Tyson, a Canadian champion son of multiple leading sire Tapit , has been purchased by Darryl and Jill Myers to stand his first season at the couple's Stone Jug Ranch, a new Thoroughbred operation near Dillsburg, Pa.
"We've talked about (standing stallions) in the past," said the Myers' bloodstock adviser Ed Price. "But things got serious a week or two ago when we saw this horse."
Tyson was Canada's Sovereign Award Champion Older Horse of 2023. That year he battled for the lead throughout the 1 1/16-mile Seagram Cup Stakes (G2) on the all-weather track at Woodbine before pulling away to a three-length victory. His first stakes win came in the 1 1/8-mile Dominion Day (G3), also on Woodbine's main track, in which he overcame an adventurous trip before drawing off by 1 1/2 lengths. His time of 1:48.32 was .08 of a second off the track record.
A winner of his debut at 3 at Gulfstream Park and a daylight winner in allowance company next out at Woodbine, grade 1-placed Tyson won four of his 10 starts. His three placings were all graded stakes—he ran second, beaten a half-length, in this year's Eclipse Stakes (G2), and was third twice in 2023, in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga Racecourse and in last year's Eclipse in his stakes debut. Tyson retires with earnings of $378,548.
Price said a combination of things make Tyson a great prospect. "He's by a very successful sire of sires, Tapit. It's one of the strongest modern-day female families, with Rags to Riches, Arcangelo. (His third dam, broodmare of the year) Better Than Honour, was the most expensive broodmare ever sold, at $14 million. Plus the fact that he had a lot of racing ability. He won four of his first five starts, was a grade 2 and grade 3 winner, and was third, beaten around three lengths, in the Jockey Club Gold Cup.
"And his foals will be eligible to race in the PA-Sired/PA-Bred Series."
One of 10 Tapit champions (from 175 stakes winners), Tyson is the first foal for Honouring, a Smart Strike winning full sister to grade 1 winner Streaming and stakes winner Treasuring. Another half sister, Modeling (by Tapit), is the dam of Belmont Stakes (G1) and Eclipse Award winner Arcangelo . Honouring's next two foals, both by Tapit, are six-figure sales yearlings at Keeneland.
"Tyson will become one of the six new stallions to date for the 2025 Pennsylvania breeding season," said Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association executive secretary Brian Sanfratello. "Thanks goes out to the Myers for their dedication to Pennsylvania breeding with the opening of their new stallion farm. Tyson should fit in very well, and I wish Darryl and Jill good luck in their new endeavor."
Tyson is expected to arrive at the facility in a few weeks. A stud fee and terms have yet to be announced.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
