Emily's 13 in '13 - Firecracker Handicap

After his glorious 2012, Wise Dan became one of America's most beloved racehorses.  The chestnut gelding was coming into this year's Firecracker riding a win streak that included a solid handful of prestigious Grade 1 events.  However, last year's Horse of the Year would be up against it here.  The Firecracker was nothing new to him - he had won it in 2011 - but he was assigned a high weight of 128, which was more than ten pounds heavier than any other opponent in the race.

To make things worse, the track that night at Churchill Downs came up miserable, with cold rain buffeting the famous racecourse.  The turf course came up yielding, but the race was not moved to the main track.  Trainer Charlie LoPresti refused to scratch his champion gelding.  Wise Dan would run in the Firecracker.

Anxious eyes were fixed on the favorite as the gates opened...

Wise Dan broke well from the inside, letting the pacesetters do their work on the front end.  Tucking in beside Claiborne's Lea, he looked to have a good spot on the hedge behind a pace that was just right for the soggy conditions.  However, as the field made their way down the backstretch, it became increasingly clear to observers that his rivals were playing games with Wise Dan; the others were trying to box the champion in on the hedge.

Head bobbing, almost begging to run, Wise Dan loped along behind Seruni, whose rider was doing a terrific job at keeping the chestnut gelding at bay.  The other horses were beginning to make their moves on the leader, but Wise Dan had nowhere to run.  Hearts thudded heavy in throats as they swung around the bend, with the favorite still boxed in behind Seruni.

Jockey John Velazquez is well known for his courage; he mustered all the strength he had and muscled Wise Dan in the tiny gap between Seruni and the hedge.  With running room finally in sight, Wise Dan set down for the drive, ready to blow past Seruni, but it wasn't over yet.  The pacesetter and jockey Lanerie came in towards the favorite, nearly pinning him against that prickly barrier to his left.  Now breathless, fans watched as Wise Dan came back and began to pull away from his overmatched rivals.

Stumbling a bit over the soft ground, Wise Dan crossed the wire a winner.  Nothing had favored him that night, yet the champion had fought his way through biting rain and walls of horses to come out a victor.  No one would doubt Wise Dan's heart again.  He went on to win at Saratoga, then set a track record at Woodbine, and finally successfully defended his title in the Breeders' Cup Mile.

Though Wise Dan has won many great races on several tracks, this one - in my heart - will always be his greatest.

Emily's 13 in '13 - St. James's Palace Stakes

There were a lot of great performances at Royal Ascot this year, but my favorite of them all was this cracking race between two top-notch three year-olds.  Both owned by royalty, they had already met that year in the 2000 Guineas, with the flashy chestnut getting the better of his rival.  Toronado, who had finished off the board that day in fourth, sought revenge in Royal Ascot's St. James's Palace Stakes.  This event's history read like a who's-who of English racing, won by horses like Bend Or, Tudor Minstrel, Brigadier Gerard, and Frankel. 

It would not be easy for Toronado, for he had to handle Dawn Approach yet again.  The chestnut son of New Approach had floundered in the Epsom Derby against stayers, rank almost immediately out of the gate.  Many wondered whether that race had taken too much out of him; his connections obviously had enough faith in him to send him out against a fresher Toronado.  Also in the race was Magician, who would later win the Breeders' Cup Turf.

Leading the field early in white colors were Leitir Mor and Glory Awaits.  Not far behind was Coolmore's Magician; Dawn Approach was rank again, pulling hard against his rider's hands, but not so much as he was at Epsom.  Toronado settled comfortably near the tail of the field, keeping the colts before him in his sights.

They rounded the turn and had Leitir Mor to catch.  Mshawish attacked first, but there was drama to his outside; Glory Awaits lugged out into Magician, who then bumped Dawn Approach and the fast-closing Toronado.  Magician fell back, shaken by the interference, but Dawn Approach and Toronado came on just as fast, effortlessly breezing past the new leader Mshawish. 

Now the race was on!  Dawn Approach had the advantage, but Toronado was not far behind.  They locked horns late in the stretch - who would it be?  Guineas revenge loomed for Toronado; Dawn Approach could redeem his Epsom bumble with a win here.  The two colts hit the wire together, with daylight between them and the late rally by Mars.

The photo finish was won by Dawn Approach, who had successfully come back from the Derby a winner.  Toronado had put in the gamest performance of his career.  The next time the two would meet - the Sussex at Goodwood would be the backdrop for this race - Toronado would get the better of his rival at last, putting away both Dawn Approach and the highly regarded older horse Declaration of War.  

Emily's 13 in '13 - Paynter's Comeback

One of the most remarkable races of the year wasn't a Grade 1 at an elite track.  Instead, it was an allowance optional claimer, and it took place on the dirt of a dying racecourse.  Races like these are run every day, several times a day, around the world.  What made this one special was not its status in the racing world but the star member of its cast.

Paynter was a very good three year-old in 2012.  Taking a little time to develop, he finished a fast-closing fourth in the Santa Anita Derby before nearly going all the way on the lead in the Belmont Stakes, losing in the final strides to Union Rags.  He ran away with the Haskell Stakes and became a strong favorite for the Travers at Saratoga a month later. 

He never saw the Saratoga starting gate.  The bay son of Awesome Again spiked a fever during preparation for the big race, and it was soon discovered that he was suffering from colitis.  Things worsened as Paynter developed laminitis as well; for weeks in late summer, it seemed as if the once vibrant racehorse was knocking on death's door.  As the doctors did their work, all the rest of us could do was pray and hope.

The miracle of the year occurred when Paynter not only came back from his life-threatening situation but began to train for the track again.  After nearly a year without a race, Paynter came back in a race at Hollywood Park against a small yet solid field.  Could the Paynter of 2012 flash his speed here, or had the injury taken too much out of him?  That was the question on everyone's mind.

