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Royal Delta is Evidence of a Powerful Cross

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
The feeling that Empire Maker's move to Japan was a significant loss for U.S. breeders, especially as an excellent cross for A.P. Indy, was reinforced when Royal Delta won the Alabama.

And They're Off: Jan 14 (Video)

Hosted by Lenny Shulman and Steve Haskin, "And They're Off" is a bi-monthly online video series sponsored by Darby Dan Farm. This weeks topics include: an early look at the Derby Trail, Joe Hirsch, and Toussaud.

Major Winner/Producer Toussaud Dead

Toussaud, 2002 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year, was euthanized Jan. 5 because of declining health.

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.

Country Star Delivers on a Promise

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

If Empire Maker's career as a runner left his connections to speculate on what might have been trainer Bobby Frankel described him as the best he had trained, many lengths better than he was able to show his career as a stallion is rapidly beginning to shape as if to fulfill that unrealized potential through his offspring. One of his standouts is Country Star, who broker her maiden in the Darley Alcibiades Stakes (gr. I) on Oct. 5. Three weeks later, Country Star staked a claim to the juvenile filly championship with a track record-breaking win in the Hollywood Starlet Stakes (gr. I).

Toussaud Pensioned

Toussaud, whose five grade/group winners include promising young sire Empire Maker, has been pensioned from her duties as a broodmare at Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms near Lexington.

El Gran Senor Euthanized

Central Kentucky stallion El Gran Senor was euthanized Oct. 18 at Ashford Stud due to the infirmities of old age. He was 25.

Blue Hens

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Grade II Winner Decarchy to Magali in California

Grade II winner Decarchy, a half-brother to Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Empire Maker, has been purchased by Dennis Narlinger and Magali Farms from Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms for stallion duty at Magali near Santa Ynez, Calif.

Empire Maker Retired to Juddmonte: Fee $100,000

Empire Maker, whose Belmont Stakes (gr. I) win ended the Triple Crown threat of Funny Cide, has been retired from racing and will stand for a fee of $100,000 live foal at Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms near Lexington.

Belmont Winner's Pedigree: Breeding Empire

Empire Maker, the colt that was supposed to win the 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby (gr. I) because of his pedigree, instead won the 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes (gr. I) because of his pedigree. That's a lot of pedigree for one horse, even for one from the vast international breeding empire of Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms.

Toussaud, the Dam of Empire Maker, Top Kentucky Broodmare

Juddmonte Farms' Toussaud, the 14-year-old daughter of El Gran Senor who produced Belmont Stakes winner Empire Maker, was honored as Broodmare of the Year by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association earlier this year.

Empire Maker Expands Frankel's Derby Domain

Juddmonte Farms' Empire Maker expanded trainer Bobby Frankel's realm over the 2003 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) preps. A week after conquering Louisiana with Peace Rules in the $750,000 Louisiana Derby (gr. II), Empire Maker gave the $1 million Florida Derby (gr. I) to Frankel with a spectacular performance, trouncing the seven-horse field with an eye-catching stretch run.

Public Shows Faith in Empire Maker

On the eve of the biggest race of his career, the public is holding Juddmonte Farms' Empire Maker as the favorite at 9-1 among the 23 individuals listed in Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager.

Frankel Can Add Florida Derby to His Empire

With three straight Eclipse Awards, Brooklyn-born trainer Bobby Frankel has been the master of all he has surveyed. Last year, his runners earned more than $17.7 million and he won 14 grade I races. But one has always eluded him: the Florida Derby.

Decarchy, White Heart on Comeback Trail

Decarchy, White Heart and Freedom Crest, three major stakes winners who all went to the sidelines this spring, are ready to launch comebacks Sunday in the $70,000-added Steinlen Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Chiselling Gives Toussaud Fourth Graded Stakes Winner

Chiselling, whose career got off to a slow start when he lost his first three races, overcame a tardy break to win the Lexington Stakes (gr. IIIT) by a nose for owner-breeder Juddmonte Farms and Hall of Famers Jerry Bailey and Bobby Frankel.

Decarchy Earns First Graded Stakes Win in Tanforan Handicap

Decarchy became the third graded stakes winner produced by his dam when he won Saturday's Tanforan Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Golden Gate Fields. The half-brother of grade I winners Chester House and Honest Lady completed the 1 1/16-mile turf race in 1:44.25 on a course labeled "good."