The Influence of His Majesty
The common link between this year's Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist and third-place finisher Medal Count is His Majesty.
Pedigree Analysis
BloodHorse.com BHN: Pedigree Analysis Articles
Classic Combo: Galileo and Cape Cross
It's rather rare for a mare in a major racing jurisdiction to throw Derby-winning brothers. It's probably even rarer for both siblings to go on to sire classic winners themselves.
Classic Winner Emerges From the Mist
This year Pleasant Colony's maternal grandson Tonalist, wearing the colors of Thomas Evans' son Robert 'Shel' Evans, played the role of Summing to deny California Chrome a Triple Crown.
Buckpasser and His Influence on the Breed
Buckpasser is one of the most revered names in American racing and breeding. Besides being a beloved racehorse, his influence on the breed has been enormous.
Daughters Keep Swaps' Line Alive
With no suitable male heir, Swaps has faded from the breeding headlines, but his daughters left a more important legacy.
The Swaps Connection
Just more than 60 years ago a trim California-bred with unorthodox connections came East to shock the racing establishment by scoring an upset win in the 1955 Kentucky Derby.
Sources of Stamina
It's time to remind breeders and broadcasters alike that stamina still exists in America and remains an essential part of breeding classic winners.
(It's A) Dundeel Spotlights High Chaparral
It's A Dundeel is the fifth group I winner from High Chaparral's first four Southern Hemisphere crops.
The Continuing Impact of Seattle Slew
While Seattle Slew did well crossed back to almost any of the major strains in his pedigree, he was particularly effective when bred to mares carrying Buckpasser in their pedigrees.
A Pedigree Both Wicked and Strong
Wicked Strong can claim a pedigree with speed, class, and stamina on both sides, making his future prospects intriguing.
Ruby Slippers
Of the two most expensive stallions at stud in North America for 2014, one is out of a mare by Rubiano, and the other is out of a three-quarters sister to Rubiano.
A Case for Full Siblings
Common sense would indicate that full siblings to a good horse have a better chance of being good runners themselves than half siblings, all other factors being equal and the respective sires being of roughly equal merit.
Breeding for the Classics
The quest for the classic racehorse has been ongoing since the first classic races were inaugurated in England in the late 1700s.
Vein of Gold
Among this year's classic prospects, the list with Mr. Prospector inbreeding includes California Chrome, Noble Moon, In Trouble, Rise Up, Vinceremos, and Ring Weekend.
The Influence of Bold Ruler
Once upon a time there was a brave young prince named Bold Ruler, who became the greatest stallion of his time.
California Chrome Chasing the Derby Dream
MAHUBAH'S CORNER
A California-bred eye-catcher with flashy white markings, but in his case, handsome is as handsome does.
Gala Award: Not Your Typical Turf Pedigree
PORTER ON PEDIGREES
Gala Award does not have a pedigree that one would normally associate with a turf specialist, and his connections are now considering races such as the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes.
Wildcat Red Stretches Speed Toward Classics
MAHUBAH'S CORNER
How far Wildcat Red will go is anyone's guess, but he has already gone farther than many people thought he might and shown fine gameness while doing so.
Kobe's Back Sprints Onto Derby Trail
PORTER ON PEDIGREES
The impression that Kobe's Back was an early season 2-year-old flash in the pan was dismissed when he won the San Vicente Stakes.
Candy Boy Emerges From California Family
MAHUBAH'S CORNER
Candy Boy is the product of two generations of outcrossing on what had become an intensely inbred female line.
Samraat Brings Back Memories of Funny Cide
PORTER ON PEDIGREES
Eleven years after Funny Cide became the first New York-bred to win the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), two more horses bred in the Empire State stamped themselves as legitimate classic prospects.
Prince of South Florida
MAHUBAH'S CORNER
Cairo Prince could have just the right balance of stamina and speed to be a successful contender in the Kentucky Derby.
Into Mischief Confirms He's a Sire to Watch
PORTER ON PEDIGREES
Lecomte Stakes winner Vicar's in Trouble is keeping the spotlight on his sire Into Mischief.
Midnight Hawk: A Mating of Two Sprinters?
MAHUBAH'S CORNER
The pedigree of Midnight Hawk, on the surface a mating between two sprinters, actually shows a nice balance between speed and stamina elements.
Noble Moon Full of Classic Promise
PORTER ON PEDIGREES
In just his third start, Noble Moon impressed with a determined two-length victory in the Jan. 4 Jerome Stakes.
Heir Kitty Extends Her Sire's Speed Legacy
MAHUBAH'S CORNER
Wildcat Heir is pretty one-dimensional as a sire, but what he does, he does well, getting solid sprinters that can handle a variety of surfaces.
Mr Speaker Hopes to Follow in Orb's Footsteps
PORTER ON PEDIGREES
If Mr Speaker is to follow in Orb's footsteps, he will have to make the switch from turf to dirt at some point, and according to his trainer that switch may come as soon as his next start.