He came out with a bang, immediately rushing towards the front and running the others off their hooves, though he kept close to them for a while.  Setting quick but not wicked fractions, Paynter ran well within himself, daring his rivals to catch him if they could.  As it was a sprint event, they reached the turn quicker than Paynter had in a while, and now was the time for the others to go after the favorite.

But no one was catching Paynter that day.

Under mild urging, Paynter drew away with ease, pulling away to win by open lengths to the soundtrack of a happy crowd. 

"Welcome back, big guy!" Vic Stauffer called into the microphone, adding later, "Wow, good for you Paynter; he won by five," with obvious emotion clouding his tone.

Ears pricked, Paynter galloped out like the champion he was, returning to the winner's circle amidst smiles and cheers.  The miracle had come full circle.  Not only had he escaped death, he had crushed it under thunderous hooves.

Paynter would not win again that year, although he did put in some good performances, including a second place finish to eventual Breeders' Cup Classic winner Mucho Macho Man in the Awesome Again Stakes, named after his sire.  He even earned himself a spot in the Classic field; to see that bay colt strutting proudly, white saddlecloth fluttering in the wind and eyes bright with excitement, was a stark comparison to the sickly colt of the summer of 2012. 

Paynter will never be listed as a champion in the history books, but he will always remain a champion of the people.

Emily's 13 in '13 - Manhattan Handicap

Point of Entry seemed certain to win a turf male championship in 2012.  After an unlucky second to Little Mike in the Breeders' Cup, however, he lost that award to Wise Dan, the popular Breeders' Cup Mile winner.  Three Grade 1 wins that year did give him a lot of distinction, and his 2013 comeback was highly anticipated. 

It came in the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap against Animal Kingdom, who was preparing for the Dubai World Cup on synthetic.  Despite it being a little bit short for the stayer - nine furlongs - Point of Entry showed his class by turning back the challenge of his chestnut rival to win.  That defeat set Animal Kingdom up for a big win in the World Cup a month and a half later. 

Point of Entry took a long break after that.  He was scheduled to run against Wise Dan in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic, but was scratched when the ground came up quite soft.  (It wasn't all that bad of a day for his connections - they did take down the Derby with Orb a race later!)  His next start would be in the Manhattan Handicap over another yielding surface; this time, McGaughey would not scratch the dark bay son of Dynaformer.  He would face old rivals Optimizer and Twilight Eclipse, among others.  It was clear that Point of Entry was the class of the field - little did anyone know that he would have to use every ounce of that class on Manhattan day.

As usual, Point of Entry took back to sit near the rear of the field, comfortably running a distance behind Plainview, who was setting ambitious fractions for a turf route on soft ground.  Steady as could be, the heavy favorite slowly began to make up the ground on the backstretch, passing horses with those long, even strides of his.  They hit the sweeping Belmont turn and Optimizer rushed up to challenge the leader, poking a tenacious nose in front.  Point of Entry and the gray Bombaguia moved in tandem, but it wasn't long before Bombaguia could not match strides with him.

Meanwhile, a bay in red-and-white Ramsey colors was desperately looking for somewhere to run.  This was Real Solution, and later in the year, he would win the Arlington Million via disqualification.  As they straightened out, Real Solution swung to the outside to challenge Optimizer just as Point of Entry set his sights on the leader as well.  Point of Entry drew even with Optimizer and was poised to take the lead, but the Ramseys' colt was a new challenger on the outside.  In fact, it almost looked as if Real Solution would sweep right on by the favorite.

It looked bad for the favorite in mid-stretch, but something remarkable happened in the very last part of the race - Point of Entry would not let him by.  It must have been his Dynaformer blood, the same blood that caused his kin to irritably snap at passers-by...blood with a fierce reputation.  On Belmont's yielding turf, Point of Entry turned back Real Solution on the outside and Optimizer on the inside and drew away, winning by a length and a half. 

What seemed like a doomed favorite in the final furlong turned out to be the classiest winner of them all.

That edgy victory was not without consequence.  Point of Entry came out of the race with a condylar fracture and was sidelined for several months.  The Manhattan would be his final victory; he came back to finish a valiant fourth behind Magician in the Breeders' Cup Turf.  Adena Springs called his name next, and the gamest of turf stayers now stands at stud for $25,000.

Emily's 13 in '13 - Brooklyn Handicap

In the Breeders' Cup of 2012, a wiry bay stallion from Argentina swept across the wire first in the Marathon.  One thing set him apart from the others - he was nine years old.  The newly crowned oldest winner of a Breeders' Cup event finished fifth in his 2013 debut; that effort gave him 7-1 odds at post time for the Brooklyn Handicap in early June.

A sloppy track at Belmont Park awaited Calidoscopio for the Brooklyn.  At ten years old, he was old enough to be the sire of younger horses running that day.

Calidoscopio broke with the field, but it didn't take long before Aaron Gryder took his Marathon winner back.  The pair loped almost nonchalantly along as Percussion and Ruler on Ice dashed for the early lead.  By the time they reached the backstretch, Calidoscopio was double-digit lengths behind his nearest competitor.  It became almost laughable as he finally fell so far back as to be off the screen.  Up on the lead, Percussion was setting measured fractions, looking to carry that even speed all the way to the wire.

As they reached the far turn, a race was beginning to develop up front.  Despite having the lead all that time, no one was getting close to Percussion.  Many lengths behind, though, Calidoscopio was beginning to uncork that powerful closing kick of his.  Gryder angled his mount to the outside, and Calidoscopio began picking off his rivals one by one.  As they splashed down the stretch, defeated horses began to wilt after that distance and dropped out.

Not Calidoscopio, though.  He was just getting started.

Percussion's lead was fading, and it was fading fast.  Just a few furlongs ago, the frontrunner looked to have the race all sewn up.  Now Calidoscopio was eating into his lead with every long stride, and the ten year-old effortlessly sailed across the line a winner.  Percussion finished a gallant second, but even his even pace could not undo that remarkable closer Calidoscopio.

