time, the stallion market has become more cutthroat—stallions must either rise to prominence or make way for others. It’s no longer feasible for a stallion to remain in Kentucky for $15,000 season after season, relying on consistent but modest success, while always scouting other opportunities in different states or countries.
Throughout this series, we’ve highlighted several stallions who have successfully navigated this tricky landscape and established themselves as key value sires. Each breeding season ushers in a new wave of hopefuls aiming to carve out similar success by combining early results with commercial appeal to climb the stud fee ranks.
This path is far from easy, and opportunities may open even for top performers, but in times like these, trustworthiness builds reputation. Let’s look at some stallions ready to continue their ascent.
For those interested, a detailed spreadsheet analyzing 196 stallions across up to 59 data points for All-Value Sire Team selection is available via Paulick Report Insider Patreon.
Future Star: Stallions expected to have their 2nd to 4th racing season in 2026.
First Team: Complexity
Bay horse, 2016, Maclean’s Music x Goldfield (by Yes It’s True)
Standing at Airdrie Stud, Kentucky, $20,000
My method for selecting two team captains parallels the NCAA Basketball Tournament structure: starting with a “Sweet Sixteen,” narrowing to an “Elite Eight,” then “Final Four,” and finally selecting the captains.
Veteran stallions with proven records often top these ranks, giving breeders confidence in predictable results when sending mares. Among contenders, Complexity, a less experienced stallion under eight races, made it to the Elite Eight, showcasing the promise he offers at this fee level.
Commercially, Complexity began at $12,500 per cover; his lifetime median yearling sales hit $55,000—the fourth highest among value sires with runners, and tenth overall including those with pre-racing foals. His 2025 yearling median price of $30,000 ranks sixth, likely to increase as better-bred offspring enter the market.
He also placed 34th in the 2025 Young Horse Sales Power Ranking, a noteworthy achievement among value sires.
Performance-wise, Complexity has achieved 6% stakes winners from racing-age colts, nearly matching the best in his class and standing tall alongside sires with six-figure fees. His four major prize winners trail only a handful of top value sires and outperform many higher-fee stallions.
His progeny already prove their worth, with two-year-old Intricate Spirit and several graded stakes performers boosting his reputation. G3 Ohio Derby winner Mo Plex is expected to begin his own stallion career, further solidifying Complexity’s future influence.
Complexity’s race record—highlighted by wins in the G1 Champagne Stakes and G2 Kelso Handicap—illustrates his versatility as a dirt miler, able to enhance a broad range of mares.
At 16.1 hands, he offers a fortunate size combination that balances athleticism and physical appeal, making him a flexible choice for breeders filling out their books.
If this trajectory continues, Complexity might not stay under the $20,000 bracket for long, making now an ideal time to consider him.
Second Team: Maximus Mischief
Bay horse, 2016, Into Mischief x Reina Maria (by Songandaprayer)
Standing at Spendthrift Farm, Kentucky, $20,000
Maximus Mischief began somewhat under the radar with just $7,500 in earnings, part of Spendthrift Farm’s notable 2020 incoming stallion class. Against barnmates with much larger earnings, he’s fared admirably and now out-earns some of them.
With 365 foals of racing age, he ranks third in the Future Star division for quantity, also boasting a sizeable pipeline of younger stock.
His place on the team owes to making the most of his chance at a moderate fee. Maximus Mischief posted a 16% win rate mid-November, outperforming or matching several stallions commanding six-figure fees.
For stallions at this price, winning on the track is paramount, and few match Maximus Mischief’s success.
His offspring’s size necessitates a higher number of winners to stay competitive, yet he impressively has 4% stakes winners from foals of racing age, second in his division.
He has sired top performers like G1 Met Mile winner Raging Trent and G1 American Pharoah Stakes winner Intrepid, the latter poised to begin his stud career in 2026.
Commercially, Maximus Mischief’s median yearling sales climbed from $20,000 to $25,000, with weanling prices rising dramatically as well, signaling growing market confidence.
As he continues to establish himself, the stallion’s prime seasons at this fee level could last several years.
Regional Stallion: Stallions standing outside Kentucky, of any age or surface preference.
First Team: Honest Prank
Bay horse, Into Mischief x Honest Lady (by Seattle Slew)
Standing at Sequel, New York, $7,500
The battle between the first and second teams this year was extremely close, with Honest Prank narrowly taking first-team honors for the third straight season due to his steady career progress.
New York’s strong state-bred stakes program supports his rise, as Honest Prank has produced seven stakes winners from his first two racing crops, ranking him among the top second-crop sires in North America.
Despite never commanding more than a $7,500 stud fee, Honest Prank boasts 11 horses with six-figure earnings and many more on the way. His 16% win rate makes him a reliable investment for breeders and trainers alike.
Interestingly, though he never raced as a two-year-old, Honest Prank sires precocious juveniles, as evidenced by high rankings in juvenile sales metrics and several juvenile stakes winners in 2025.
His influence extends internationally, with runners placing in graded stakes like the UAE Oaks.
Backed by Into Mischief’s outstanding pedigree, Honest Prank has surpassed expectations amidst intensified competition in New York’s stallion ranks and is poised to remain a leading figure.
Second Team: Central Banker
Bay horse, 2010, Speightstown x Rum (by Go For Gin)
Standing at Saratoga Thoroughbred McMahon, New York, $7,500
Counting his tenth stallion season, Central Banker remains a model of consistency, continuing to lead as New York’s top sire by generating multiple stakes winners.
Highlighting his success is Bank Frenzy, with earnings of $430,250 this season, ranking fourth among all New York-breds regardless of birthplace.
Though some offspring like Bankit and Asa Matcha earned seven figures, Central Banker’s overall ability to produce dependable earners from modest fees is key.
With 12% of his 522 foals of racing age earning six figures, and an average earning over $34,000 per horse, Central Banker is a reliable, steady presence that breeders and trainers can count on.
His dependability makes him a vital contributor to breeding farms and racing stables, offering consistent value where unpredictability often reigns.
This analysis originally appeared in the Paulick Report on December 29, 2025.
Fan Take: This deep dive into rising and reliable stallions under $20,000 is crucial for horse racing enthusiasts because it highlights future stars and steady performers who shape the sport’s competitive landscape. Understanding these value sires can help fans appreciate the breeding strategies that may produce tomorrow’s champions, keeping the sport vibrant and accessible.
