STALLION BREEDING

Stallion breeding in the Horse Capital of the World is at its’ best at Castleton Lyons, a full service stallion breeding facility located on Iron Works Pike in Lexington, Kentucky. Castleton Lyons is one of the great stallion breeding horse farms in Kentucky and its legendary history is known to many. The idyllic setting of Castleton Lyons has been home to some of the finest thoroughbred horses for over 200 years. Castleton Lyons is now owned by Shane Ryan, following in the distinguished footsteps of his father, Dr. Tony Ryan. Castleton Lyons sits on over 1,000 acres of prime bluegrass and has fifteen barns with 120 stalls. The farm is gorgeous with a medieval-style stone tower that dominates the landscape by day and illuminates the fields by night. Castleton Lyons hand-selected our stallions, Gio Ponti and Justin Phillip, from premier bloodlines.

Castleton Lyons’ Gio Ponti was born in 2005 and banked nearly 6.2 million dollars while racing. Among many career honors, Gio Ponti was a three time Eclipse Award winner. He won major races in five straight seasons, during three of which he was one of the world’s best. Gio Ponti remained atop his game through age 6 when winning the G1 Shadwell Turf Mile for a second consecutive year. At stud, Gio Ponti bred a high class first book in 2012, producing some exceptional foals that have captured the attention of breeders nationwide. Castleton Lyons has supported Gio Ponti with multiple farm mares each season. In 2014 Gio Ponti brought a 150-mare book on a flood tide of 300 applications. Gio Ponti first weanlings averaged $125,778 in 2015. The modern three-time champion resides now in the same historic barn and grazes the same limestone-infused pastureland as glorious horses from Castleton’s past including Peter Pan, Domino and Ben Brush. Gio Ponti’s 2017 stud fee is $7,500 stand and nurse.

Justin Phillip entered stud at Castleton Lyons in 2014. Justin Phillip won 7 of 32 starts over four seasons, with 6 seconds and 8 thirds and earned $1,293,437. He picked up his Grade 1 win in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga Race Course in the summer of 2013 and also won two other graded stakes in his career while placing in four Grade 1 events. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 100 or more on nine different occasions. Justin Phillip’s first foals were weanlings in 2015 and brought an average auction price of $50,020 and the following year his exceptional crop yearlings were well received at the sales selling up to $100,000. Justin Phillip’s 2017 stud fee is $5,000 stand and nurse.

Castleton Lyons understands that breeding selections for your mare is an important decision. Our breeding operation is conducted in a manner to maximize conception. Our success rate speaks for itself. Our goal is a team effort to help you raise your next champion. Because our owner and manager are involved in every aspect of the breeding process, our experienced team can help you ensure the best possible mating outcome. Our breeding consultations will help you evaluate balance of aptitudes, line-breeding, nicking and outcrossing so that you can make the best choice for your mare.

Castleton Lyons has state-of-the-art thoroughbred horse breeding facilities, equipped with the latest and most up-to-date equipment. Castleton Lyons has one of the most knowledgeable and conscientious staffs in the industry, with dedicated and experienced professionals at your service. Our employees take their work seriously and consider it a privilege to work with some of the finest thoroughbreds in the world. The close availability of world-class Central Kentucky veterinary services assures you that your horse will have timely access to address any medical needs should they arise. Each horse at Castleton Lyons is given the utmost individual care and consideration.

Contact Castleton Lyons for more information about our world class stallion breeding in Lexington, Kentucky.