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Breeding Two-Year Olds

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

On January 18, 2009, Smarty Jones became a "grandpa" when his 3-year old daughter Jonespartyofwon produced a filly in Pennsylvania. Is breeding a filly as a 2-year-old a good idea?

Isn't It Obvious

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Whywhywhy is now back with a bang, with Nownownow capturing the San Fernando Stakes (gr. II) and another son, Ikigai, capturing the Mr. Prospector Stakes (gr. III).

Friesan Fire: The Big Thaw

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

In the case of Friesan Fire, understanding was a little slow in coming, but Larry Jones' patience seems to be paying off. On pedigree, Jones had every reason to be confident that Friesan Fire would eventually come around.

Just for Speight

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Speightstown's sophomores are off to a quick start with Haynesfield taking the Count Fleet Stakes and Gemswick Park scoring a game victory in the Old Hat Stakes (gr. III) in the first weekend of the new year.

Pioneerof the Nile Growing Sire's Status

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Pioneerof the Nile, winner of the CashCall Futurity (gr. I), is one of three Empire Maker sons whose recent performances have helped grow their sire's reputation among breeders. The others are Daiwa Prevail (JPN) and Summer's Empire.

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.

Peppers Pride Stays Hot to the End

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Peppers Pride extended the modern day American record for consecutive wins to 19 when she won at Zia Park on Dec. 14. It may have been the amazing New Mexico-bred filly's final performance and was certainly one of her best.

Deep Roots Give Briecat Her Speed

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Brilliant speed isn't the trait you'd expect from the offspring of Briecat's sire and dam. Her sire Adcat won his best race at nine furlongs. Briecat's broodmare sire Marlin won a grade I race at 1 3/4 miles, the 1997 San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap. And yet, here is Briecat, who won the Bayakoa H. (gr. II) in near track-record time.

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.

Well Positioned for More

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

Deja vu? It may feel that way for Paul Pompa, Jr. Last year, he sold a 75% interest in Big Brown to IEAH Stables after the colt broke his maiden. Now the phones are ringing with offers again thanks to Well Positioned, who cruised to a 14 ¼-length maiden victory Nov. 22 at Aqueduct.

Don't Cry For Candy Ride

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Candy Ride's success as a first-crop sire was emphasized recently when daughter Evita Argentina took the Moccasin Stakes at Hollywood Park, and his son El Brujo claimed runner-up spot in Canada's top juvenile contest, the Coronation Futurity.

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).

New York-breds Shine in Stallion Stakes

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

The sires Performing Magic, Hook and Ladder, Freud, American Chance and Regal Classic were represented by winners in the New York Stallion Stakes series.

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.

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.

Second-Crop Sires Shuffle in 2008

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

The sires with their first 3-year-olds racing in 2008 have seen some reshuffling among the leaders by progeny earnings, particularly compared with the rankings of this sire class as freshmen.

Mr. P Sire Line Rules at Breeders' Cup

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Mr. Prospector line stallions were represented by eight of the 14 Breeders' Cup World Championship winners. Ten of the 14 winners are inbred within five generations, while four were outcrosses.

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.

BC Pedigree Profile: Zenyatta

For whatever Vertigineux lacked as a racehorse, she has more than made up for as a broodmare. The first three foals produced by the daughter of Kris S. have all become stakes winners, including Zenyatta.

BC Pedigree Profile: Henrythenavigator

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.

BC Pedigree Profile: Street Boss

Street Boss is completely different horse than he was in 2007, when he couldn't seem to break through with a big win in allowance company. This year the son of Street Cry has won six of seven starts, with two wins in grade I races. He has become the third exceptional racehorse to blossom out of his sire's first crop.

BC Pedigree Profile: Mr. Nightlinger

Mr. Nightlinger picked a good year for a strong improvement in form. The son of Indian Charlie could soon find himself in the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred championship, contesting the inaugural Turf Sprint.

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.

Danzig Inbreeding Yields Successes

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Grade III winner Strait of Mewsina is one of several stakes winners inbred to Danzig. The son of Spartacus gets one influence of Danzig through his grandsire Danehill, and the other the influence through Chief's Crown, his broodmare grandsire. While male line/male line inbreeding generally has a lower-than-opportunity success rate, the inbreeding of Danzig has produced 20 stakes winners.

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.

Improving Family Produces Sky Diva

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Sky Diva is at the crossroads of an improving sire and an improving family. Sky Mesa started slowly but now runners from his first crop have become graded stakes winners and his second crop of juveniles running this year already includes five stakes winners. At the top is grade I winner Sky Diva. The filly's family has also been improving over the past four years.

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.

Lord Shanakill Adds to Sire's Tally

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Speightstown is one of seven freshmen sires that have already been represented by a group/graded stakes winner so far this year. Lord Shanakill, winner of the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes (Eng-I) is one of Speightstown's top runners and the second group winner sired by a son of Gone West out of a Theatrical mare.

