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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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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, 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, 2007Inbreeding 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, 2007Few horses live up to their name as well as Blush With Pride. Already one of Blushing Groom's best racing daughter with four graded stakes victories, the daughter of Best in Show has gone to excel as a producer, especially when crossed with the Northern Dancer line.
Thursday, August 02, 2007If there were a prize to be given for the most royal pedigree in the Breeders' Cup Classic-Powered By Dodge (gr. I), Suave would be right up there among the contenders.
Thursday, November 02, 2006Giacomo is a different kettle of fish from the best-known runners from the Plaudit line, who gained their reputation on the basis of raw brilliance.
Thursday, November 02, 2006Some might question why Flower Alley is even being considered for the Breeders' Cup Classic–Powered By Dodge (gr. I). If he can return to the form that carried him to a second-place finish behind Horse of the Year Saint Liam in last year's Classic, however, he will not be a horse to overlook.
Thursday, November 02, 2006By the late 1990s, it seemed almost certain that the male line of Hall of Famer Alydar would not survive. Before he died in 1990, however, Alydar sired one last runner of some note.
Thursday, November 02, 2006Lawyer Ron proved himself one of the most consistent 3-year-old colts of 2006 heading into the Kentucky Derby, carrying a six-race win streak into the big race.
Thursday, November 02, 2006George Washington is a unique conundrum. Bred by Roy and Gretchen Jackson – also the breeders and owners of Kentucky Derby (gr, I) winner Barbaro – he has a name as American as baseball and apple pie, yet is largely European in background and performance.
Thursday, November 02, 2006If Lava Man's pedigree is blue-collar and Invasor's is foreign nobility, Bernardini's represents the American aristocracy.
Thursday, November 02, 2006Whenever a top European-based runner invades North America for a crack at the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), one of the obvious questions is how well the horse will adapt to dirt. Whether Eclipse Stakes (Eng-I) winner David Junior successfully makes the adjustment may depend on whether he takes more after his sire or after his dam.
Saturday, October 21, 2006Perfect Drift is the result of a union between a sire who has earned his way into the top ranks through sheer merit and a female family that, until he came along, had enjoyed no more than modest success in many years.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006Like Colonia, Invasor has a pedigree that combines the male line of *Nasrullah with old South American bloodlines. In his case, the *Nasrullah line comes via Candy Stripes, a son of Blushing Groom and the Lyphard mare Bubble Company.
Friday, September 29, 2006Like Colonia, Invasor has a pedigree that combines the male line of *Nasrullah with old South American bloodlines. In his case, the *Nasrullah line comes via Candy Stripes, a son of Blushing Groom and the Lyphard mare Bubble Company.
Friday, September 29, 2006Until recently, Lava Man was an equine Rodney Dangerfield – he could win big races and big money, but not respect. Amazing what four grade I wins can do.
Sunday, September 24, 2006Prior to Barbaro, the closest any Roberto-line horse had come to winning an American Triple Crown race was in 1988, when Roberto's son Brian's Time - like Barbaro, a winner of the Florida Derby (gr. I) - ran second to Risen Star in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) and third behind Risen Star and Kingpost in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I).
Saturday, May 06, 2006Lemon Drop Kid could hardly have picked a better time to have a breakthrough horse. On national TV, his daughter Lemons Forever charged down the stretch to win the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), writing her name into the history of the nation's oldest race for three-year-old fillies and becoming her sire's first grade I winner.
Friday, May 05, 2006Diplomat Lady heads a field of 10 3-year-old fillies set to go postward in Thursday's $250,000 Stonerside Beaumont Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006Hunch bettors will not have to look further than Borrego for a play in the Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered By Dodge (gr. I). The name "Borrego," after all, is the Spanish for a sheep's or ram's horn--and as fans of the Dodge Ram line of trucks say, "If you can't Dodge it, Ram it!"
Friday, October 21, 2005Everyone loves a rags-to-riches story, and among this year's Breeders' Cup horses, few fit that label better than Choctaw Nation--though the rags are perhaps not as ragged as for some of the sport's legends.