Soon after, Calidoscopio was given his well-earned rest - retirement to stud.  The ten year-old had done more than enough in his many years of racing and was now ready to pass on those hardy genes to his offspring.  His Breeders' Cup Marathon had been remarkable, but his Brooklyn win was one for the ages.

Emily's 13 in '13 - Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Derby is, and will probably always be, my favorite horse race.  The build-up to the event is unlike any other; the feeling of those elite three year-olds springing from the gate and racing down the stretch of Churchill Downs gets the heart pounding.  The pageantry is superb and the history is stellar.

This year, a colt I fancied more than any other in a long while entered the starting gate as the favorite.  Orb was a product of racing royalty - his female family was that of the great Ruffian, and he was co-owned by the Phipps and Janney families, two names forever linked with this sport.  Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey called the shots for the bay son of Malibu Moon, and called them well.  After a few unsuccessful tries at breaking his maiden, Orb finally did so, and then went on to win the Fountain of Youth and then the Florida Derby impressively.

He looked great on the track all week, and it was no cause for concern when the late closer drew the 16 post position.  After all, he did like to do his best running on the outside.  Could Orb be McGaughey's first trip to the Derby winner's circle?




The track came up sloppy, and Black Onyx on the inside was scratched.  19 colts broke from the gate, each of them with a different story coming into the race but all with the same goal.  Palace Malice, who would get the better of his contemporaries in the Belmont Stakes, set a radioactive pace up front with his newly added green blinkers.  Highly regarded colts like Verrazano, Itsmyluckyday and Goldencents sat close to that hot tempo.  Where was Orb?  Back near the tail of the field, getting his famous white and red silks splattered with mud.

Palace Malice was running away from the field, but it wouldn't be long before he tired in the mud and they caught up to him.  Rounding the turn, Orb was beginning to pick off horses one by one, making an impressive bid to the front.  At the top of the stretch, Verrazano inadvertently ended the forward momentum of Will Take Charge, a colt who would end up the best of his crop in the end.  Normandy Invasion and Oxbow pounced in tandem on the leg-weary Palace Malice, but they didn't have the lead for long.

Orb, with his giant strides, had caught up to the leaders and was ready to go right on by - and go right on by he did!  Closers like Golden Soul and Mylute did their level best to challenge Orb, but no one was catching the favorite that day.  Covered in mud, Joel Rosario and Orb crossed the wire in front of the others as the crowd exploded.  Watching via television inside, Shug McGaughey watched solemnly, patiently...and it wasn't until he was met with embraces and cheers that a sweet smile began to spread slowly across his face.  In the winner's circle, the roses looked more than perfect on the newly crowned Derby champion.

Sadly, that would be the last race he would win.  Orb put in a dull off-the-board performance in the Preakness behind the front-running Oxbow, and then labored in third behind Palace Malice in the Belmont.  He came back with a promising third-place finish in the Travers Stakes, but was retired to stud a couple months after finishing last in the Jockey Club Gold Cup.  No one can take the 2013 Kentucky Derby away from Orb, though.  He rightfully owns that triumphant victory in the slop.

Emily's 13 in '13 - Dubai World Cup

Immediately following the high of St. Nicholas Abbey's triumph in the Sheema Classic, I witnessed another one of my favorite horses romping home to a victory in the desert.

Ever since his win in the Spiral Stakes at Turfway, I had kept my eye on Animal Kingdom.  The young colt, already adept on two surfaces, showed a lot of promise in that start.  He turned that promise to gold when he surged past 19 others to win the Kentucky Derby in 2011.  After finishing a fast-closing second to Shackleford in the Preakness and enduring a tough trip in the Belmont, his racetrack appearances were sporadic.  He came back in his four year-old season in a turf event at Gulfstream, prepping for the Dubai World Cup; Animal Kingdom won the race, but was sidelined with yet another injury after that.

He launched an incredible comeback from that injury, threading his way through the pack and finishing a brilliant second in the 2012 Breeders' Cup Mile to Wise Dan.  After a second to top turf male Point of Entry in the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap, he was ready to shoot for Dubai again.




Joining him in the starting gate would be fellow Americans Royal Delta and Dullahan.  The former, a headstrong dark mare and winner of two Breeders' Cup Distaffs, was quickest away, taking the lead and setting the pace for the majority of the race.  Animal Kingdom sat right on her flank, biding his time.  Not far behind was Godolphin's Hunter's Light, and even further back was Red Cadeaux; the seasoned globe-trotter was waiting to make an explosive move in the stretch.

They reached the turn; Royal Delta could do no more and dropped back rapidly.  Taking her place was Animal Kingdom, whose strides lengthened as he entered the stretch.  He was a sight to see as he pulled away from his rivals, leaving them in the dust.  Only Red Cadeaux posed a challenge on the inside, but even he could not make up the ground on the Derby winner as they sailed across the wire.  Animal Kingdom became the first American horse to do well in the World Cup since Meydan Racecourse had opened in 2010.

Joel Rosario was aboard the sleek chestnut stallion.  It would be the first of many big wins for the jockey in 2013.   Graham Motion and Barry Irwin reveled in their horse's success.  Three months later, he would finish unplaced in his last start, the Queen Anne Stakes at Ascot.  Soon after that, he would join the stallion barn at Darley, shuttling between Australia and America and passing his stamina-laden pedigree on to his offspring.

In the Derby, Animal Kingdom was merely a prince.  The Dubai World Cup crowned him a king.

Stephen's Tips for Australia's Friday Card

TIPS (@SW064351)

 

BEST BET

Rosehill Race 4, No. 1 Imperil

Rock hard fit and racing well. Sure to be prominent once again and take plenty of catching.

SECOND BEST

Flemington Race 2, No. 4 Lady Of Harrods

Unplaced in both attempts down the straight but this is an easier assignment. Keep safe.

LONGSHOT

Rosehill Race 6, No. 12 Gangster's Choice

Freshened and up in class. Has an excellent first-up record. Each-way claims.

