Blue Hens

Stakes winner In Neon shined brightest after her race career. The Ack Ack mare foaled Sharp Cat (by Storm Cat) in 1994. Sharp Cat triumphed in the 1998 Beldame and Ruffian Handicap (gr. I) on her way to earning better than $2 million. In Neon's next foal was Royal Anthem, by Theatrical, who made nearly $2 million as well. He won the 1998 Canadian International Stakes (gr. IT). In Neon was named Kentucky Broodmare of the Year in 1998.

Juddmonte Farms has been dominating with its broodmares recently, having bred three of the last four mares that have produced a pair of same-year, grade I-winning horses. Toussaud, the 2002 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year, is the queen of the Juddmonte band, having turned out five graded stakes winners to date, four of those grade I victors. Chester House, by Mr. Prospector, took the Arlington Million in 2000, the same year Toussaud's Seattle Slew filly, Honest Lady, won the Santa Monica Handicap (gr. I). Chiselling and Empire Maker subsequently captured grade Is, albeit in different years.

Viviana is following in Toussaud's footsteps. The daughter of Nureyev is the dam of Tates Creek, winner of the Yellow Ribbon Stakes and Gamely Breeders' Cup Handicap (both gr. IT) in 2003. Viviana's 1999 foal, Sightseek, by Distant View, had a monster 2003, taking a quartet of grade Is, including the Beldame, and Ogden Phipps, Go for Wand, and Humana Distaff Handicaps. Hope, another Juddmonte product, saw her Zenda win the French One Thousand Guineas (Fr-I) in 2002, the same year her Oasis Dream took the Shadwell Stud Middle Park Stakes (Eng-I).

When Johar won the John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) last October after Dessert captured the Del Mar Oaks (gr. IT), their dam, Windsharp, herself a champion and millionaire, joined the ranks of one-season, dual-group I producers. Other recent members include Shared Interest, a grade I winner by Pleasant Colony who produced both Forestry   and Cash Run. The former triumphed in the 1999 King's Bishop Stakes (gr. I), and the latter in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I).

Dear Birdie had a huge season with her offspring in 2003 as Bird Town took the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) and Acorn Stakes (gr. I) while Birdstone captured the Champagne. Excellent Lady (General Challenge and Notable Career), Pure Profit (Educated Risk and Inside Information), La Chaposa (You and I, Chaposa Springs), Sultry Sun (Solar Splendor and Sultry Song), Sharp Kitty (Family Style and Lost Kitty), Blitey (Dancing Spree and Fantastic Find), Kamar (Gorgeous and Seaside Attraction), My Juliet (Tis Juliet and Stella Madrid), and Victorian Queen (Judge Angelucci and War) have also had dual same-season grade I winners in North America.

Six mares had foals who split their grade/group I wins between North America and Europe. Spirit of Eagles is the dam of Silvano, who won 2001 group/grade Is in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Chicago; and of Sabiango, who took a group I event in Germany. Insight, out of Or Vision, took the 1999 E.P. Taylor Stakes (gr. IT), while her full sister Saffron Walden (both by Sadler's Wells) won the Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-I). Eldoret (Mountain Bear and Efisio), Gayshuka (Gaily Gaily and Gay Burslem), Soragna (Sortingo and Sirlad), and Prudent Girl (Providential and Play It Safe) saw their foals win grade Is on two continents as well.

Broodmares who had two foals win European group I races in the same year include Juddmonte's Suntrap, whose Raintrap and Sunshack turned the trick in France in 1993. Laurea was named Germany's Broodmare of the Year in 1994 on the strength of Lando and Laroche, who each won group Is there. Lando landed one in Italy that year as well. Pato saw Classic Cliche and My Emma take group Is in England and France, respectively, in 1996. Full siblings Gabina and Galetto (both by Caro) turned the trick in France in 1989 for their dam, Gold Bird. Ibn Bey and Roseate Tern (Germany and England, respectively, in 1989) put Rosia Bay on the short list of top broodmares.

Fall Aspen produced Hamas and Fort Wood to win European group Is in 1993, then was named Kentucky Broodmare of the Year in 1994 when Timber Country became champion 2-year-old colt. Fall Aspen's first foal, Northern Aspen, was also a U.S. grade I winner. Scala Di Seta had Stone, Italy's champion 3-year-old in 1978, and Stouci win group Is there that year. Irish Bird is the dam of Bikala and Assert, who both took European group Is in 1982.