By JoAnn Guidry

Given the current challenging economic times, many would view building and opening a new stallion station operation as a very risky venture. Brent and Crystal Fernung prefer to consider it as being opportunistic.

After Journeyman Stud enjoyed a successful 2008 breeding season in leased facilities, the Fernungs broke ground on May 24 for a new 9,500-square foot, 14-stall stallion barn/office complex in northwest Ocala. The latest incarnation of Journeyman Stud, located on the Fernungs’ 52-acre Journeyman Farm, officially opened for business on October 13. Brent and Crystal serve as president and vice president, respectively, with Ken Breitenbecker doing double-duty as general and stallion manager.

“When CloverLeaf Farms closed, we saw an opportunity to establish our own stallion station,” said Brent Fernung, who served as CloverLeaf Farms II general manager from the fall of 2000 until June 30, 2007. “We thought about building a new stallion station then, but with the time constraints decided to lease facilities instead for the 2008 breeding season. The positive response to the stallions we stood in our first year of operation led to the decision to move forward. Halfway into the season, we started making plans for building our own facilities for the 2009 season.”

While the 2008 season was successful, the location of the leased stallion station was problematic. The Fernungs, who established their Journeyman Bloodstock Services Inc. in 1989, own two farms within four miles of each other in the northwest area of Marion County. The leased stallion facilities were located on Lucky Warrior Farm in the southeast corner of the county.

“Having the stallion operation on the other end of the county from our farms and our other businesses wasn’t the best-case scenario,” said Crystal Fernung. “Of course, there was the price of fuel to contend with. Plus, our staff was stretched out between the farms and the stallion station. Now with Journeyman Stud located on our farm, we’ve consolidated our operation for everyone’s benefit.

The previously mentioned 52-acre parcel and nearby 90-acre Journeyman II also serve as the base of operation for Journeyman Bloodstock Services, as well as home for the Fernungs’ broodmare band. As a breeder, Brent and Crystal Fernung have been represented this season by Florida-bred stakes winners Famous Patriot and Gin and Sin.

Under Journeyman Bloodstock Services, the Fernungs’ provide sales representation, broodmare partnerships, and also have a public training division for juvenile sales and racetrack preparation. Cirilo Figueroa is the operation’s farm manager and Keith Sargent heads the training division.

At this year’s Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s October mixed sale, Journeyman Bloodstock was the overall second-leading sales consignor by gross with $278,200. They sold the highest-priced broodmare and the second-highest priced weanling. Escape From Home, a 4-year-old Came Home filly, sold in foal to Rock Hard Ten for $65,000 to Woodland Farm. A Rockport Harbor out of Christmas Lights, by Citidancer, weanling filly sold for $80,000 to CCS Bloodstock.

Room To Grow

Built by Delbene Brothers Inc., Journeyman Stud’s 7,000-square foot, 14-stall stallion barn is flanked by 14 turnout paddocks. While the current Journeyman Stud roster numbers elevent, the facility was designed with room for growth in mind.

“I learned my lesson at CloverLeaf about building a stallion barn,” said Brent Fernung, who in his more than 30-year involvement in the Thoroughbred industry has also served in management positions at Lasater Farm and Southland Farm. “When I started at CloverLeaf, there was only a four-stall stallion barn and one stallion. As we acquired more stallions, we had to build on to that and it wasn’t the best situation. I never wanted to be in that position again.”

Under Fernung’s management, the CloverLeaf Farms stallion roster grew to a dozen. Included in that number were such sires as Repent, Congrats, Alke, Mass Media and Wildcat Heir. When the Fernungs’ set up their Journeyman Stud for the 2008 breeding season, the roster was comprised of Bwana Charlie, Cashel Castle, Exclusive Quality, Mass Media, Mongoose, Saint Anddan and Wildcat Heir.

The Journeyman Stud roster for the 2009 breeding season includes Bwana Charlie, Cashel Castle, Circular Quay, Cowtown Cat, Deputy Glitters, Exclusive Quality, Gaff, Mass Media, Saint Anddan, Sweet Return (GB) and Wildcat Heir.

“We are very fortunate to have clients like Gary and Mary West, Taylor Made Farm, WinStar Farm, Becky Thomas and Bill Heiligbrodt who have continued to show their confidence in us and the Florida industry,” said Fernung. “And we’re delighted to have new clients like the Circular Quay syndicate, John Brunetti and Joe LaCombe.”