LAY

Flemington Race 8, No. 7 Awasita

Well supported but won't get as cheap a run up front this time. Happy to risk.

Emily's 13 in '13 - Dubai Sheema Classic

Every day, from today until December 31st, I will be talking about my 13 favorite races in 2013.  Some may not be on the "best races of the year" lists; these were simply events that made me feel good, got my blood pumping, or even allowed me to shed a tear or two.  These races are in chronological order, not order of preference.

Without further ado, let's begin with the first of my favorites list, the Dubai Sheema Classic in late March:




I was a fan of the pair of St. Nicholas Abbey and Joseph O'Brien ever since their confident victory in 2011's Breeders' Cup Turf. The tall, strapping stallion and his equally tall, strapping lad of a jockey seemed to make a good team, winning Grade 1 races around the globe.  In Dubai, St. Nick was looking for victory after the previous year's defeat to top stayer Cirrus des Aigles.

It would not be easy.  He would face a tough field that included Japan's 2012 Horse of the Year Gentildonna.  A remarkable filly, she had captured her country's Triple Tiara and turned back several challenges from older males, including champion Orfevre.  Now she was in Dubai, and she was there to win.  The two broke from the starting gate, chasing French filly Shareta on the lead.  It was sure to be a phenomenal showdown.

While Gentildonna was carried wide on the first turn, St. Nicholas Abbey settled in nicely behind the leader under O'Brien's confident hands.  The leggy bay stallion slowly began to edge in front of Shareta as the horses cruised around the final bend, with Gentildonna not too far behind.  In the stretch, anxious eyes watched as the Japanese filly drew into perfect position to collar the new leader, but St. Nick still had something left.  Under firm urging, he turned back the challenge of Gentildonna and began to pull away.  There was daylight between him and the filly at the wire.

The Sheema Classic should have been the race that set him up for another marvelous year, and for a while, that seemed to be the case.  In June, he became the first horse in history to win three Coronation Cups, and was training for Ascot at Ballydoyle when he fractured a pastern.  His future still hangs in the balance as he strives to not only recover from that injury but also to battle that disease we all love to hate, laminitis.

I always enjoy watching horses I love succeed on an international stage, and this certainly was no exception.  For all the sadness I still feel over St. Nick's injury and retirement, there is a certain sweet joy I feel upon watching this race unfold all over again.

Stephen and Emily Take On Hollywood Futurity Day

Well, this is it.  Hollywood's last Futurity card will be in the books tomorrow evening.  Since I've sadly failed to keep up with Hollywood this meet as well as I should, I figured I would make up for it by handicapping tomorrow's - or, since it's nearly 1 am, today's - card.  Who better to join my fun than punter Stephen Wong?  Here are his selections for tomorrow's Early Pick 4 (races 2-5).

EARLY PICK 4 (@SW064351)
1, 2, 5 / 3, 6 / 2, 4, 6 / 3, 4, 6, 10 (72 units)

It makes me feel much better about my own handicapping to see that my top selections for these races are represented in his choices as well!  Fingers crossed, Stephen...

EMILY'S SELECTIONS
Race 1 - #6 Circa'sgoldengear
Consistent horse; like him best in this short field in the opener.
Race 2 - #2 Lil Cheyenne
Finished a strong second last out and could improve 2nd off the trainer switch.
Race 3 - #3 Segway
Stretches out and jumps in class but has the pedigree and talent to be dangerous.
Race 4 - #2 Zuboff
Simply put - the horse to beat.
Race 5 - #10 Salsita
Finished a nice second in a similar race last out.
Race 6 - #2 Street Status
A huge threat dropping in class after nice effort last out.
Race 7 - #6 Soi Phet
Slightly regressed after a career best effort two back; should come back strong here.
Race 8 - #3 Uncle Dick
Is due to improve 2nd off the layoff.
Race 9 - #2 Tamarando
The more experienced of the Hollendorfer duo; will come running late.
Race 10 - #9 Chilada 
Has a good pedigree for grass (trying it for first time); closed well in her last start.

Good luck to everyone tomorrow and enjoy Hollywood's last Futurity card!

Pedigree Profile - Don't Forget Masda

The Fair Play - Mahubah mating always brings to mind its finest product - the champion racehorse Man O' War.  The big red colt put his opponents to shame and shattered numerous American and world speed records, eventually defeating the highly regarded first Triple Crown winner, Sir Barton.

However, it is much too easy to forget that Mahubah was sometimes known as "Fair Play's wife," and there was a handful of other foals from that match.  The first, born two years before Man O' War, was a chestnut filly named Masda.  Thought to be very talented, Masda was a six-time winner in 23 starts and was stakes-placed at two and four years of age.

In 1919, she was caught up in a pre-race scandal; it was believed that someone looking to hurt her chances in the contest had cut her tendons with a knife.  Later, that suspicion was covered up as it was more likely a stray wire that caused the minor injury.  That year, Man O' War was just beginning his meteoric rise to the top of the record books.

Masda went to the breeding shed and produced nine foals, five of them fillies.  Three of her offspring were stakes winners.  Though she didn't turn out quite the producer her brother was - Man O' War eclipsed his siblings in every possible manner - her daughters paved the way for her name to survive in pedigrees today.

The most important of her daughters was Incandescent.  This bay filly was by Chicle, a grandson of the legendary Australian champion Carbine.  Incandescent won thirteen times and produced some solid runners; four of her foals ran more than 100 times, with stakes winner Fuego the most experienced of all, running 173(!) times.  Despite the longevity of her male offspring, the foal that would make the most impact was a sickly filly named Igual.

Igual is Spanish for "equal."  This turned out to be a misnomer, for none of her siblings could match her in the breeding shed.  Although her record was shaky at first, her first of many foals by Kentucky Derby winner Bold Venture would cement her name in racing history.

