Champion Sire Congrats is one of the industry's brightest young stallion stars. By A.P. Indy and from a live, rich family, his successes have only begun to scratch the surface.
Congrats was far and away the nation's Champion Freshman Sire in 2010, leading a stellar crop of sires who included Bernardini, War Front, First Samurai, and Bluegrass Cat. His inaugural two-year-olds encompassed 25 winners, 9 multiple winners, and 12 stakes horses, top numbers in the crop. He has since gone on to prove his early results were a harbinger of things to come:
- 11 stakes winners, 27 stakes horses, $9,500,000 in three crops
- Three U.S. Grade 1 winners - four Grade 1 two-year-olds
- One of just six active stallions to sire two or more 2012 U.S. G1 winners on dirt
- Greatest increase in quality of mares bred of any stallion in his fee range ($25,000-$49,000) - 80%
- 2013 Two-Year-Olds in Training include a $400,000 colt and $200,000 filly
- 161 live foals and 131 mares bred in 2012
Congrats bred more mares than any stallion in the nation his first year in Kentucky (205), and his ensuing CI (2.71) and CPI (4.30) were among the very best in his fee range. In 2012, he sired two Grade 1 winners: Emma's Encore and Turbulent Descent. Just six active stallions sired two or more U.S. Grade 1 winners on dirt in 2012, and he was the only one who stood for less than $60,000.
Progeny by Congrats have been well received at public auction. In 2013, mares in foal to Congrats have sold for $460,000, $310,000, $270,000, etc.; his two-year-olds in training include $400,000 and $200,000 colts plus $200,000 and $195,000 fillies; and his short yearlings outsold his 2012 yearlings by 20%. The future is, indeed, bright.
"Outstanding sire."--John Sparkman in Blood-Horse May 11, 2013