Quality Stallions Highlight This Breeding And Sales Operation
Dedicated to providing the highest level of care
Despite serving as a steady and consistent presence for California breeders over the past two decades, Rancho San Miguel does not simply rest on its well-earned laurels. Instead, the 250-acre jewel of San Luis Obispo County continues to evolve and expand in order to meet the changing demands of the state’s Thoroughbred industry.
Under the stewardship of owners Tom and Nancy Clark since 2000, the farm has developed into one of California’s leading stallion stations and foal nurseries. Expert horse care, attentive customer service and a skilled workforce are keys to the farm’s success.
New Farm Manager Leads Focus on Commercial Sales
Joining Rancho San Miguel as Farm Manager in 2022 is the highly respected, longtime Pacific Coast horsewoman Jenny Webber. The Oregon State University Animal Science graduate and MBA recipient recently chaired the Sales Committee for the Washington Thoroughbred Breeders & Owners Association.
Alongside Consignment Manager Danny Ramirez, Webber is spearheading Rancho San Miguel’s expansion into sale preparation and consignment. In 2022, the farm prepared approximately 75 horses for four West Coast auctions and achieved a 96% clearance rate, led by a California-bred Maclean’s Music colt who commanded $145,000 at the Fasig-Tipton California Fall Yearlings Sale.
Also crucial to the farm’s overall success are Stallion Manager Ciriaco Cisneros, Assistant Farm Manager Francisco (Pancho) Rodriguez and a loyal and experienced staff of more than 20 workers, most of whom live on-site to provide round-the-clock supervision of the horses in their care.
A Diverse, Dynamic Selection of Stallions
The stallion roster at Rancho San Miguel is carefully curated to present a wide variety of pedigrees, performance abilities and price ranges to mare owners. In addition to the farm’s tried and-true offerings, efforts are made each year to acquire new recruits that will complement the fraternity.
Filling this newcomer role in 2022 was Mo Forza, an exciting Grade 1 winner and $1,034,460-earner by Uncle Mo who covered 99 mares during his inaugural breeding season. Group 2 winner Sir Prancealot, by Tamayuz (GB), made headlines in 2022 as the sire of two consecutive West Coast yearling sale-toppers — an $85,000 colt in Washington and a $50,000 colt in Northern California, as well as a pair of $100,000 offspring at the Fasig-Tipton sale in Southern California. All were conceived at Rancho San Miguel.
The farm is also home to California’s 2022 leading second-crop sire by progeny earnings, Danzing Candy. The multiple graded stakes winner by Twirling Candy is represented this year by his Del Mar juvenile stakes winner, Giver Not a Taker.
Also sending out a regional stakes winner in 2022 is Slew’s Tiznow, a Grade 1-placed dual stakes winner by Tiznow whose son Slew’s Tiz Whiz dominated Emerald Downs’ $150,000 Longacres Mile Stakes.
Grade 1 winner Tom’s Tribute, by Lion Heart, made a splash in 2022 with his 2-year-old filly Tom’s Regret, an authoritative winner against males in Churchill Downs’ $179,785 Kentucky Juvenile Stakes.
Led by a pair of six figure-earners, British Columbia Derby (G3) winner Northern Causeway, by Giant’s Causeway, topped $1.5 million in total progeny earnings in 2022. Veteran sire Richard’s Kid, a two-time Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) winner by Lemon Drop Kid, continues to offer significant value with lifetime average earnings per starter of $59,312.
Six-time Grade 2 winner Surf Cat, by Sir Cat, boasts California Horse of the Year Sircat Sally, a three-time graded stakes winner, among his offspring.
New to the Rancho San Miguel roster for 2023 is Editorial, a winning War Front half brother to Uncle Mo whose cumulative average earnings per starter of $70,273 rank him second to Gun Runner among North American second-crop sires in this category. The sire of 2022 multiple stakes winner Alottahope previously stood in Maryland.
The owners and employees of Rancho San Miguel invite you to visit the farm — conveniently located near the Pacific Coast, halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles — to see what makes this California gem continue to shine so brightly.