Brazil Celebrates the Arrival of Coronado Cartel

This Sunday, September 13, the American stallion Coronado Cartel was officially presented on Brazilian soil. His genetics had already been present in South America for several years, but with few offspring competing.

Even so, significant results had drawn attention, as his offspring in Brazil became two-time winners of the GP Megarace — Make Me, in 2024, and Winchester Cartel, this year — one of the country’s most important and richest races, with R$1,000,000 in prize money.

Breeder and owner Jonatas Dantas, CEO of Ana Dantas Ranch, considered one of the most prominent figures in the Brazilian Quarter Horse industry, with involvement in different disciplines, was impressed by Coronado Cartel’s production and sought to acquire his genetic material.

After consulting directly with his agent, Bee Silva, about the horse in the United States, Dantas saw an opportunity to make the deal happen and submitted a purchase proposal for the stallion, which was ultimately accepted.

“It is a historic milestone for our breeding program to have this stallion here. It is the realization of a dream, and I believe it is not only my dream, but also a gift that enriches our Quarter Horse industry,” said Jonatas.

For the importation, Ana Dantas Ranch invited Haras Sampaio, one of the largest Brazilian investors in Quarter Horse racing, to partner in the purchase of Coronado Cartel.

“When Dantas told me about it and invited me to participate in the purchase of this horse, even in my wildest dreams, I never believed it would be possible,” said Dr. Francisco Sampaio.

“He was the stallion everyone was talking about and wanted to have in Brazil, especially after we lost Fantastic Corona Jr. and Corona For Me, descendants of Corona Cartel,” Sampaio continued.

“It is an achievement driven by passion, one that makes any greater financial sacrifice worthwhile,” he concluded.

The official presentation celebration for Coronado Cartel took place at Ana Dantas Ranch, located in Boituva, SP, a region surrounded by natural beauty that impresses with its scenery and the fantastic details of its facilities.

In front of a select audience, with the event broadcast live throughout Brazil, the stallion born in Oklahoma put on a true show, impressing the Brazilians in attendance, who were captivated by his behavior throughout the ceremony.

Coronado Cartel paraded among the crowd, walking onto a red carpet and making his way to the stage, where he was photographed. The loud music, the speeches delivered by those responsible for him, and the countless flashes directed at him did not alter the stallion’s remarkable disposition in the slightest.

The feeling was that, if Brazilians were already impressed by his results, meeting him in person left them even more impressed. Comments highlighted his morphological beauty, bone structure, and gentleness, even in such a situation — something that, according to those present, had never been seen in quite the same way.

Brazilians are truly even more passionate about the Coronado Cartel.

For 2026, following the natural breeding season of the Southern Hemisphere, more than 100 breeding services were selectively sold, with packages auctioned and top broodmares selected. His open and unrestricted launch will take place only next year, during the 20th edition of Velocidade do Leilão Ana Dantas Ranch, to be held at the Jockey Club de Sorocaba. The breeding fees for 2027 in Brazil have not yet been announced.

At 15 years of age, Coronado Cartel will be standing at Haras Lub Breeding in Cesário Lange, SP. As a racehorse, he competed in 2013 and 2014, becoming a stakes winner with six victories and US$416,178 in earnings. His dam, First Prize Dash (by Mr Jess Perry), was a Grade 1 winner, with five victories and US$415,047 in earnings, and is a direct descendant of First Prize Dash, a full sister to First Down Dash.

With unquestionably elite genetics and results already proven in Brazil, Coronado Cartel now begins a new and historic chapter of his career in South America. After years of making his mark through offspring conceived from imported semen, the stallion is now physically becoming part of the Brazilian breeding industry.

His arrival represents more than the presence of a great stallion on Brazilian soil. It is the fulfillment of a dream and an important chapter for Quarter Horse breeding in Brazil, as highlighted by Dr. Francisco Sampaio, made possible through the partnership between Ana Dantas Ranch and Haras Sampaio.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Would you like more industry news delivered directly to your inbox? Click here to sign up.