Cuz Lightyear will stand his first season at stud in 2026 at Copper Spring Ranch in Tularosa, New Mexico.

© Jess Johnson

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

TULAROSA, NM–OCTOBER 20, 2025– Copper Spring Ranch is proud to announce that Cuz Lightyear, an All American Futurity and Derby finalist, will stand his first season in 2026 at the New Mexico ranch. The four-year-old stallion’s fee is set at $2,500, with considerations to approved mares.

Owned and bred by Double Bar S Ranch, LLC, the son of leading sire Corona Cartel out of Jess Cuz by Mr Jess Perry brings both proven speed and a family of champions and graded stakes winners to New Mexico’s breeding landscape.

On the track, Cuz Lightyear competed at the sport’s highest levels, hitting the board in 10 of 15 starts with four wins and earnings of $205,324. The bay stallion finished second in the Grade 2 James Isaac Hobbs Stakes and was a finalist in several of the sport’s most prestigious events, including the All American Futurity (G1), All American Derby (G1), Ruidoso Juvenile, and Independence Day Handicap.

Cuz Lightyear will stand his first season at Copper Spring Ranch. © Jess Johnson

Throughout his career, Cuz Lightyear faced and defeated top competition, including multiple graded stakes winners such as Cowboys Gun Z ($1,604,517), Im A Fancee Chik ($375,592), and Kevins Wise Corona ($222,564).

By World Champion sire Corona Cartel SI 97 ($557,142), Cuz Lightyear is represented by one of the breed’s most dominant sire lines. Corona Cartel has sired 202 stakes winners, 10 champions, and over $72.7 million in progeny earnings, with notable performers including Blues Girl Too SI 105 ($2,032,328), Teller Cartel SI 108 ($1,212,471), Five Bar Cartel SI 91 ($1,068,825), and KVN Corona SI 95 ($868,077).

Corona Cartel’s sons continue his legacy as leading sires, among them Corona Surfer, Coronado Cartel, Czar Cartel MV, Five Bar Cartel, Heart Of The Cartel, Inspyre, Ivory James, K W, KVN Corona, Majestic Cartel, Mister Fulton, Muddy Watters, PYC Paint Your Wagon, Rip Tide, Special Royal Corona, Teller Cartel, Texas Icon, Uncle D, and Visa.

Cuz Lightyear’s dam, Jess Cuz SI 96 ($82,597), was a Grade 1 runner-up and is a champion producer. She is the dam of 2024 AQHA Champion Mare Jessica Cruz ($191,506) and stakes-placed Jesstice For All SI 105 ($65,208).

His second dam, Corona Couture SI 97 ($86,046), is a half-sister to stakes winners More Than You Know SI 102 ($133,169) and Illtacmanhattan SI 110 ($86,018) and to the dam of 2025 stakes winner Mr Do Chicks SI 92 ($22,735).

Cuz Lightyear will stand the 2026 breeding season at Copper Spring Ranch in Tularosa, New Mexico. For additional information or to request a breeding contract, contact Lisa Anderson at 406-579-1540 or via email at LisaA@copperspringranch.com.

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