Since retiring from professional hockey in 2025, Stanley Cup champion Erik Johnson has fully devoted himself to managing his growing Thoroughbred breeding operation. Johnson, who played 17 seasons in the NHL and won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022, now owns Timber Town Stables, purchased in January from Wayne and Cathy Sweezey. This facility has become the center for the majority of his broodmares as he pursues his passion for racing and breeding.
Detailed Overview of Johnson’s 2026 Mating Strategy
Erik Johnson’s 2026 plans involve carefully pairing several mares with top stallions to maximize the potential of his broodmare band. Below is a breakdown of the key matings and insights shared by Johnson on each pairing.
Paper Rings to be Covered by Good Magic
Paper Rings, a 2021 mare by Uncle Mo out of Enchanting Lady, will be bred to Good Magic. Johnson noted her strong breeding background and his confidence in Good Magic’s value, especially given past successes combining Good Magic with Uncle Mo lines.
“She is a beautiful Uncle Mo mare, who needs no introduction as far as his brilliance as a broodmare sire. Her first foal by Forte sold for $225,000, and with her being in foal to the red-hot Vekoma that gave me confidence to stretch a bit for this mare in November. Paper Rings foaled a nice Vekoma filly in the middle of February and she is booked to Good Magic. The Good Magic/Uncle Mo cross produced Muth, and I feel like Good Magic at his current price will look like bargain in a year or two. What Good Magic did in his first two crops was unheard of and I think the dam will burst for him this year and next after a down year last year on the track.”
Snaffle Matched with Sierra Leone
Snaffle, a 2017 Distorted Humor mare, recently purchased by Johnson, was bred to Sierra Leone. Despite paying a premium at the Keeneland January sale, Johnson emphasized her exceptional qualities and the complementary physical traits between Snaffle and Sierra Leone, who has impressed as both an athlete and stallion prospect.
“I bought her at the Keeneland January sale in foal to Domestic Product. I probably overpaid a touch for her, but that’s what happens when you are over served at Keeneland. She rewarded me by foaling a colt on Jan. 31, and he is a total superstar. Her Liam’s Map colt sold for $360,000 in October. She is a Distorted Humor mare herself and they aren’t making any more of those. She was just covered on Feb. 20 by Sierra Leone, who is an absolute specimen and was a total gentleman in the shed. Snaffle is medium sized, correct, with good bone and the size and stretch of Sierra Leone will complement her nicely. Doug and Katie Cauthen, who advise my portfolio, thought this was an excellent match up.”
Southern Palace Being Bred to Citizen Bull
Southern Palace, a 2021 mare sired by Palace Malice, received renewed attention after her half-brother Macho Music won the Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs impressively. Johnson is pairing Southern Palace with the stallion Citizen Bull, motivated by the latter’s strong performance despite his near miss in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. The plan includes selling the mare in foal later this year.
“I bought this mare privately last March off the track and she got a wonderful update with her half-brother, Macho Music, winning the Pat Day Mile impressively at Churchill. She did not catch last spring, but she was just covered by Citizen Bull. What a performance he had in defeat in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, and after that I knew I had to find a mare for him. Southern Palace is a good sized mare from a deep female family and she matches up well with Citizen Bull. The plan will be to sell her in foal in November.”
Breeding She Is All Busines to Flightline
Johnson has bred She Is All Busines, a 2021 mare by Oscar Performance, to Flightline. Recognizing Flightline’s promise based on his first racing crop and pedigree strength, Johnson expects this mating to add substance and quality to his stock.
“This is an Oscar Performance mare from an active female family. Her sister is with Chad Brown and had a nice debut. She foaled a beautiful Omaha Beach filly at the beginning of January and was just covered by Flightline. As are most people, I am very bullish on him with his first crop hitting the racetrack this year. He seems like a good bet this year and he adds a lot of hip and substance to this mare.”
Meadow Dance to be Bred with Yaupon
A 2016 mare by Jimmy Creed, Meadow Dance was a strong racemare before entering the breeding shed. Johnson acquired her at Keeneland after previously missing out at auction. He believes the choice of Yaupon as a sire will help unlock her potential as a broodmare following her upcoming foal by Prince of Monaco.