Known as the "club-footed comet" because of a deformed hoof, Assault made headlines in post-war America when he swept the Triple Crown series, becoming the seventh horse to do so.  He was a Horse of the Year in 1946; besides the classic races, he won events like the Dwyer and the Pimlico Special.  Sterile, Assault lived out his retirement days in peace at King Ranch and died at the old age of twenty-eight.

Igual was the dam of a Triple Crown winner; a little while later, she would become the ancestress of a horse that would spoil the party of a recent Triple Crown winner.

Prove Out was by stakes-winner Graustark and out of Equal Venture, an unraced full sister to Assault.  He was a good racehorse to begin with, but on a sloppy track at Saratoga, his name became famous.  In the 1973 Woodward Stakes, he would face Secretariat, the world-famous Triple Crown winner who was still smarting from a loss to Onion in the Whitney Handicap (then a Grade 2).  Prove Out was 16-1 but defeated Secretariat by open lengths.  Later, Prove Out would also vanquish Secretariat's stablemate Riva Ridge in the Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Unlike Assault, Prove Out was not sterile.  He was the damsire of Hall of Fame racemare Miesque, who later became the dam of world-renowed sire Kingmambo.  Masda's legacy lives on through Kingmambo and his many famous descendants.

Pedigree Profiles: We Three Kings of Thoroughbred Lore

Although dozens of horses, both native and foreign, became the progenitors of the English Thoroughbred, three names have been engraved into history books more than any other.  These three exotic stallions, so different from the sturdy stock of the British Isles, could be considered the forefathers of the breed.  All modern Thoroughbreds trace back to one of these sires through a direct male line; this is why their names are above all others, like cream rising to the top.

The first was a dark stallion brought from Turkey by a Captain Byerley in the last part of the 17th century.  Horse and master fought together in numerous battles for King William, including the famous Battle of the Boyne, and retired together as well.  He became well-known as the Byerley Turk and began to sire some fabulous horses, including Basto, who resided at the same Chatsworth Estate as the great Flying Childers.

A little later down the line, a direct descendant of Byerley's stallion was born that would insure the continuation of his line into the present-day.  Herod - who raced as King Herod - was strikingly handsome and a very nice racehorse, but proved himself truly worthy as a legend in the breeding shed.  His most famous racing son, Highflyer, was undefeated in fourteen starts and stood at stud for Richard Tattersall, the founder of Tattersalls Sales Company.  Herod also sired Florizel, the sire of Diomed, who won the very first English Derby.  Diomed, in turn, was a direct male descendant of Boston and Lexington, a sire and son who were two of the first great American racehorses.

However, Herod's male line - and the Byerley Turk's as well - does not live on to the present day through Highflyer.  Instead, the sireline continues to hang on through another son, Woodpecker, who was a good racehorse and even beat Pot-8-os, Eclipse's most prolific son, on the racetrack.  Horses like the great gray racehorse The Tetrarch and two-time Arc de Triomphe winner Ksar trace their male line back to Woodpecker, as do more recent names like Notnowcato and Dunaden.

The Byerley Turk's male line is by far the smallest of the three, by both numbers and popularity.  The foundation stallion that followed him would create a dynasty to outweigh them both.

Unlike the older Turk, who was a war horse, the Arabian that Thomas Darley smuggled out of Syria was a bay colt of the finest breeding.  The stallion, though seemingly athletic, never raced, and instead stood at stud near Yorkshire, where he covered the finest mares in the area.  His most famous two sons were full brothers, both out of a mare named Betty Leedes and both bred by a Colonel Childers.  One was named Devonshire or Flying Childers; this swift son became the most celebrated racehorse of his time.  The other was Bartlett's Childers, sometimes called Bleeding Childers due to his inability to race or train, breaking blood vessels easily.

Flying Childers sired a number of nice horses, but it was his unraced brother who would continue their sire's male line to the present.  Three generations after Bartlett's Childers, Eclipse was born.  Some consider the chestnut colt, untouchable in 18 starts, to be the greatest racehorse of all time.  Eclipse raced for the charming Irish adventurer Dennis O'Kelly and stood stud for him as well.  It has been said that Eclipse is the tail-male ancestor of nearly every living Thoroughbred, and this statement is not far-fetched in the least.  The line that passes through his son Pot-8-os and then through Waxy, Whalebone, and so on, is the most popular in the world.

Nearly all of our prized racehorses trace back to horses like Cyllene, Eclipse and, of course, the Darley Arabian.  There is one last sire-line, however, that is still represented in today's breed.

The last of the three founding fathers of all Thoroughbreds was brought to life in Marguerite Henry's book King of the Wind.  Though many of the stories in that book seem to be legend - claims of his being a carthorse in France has never been verified - it is true that he changed from hand to hand before settling in with the Earl of Godolphin, who gave him his name.  Like the other two foundation sires, he never raced but became a great sire of racehorses.  His three greatest sons - Cade, Lath, and Regulus - gave their sire's name great weight amongst his peers in the breeding shed by becoming some of the greatest racehorses of their generation.

It was Cade, though, that would carry the Godolphin Arabian's male line to the present-day.  His son Matchem was an older contemporary of Eclipse and Highflyer, and all three became great sires.  Matchem's son Conductor was very important in the breeding shed; he was the direct male descendant of England's first Triple Crown winner, West Australian.  Through West Australian came a sireline that many are quite familiar with - first Spendthrift, then Hastings, then Fair Play and finally the magnificent Man O' War, who demolished several American speed records and who is lauded as one of the greatest racehorses of the 20th century.

Fittingly, Man O' War is the main source of the Godolphin Arabian male line that still remains.  His son War Relic sired Intent, who was the forerunner of the In Reality sire-line, a family that eventually led to two-time Breeders' Cup Classic winner Tiznow.  The popularity of Tiznow and his sons have brought this line back into the spotlight, and it seems to not be going anywhere for a while, at least in the United States.

