ANY GIVEN SATURDAY
2004 by Distorted Humor–Weekend in Indy, by A.P. Indy
Any Given Saturday offers a mix of familiar pedigree elements with some that are not quite so common. He is from the family of the very good sire Relaunch, who has a history of successful combinations with several important strains in Any Given Saturday’s pedigree. Mares returning Buckpasser or the various permutations of the War Admiral/*La Troienne cross (Striking, Busher, Searching, Mr. Busher, Blue Eyed Momo, Better Self) should also be considered.
While Forty Niner and his other sons have generally not done well with returns of Mr. Prospector, Distorted Humor already has two grade I winners, Flower Alley and Commentator, inbred to that sire, in both cases through sons of the great progenitor. This suggests that inbreeding to Mr. Prospector may be workable with Any Given Saturday, particularly in combination with other compatible strains. Seeking the Gold may be particularly desirable given both his marked compatibility with A.P. Indy and the fact that he is out of a Buckpasser mare, and Woodman — another Mr. Prospector son from a Buckpasser mare — is the second damsire of Commentator. Distorted Humor has also sired the speedy grade II winner Sharp Humor from a granddaughter of Woodman.
Of the various branches of the Northern Dancer tribe, the most compatible with Any Given Saturday’s pedigree appear to be Storm Bird, Sadler’s Wells, Dixieland Band, Deputy Minister, and possibly Lyphard. Lomond, though seldom found in North American pedigrees, may also be interesting as he is a half-brother to Seattle Slew. Northern Dancer’s usual foil, Halo, also looks like a good cross for Any Given Saturday.
Other lines that appear to have some possibilities include Damascus, Secretariat, Blushing Groom (Fr), and Valid Appeal. Those wishing to experiment with inbreeding to superior females will doubtless find Summer Squall a natural, especially as inbreeding to Weekend Surprise via A.P. Indy over Summer Squall has already produced 2005 U.S. champion juvenile Stevie Wonderboy. — by Avalyn Hunter