When retired to stud, he became a major sire whose offspring included Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled.
He was named for Joseph C. Nichols (1905–1984), a long-time sportswriter for The New York Times, who was born Giuseppe Carmine Fappiano.
[3] Nerud had also bred Dr. Fager and Fappiano's second dam, Grand Splendor, while managing Tartan Farms.
Among those wins was the Morven Stakes with future Hall of Fame jockey Angel Cordero Jr. aboard.
[4] In early September 1990, Fappiano was humanely euthanized when laminitis set in while he was recovering from a fractured leg.