Eight Rings Relocates to Rancho San Miguel from Harris Farms

[Wandering Eyes]

Grade I winner Eight Rings (Empire Maker) has relocated from Harris Farms to Rancho San Miguel and will stand at the new farm for a 2026 fee of $6,000 with a live foal guarantee, it was announced by press release.

The son of Empire Maker claimed his elite-level win in the GI American Pharoah Stakes for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert as a juvenile and went on to be placed in four other graded contests–namely the GI Bing Crosby (second); GIII Native Diver (third); GII San Antonio Stakes (second); and the GII San Pasqual Stakes (third) in Southern California. He wrapped his career as the earner of $474,451 in his career.

As a sire, Eight Rings' first foals are now yearlings, and have been well-received in 2025. The stallion claims the highest median sales results among all active California stallions this year. During the 2025 Fasig-Tipton California Fall Yearlings sale, four of his offspring sold for gross receipts of $140,000, yielding an average price of $35,000 and median of $37,500 while led by a $60,000 colt. He previously stood at Harris Farms, which has dispersed its stallion roster following the death of owner John Harris last July.

“Eight Rings is truly the Adonis of stallions–a remarkable physical specimen without a single conformation flaw,” said Adrian Gonzalez, president of Checkmate Thoroughbreds LLC and managing partner of the Eight Rings Partnership. “His exceptional quality is now clearly reflected in his offspring, and we were handsomely rewarded in the sales ring with his first yearlings. I've been thoroughly impressed with his foals, and all of our California-based mares will be booked to him in 2026.”

Produced by Purely Hot, a graded stakes-winning daughter of Pure Prize, the 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard'  represents the same Empire Maker/Storm Cat pedigree cross as fellow 'Rising Stars' 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah and 2016 champion 2-year-old colt Classic Empire. Eight Rings is a half-brother to MSP British Isles (Justify) as well as four other winners.

“We are honored and excited to have such an outstanding stallion prospect,” said Rancho San Miguel Owner Tom Clark. “We believe he has huge potential to be a leading sire in California.”

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