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).

Promising Filly Runs Like a Sweet Song

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Doremefasollatido is delivering on the great breeding and tremendous unfulfilled promise her sire, Bernstein, showed on the racetrack. Though a group stakes winner, Bernstein never became the promising racehorse he appeared to be at 2. He has made it up as a sire, quickly. Bernstein's first crop had 38 foals, 38 starters, and 31 winners (19 2-year-old winners).

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.

A Jewel in the Gold Medallion

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Medaglia d'Oro only started once at 2 but his offspring are displaying plenty of early talent. Out of 10 winners through Sept. 16, he has four stakes horses and two stakes winners, including the graded stakes winner C.S. Silk.

Male Line Cross Yields Vineyard Haven

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Generally speaking, crossing the sire by a certain male line with a mare from the same male line produces below average results. But here is Vineyard Haven, the results of such a cross, who beat some rising stars in the Three Chimneys Hopeful Stakes (gr. I).

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.

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.

Mani Bhavan Extends Storm Boot's Legacy

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Newly minted graded stakes winner Mani Bhavan continues the legacy of her sire Storm Boot, the first son of Storm Cat to be represented by a stakes winner.

Pedigree is Magic on Turf

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

Magical Fantasy chose a big race to break into stakes company in North America. After two modest showings in graded stakes at Hollywood Park, the daughter of Diesis rolled to a two-length victory at odds of over 42-1 in the Del Mar Oaks (gr. I). No one has to look too deep in her pedigree to see her affinity for the grass.

Deep Family Roots Drive Spirit One

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Spirit One's dam, Lavayssiere, retired from racing with scant credentials to be a top mare. She did not have one black type winner in her family as far back as six generations. And yet, here she is today the dam of three stakes winners including Spirit One, who recently took the Arlington Million (gr. I). You have to dig deep to find the source of Spirit One's genetic potential.

Winchester Among World's Top Turf Horses

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

Winchester, winner of the Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT) is part of an exceptionally strong contingent of European turf runners this year. The son of Theatrical may be headed for the Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT). If he wins, Theatrical will become the first Turf winner to sire a Turf winner.

Black Mamba Thriving on U.S. Soil

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Black Mamba has grown from a promising young filly in New Zealand into a grade I winner in the U.S. who now may be headed to the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships in October. The daughter of Black Minnaloushe is the first black type winner out her dam Sneetch.

Sky Mom is More Fight Than Flash

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

Sky Mom is perpetuating the momentum that's been building steadily for the progeny by the late Maria's Mon. Recently the winner of the grade III Arlington Oaks, Sky Mom is also proving that highly fashionable pedigrees are required to produce top-class runners.

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.

Monzante Catching His Stride

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Monzante, who has been showing the promise of taking a major victory for some time, got it done July 20 in the Eddie Read Handicap (gr. I).

Evening Attire, Solid and Sharp

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

Evening Attire remains at the top of his game, having just qualified for the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships by taking the "Win and You're In" Greenwood Cup Stakes at Philadelphia Park.

Kamsin Typifies Modern German Breeding

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

Germany has preserved a number of bloodlines that are all but extinct elsewhere, providing a potential outcross for the Northern Dancer and Mr. Prospector lines that have come to dominate breeding in the rest of the world. Among them is the male line of 1935 English Triple Crown winner Bahram, the direct ancestor of this year's BMW Deutsches Derby (Ger-I) winner Kamsin (GER).

All According to a Mistical Plan

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Prior to the weekend, Mistical Plan had tried for grade one glory on five occasions. On four of those she had failed to hit the board, and in the fifth, she had gained a third, but had been beaten nearly nine lengths. On Saturday, at the Summit of Speed, Mistical Plan cut back to six furlongs and produced the performance of her life to take the Princess Rooney Handicap.

Tin Cup Chalice Poised for Triple Title

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

A family full of consistent winners, albeit not terribly flashy, is propelling Tin Cup Chalice toward a shot at the Big Apple Triple, a series for New York-breds that offers a $250,000 to the horse that sweeps it. The son of Crusader Sword is out of the female family that produce Silky Sullivan.

Azul Leon Puts Lion Heart On Top

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Lion Heart, currently the freshman sire leader, and Friends Lake, who is ranked eighth, got big boosts from their recent graded stakes winners Azul Leon and Screen Your Friends, respectively. The talent both of these sires showed as juveniles appears to be passing along to their offspring.

'Marmalade' Spreads Danehill's Influence

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter Duke of Marmalade carries a high concentration of the Thoroughbred's best blood, with inbreeding to Native Dancer, Northern Dancer, and Buckpasser. All this potential broke through on the racetrack recently when the Irish-bred son of Danehill won the Prince of Wales's Stakes (Eng-I).

The Big Chill

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Dismissed at odds of 40-1 for the Suburban Handicap (gr. I), Giant's Causeway's son Frost Giant prevailed with a determined effort that recalled the battling style of his sire.