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BloodHorse.com Articles by Avalyn Hunter

Medaglia d'Oro has a Passion for Gold

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

A win in the group I Criterium de Saint-Cloud sets up Passion for Gold as an early favorite for the French classics next year-and also validates Medaglia d'Oro as a sire who can produce top colts along with his abundance of black type fillies. 2 days ago

Claiborne Happy to Accept Blame

Claiborne Happy to Accept Blame

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

With Claiborne bloodlines on the top and bottom, Fayette Stakes (gr. II) winner Blame has a pedigree many generations in the making. Wednesday, November 04, 2009

Jackson Bend Takes Florida

Jackson Bend Takes Florida

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

Inspiring hope for small breeders is juvenile standout Jackson Bend, whose durability and precocity combined are traits this Florida homebred inherited from both sides of his pedigree. Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Luck Tends to Strike

Luck Tends to Strike

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

A multi-generation affinity of his female family with Mr. Prospector-line sires might have championship repercussions as Lookin At Lucky prepares for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile this fall. Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Storm Cat Leaves a Market in Transition

Storm Cat Leaves a Market in Transition

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

It seems appropriate that the once-perennial leading commercial sire, Storm Cat, bow out while the Thoroughbred market redefines itself. Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Dublin Elicits High Hopes for Young Sire

Dublin Elicits High Hopes for Young Sire

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

By first-crop sire Afleet Alex and from the successful family of Sunday Evening comes Dublin, winner of the historic Three Chimneys Hopeful Stakes (gr. I). Wednesday, September 09, 2009

D'wildcat, Smarty Jones 2YOs Take Saratoga

D'wildcat, Smarty Jones 2YOs Take Saratoga

Strong pedigrees link Saratoga's first two juvenile stakes winners of 2009 - but will genes be enough to keep Backtalk and D'Funnybone in stakes contention after their 2-year-old campaigns? Thursday, August 27, 2009
Bullsbay Confirms Tiznow/Turkoman Affinity

Bullsbay Confirms Tiznow/Turkoman Affinity

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

Stamina influence Tiznow again matches with a speed-oriented Turkoman-line mare. Whitney Handicap (gr. I) winner Bullsbay joins Colonel John as elite runners bred on the cross. Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Funny Moon Bred on Miler-Over-Stamina Model

Funny Moon Bred on Miler-Over-Stamina Model

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

Funny Moon's big win in the grade I CCA Oaks exemplifies an American breeding pattern of miler speed over stoutness. Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Sariska's Pedigree Combines Speed, Stamina

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

A female-line descendent of the top sire-producing mare Selene, Sariska adds the group I Irish Oaks to her impressive record. Here is an example of a stamina-oriented damline infused with raw speed. Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Fame and Glory Across the Pond

Fame and Glory Across the Pond

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

Montjeu has enjoyed considerable success as a sire of Classic horses. Irish Derby winner Fame and Glory adds to his sire's tally-while also tying in this year's theme of German bloodline influences. Wednesday, July 01, 2009

Emergent German Thoroughbred Bloodlines

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

The German Thoroughbred is a stouter, more stamina-oriented version of the breed in England, France, or the U.S. The possibilities for outcross - and just plain high quality - make German bloodlines sought after in the West. Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Royally-bred 'Leopard' Eyes Queen's Plate

Royally-bred 'Leopard' Eyes Queen's Plate

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

Canadian-bred A.P. Indy colt Eye of the Leopard just broke his maiden in mid-May, but his classy pedigree makes him a good bet in upcoming Canadian Classics. Wednesday, June 03, 2009

'Big Horse' Boost for First-Crop Sires?

'Big Horse' Boost for First-Crop Sires?

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

Thanks to Mine That Bird and Rachel Alexandra, respectively, both Birdstone and Medaglia d'Oro have achieved the distinction of becoming Classic sires with their first crops. But how much of a boost will it really give them? Wednesday, May 20, 2009

The Stars Aligned

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

The first Saturday in May is a red-letter day on the American racing calendar Derby Day. But it is also an important day in European racing as the European Classic season kicks off with the Two Thousand Guineas. This year's Guineas was won by Christopher Tsui's Sea The Stars (IRE) and was quite as memorable for the connections of the winner as for the winner himself. Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Mahubah's Corner: Unrivaled

For Sunday Racing Co., life could not be better. The partnership heads into the Derby with a colt that was not only sired by one Derby winner but is half-brother to another - talk about pedigree. And that colt won his final pre-Derby race impressively April 19 to establish himself as the probable favorite for the big race. Thursday, April 23, 2009
Taking Revenge

