SANTA YNEZ, Calif. (June 8, 2021) – It is with great sadness that we announce our longtime stallion Old Topper was euthanized due to issues from old age. He was 26 and had been pensioned in 2019.

Old Topper was a multiple graded stakes winner of $655,861, racing from two through five. From the first crop of Champion Gilded Time, Old Topper was one of the first stallions to stand at Tommy Town for Tom and Debi Stull. They believed in the young stallion so strongly that they announced all 2003 and 2004 stud fees for the Old Topper would be refunded if he was not the leading California stallion by the end of 2004.

Tom Stull told the Blood Horse after the announcement of the breeding incentive, “We were able to judge his first foals. We were able to see how good they looked by conformation and when they were running in the field. I felt they would be precocious. I wanted to support him and felt I needed to make a commitment so people would come out and look at his babies.”

Old Topper rewarded the faith bestowed upon him by being the Leading Freshman sire in California in 2004. He lead the Second-crop sire list in 2005 and the Third-crop sire list in 2006. Through today, he had sired 27 stakes winners and lifetime progeny earnings of more than $22 million.

Old Topper’s leading earner is Ain’t No Other ($715,280) and his runners included multiple graded stakes winner Queen Bee to You ($658,770), graded winner Top Kisser ($407,100), and this season’s undefeated Evening Jewel Stakes winner, Becca Taylor.