Grade 1 finalist Apicasso Jess will stand his first year at stud in Independece Kansas for $2,500.

© Bee Silva

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

INDEPENDENCE, KS–JANUARY 3, 2026–Apicasso Jess will stand his first year at stud in 2026 at Rutland Ranch in Independence, Kansas. The five-year-old stallion, owned by Apicasso Jess Partners, LLC, will stand for a $2,500 fee.

Apicasso Jess is a 2021 sorrel stallion who retired from the track in 2025. A multiple stakes finalist, he was a finalist in the Grade 1 Refrigerator Championship last year and the Hill Country Classic Stakes this season. He clocked a 100+ speed index three times and a 90+ speed index five times from 13 starts, with his top speed at 112, and compiled three wins, three seconds and one third with $62,277 in earnings.

“We feel very fortunate to have the quality of horse that Apicasso Jess brings to the ranch. With the talent he showed on the racetrack and the great pedigree he has, we are confident he can be one of the greats some day,” said ranch manager and part-owner Jeff Rutland.

His sire is world champion Apollitical Jess SI 107 ($1,399,831), the industry’s leading living sire of money earners, who has exceeded $82 million in progeny earnings. From 12 crops to race, he has sired 841 winners, 290 black-type performers (24%), and 13 champions, with average earnings of more than $68,400 per starter.

Apollitical Jess has sired 11 millionaires, including Kj Desparado SI 118 ($3,367,447), Empressum SI 111 ($2,475,748), Apocalyptical Jess SI 103 ($2,251,556), Apollitical Pence SI 125 ($1,867,319), Mr Jess Jenkins SI 104 ($1,631,033), Apollitical Blood SI 99 ($1,519,800), Hold Air Hostage SI 108 ($1,415,551), Party Politics SI 94 ($1,113,056), Political Twist SI 101 ($1,059,017), Apollitical Gold SI 96 ($1,014,601), and Political Attraction SI 104 ($972,289).

“He’s such a fantastic outcross on today’s race-bred mares,” Rutland said.

Apicasso Jess is a full brother to Apocalyptical Jess SI 103 ($2,251,556, winner of the Grade 1 All American Futurity, Grade 1 Ruidoso Quarter Horse Derby, and Remington Park Oklahoma Bred Derby [R]-G3). He is also a half-brother to CC Seis SI 96 ($90,742), a stakes winner and four-time black-type producer. Additional half-siblings include stakes-placed CC Hocks SI 99 ($193,222) and CC Kachina Eagle SI 95 ($133,568), a multiple black-type producer.

His dam is Cassadra Crest SI 102 ($75,671), a multiple stakes-placed winning daughter of Holland Ease. Bred in Oklahoma by Danny Joe Miller, Apicasso Jess is from a mare who has produced 11 winners, five black-type horses, and 13 ROM from 18 foals to race.

His second dam is Diamond For Leigh SI 98 ($22,571), a multiple winner and a full sister to stakes winner Diamond Cam SI 96 ($24,853). She is also a half-sister to stakes winners Takin On Spoon Man SI 109 ($219,508, winner of the Grade 1 Go Man Go Handicap) and Spoon Crest SI 107 ($24,164).

For more information or a breeding contract, contact Jeff Rutland at 620-330-7223 or email jeff@rutlandranch.com.

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