Taking Revenge

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

Leading Kentucky Derby candidate I Want Revenge is an outcross within 5 generations, partially due to the Argentinian breeding of his dam, but also because of Stephen Got Even's unusual pedigree. Wednesday, April 08, 2009

Mahubah's Corner: Hold Me Back

Mahubah's Corner: Hold Me Back

With his victory March 21 in the Lane's End Stakes (gr. II), WinStar Farm's homebred Hold Me Back answered one big question but raised three more. Whether he has the class to be competitive with this year's better 3-year-olds is no longer in doubt. Thursday, March 26, 2009
A Horse of a Different Color

A Horse of a Different Color

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

When White Beauty arrived into the world in the spring of 1963, what she portended to breeder Herman Goodpaster was trouble. At the time, The Jockey Club did not accept "white" as a color for registration, and there was serious doubt as to whether a pure Thoroughbred could be white. Friday, March 13, 2009

Mahubah's Corner: What a Pear

Mahubah's Corner: What a Pear

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

What a Pear has just served notice that Stardom Bound will have competition in the sophomore filly division this year. Monday, March 02, 2009

Mahubah's Corner: Sibling Rivalry

Mahubah's Corner: Sibling Rivalry

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

The recent debut of Nicanor, full-brother to Derby winner Barbaro brings up the question, 'How often do siblings come even close to measuring up to a top horse's talents?' Friday, February 13, 2009

Daiwa Scarlet World Tour '09?

Daiwa Scarlet World Tour '09?

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter Daiwa Scarlet (JPN) staked out a place among racing's queens with a victory in the prestigious Arima Kinen (Jpn-I). Just the fourth female to win the race, her victims included just about every top Japanese male still in training, including 2007 Arima Kinen winner Matsurida Gogh (JPN); 2008 Japan Cup (Jpn-I) winner Screen Hero (JPN), and 2006 Japanese champion 3-year-old male Meisho Samson (JPN). Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Laragh Should Be Dangerous in '09

Laragh Should Be Dangerous in '09

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

Laragh's victories, most recently in the grade I Hollywood Starlet Stakes Dec. 13, have helped seal her sire Tapit's position as the leading freshman sire and juvenile sire of 2008. Laragh has won on synthetic surfaces and turf and could be equally dangerous as a sophomore on dirt in 2009. Thursday, December 25, 2008

Nothing Like Old Fashioned Talent

Nothing Like Old Fashioned Talent

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

Old Fashioned won the Remsen Stakes (gr. II) impressively and seems ready to add to his family's already sterling reputation. The son of Unbridled's Song is out of Collect Call, who decends from the family of notable producer Maggie B.B. This family has produced eight champions. Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Chocolate Candy Ready for Sweeter Rides

Chocolate Candy Ready for Sweeter Rides

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

Chocolate Candy's record-setting win in the Real Quiet Stakes could be a sign of bigger things to come in 2009 from the son of Candy Ride (ARG). Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Even Top Mares Can Be Risky

Even Top Mares Can Be Risky

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

Broodmares could wear the same warning as mutual funds: past performance is not an indicator of future results. Several top-selling broodmares that had produced multiple graded stakes winners before being sold never repeated their success for their new owners. Thursday, November 13, 2008

Crowded House a Euro Classic Hopeful

Crowded House a Euro Classic Hopeful

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

Crowded House raised his profile as a contender in next year's European classics when he won the Racing Post Trophy (Eng-I) on Oct. 25. The question is whether his sire Rainbow Quest can add distance to the colt's speed-oriented female side. Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Domino Lives On Through Good Night Shirt

Domino Lives On Through Good Night Shirt

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

Champion steeplechaser Good Night Shirt is doing his part to reenforce the value of the Domino male line, which has survived over the past 50 years by the slimmest of margins. Thursday, October 30, 2008

Top Aussie Sprinter Poised to Show More

Top Aussie Sprinter Poised to Show More

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

Whobegotyou is the best runner to date by Street Cry, who shuttled for four years to Australia. The top-notch sprinter performed like a superstar in The Age Caulfield Guineas (Aus-I) is now poised to show what he can do at distances longer than a mile. Whobegotyou is inbred to Mr. Prospector and Riverman, both within four generations. Friday, October 17, 2008

Dream Empress Could Shine at BC

Dream Empress Could Shine at BC

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

It's a bit of a guess who will handle Santa Anita's Pro-Ride surface the best on Breeders' Cup World Championship Day. Dream Empress seems in a good position heading into the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) because she has won over a synthetic track and has won at 8 1/2 furlongs. And, she is by Bernstein, who is proving to be a talented sire on two continents. Friday, October 10, 2008

