May 17, 2008 Last Update: 07:14 AM

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Danzig

Danzig Line Rebounding

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Big Brown's victory in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands and Hard Spun's second in the Derby last year are the latest indicators that the Danzig line is asserting some authority in America's premier dirt races. Want more proof? How about last year's older male champion Lawyer Ron (a son of Danzig's son Langfuhr)and the emerging sire Exchange Rate, who got two grade I winners in his first crop. Fri May 16, 4:33 PM

Behindatthebar

Behindatthebar Will Need Speed

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

Behindatthebar's owners bypassed the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and aimed instead at the Preakness. The son of Forest Wildcat will need every bit of his sire's speed and stamina from his broodmare sire Runaway Groom to take on the Derby winner Big Brown. Wed May 14, 5:28 PM

Henrythenavigator

On a Course for Success

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

Kingmambo excelled at a mile on the track but his offspring have shown a mix of speed and stamina. Henrythenavigator, a three-time group I winner, is among Europe's leading milers this year. He is the sixth group winner and third classic winner produced from the cross of Kingmambo with Sadler's Wells daughters. Thu May 08, 2:49 PM

Big Brown working at Churchill Downs on May 1, 2008.<br><a target="blank" href="http://pictopia.com/perl/gal?provider_id=368&ptp_photo_id=4366831&ref=story">Order This Photo</a>

Big Brown and the Domino Factor

Floyd Oliver digs into the similarities between Kentucky Derby favorite Big Brown and Domino. Thu May 01, 4:34 PM
Sebring takes the Golden Slipper.

Sebring is an Aussie Star in the Making

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

Sebring, who is being called the best Austrailian juvenile in many years, is keeping the momentum rolling for sire More Than Ready. The Vinery stallion is proving to be a solid sire in both Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Sun Apr 27, 9:27 AM

Big Booster returned to the grass to win the marathon San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap.

A Big Boost From Synthethic Surfaces

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Two years ago, Big Booster was a $35,000-$39,000 claimer running at Belmont Park. Today, he has the honor of being a grade II winner, having just taken the San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap at Santa Anita Park. The move west and several goes over the synthetic turf reinvigorated Big Booster's racing career. Fri Apr 25, 8:53 PM

Blue Grass Stakes winner Monba.

Intense Concentration

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Monba's success could be tied to an intensifying of the influences of La Troienne. The Derby contender's pedigree is rich in the blood of Raise a Native and Buckpasser. Fri Apr 25, 5:37 PM

Gayego's victory in the grade II Arkansas Derby proved he deserves a chance in the Kentucky Derby.<br><a target="blank" href="http://pictopia.com/perl/gal?provider_id=368&ptp_photo_id=4156079&ref=story">Order This Photo</a>

Gayego Appears Ready to Go

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

Gayego's victory in the grade II Arkansas Derby proved he deserves a chance in the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). With a pedigree rich in eight to nine furlong influences, the question remains whether the Derby distance of 10 furlongs is a bit too far. Thu Apr 17, 5:12 PM

Recapturetheglory started at nearly 16-1 for the Illinois Derby (gr. II) but triumphed by four lengths.

Recapturetheglory Going Long

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Unlike his sire and champion sprinter Cherokee Run, Recapturetheglory seems to improve with distance. There is not a lot to predict stamina on either side of the Illinois Derby's winners pedigree, but on the dam's side there is a source of stamina that may manifest itself on Kentucky Derby day. Tue Apr 15, 8:31 PM

Bustin Stones joined the elite of his breed with a gutsy win in the Carter Handicap.<br><a target="blank" href="http://pictopia.com/perl/gal?provider_id=368&ptp_photo_id=4084614&ref=story">Order This Photo</a>

Stone Solid

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

Bred with an abundance of speed, Bustin Stones is expected to be a top contender for the title of top sprinter throughout the year. Not only is the son of City Zip fast, showing great courage and grit in battling off a Executive Fleet virtually gate to wire in the Carter Handicap (gr. I), he is also tough. Bustin Stones is back in the racing game after having surgery on both knees. Thu Apr 10, 8:29 PM

Big Brown
<br><a target="blank" href="http://pictopia.com/perl/gal?provider_id=368&ptp_photo_id=4008099&ref=story">Order This Photo</a>

'Brown' Drawing Big Bandwagon

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Where have we seen this before? A modestly-bred Danzig-line horse, after leading throughout to score a devastating win in a grade I classic trial on his second start of the year, becomes a favorite for the Kentucky Derby (gr. I). Fri Apr 04, 3:20 PM

She's All Eltish

She's All That

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

On Saturday, March 29, two young horses captured an initial graded stakes win at Gulfstream Park and marked themselves as potential elites among the sophomores of 2008. Everyone, of course, by now has heard about Big Brown, runaway winner of the Florida Derby (gr. I) and now a likely favorite for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). Wed Apr 02, 3:59 PM

War Emblem

War Emblem Battles On

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

The travails of War Emblem's stud career in Japan have been fairly well documented. Less realized, however, is that the results from his few representative runners have been extremely good, and that in 2008 he is already sire of three 3-year-old black type winners. Fri Mar 28, 6:51 PM

Honour and Glory is enjoying a stud career revival in South America, where his first Argentinian crop has already yielded seven stakes winners (7.4%) and the racing year isn't over.

Southern Hemisphere Revival

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

Honour and Glory had modest success in the Northern Hemisphere with 4% stakes winners from 773 foals and even less success in Australia. But the son of Relaunch is enjoying a stud career revival in South America, where his first Argentinian crop has already yielded seven stakes winners (7.4%) and the racing year isn't over. Wed Mar 26, 5:21 PM

Tampa Bay Derby (gr. III) winner Big Truck is finally turning top works into wins.

Big Truck Growing into His Potential

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Even though he had Tale of Ekati in his barn, trainer Barclay Tagg suggested Big Truck might be his most promising juvenile. The potential Big Truck possessed finally turned into performance in the Tampa Bay Derby, which he won with a gutsy drive against Atoned. Tagg believes Big Truck can handle the Kentucky Derby distance of a 1 1/4 miles. His pedigree raises some doubt. Fri Mar 21, 9:06 PM