There were many other foreign stallions imported to England in the 17th and 18th centuries with the intent of improving the blood of the racehorse.  These names - names like Hautboy, Snake and the Lister Turk - can be found in almost every pedigree.  But what seems to mark a truly great sire is his ability to produce great sons, and in this regard, the three kings of the Thoroughbred breed left their mark on horses born centuries after their death.

Pedigree Profiles - The Prevalence of Northern Dancer in Modern Pedigrees

In any sort of selective breeding, an outcross is adding new bood.  As Thoroughbreds have stayed true to their name, tracing back to only a handful of similar ancestors, outcrossing is used to make sure one horse doesn't pop up in a pedigree more times than he or she should.  While line-breeding is still popular, the word outcross holds a positive ring nowadays, as racehorses have become saturated with certain sires and bloodlines.

It is nearly impossible to find a horse without Native Dancer in its pedigree.  The gray classic winner is the forerunner of several important sirelines and certainly left his mark on female families as well.  As it is difficult to find a modern Thoroughbred free of Native Dancer, we look instead to the popularity of a son of his daughter Natalma - Northern Dancer.

Northern Dancer came close to winning the Triple Crown of 1964, but was vanquished, like so many others, in the Belmont Stakes.  He avenged that loss by becoming, arguably, the 20th century's greatest sire.  At one point, the regal bay stallion commanded a $1 million stud fee, a half-million more than any other stallion before or after him.  Decades later, his many great sons enjoy as much fame as he - Sadler's Wells, Danzig, Nureyev, Dixieland Band, and others play a part in this vast list.

Now, nearly fifty years after Northern Dancer entered stud, he is in pedigrees with nearly as much frequency as his damsire.  All of the last five Kentucky Derby winners had the sire somewhere in their pedigree; the same can be said of the last five Kentucky Oaks winners and also the last five English Derby winners.  Most of these carried Northern Dancer more than once in their bloodlines.  This Northern Dancer breeding is not at all uncommon.

Though line-breeding as an idea has merit, we look now, five or six generations after Northern Dancer's descendants were born, and see an overabundance of his bloodline.  Certainly Native Dancer is much more prevalent, especially through sons like Raise a Native, but with Northern Dancer blood pooled in so many successful stallions and broodmares, he may become as much of a permanent part of the bloodline as Native Dancer or even ancestors like Pharos and Eclipse.

Out of 43 featured new stallions in The Bloodhorse's Stallion Register, only three had pedigrees completely free of the name Northern Dancer.  They are three stallions from completely different backgrounds with completely different racing records, yet they all share this defining characteristic, so rare in today's modern Thoroughbred.

Fort Larned
E Dubai - Arlucea (Broad Brush)
It is interesting that the first horse we talk about here is last year's Breeders' Cup Classic winner.  Affectionately nicknamed "Big Ugly," he is a grandson of two-time Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Bayakoa (Consultant's Bid), who herself was from sturdy Argentinian female lines.  Fort Larned's sire, E Dubai, was once the property of Godolphin Racing and Darley Stud, but now resides in Pennsylvania.  Fort Larned is by far his most successful runner.

You will find Native Dancer in Fort Larned's pedigree; he traces back to the gray stallion directly through his sireline.  The great Nashua is found twice in this pedigree, as is Fleet Nasrullah - another son of Nasrullah - and Turn-To, the progenitor of the Hail to Reason line.  Fort Larned stands at Adena Springs in Kentucky for $15,000.

I Want Revenge
Stephen Got Even - Meguial (Roy)
It has been nearly five years since the morning this colt was scratched from the Kentucky Derby.  He was the morning-line favorite, the impressive winner of the Wood Memorial three weeks before, and he seemed destined to wear the roses.  After that soft tissue injury was discovered, he never was quite the same horse in his sporadic returns to the track.   Now this dark bay stallion, who could have been a champion, awaits a stud career.  He is from the A.P. Indy sireline, which traces back to Bold Ruler and his sire Nasrullah.  Like Fort Larned, he is also from South American female lines.

Unlike Fort Larned, however, he has no inbreeding in the first five generations of his pedigree.  You only find Native Dancer once, and that's through his damsire, Roy, who is a son of Fappiano (Mr. Prospector).  Though what could have been a glorious career was severely abbreviated, he is an intriguing outcross for mares heavily laden with Northern Dancer blood.  I Want Revenge is at Pauls Mill in Kentucky for $10,000.

World Renowned
A.P. Indy - Splendid Blended (Unbridled's Song)
This last stallion seems very out-of-place after the two distinguished racehorses before him.  Unlike Fort Larned or I Want Revenge, he never won a Grade 1 event, let alone a stakes race.  He won only twice in his life, and both of those were claiming events at Santa Anita.  It looks as if he was given a chance at stud due to his nice bloodlines.  A.P. Indy needs no introduction; dam Splendid Blended was a two-time Grade 1 winner and daughter of Unbridled's Song, a Breeders' Cup Juvenile champion.

World Renowned's dam also traces back to Fappiano, who in turn traces back to Native Dancer through Raise A Native.  You can find two strains of Bold Ruler - through sons Boldnesian and Secretariat - in this pedigree.  While his accomplishments pale in comparison to the two stallions before him, his bloodlines hold just as much weight.  World Renowned stands at stud at Brazeau Thoroughbred Farms in California for $2,500.

Just three out of 43 featured new stallions.  That number could very well be zero in a decade.  While inbreeding is nothing new in Thoroughbred breeding, especially if you look back to the first great racehorses, it is certainly a subject to study and scrutinize.  The effect of this excess Northern Dancer blood, though it may not be felt for some time, might negatively limit the gene pool.

Game On Dude; Will Take Charge Clash in Clark.

Throughout the evening, I've had the pleasure of high speed Internet (as opposed to the HughesNet we've struggled with for a few weeks), browsing through Hong Kong racing forms, and watching a Twitter dialogue unfold over one hot topic - Game on Dude vs. Will Take Charge.  It is a match-up evenly divided between sides, with some favoring the elder's tactical speed and others expecting the sophomore to come running late.