Rainbow View Has the Look of a Champion

Rainbow View Has the Look of a Champion

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

Dynaformer has sired grade I winners on dirt and turf, classic winners on both sides of the Atlantic, and produced a three-time steeplechase champion. The son of Roberto now expands the bounds of his proven versatility further with Rainbow View, a juvenile filly who could become a champion on two continents. Thursday, October 02, 2008

Seattle Smooth Has History on Her Side

Seattle Smooth Has History on Her Side

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

Four of Starsburg's top progeny were sired by Mr. Prospector-line stallions, so going back to this sire line when choosing a mate for Starsburg's unraced daughter Our Seattle Slew seemed like the right move. It was, having produced Seattle Smooth, who beat the top-rated sophomore filly Proud Spell in the Fitz Dixon Cotillion Stakes (gr. II). Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Charitable Man Winning on the Flip Side

Charitable Man Winning on the Flip Side

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

The classic American cross is speed over stamina, but Charitable Man has a pedigree that flips this model upside down. The son of Lemon Drop Kid is still getting the job done, having just won the grade II Futurity Stakes. If he keeps improving, Charitable Man could become his sire's first male grade I winner. Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Delightful Kiss Is Going the Distance

Delightful Kiss Is Going the Distance

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

Hobeau Farm owner Jack Dreyfus as been three-times blessed with Delightful Kiss, recent winner of the Turfway Park Championship Stakes (gr. III). The colt is a fourth generation homebred, a graded stakes winner, and now a Breeders' Cup Marathon contender. Friday, September 12, 2008

First Defence Honing His Natural Speed

First Defence Honing His Natural Speed

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

First Defence is one of those horses whose pedigrees scream speed. The son of Unbridled's Song began displaying that potential with a 6 3/4-length romp in the Forego Stakes (gr. I) Aug. 30. After surviving an early speed duel with opening fractions of :22.53 and :44.61, he pulled away in the stretch to win in a final time of 1:21.55. Friday, September 05, 2008

Forever Together a Rising Star

Forever Together a Rising Star

In just her third start on grass, Forever Together announced her arrival in the turf female division with a visually impressive win July 26 in the Diana Stakes (gr. IT) at Saratoga. Thursday, July 31, 2008
She's All That

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). Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Mahuba's Corner: Golden Doc A

Mahuba's Corner: Golden Doc A

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter
Golden Doc A is by Kentucky-bred Unusual Heat, a three-time stakes winner in Ireland. He is by Northern Dancer's champion son Nureyev, an excellent sire but not a horse with a great reputation as a sire of sires. Still, Nureyev's son Theatrical (IRE) has been a good stallion by almost anyone's standards, and other sons of Nureyev that have had some measure of success include Stravinsky, Fasliyev, and Soviet Star. Thursday, February 14, 2008
Mahubah's Corner: Sierra Sunset

Mahubah's Corner: Sierra Sunset

A weekly feature found only on BloodHorseNOW.com, " Mahubah's Corner" is Avalyn Hunter's column that explores the bloodlines that produce stakes winners around the world. Please enjoy this special free preview. Thursday, February 07, 2008
MAHUBAH'S CORNER: Magnificent McDynamo

MAHUBAH'S CORNER: Magnificent McDynamo

When Kelso took the fifth and last of his five consecutive Jockey Club Gold Cups (then at two miles) in 1964, many veteran horsemen believed they had seen a feat never to be equaled in American racing. They were wrong. Michael Moran's fabulous gelding McDynamo not only equaled Kelso's mark in a championship-level event by winning the Breeders' Cup Grand National Steeplechase (NSA-I) for the fifth consecutive time, but in some eyes went one better. Thursday, October 25, 2007
Mahubah's Corner: Yes It's True

Mahubah's Corner: Yes It's True

When Yes It's True retired to stud in 2001, it was with mixed prospects. By September 2004, he was at Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky, thanks to a freshman sire season that eventually saw him finish a solid second to Successful Appeal in the first-crop sire standings. Since then, he has quietly proceeded to add to his reputation as a stallion who offers consistent value for his stud fee. Friday, October 19, 2007
'Macho' Stands Tall

'Macho' Stands Tall

Undefeated in three starts, including a solid win in the Lane's End Breeders' Futurity (gr. I), Wicked Style has now achieved prominence as one of the favorites for the upcoming Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) and the title of champion juvenile male. But his greater significance may lie in his importance to the stud career of his sire, Macho Uno. Now third on the freshman sire list, Macho Uno stands as the heir apparent not only to his own sire, Holy Bull, but to an old American line which has managed to stay alive against all odds for over a century. Monday, October 15, 2007
Industry Going Ballistic Over Bargain Colt

