That Always Dreaming came home on top in the Derby might not have surprised handicappers. However, the result underscored the importance of this rapidly emerging branch of a line which is often misidentified as that of Fappiano, sire of Unbridled.
Bodemeister's first starters at Pimlico this weekend
One might wonder why the Unbridled sire line has seemed to be spectacular in spurts. Part of the reason could be phenotypical.
Stakes-placed son of Empire Maker will stand for $1,500.
West Point Thoroughbreds' Suns Out Guns Out, the only son of Empire Maker standing in Florida, has joined Stonewall's Prestige Stallions roster for 2017. He will stand for $2,500.
Gainesway released its 2017 fees Nov. 10, which includes a reduced fee to $85,000 for Empire Maker.
Stonewall Farms announced Sept. 9 the retirement and sale of multiple stakes winner and multiple graded stakes-placed Mei Ling to Hill 'n' Dale Farms.
Rise of Empire Maker and his sons and grandsons is good for Cherokee Run as a broodmare sire.
Unbridled was a star as a runner and a sire. While those mattered incredibly to his connections, trainer Nafzger's lingering memories center around the Derby race call he gave owner Mrs. Genter, and Unbridled's gentle nature.
Mei Ling returned to stakes-winning form March 5, taking the $150,000 Heavenly Prize Invitational wire-to-wire at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Below is a list of horses to watch at the Fasig-Tipton Florida sale of 2-year-olds in training to be conducted March 2, beginning at 4 p.m. EST.
Following is information on incoming stallions to Kentucky standing for $10,000 and up and on select leaders in other markets:
Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Moss' homebred Keri Belle was all out to hold off strong closing bids from Stormy Lucy and Theatre Bid to capture the $100,000 Megahertz Stakes (gr. IIIT) Jan. 18 at Santa Anita Park.
Trainer Vicki Oliver says she's leaning toward the Nov. 26 race, which would be the final start for 5-year-old Frivolous.
Stonestreet buys $320,000 Emerald Gal and a $260,000 Curlin colt at Keeneland November's fifth session, which posted declines even as the 12-day auction's overall figures remained ahead of last year's sale.
Gainesway Farm announced Thursday, Nov. 5 that Tapit, well on his way to a second straight season as leading sire, will again stand for $300,000 in 2016.
Empire Maker has returned to what appears somewhat of a transitional time in the U.S. stallion colony.
G. Watts Humphrey Jr.'s Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) contender Frivolous turned in her final work for the Oct. 30 test when she breezed five furlongs in :59 4/5 under trainer Vicki Oliver at Keeneland.
As he prepares to return to Kentucky, review a selection of successful offspring by Empire Maker. View Slideshow
Gold Standard: Tonalist repeats in the Jockey Club Gold Cup and more in the October 10, 2015 issue of Blood-Horse Magazine.
As he prepares to return to Kentucky, review a selection of successful offspring by Empire Maker.
Agent Emmanuel de Seroux discusses deal
In a rare matchup of Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winners, Winchell Thoroughbreds' Untapable and Brereton Jones' Lovely Maria were entered Thursday as part of a field of nine fillies and mares for the 60th Spinster.
For Bobby Frankel, he was to be the Messiah; the gifted regally bred racing machine that would be racing's next superstar. He even had the appropriate name -- Empire Maker. read blog
After five years in Japan, Empire Maker is returning to Kentucky to stand at Gainesway, farm president Antony Beck confirmed Sept. 29. The stallion was purchased in partnership with Don Alberto Corp.
Sky Kingdom, a multiple graded stakes-winning son of successful sire Empire Maker, has been retired from racing and will stand the 2016 breeding season at Darby Dan Farm in Lexington for a $5,000 fee.
Central Kentucky operation WinStar Farm bought three yearlings and a Tapit colt was a hit at a record-setting edition of the Japan Racing Horse Association's select yearling sale July 13 in Hokkaido.
Triple Crown winner War Admiral's name appears eight times in American Pharoah's pedigree.
Frivolous edged just past pacesetter Yahilwa on the turn and then pulled away through the stretch to win the $200,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap (gr. II) in a 32-1 upset June 13 at Churchill Downs.
The obvious question is whether American Pharoah, a colt gifted with excellent speed, has the stamina to master the "Test of the Champion," the 12-furlong Belmont Stakes (gr. I).
American Pharoah's roots are steeped in Hyperion blood, put together by Florida horseman Fred Hooper.
Two-day auction will take place at the Maryland State Fairgrounds at Timonium May 18-19.
While Zayat Stables plans to enter three horses in Saturday's Kentucky Derby including grade II winner El Kabeir, multiple grade I-placed Mr. Z, the homebred American Pharoah is closest to his owner's heart.
In a thrilling stretch battle, Juddmonte Farms' Emollient edged Parranda by half a length to win the $300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes (gr. IT) Sept. 27 at Santa Anita Park.
With a late stretch move, favored Daring Dancer caught A Little Bit Sassy to win by a head in the $200,000 Lake George Stakes (gr. IIT) July 23 over the inner turf at Saratoga Race Course.
Eleven years after Funny Cide's Triple Crown attempt was spoiled by Empire Maker, he and his connections are still a hot item. Catch up with the New York-bred gelding with a day in his life at the Kentucky Horse Park. watch video
Barclay Tagg, trainer of 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide, discusses the distractions and pitfalls of Belmont week as California Chrome nears his run to become racing's 12th winner of the Triple Crown.
Real Quiet, the horse denied the Triple Crown by the smallest of margins, again came up just short in a fantasy Belmont Stakes race won by Empire Maker.
While no horses being pointed to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) worked at Churchill Downs April 25, a pair of fillies being pointed to the Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) breezed.
Daring Dancer, making her first start in nearly six months, remained unbeaten with a daring 2 1/2-length triumph in the $100,000 Appalachian Stakes Presented by Japan Racing Association (gr. IIIT) April 17 at Keeneland.
MAHUBAH'S CORNER
Cairo Prince could have just the right balance of stamina and speed to be a successful contender in the Kentucky Derby.
Grade III winner Soaring Empire was represented by his first reported foal when a colt was born Jan. 24 at Phoenix Farm near Paris, Ky.
WinStar Farm's Bodemeister, a grade I-winning millionaire by Empire Maker, recently sired three bay fillies as his first reported foals to arrive from his introductory crop at stud.
Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott oversaw Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) contenders Royal Delta and Close Hatches as they stretched their legs at Santa Anita on Oct. 29 after arriving from New York the day before.
Stanwyck, making her stakes debut off nearly a three-month layoff, captured the $200,000 Turnback the Alarm Handicap (gr. III) at odds of 21-1 by a head over favored Centring Oct. 26 at Belmont Park.
A smashing winner of the Central Bank Ashland Stakes (gr. I) this spring, favored Emollient returned to Keeneland Oct. 6 to capture the $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (gr. I) in another dazzling effort.
Broadway Empire, a Turf Paradise-based gelding who shipped to Oklahoma after back-to-back wins in Alberta, Canada, grabbed the early lead and never looked back en route to victory in the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby at Remington.
Champion Royal Delta wrapped up serious preparation for defense of her Beldame Invitational Stakes (gr. I) win with a four-furlong breeze Sept. 23 at Belmont Park.
While champion Royal Delta is wrapping up her 2013 campaign with planned starts in the Beldame Invitational and Breeders' Cup Distaff (both gr. I), her connections are considering her future as a broodmare.
by Anne Peters
Female lines that continue to produce top-class runners.
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