Let me just say one thing - we are lucky to be even having this debate!  In this day and age, when horses often either retire or take a rest after the Breeders' Cup, it's nice to see some of the big guns going out on a limb to either win or secure year-end championships.

Clark Handicap (Friday, November 29th; 5:35 ET)
1. Game On Dude, M. Smith, B Baffert, 126
2. Finnegans Wake, J. Leparoux, D Romans, 116
3. Bourbon Courage, C. Lanerie, K Gorder, 117
4. Golden Ticket, R. Albarado, K McPeek, 120
5. Prayer for Relief, R. Santana, Jr., S Asmussen, 118
6. Easter Gift, J. Rosario, C. Brown, 116
7. Will Take Charge, L. Saez, D W Lukas, 123
8. Our Double Play, F. Torres, P Bauer, 113
9. Jaguar Paw, S. Bridgmohan, S. Lyster, 115

These two will be carrying the top weights in the field, with Game On Dude at 126 and Will Take Charge at a slightly lower 123.  They both exit the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) won by Mucho Macho Man, but each of them have different stories to tell regarding that race - while Game On Dude, the expected winner, puttered out at the top of the stretch after sitting off the pace, Will Take Charge came within inches of denying Mucho Macho Man the victory.

If Game On Dude gets an easy early lead and is still there at the far turn, it might be "game over" for his younger rival.  However, if he is pressed, or somehow loses that lead, Will Take Charge could do what his name suggests. 

A win in this Grade 1 event would put Game On Dude's name back on top for Horse of the Year honors, with wins in all three of California's prestigious Grade 1 handicap events as well.  A win by Will Take Charge could cement a three year-old title for the Unbridled's Song colt, especially if fellow sophomore Goldencents throws a clunker in the Cigar Mile (G1).  These championships on the line, among other things, are what make this debate so hot.

They are not without a strong supporting cast.  Prayer for Relief, a fairly consistent graded stakes runner, is here, as is Golden Ticket, the strong runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) behind Goldencents.  Could either of those two - or the other handful entered in the race - steal the spotlight from the headliners?

Familiar narratives play out here - younger versus older, front-runner versus closer, Baffert versus Lukas, and so on and so forth.  Which of these two will come out on top?  Judging by the looks of Twitter, I don't think there's an agreeable answer for that question.

Japan Cup Dirt Nominations Preview (VIDEO)

Japan Cup Analysis and Selections

As promised in my nominations preview video, here is a written analysis of this weekend's Japan Cup (G1), as well as my top four selections.

The year has rolled by relatively quickly - in least in my eyes - and it is time yet again for Japan's biggest race, the Japan Cup.  Contested at 2400 meters (about a mile and a half) on turf, it has attracted in the past large fields of the best international runners. 

This year's edition of the race, however, has come up a little weak in many opinions.  Orfevre, who finished second in the Arc de Triomphe last out, is instead opting for the Arima Kinen (G1) in December as his career finale.  Favoritism is instead shifting back and forth between Gold Ship and Gentildonna.  Gentildonna, Japan's Horse of the Year last year, is winless this year so far, although all three of her races have been on-the-board finishes.  Gold Ship defeated Gentildonna two back but was fifth, far behind the winner, in his last race.

Then there is the hard-knocking Eishin Flash, who found himself a distant third in his last start, the Tenno Sho Autumn (G1).  Before that, he was a winner at 1800 meters, beating Just a Way, who would end up defeating him in their next race.  (Gentildonna finished second in that race.)  Hit the Target looks appealing; two starts back, he defeated eventual Mile Championship (G1) winner Tosen Ra.  Like Tosen Ra, this son of King Kamehameha has veteran jockey Yutaka Take aboard, which can only help him.

A pair of fillies are entered here, attempting to give the lovely Gentildonna a run for her money.  Verxina, who drew the inside post, won the Victoria Mile (G1) earlier this year, but has run dully in her three starts after that.  Denim and Ruby is attempting to win the Japan Cup as a three year-old filly - as Gentildonna did - and gets a four pound weight break from her male rivals.  Last out, she was fifth behind Meisho Mambo in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) at Kyoto.

Some other Japanese entries of note include Tosen Jordan, who is coming into this race after two dull starts off a nine month layoff, and Admire Rakti, who finished second in a Grade 2 on this track last time out. 

The foreign trio in this race is led by Joshua Tree, who is coming off his third win in the Canadian International (G1) at Woodbine.  Unfortunately for him, the seven year-old son of Montjeu drew the outside post under Johnny Murtagh.  Both Dunaden and Simenon are coming out of the Melbourne Cup (G1), finishing eleventh and fourth, respectively, behind Fiorente.  They are making their Tokyo debut here, but Joshua Tree already has a race over the course, finishing unplaced.

While there are some intriguing names in here, and the foreign entries appeal to many, I am sticking with Japanese entries for my top four selections.  The invaders look a little suspect - even Simenon, who may be the strongest of the bunch, is racing at a shorter distance than what he'd like.  It is definitely a two horse race between Gold Ship and Gentildonna - either one of them could come out on top - with Eishin Flash and Hit the Target playing strong supporting roles.

Emily's Selections:
13 - Gold Ship
7 - Gentildonna
4 - Eishin Flash
16 - Hit the Target

Additional note: I picked the 13, Danon Shark, in the Mile Championship.  Obviously, he didn't win (but finished third!).  Hopefully this traditionally unlucky number can give me some luck here with Gold Ship.  Crossing my fingers!

Japan Cup Nominations Preview (VIDEO)

Just a wee slip of the tongue from me in there, as Gentildonna is 5-2, not 5-1.  :)

How Sunday Silence Reinvented the Japanese Racehorse

We've all experienced the mood after the sale of a nice horse to a country elsewhere - inward groans; saddened fans; discouraged breeders, hoping to keep that stakes-winning blood for themselves.  There was a negative stir from his admirers when I'll Have Another was sold to Japanese interests shortly after his Belmont scratch.  Despite their disappointment, his owners did what was best, as there simply was not enough American interest in the Derby and Preakness-winning colt.

