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
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
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
It seems appropriate that the once-perennial leading commercial sire, Storm Cat, bow out while the Thoroughbred market redefines itself. Wednesday, September 23, 2009
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
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's big win in the grade I CCA Oaks exemplifies an American breeding pattern of miler speed over stoutness. Wednesday, July 29, 2009
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
What a Pear has just served notice that Stardom Bound will have competition in the sophomore filly division this year. Monday, March 02, 2009
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
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? Thursday, January 29, 2009
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. Friday, January 16, 2009
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
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
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 ΒΌ-length maiden victory Nov. 22 at Aqueduct. Wednesday, November 26, 2008
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
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 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
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
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
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. Tuesday, August 26, 2008
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. Thursday, August 21, 2008
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. Thursday, August 07, 2008
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. Friday, July 25, 2008
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). Friday, July 18, 2008
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. Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Ocean Colors has the potential to put some shine on the otherwise lackluster broodmare career of Winning Colors. The daughter of Orientate broke her maiden by 5 1/4 lengths at Churchill Downs on June 13 and seems ready for more. Monday, June 23, 2008
The Juddmonte Epsom Oaks (Eng-I) victory of Look Here (GB) may have been a surprise to the bettors, but her staying ability should have been no surprise. In the male line, she is the fourth generation to prove able to win at 12 furlongs or better in group I-quality company. Friday, June 13, 2008
No one has to look very deep in Acoma's pedigree to see broodmare potential in spades. Helen Alexander's and Helen Groves' daughter of Empire Maker recently won the Dogwood Stakes (gr. III) is now bucking for broodmare prospect of the year honors. Friday, June 06, 2008
Already a graded stakes winner, Lattice showed he continues to belong among the top turf runners with a win May 25 in the Louisville Handicap (gr. IIIT). His pedigree, however, indicates he could be capable of still more, of eventually joining the country's turf elite. Friday, May 30, 2008
Roshani is one of only three graded stakes winners produced by crossing a sire from the Nijinsky II line with daughters of Deputy Minister. Clearly, Roshani inherited the best from the paternal and maternal sides of her pedigree. The daughter of Fantastic Light was sold for $135,000 as a racing/broodmare prospect at the 2007 Keeneland January mixed sale. She has now earned $320,550. Friday, May 23, 2008