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Haskin's Derby Trail: A Legacy to John Nerud

What they have in common is they all carry the John Nerud influence in their pedigree, mainly through the descendents of Fappiano and Dr. Fager and continuing through Unbridled and Quiet American.

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Trainer John Nerud Also a Prominent Breeder

MAHUBAH'S CORNER
John Nerud managed at least part of the racing or breeding careers of several important sires, as well as breeding and racing two more in his own right.

Reveron Kicks Off 2012 Triple Crown Chase

MAHUBAH'S CORNER
The newly created Gulfstream Park Derby introduced the first of this year's rising 3-year-old hopefuls on New Year's Day.

Met Mile is Road to Breeding Shed Success

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter
Traditionally considered a sire-making race, a win in the Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) is a coveted addition to the resume of future sires like 2010 winner Quality Road.

Prominent Sire Cryptoclearance Dies at Age 25

Top racehorse and prominent sire Cryptoclearance died at Rood and Riddle Equine Clinic Thursday, Sept. 24 from a heart attack stemming from complications following colic surgery.

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.

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).

Behindatthebar Will Need Speed

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

Behindatthebar's owners bypassed the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and aimed instead at the Preakness. The son of Forest Wildcat will need every bit of his sire's speed and stamina from his broodmare sire Runaway Groom to take on the Derby winner Big Brown.

Cool Coal Man Makes It Two

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Another Triple Crown contender by a son of A.P. Indy is hot on the Derby trail. A couple of weeks ago it was Pyro, a son of Pulpit. Now it is Cool Coal Man, a colt by Mineshaft who recently won the Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) against a field of top challengers. He is extending the success already seen when A.P. Indy is crossed with Fappiano-line mares.

Distance Adds Upside to Anak Nakal

MAHUBAH'S CORNER by Avalyn Hunter Anak Nakal's win in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (gr. II) November 24 indicates that Four Roses Thoroughbreds does have a promising young racehorse with plenty of potential for improvement. That's a nice thing to have when looking forward to the 2008 Triple Crown trail. Any stamina transmitted to Anak Nakal by his sire Victory Gallop, winner of the 1998 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) is supplemented nicely by the distaff side of his pedigree. Anak Nakal's dam, Misk, was produced from Perlee (FR), who scored her biggest win in the 1982 Prix de Minerve (Fr-III) over 2,400 meters.

Porter on Pedigrees: Rolling Sea

One of the great charms of Thoroughbred racing is that it has always been possible for a good horse to emerge from almost anywhere. The diminishing gap between the best and rest, however, will probably make this an increasingly likely occurence. One example is Rolling Sea, who won the Chilukki Stakes (gr. II) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3. She is by a sire who stands for $2,500 and is out of mare who finished fourth in a $6,500 claimer in her final race.

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.

Nerud Wins Eclipse Award of Merit

No award given to John Nerud could be more appropriately named than the Award of Merit.

Evansville Slew to Buck Pond

Doug Arnold has announced that Evansville Slew has been purchased by his Buck Pond Farm near Lexington and will stand there starting March 9.

Champion Rubiano Euthanized

Rubiano, champion sprinter of 1992, was euthanized Tuesday following complications from laminitis, according to a release from William S. Farish's Lane's End Farm where he had stood since his retirement in 1992.