Wednesday, October 19, 2005Hunch bettors will not have to look further than Borrego for a play in the Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered By Dodge (gr. I). The name "Borrego," after all, is the Spanish for a sheep's or ram's horn--and as fans of the Dodge Ram line of trucks say, "If you can't Dodge it, Ram it!"
Wednesday, October 19, 2005Cross a strapping stamina-oriented stallion with a precocious speedster of a mare. What do you get?
Monday, October 03, 2005Imperialism's transformation from Classic contender to come-from-behind sprinter was probably no great surprise to those familiar with the career of his sire Langfuhr.
Monday, October 03, 2005Close inbreeding is a tricky proposition, able to concentrate bad traits of the inbred ancestor as well as good ones. For this reason, it is often avoided by breeders.
Wednesday, September 28, 2005They don't make them like Gallorette any more. The champion handicap mare of 1946, Gallorette won or placed in 54 of her 72 starts while battling against the likes of Armed, Assault, and Stymie in one of the deepest handicap divisions ever seen in America.
Wednesday, September 28, 2005Horse of the Year in 1994, Holy Bull had one glaring hole in his resume that year, the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), in which he struggled over a muddy track to finish an ignominious 12th of 14 behind winner Go for Gin. Saturday, that defeat was avenged when his son Giacomo charged from far off the pace to win the Kentucky Derby by half a length over a dead-game Closing Argument.
Saturday, May 07, 2005Students of speed figures may turn up their noses at the 2005 Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) results--too slow and too lacking in class, with a 30-1 shot leading the way home. Yet the winner, Buzzards Bay, has done little wrong this season, and he has a pedigree that suggests things will only get better with maturity and distance.
Wednesday, April 20, 2005It is a long way in distance from Dubai to Churchill Downs. And it is a long way in time since a horse from the line of Man o' War took the Derby roses, the last being War Admiral in 1937. But if a fleet bay colt named Blues and Royals has his way, both long journeys will end in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winners' circle on May 7.
Wednesday, April 13, 2005Take a popular husband and wife who have already known the thrill of owning two Kentucky Derby-Preakness (both gr. I) winners and the agony of two close Belmont (gr. I) defeats. Add one of the most colorful and controversial trainers of modern times, and throw in the hottest commercial sire living. Add a French connection with an international flair, and what do you have?
Wednesday, April 06, 2005She's big. She's bold. She's beautiful. And she just may be the best distaff prospect for smelling Derby roses in years.
Wednesday, March 30, 2005Giant's Causeway, Europe's Horse of the Year in 2000, did the expected and reigned as Europe's leading freshman sire of 2004. His four stakes winners included European champion male Shamardal and two other group winners. However, Giant's Causeway has yet to sire a stakes winner on the dirt in North America, leading to questions regarding his suitability as a sire for American racing conditions.
Wednesday, March 23, 2005Few stallions have fit the modern commercial market better than Storm Cat. Seven times the leading sire of juveniles, he regularly gets quick, precocious runners, yet has demonstrated that with the right mare, he can throw a horse capable of getting the American classic distance of 10 furlongs. What can we say about the future as it pertains to Storm Cat as a sire of sires?
Friday, March 04, 2005In 2004, Stephen Got Even created a sensation when 17 of his 2-year-olds in training averaged a healthy $358,529, led by a $3.1 million colt out of Blacktie Bid. That colt, Dubai Dreamer, finished second in his only start to date. Another colt, out of Class On Class, was not quite so pricey, selling for $350,000, but so far he is two for two, and his connections can hardly be blamed if they are starting to have Derby dreams. His name is Don't Get Mad.
Wednesday, February 09, 2005This year, Ogden Mills Phipps is represented by two possible Triple Crown contenders in Defer and Survivalist. Both are by Danzig out of Mr. Prospector mares, the same cross as grade/group I winners Pas de Reponse, Brahms, and Dayjur.
Wednesday, February 09, 2005A balance between speed and stamina is the key to the pedigree of Going Wild, winner of the Jan 17 San Miguel Stakes. With early fractions of :21.61 and :44.32 for the San Miguel, he has already demonstrated speed, and his pedigree suggests the endurance to carry that speed over a distance.
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