Industry Going Ballistic Over Bargain Colt

Going Ballistic was a bargain more in more ways than one, for his sire, Lite the Fuse, stood for a modest $7,500 when the colt was conceived in 2003. Now in Pennsylvania, where he stands for $3,500, Lite the Fuse has been the state's leading sire for three consecutive years. So far, he has sired 222 winners and 22 stakes winners in his first seven -- a quite respectable 62% and 6.1% of foals, respectively -- but Going Ballistic is his first graded stakes winner. Wednesday, October 03, 2007
MAHUBAH'S CORNER: Looking for Storm Cat's Successor

MAHUBAH'S CORNER: Looking for Storm Cat's Successor

Storm Cat, the leader of American commercial sires for most of the last decade, is still strong commercially and is slated to continue in stud service in 2008. But for the second consecutive year, Storm Cat finished second rather than first among leading sires by average at the Keeneland September select yearling sale, and this year, Storm Cat averaged less than half what he did in 2006 ($559,773 vs. $1,270,208). As a result, speculation as to who will assume the old king's mantle is off and running. Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Doctor Dino Keeping Sharpen Up Male Line Alive

Doctor Dino Keeping Sharpen Up Male Line Alive

Modern breeding in North America and Europe is dominated by just three major male lines: Northern Dancer, Mr. Prospector, and Seattle Slew. Other male lines still exist but they range from the relatively healthy Hail to Reason and In Reality lines, which encompass a sizable number of stallions, down to lines with just one or two major representatives remaining, such as those of Domino and Plaudit. The male line of Sharpen Up (GB) is one of those lesser sire lines that has managed to survive the 20th Century Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Saoirse Abu: A Message in the Wind

Saoirse Abu: A Message in the Wind

Saoirse Abu has become a legitimate contender for a Cartier Award as European champion juvenile filly with victories in the Independent Waterford Wedgwood Phoenix Stakes (Ire-I) and the Moyglare Stud Stakes (Ire-I). Wednesday, September 12, 2007
La Traviata, Essence of Speed

La Traviata, Essence of Speed

If speed is the essence of a good racehorse, then there is little question that La Traviata is a good one. Undefeated in her three lifetime starts, the filly has demolished her hapless opponents by a combined 27 1/2 lengths and this after stumbling at the start of her last race, the Victory Ride Stakes (gr. III). One wonders what she might do with a completely clean trip. La Traviata comes by speed honestly with one major source courtesy of her sire, Johannesburg. Both Johannesburg's grandsire Storm Cat and his sire Hennessy have done quite well with mares returning Mr. Prospector. Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Solid Dual Hemisphere Start for Put It Back

Solid Dual Hemisphere Start for Put It Back

Ever since the days of Intentionally and his son In Reality, Florida has been a haven for the male line of Man o' War. The primary Florida branch since the death of In Reality in 1989 has been that of Valid Appeal (In Reality-Desert Trial), who was a perennial regional leader until he was pensioned in 1997. Valid Appeal was succeeded by two Florida-based U.S. leading freshman sires in Valid Expectations (2001) and Successful Appeal (2004). With the transfers of Valid Expectations to Texas and Successful Appeal to Kentucky, however, only 2000 Spectacular Bid Stakes (gr. III) winner B L's Appeal and a few lesser sons of Valid Appeal remained as representatives of the In Reality male line in Florida. But another branch of In Reality, that of Relaunch, has enjoyed success in Kentucky and California, and it has now found a place in Florida through third-crop sire Put It Back Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Silvery Swan Has Sterling Offspring

Silvery Swan Has Sterling Offspring

Silvery Swan, a 1994 foal, beat the odds when she produced a dark bay or brown colt by Mr. Greeley in 1997. Named El Corredor, the fleet colt won the 2000 Cigar Mile Handicap (gr. I) and three grade II races before siring seven stakes winners to date. Since that flying start to her broodmare career, Silvery Swan has moved from strength to strength. Friday, August 17, 2007

Pedigree Analysis: Diabolical

Inbreeding to Mr. Prospector through champions Conquistador Cielo and Gold Beauty has been rare. But in recent A. G. Vanderbilt Handicap (gr. II) winner Diabolical, the cross has proven golden and may soon glitter all the more brightly if the colt can go on to grade I glory in the Vosburgh Stakes (gr. I) or Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I). Wednesday, August 08, 2007
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