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BC Stallion Analysis by Racing Surface

Be prepared for the Breeders' Cup with our analysis of how the progeny of stallions represented in the Breeders' Cup World Championships have fared on dirt and turf at Churchill Downs.

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Casamento Stakes Claim as Classic Favorite

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Does Shamardal's son Casamento have an Epsom Derby pedigree or will he peak at 10 furlongs? Alan Porter analyzes the prospects of one of Europe's hottest juveniles.

Frankel Pulls Away from European Competition

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter
Frankel appears to be as good a Classic prospect as Europe has seen in years.

It's All A.P. Indy in Freshman Sire Race

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Rising quickly in the first-crop juvenile sire standings is Bernardini. As the year winds down, he's competing for supremacy over other A.P. Indy-influenced young sires.

Jaycito has the Staying Power for Ky Derby

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter
His pedigree makes it clear that he'll handle classic distances. Will Jaycito be the first Kentucky Derby winner for octogenarian breeder Catesby Clay, dean of historic Runnymede Farm?

New Names in Contention for Sophomore Honors

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
In most years, likely sophomore stars have made a name for themselves before mid-September. This year, Apart and Morning Line enter the scene right as autumn arrives.

Southern Belle Rivals Zenyatta in Chile

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter
Belle Watling became the 1st runner ever to sweep the 'Chilean Quadruple Crown.' Her success is an example of breeding Northern sires with South American families to produce top horses.

Man o' War Runners Top Juvenile Ranks

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Colts on opposite coasts are battling for honors at top 2-year-old. Both J P's Gusto and Boys At Tosconova descend from the In Reality line of Man o' War.

Boys At Tosconova Reports for Officer

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter
From a field of 4 maiden winners in the grade I Hopeful Stakes, Boys At Tosconova left little doubt which was the best runner with a dominating performance.

Discreetly Mine: Enigma of Aptitude, Pedigree

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
His pedigree shouts stamina but Discreetly Mine--winner Aug. 28 of the grade I King's Bishop Stakes--seems intent on proving himself as a top sprinter.

Darley-bred Dream Ahead and Debussy Dominate

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter
Dream Ahead and Debussy have more in common than group/grade I wins the weekend of August 21-22: They're both Darley-breds piloted by jockey William Buick.

Freshman Sires Starting Fast

Four of the current top 10 freshman sires of 2010 already have juvenile stakes winners. Alan Porter takes an early look at what's working with pedigree crosses for this year's 'young guns.'

Concord Point Rides the Waves

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter
West Virginia Derby winner Concord Point is the first graded winner with siblings Relaunch and Moon Glitter in his pedigree--a pattern to watch for in future pedigrees.

Playing on Some Themes with The Minstrel

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Alan Porter's focus this week is the interbreeding of close genetic relatives The Minstrel and Nijinsky II, as exemplified by recent stakes winners A Little Warm and Malibu Prayer.

Hunch is Rewarded in Golden Moka Comeback

Canadian classic winner Golden Moka's story involves a crippled jockey who sees something in a cheap Panamanian 2yo; a stallion that has struggled to meet expectations; and a female family with a long and proud tradition.

Skip Away's Skipshot Surprises in Swaps

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
The cross that produced Swaps Stakes surprise winner Skipshot appears to be based on an affinity of Skip Away for Halo-line mares.

Jessica Is Back, Brings the Family With Her

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter
Although she descends from an important early American female family, Jessica Is Back is the sole grade I-winning representative of her dam line's branch in a half-century.

Bluegrass Cat Jumps Out Early

Les Brinsfield looks at the early success of freshman sire Bluegrass Cat.

Chinchon Proof of Inbreeding's Effects

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
From a Sex Appeal family branch that has rarely hit in recent generations, United Nations (gr. IT) winner Chinchon was bred on a smart family inbreeding pattern.

Cape Blanco Adds to Irish Derby Dynasty

Coolmore, Sadler's Wells, and trainer Aidan O'Brien have a longstanding presence in the Irish Derby winner's circle. This year, the trio made it a trifecta, headed by the Galileo colt Cape Blanco.

Afleet Alex's Star Rises With Afleet Express

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Pegasus Stakes winner Afleet Express exemplifies pedigree trends that are developing for young sire Afleet Alex, including the benefits of duplicating Nearctic and Mr. Prospector.

Inside Pedigrees: Drosselmeyer

Drosselmeyer continues the trend of recent classic winners being sired by horses known for speed from mares with a pronounced aptitude for stamina.

Lope de Vega, Makfi Put Spotlight on Sires

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Double French Classic winner Lope de Vega is by second-crop sire Shamardal, while group I winner Makfi is by second-crop sire Dubawi. Both sires are slugging it out to lead their crop.

Belmont 142 Contenders: Pedigree Profiles

This special report takes an in-depth look at the pedigrees of the contenders in the final leg of the Triple Crown. Include a five-cross pedigree chart, Brisnet.com Past Performances, and a Leading Sires at Belmont Park.