Exclusive Quality, a stakes winner by Elusive Quality out of First Glimmer, by Glitterman, was bred to 134 mares last season in his first year at Journeyman Stud. Also hitting the 100-mare mark were Saint Anddan (120) and Wildcat Heir (100).

The new kids on the block for Journeyman Stud are Circular Quay, Cowtown Cat, Deputy Glitters, Gaff and Sweet Return (GB).

Circular Quay is a Grade I-winning millionaire by Thunder Gulch out of the Grade I-winning Belong to Me mare Circle of Life. Circular Quay won the 2006 Hopeful Stakes (G1), ’07 Louisiana Derby (G2), ’08 New Orleans Handicap (G2) and ’06 Bashford Manor Stakes (G3). He was also second to Street Sense in the 2006 Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and to Great Hunter in the ’06 Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity (G1). He retired to stud with earnings of $1,505,434 and will stand in 2009 as property of a syndicate.

“Circular Quay is the whole package that you want in a stallion,” said Fernung. “He was an outstanding racehorse and he’s from a fantastic family. He’s by a champion who’s a leading sire and he’s out of a graded stakes-winning, black-type producing mare. He fits Florida perfectly and the syndicate who owns him is very excited to be able to offer him to breeders.”

Graded stakes winner Cowtown Cat is by Distorted Humor out of the winning Storm Cat mare Tom’s Cat. In 2007, he won the Illinois Derby (G2) and Gotham Stakes (G3) for WinStar Farm and Gulf Coast Farms. Cowtown Cat retires to stud with earnings of $562,228.  “There are a lot of stallions down here that have the pedigree and are outstanding physical individuals, but lack the race record, Cowtown Cat is the complete package, he has it all.”

Deputy Glitters won the 2006 Ohio Derby (G2), defeating eventual Grade I winner Flashy Bull, and Tampa Bay Derby (G3), besting eventual Grade I winner Bluegrass Cat. By Deputy Commander out of Glitters, by Glitterman, Deputy Glitters arned $426,696 for Joseph LaCombe. He will stand at Journeyman Stud as property of LaCombe.

“Anytime you can stand a two-time derby winner, that’s a great thing you can’t pass up,” said Fernung. “Deputy Glitters showed ability and class as a racehorse. He’ll definitely be a bonus for Florida breeders and we appreciate Mr. LaCombe giving us this opportunity.”

Gaff is a multiple grade-three stakes winner by Maria’s Mon out of Ionlyhaveeyesforu, by Tunerup. Raced by Heiligbrodt Racing Stable, Gaff earned $569,513 while racing in this country, Ireland and the United Arab Emirates. Gaff set a then six-furlongs track record of 1:08.50 in winning the 2006 Mr. Prospector Handicap. In addition to possessing speed, Gaff showed his versatility in capturing the 2007 Aegon Turf Sprint Stakes (G3) on the turf.

Sweet Return (GB), a triple Grade I millionaire who previously stood in Florida at The Signature, has been relocated to Journeyman Stud for the 2009 season. Owned by John Brunetti’s Red Oak Stable, Sweet Return is by Elmaamul out of the winning Claude Monet mare Sweet Revival. He won the 2003 Hollywood Derby (G1), 2005 Eddie Read Handicap (G1) and 2005 Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap (G1) to earn $1,801,377.

Still Shopping

While happy with the current Journeyman Stud roster, Fernung is still shopping for new stallion barn residents.

“Beyond the obvious pedigree, conformation and race record criteria, I look for a horse with a ‘Wow’ factor and who’s done something that separates him from the others,” said Fernung. “I want a horse that’s done something extraordinary and sends you a message that he’s special. I don’t adhere to the flavor-of-the-month sire lines just because that’s what everyone else is doing. I prefer to judge a stallion prospect on his own merit. And I’m definitely racehorse-oriented when it comes to picking out a stallion.”

Fernung likes to be broadminded in his stallion roster makeup, believing in giving breeders options. “I like to say that we promote one-stop shopping when it comes to our stallions,” he said. “Here in Florida, a good stud fee price range is $2,500 to $12,500. But that being said, Florida breeders would support the right $20,000-$25,000 stallion. And  my long-term goal is to bring that kind of stallion to Florida.”

Fernung believes that Florida breeders want an option to shipping their mares to stallions out of state.

“If you stand good stallions here in Florida, it only makes economic sense, especially now in these times, that breeders would prefer to bring their mares to your stallions,” said Fernung. “Staying at home saves money on shipping, boarding and all those other expenses that add up when you ship your mare out of state. I believe you have to offer breeders good opportunity and options. If you do that, they will come to your stallions.”

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