MASTER COMMAND
2002 by A.P. Indy–Lady Locinvar, by Lord At War (Arg)
By Avalyn Hunter
Master Command was one of the better members of the older male division in 2006 and 2007, winning five graded stakes. Four of his five graded stakes wins were at nine furlongs, tending to confirm a pedigree tilted towards stamina. Given his own late maturation, some speed and precocity would seem desirable in his mates.
A.P. Indy has done very well with mares by Mr. Prospector and Northern Dancer. As Master Command is free of both strains, he should do well with mares from these lines. Most strains of Northern Dancer seem to have potential, Any combination of Mr. Prospector with Buckpasser (another of A.P. Indy’s favorite strains) may be worth considering if the conformatonal match is right, particularly Seeking the Gold, who has five graded stakes winners as a broodmare sire with A.P. Indy. The Fappiano branch of Mr. Prospector also looks very promising. For breeders willing to experiment with inbreeding to Seattle Slew, mares by Lemon Drop Kid may be particularly interesting as Lemon Drop Kid not only carries both Mr. Prospector and Buckpasser but hails from the same immediate female family as does A.P. Indy.
Among the *Turn-to tribe, Halo looks like a suitable cross for Master Command. Some other strains that may suit Master Command well include Blushing Groom, Affirmed, and possibly In Reality and Olden Times when the conformation matchups are good. The female family of Broodmare of the Year Glowing Tribute, who comes from the same female line as does Master Command, may also be suitable, as may Blue Eyed Momo, Mr. Busher, Better Self, and The Axe II. Another female family that could be used for line breeding is that of Imperatrice, dam of Somethingroyal, whose great-grandson Cure the Blues is the broodmare sire of A.P. Indy’s grade I-winning son Golden Missile.