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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.

Classic Drama for Apapane and Saint Emilion

The first-ever Japanese group I dead heat will forever join Apapane and Saint Emilion in racing history.

Inside Pedigrees: Smart Strike

Smart Strike, who has had three grade I winners in a single day, can only be held down so long.

Special Circumstances Elevate Special Duty

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter
Juddmonte Farms continues to reap rewards from the family of Nijinsky Star, including Special Duty's two 2010 classic victories, both by disqualification.

Fly Down and Game On Dude on Belmont Hunt

First graded wins for sophomore colts Fly Down and Game On Dude put them on track for the Belmont Stakes (gr. I).

La Troienne Linebreeding Still Relevant

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter
Super Saver is one recent example of the conventional wisdom of Thoroughbred breeders that "the more La Troienne, the better."

Inside Pedigrees: Super Breeding

Super Saver replete with seven lines of La Troienne. Maria's Mon, sire of Super Saver has a double of La Troienne including Busanda via faultless Buckpasser. Supercharger, dam of Super Saver, has five lines of La Troienne.

Hurricane Ike to Make Landfall at Preakness

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
His Derby Trial victory effectively dashed the Derby hopes of two competitors seeking graded earnings, but Hurricane Ike will use the win as a Preakness Stakes prep.

Exhi Emerges as Sophomore Standout

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter
Descending from one of Canada's leading female families, Exhi hit his stride just a bit too late for likely KY Derby eligibility, but he's a good bet for other big races in 2010.

Inside Pedigrees: Derby by Pedigree

INSIDE PEDIGREES, by Les Brinsfield
Eskendereya is the favorite, and also the pick of a pedigree pundit.

Stately Victor: a Blue Grass Surprise

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
The first grade I winner sired by Ghostzapper - whose own pedigree is free of five-generation duplicated bloodlines - has an inbreeding pattern to the closely-inbred In Reality.

Pedigree Profile: Franny Freud

INSIDE PEDIGREES
Les Brinsfield takes a look inside the pedigree the New York-bred Franny Freud, winner of the April 7 Beaumont Stakes (gr. II).

Sidney's Candy: Sweet Rise to Derby Contender

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter
The pedigree of Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) winner Sidney's Candy pairs speed with stamina. Will it be enough to get around the Derby oval first?

Endorsement Earns Derby Nod with Sunland Win

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Distorted Humor again figures in Triple Crown hopes as son Endorsement enters the Derby picture in the newly-graded Sunland Derby.

Line On Linebreeding

INSIDE PEDIGREES, by Les Brinsfield
The concept reduces genetic variance and increases odds of predictability.

Ice Box Turns Up Heat on Derby Trail

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter
By one of the hottest sires in American and out of a stamina-oriented mare, Ice Box has bloodlines that indicate he's a smart pedigree pick for the Triple Crown races.

Odysseus Journeys to Churchill Downs

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
The Malibu Moon colt Odysseus embarked on what what might be an epic lead-in to a 2010 Triple Crown campaign when he captured the recent Tampa Bay Derby (gr. III).

Power of La Troienne

INSIDE PEDIGREES, by Les Brinsfield
La Troienne is the best mare in American pedigrees since going into production.

Porter on Pedigrees: Rachel Alexandra

Rachel Alexandra is from the first crop of the El Prado (IRE) stallion Medaglia d'Oro, who is promising to extend an American branch of the line Sadler's Wells.

Awesome Act Sets Up Family Showdown

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter
From a separate branch of the Almahmoud family than fellow Triple Crown hopeful Eskendereya comes Awesome Act, who powered into consideration with an easy Gotham Stakes win.

Backtalk Looks to Follow Smarty's Hoofprints

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Brent Fernung stands to go down in history as a three-time purchaser of "Derby dams" if Backtalk's impressive style carries him to a win on the first Saturday in May.

She Be Wild is A Good Return

INSIDE PEDIGREES, by Les Brinsfield
She Be Wild is evidence of the old formula, 'Return to the sire the best blood of his dam.'

Will Eskendereya Mature Beyond Youth?

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter
Restoring new hope to a branch of the Almahmoud family of Northern Dancer, Eskendereya established himself as a legitimate Triple Crown contender with his Fountain of Youth win.

Caracortado Puts New Indiana Stallion on Map

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
In a breakout race that put Caracortado on Derby watchers' radar, the Cal-bred also focuses attention on newly-transferred Cat Dreams, who stands in Indiana for the 2010 season.

Peppi Knows Two-Turn Racing

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter
Stephen Got Even's rising star Peppi Knows scores his first 2-turn stakes victory in the Whirlaway Stakes. Is it a sign of Triple Crown potential?

Winstar's TC Hopes at 4 with Drosselmeyer

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Although he hasn't yet won a stakes event, Distorted Humor's son Drosselmeyer showed plenty of potential and jumped into Triple Crown discussions with a nine-furlong allowance win.