“I was the underbidder on this mare as a 2-year-old and she went on to run third in the Grade I Darley Alcibiades. Upset that I missed out on her a few years back, I scooped her up at Keeneland January last year. She was a terrific mare on the race track, but so far hasn’t been bred to anything very good. She is going to Yaupon this year after she foals to Prince of Monaco. We are hoping Yaupon is the proven stallion she needs to get her going. With her race record I thought she was a decent gamble.”
Evita Will Join with Goal Oriented
Evita, a 2020 Medaglia d’Oro mare with strong pedigree through Uncle Mo, was a priority acquisition for Johnson. Purchased during Fasig Tipton’s February book, she was already in foal to Omaha Beach. Johnson plans to breed her to Goal Oriented, a son of Not This Time, with hopes that this outcross mating will produce a standout foal.
Johnson shared his excitement about this pairing and its timing.
“When the Fasig Tipton February book came out I knew I needed to have this mare. She was a $410,000 yearling herself and having Medaglia d’Oro top side and Uncle Mo bottom side with a nice pedigree only added to my interest. Add to the fact she was in foal to Omaha Beach, who I think is going to have an even bigger year than he did last year. Absolutely love him. I had to have her and was fortunate to get her bidding online. She is a pretty mare with a very nice frame and she is booked to Goal Oriented. Goal Oriented is, of course, a brilliant son of Not This Time, who won the Malibu this past year in impressive fashion. He is a gorgeous horse and will be a nice match for this mare. This is a complete outcross mating and I love that. I also liked going from a proven sire in Omaha Beach to get her started to a new exciting sire in Goal Oriented. Really excited to see her first foal who is due around March 1st.”
The Incident to be Bred to Charlatan
The 2014 mare The Incident, by Unbridled’s Song, was acquired by Johnson at Keeneland January in what he considered a bargain. She is currently in foal to Jack Christopher and will be bred to Charlatan, a stallion recommended by John Sikura of Hill ’n’ Dale, who remains highly optimistic about Charlatan’s potential.
“I bought this mare for what I thought was a bargain at Keeneland January. I had only had one Woodford Bourbon on the rocks at this point, so I don’t think I spent too much on her. She is an Unbridled’s Song mare, which is a huge plus, who is a nice physical and could run a little bit being stakes placed. She is in foal to Jack Christopher and her Jack Christopher yearling brought $130,000 at Keeneland September. I am breeding her to Charlatan this year. John Sikura at Hill ‘n’ Dale isn’t wrong very often and he is still extremely bullish on Charlatan. I think he is a good bet for this year and he matches up well with this mare.”
Mariel N Kathy’s Breeding with Prince of Monaco
Mariel N Kathy, a 2010 mare by Corinthian, was bought by Johnson for a low price at the Fasig-Tipton Digital January sale. Although older, she demonstrated racing ability and physical quality. Recently foaling a colt by Golden Pal, Johnson plans to breed her to Prince of Monaco, citing a strong physical match and pedigree compatibility.
“I bought this mare for peanuts from the Fasig-Tipton Digital January sale. She is an older mare, but could really run and she has some quality and size to her. She foaled a nice big colt by Golden Pal last month and I thought for how cheap she was it was a good bet to take as I think Golden Pal has a big shot to hit this year. I am breeding this mare on my Prince of Monaco share and she matches up well with him physically and on true nicks.”
Erik Johnson’s Growing Influence in Thoroughbred Breeding
Erik Johnson’s strategic mating plans for 2026 highlight his deep engagement and growing expertise in the Thoroughbred breeding industry. Transitioning from hockey’s ice to the world of equine athletics, Johnson is applying his diligent nature and passion to develop a competitive broodmare band with promising stallion matches. His acquisition of Timber Town Stables and partnerships with respected advisors like Doug and Katie Cauthen and John Sikura further underline his commitment.
As Johnson continues to advance his breeding program, the 2026 foal crop will be closely watched by racing enthusiasts and industry experts eager to see how these matings translate to performance on the track. His approach suggests a keen eye for pedigree, physical compatibility, and market trends that could position his operation for future success in the racing world.