Shared Belief Looking Beyond Speedy Family
MAHUBAH'S CORNER
Shared Belief ran away with the CashCall Futurity and put in his bid to become the first juvenile champion to skip the Breeders' Cup since Declan's Moon.
King Kamehameha Son Dominates in Hong Kong
PORTER ON PEDIGREES
Few Japanese runners in international competition have been more impressive than Lord Kanaloa, who won 13 of 19 starts overall.
Honor Code: A.P. Indy's Last Derby Hope
MAHUBAH'S CORNER
As a son of A.P. Indy, Honor Code should have no problems with stamina, nor is there much concern as to whether he will train on at 3.
Rise Up Scores for Late Sire Rockport Harbor
PORTER ON PEDIGREES
Rise Up took Rockport Harbor to the head of the juvenile sire standings with his dominating victory in the Delta Downs Jackpot.
Is Imagining the Next Phipps Stable Star?
MAHUBAH'S CORNER
Point of Entry is now off to stud, but the Phipps family may already have his replacement for next season's major turf distance events in Imagining.
Bernardini Making Headway Down Under
PORTER ON PEDIGREES
Bernardini's first Australian crop has produced not only multiple group I winner Boban, but also four-time group scorer Toydini and stakes winners Meidung and Solemn.
Harlan's Holiday Unlikely to Be Forgotten
MAHUBAH'S CORNER
Shockwaves are still reverberating through the breeding community at the loss of Harlan's Holiday.
Kingston Hill Proves Merit of Mastercraftsman
PORTER ON PEDIGREES
Mastercraftsman leapt to the top of the freshman sire list Oct. 26 following the victories of Craftsman in the JRA Killavullan Stakes and Kingston Hill in the Racing Post Trophy.
Inbreeding to Secretariat: Not a Passing Fad
MAHUBAH'S CORNER
The great Secretariat is not exactly in Herod's position yet as a universal influence on pedigrees, but he may be moving in that direction.
Astaire a Model for Close Inbreeding
PORTER ON PEDIGREES
Astaire wasn't bred by trainer Jim Bolger, but he is by the Bolger-trained Intense Focus, and the Irish conditioner would surely approve of the inbreeding found in Astaire's pedigree.
Artie Schiller Keeps Trend Going for El Prado
MAHUBAH'S CORNER
Artie Schiller follows Medaglia d'Oro and Kitten's Joy as the third son of El Prado finding notable success at stud in the U.S.
In Trouble Signals Man o' War Line Survival
PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
If the Man o' War line is to extend far into the current century, it will almost certainly rely on the success of Tiznow as a sire of sires.
Al Kazeem Fit for a Queen
MAHUBAH'S CORNER
As the first new sire to come to Sandringham since Motivator, Al Khazeem offers the Royal Studs both a sire line that is an outcross and a female family of transatlantic interest.
Toormore: Another Good Horse for Arakan
PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Toormore is the third group winner sired by Arakan, and the second out of Danzig line mare.
Tamarando's Futurity Lifts Bertrando's Legacy
MAHUBAH'S CORNER
Tamarando, a member of Bertrando's next-to-last crop, may finally provide a chance of continuing the Bertrando branch of the In Reality/Relaunch sire line.
Sweet Success for Street Cry Line
PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
One of the more interesting features of the last 10 days or so has been the hot streak for young sire sons of Street Cry.
Times Two's Saratoga Double
MAHUBAH'S CORNER
Times Two is the 5th dam of both King's Bishop winner Capo Bastone and Travers winner Will Take Charge.
A Joyful Grade I Trio for the Ramseys
PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Few owners in recent times could have been more committed to the stud career of a stallion than Ken and Sarah Ramsey have been to Kitten's Joy.
Moonlight Cloud, Invincible in 2013
MAHUBAH'S CORNER
Moonlight Cloud has a Win and You're In ticket to the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT), and on her form this year, she would be a more than worthy challenger for Wise Dan.
Justin Phillip Perseveres for Grade I Prize
PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Justin Phillip made his racecourse debut Aug. 19, 2010 at Saratoga. Some 28 races later he gained a first grade I victory in Saratoga's Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (gr. I).
Silvano Bringing Stamina to South Africa
by Darryl Sherer
Sprint stallions tend to dominate in South Africa, so when German-bred Silvano began shuttling in 2003 to the Jacobs family-owned Maine Chance Farm in the Western Cape, he became a revelation.
Kettle Corn is on a Sweet Ride
MAHUBAH'S CORNER
Kettle Corn isn't likely to be mistaken for a great horse, but on his day, he can be dangerous, as he proved July 27 when defeating Paynter in the San Diego Handicap (gr. II).
Pedigree Analysis: Centralinteligence
by Anne Peters
Six grade I winners were topped in this year's Triple Bend by Centralinteligence.
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