What Is Residual Value? Understanding Broodmare Potential in Your MyRacehorse Filly

If you’ve ever seen your filly entered in a tough stakes race—even when she’s not the favorite—you might wonder: Why take that kind of shot?

 

The answer often lies in something called residual value—a critical concept in the long-term strategy behind racing and managing fillies. Whether a filly becomes a Grade 1 winner or earns black type by hitting the board in a listed stakes, those achievements don’t just matter in the moment—they define her value for years to come in the breeding shed.

 

In this article, we’ll break down what residual value means, what black type is and why it’s essential, and how these decisions play into the big picture of your filly’s career.

What Is Residual Value?

In Thoroughbred racing, residual value refers to the projected worth of a filly or mare after her racing career ends, based on her potential as a broodmare. Because fillies retain reproductive value, their on-track performance and pedigree can translate into substantial sale prices or future foal earnings—even if they never win another race.

 

Think of residual value as the bridge between a racing career and a breeding future. If a filly retires with black type, strong conformation, and desirable bloodlines, she becomes a highly marketable commodity in the global breeding industry.

Why Pedigree Alone Isn’t Enough

A great pedigree provides a foundation, but buyers and breeders look for performance to match. A filly can be by a top stallion and out of a strong family, but without proven race credentials—especially in stakes company—her marketability as a broodmare diminishes.

 

That’s where black type comes in.

What Is Black Type?

In sales catalogs, the names of horses who finish 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in a qualifying stakes race are printed in bold, or black type. These standout performances serve as a lasting résumé boost for both the horse and her future foals.

 

There are three main designations:

 

  • Black Type Winner – Wins a qualifying stakes race

  • Black Type Placed – Finishes second or third in a qualifying stakes

  • Graded Black Type – Earned in graded stakes races (G1, G2, G3), the highest levels of competition

Even a third-place finish in a $100,000 listed stakes can create a black type filly—and that one placing can significantly increase her residual value at retirement.

Why MyRacehorse Fillies May Be Entered in Stakes Races

When you see a filly like Rosie’s Alibi or Sixtythreecaliber entered in a high-level race, it’s often not just about trying to win—it’s about earning black type that will elevate her long-term value.

 

For example:

 

  • – Rosie’s Alibi, a beautifully bred daughter of Justify, became a stakes winner under the MyRacehorse banner. That on-track success—paired with her pedigree—helped her sell for $750,000 as a broodmare prospect following her retirement.
  • – Sixtythreecaliber earned graded black type by winning the G3 Comely Stakes, making her a valuable broodmare prospect and leading to her retirement into the MyRacehorse breeding program.
  • – Going to Vegas, a multiple graded stakes winner including the G1 Rodeo Drive, represents the pinnacle of residual value. She retired with over $1.2 million in earnings and sold for seven figures at public auction, later becoming part of the MyRacehorse broodmare band.

These examples show how even a well-placed third-place finish in the right stakes company—or a listed win—can significantly boost a filly’s long-term value.

How Residual Value Impacts Ownership Strategy

At MyRacehorse, we manage fillies with both their racing potential and their aftercare or sale value in mind. That includes evaluating:

  • – Pedigree strength
  • – Conformation and durability
  • – Racing achievements—especially black type
  • – Market trends and demand
  • – Whether to retain the mare for breeding or offer at auction

     

When a filly adds black type to her résumé, it opens doors for a career in the breeding shed—and can mean significant upside for owners. Sometimes, that means entering a filly in a tougher field to take a shot at placing, knowing it could multiply her worth beyond what a lower-level win might offer.

Residual Value in Action: From Track to Sales Ring

Let’s say you have two fillies:

 

  • Filly A wins three allowance races but never steps into stakes company.

  • Filly B finishes third in a listed stakes worth $150,000.

When it’s time to retire, Filly B is more likely to command higher value at auction. That one black type placing—especially when combined with a strong pedigree—gives her a lasting mark of quality.

This is why racing managers sometimes “aim high” with a filly: not just to chase prestige, but to give her the chance to become a black type mare, which will live on in every sales catalog that lists her name.

Final Thoughts

Residual value is a long-term lens. It’s about building a filly’s legacy beyond her race record—by enhancing her marketability and appeal as a broodmare. For MyRacehorse owners, it adds another layer of purpose and potential to your filly’s journey.

 

From the early promise of a debut to a gutsy third in a stakes race, every chapter matters. And sometimes, the most valuable outcome isn’t a win—it’s a boldfaced name in a catalog.

To learn more about breeding, bloodstock strategy, or post-racing careers, visit the MyRacehorse Owner Education Hub. Ownership is just the beginning—legacy lasts a lifetime.