Nearly a quarter-century before I'll Have Another, another classic-winning colt was stuck in the same boat.  Despite his brilliant 1989 season in which he captured the Horse of the Year title over Easy Goer, there was little buzz around Sunday Silence's future stud career.  Zenya Yoshida, who already owned one-fourth of the horse, bought out the other owners and sent him to Japan.  Shadai Stallion Station, a peaceful place on the smaller Japanese island of Hokkaido, would be his new home.

The leading sire in Japan at that time was Northern Taste, a blaze-faced chestnut stallion who had done his best racing in France.  He got the ball rolling for Yoshida, producing many classic winners and giving Shadai enough money and prestige to start purchasing more horses.  The new kid on the block, Sunday Silence, would end up covering many of Northern Taste's daughters - a fusion of blood that would ultimately prove successful.

Where America saw little, Japan saw promise, and turned that promise to gold.  Sunday Silence's first crop of foals to race included Japanese Derby winner Tayasu Tsuyoshi, Japanese Oaks winner Dance Partner, and champion juvenile Fuji Kiseki, who would later become a great sire himself.  1995 was the first year that Sunday Silence would top the sire list - taking that title from stablemate Northern Taste - and that reign would continue until 2007, more than five years after his death.

He had a knack for siring stallions.  One of the early greats was Stay Gold, who not only won big races in Japan but in Hong Kong and Dubai as well.  There was also Dance in the Dark and Special Week, both of them classic winners.  Agnes Tachyon, who won the Japanese St. Leger as a racehorse, was the world's leading sire by earnings in 2008.  Zenno Rob Roy excelled at longer distances, while Daiwa Major (out of a mare by Northern Taste) was a great mile runner.

The beginning of the 21st century brought even more promise for the stallion, including his best runner, who was born only months before his death.  Deep Impact became one of Japan's most celebrated runners, winning the Triple Crown as well as a handful of prestigious races for older horses.  The only horse to beat him in his home country was Heart's Cry (also by Sunday Silence), who would later win in Dubai.  Hat Trick became a world-renowned miler and is now at stud in the United States.  And let us not forget about the ladies!  Still in Love won 2003's Triple Tiara, and Dance in the Mood also was a champion three year-old filly in Japan. 

After several months battling laminitis, Sunday Silence passed away from heart failure in 2002.  He left big shoes to fill at Shadai, but his sons quickly began to carry on his legacy.  The first Japanese horse to win the Melbourne Cup, Delta Blues, was by Sunday Silence's son Dance in the Dark.  Orfevre (Stay Gold) and Gentildonna (Deep Impact), who are two of Japan's most celebrated racehorses today, both have Sunday Silence as their grandsire.  Deep Impact, who was Sunday Silence's greatest runner, is now arguably his greatest producer as well.

It is hard to find a top runner in Japan without Sunday Silence in their pedigree.  The black stallion, who in 1990 was largely ignored by American breeders, revolutionized the bloodlines of his new home.  It can be argued that his sons and daughters propelled Japan into the 21st century as one of the world's premier racing countries. 

You know that saying, "One man's trash is another man's treasure"?  While he certainly was never trash, Sunday Silence certainly remains one of Japan's national treasures.

Mile Championship (G1) Preview and Selections

Sunday afternoon - which means about 1:40 AM ET for my American readers - Kyoto will hosts its Group 1 Mile Championship.  A hefty field of eighteen is assembled for the 1600 meter event, including last year's winner, Sadamu Patek.  The five year-old son of Fuji Kiseki rallied from off the pace in 2012 to give veteran rider Yutaka Take his first Mile Championship win.  Second and third place finishers Grand Prix Boss and Donau Blue are also here, though both are coming into 2013's edition after less than stellar years.

Noticeably absent here is Lord Kanaloa, who smoked several of these in his two Grade 1 starts this year.  That racehorse, who would most likely be a strong favorite to win this race, is instead pointing for Hong Kong.

Three females will try their hand against the boys, including Donau Blue.  The best of them this year is Meine Isabel, who was a good fourth in the Yasuda Kinen (G1) behind Lord Kanaloa.  Three year-old filly Red Oval gets a slight breather - the lowest weight in the large field.

A horse to look out for is Danon Shark.  Sixth in the Mile Championship last year, he has finished on the board in all five of his starts this year so far, including a third in the Yasuda Kinen, where he was one of a trio closing fast near the wire.  He won comfortably in his last out, a Grade 3 prep for this race, and should be primed to run a big effort here.  Look out also for Clarente, who sizzled 1800 meters in 1:45 and change two starts back.  This lower-level graded runner could make some noise here.

Look for three year-old colt Copano Richard and Garbo to be on or near the pace, as well as Sakura Gospel.  They should set a hot tempo for the closers to come running, just as Sadamu Patek did last year.

Can lightning strike twice?  The beginning half of this year was not good for Sadamu Patek, but after a four month layoff, he made a lovely closing drive in tandem with Daiwa Maggiore to snatch third in the 1400 meter Swan Stakes (G2) behind Copano Richard last month.  That run was encouraging - and after all, his form lines weren't so good going into 2012, either.  And speaking of Daiwa Maggiore, the four year-old colt has only been off the board four times in 15 starts - an ultra-consistent, very honest runner, indeed.

Several internationally known jockeys will be riding this race; besides Yutaka Take, who is aboard Tosen Ra, there is William Buick on Donau Blue, Mickael Barzalona riding  L'lle d'Aval, and Ryan Moore gets a leg up on Grand Prix Boss.

My top selections:
13) Danon Shark
12) Clarente
4) Daiwa Maggiore
2) Sadamu Patek

Stephen Wong's Take on Tonight's Zipping Classic

In just under 45 minutes, the Zipping Classic (G2) will go off.  Read what guest blogger Stephen Wong has to say about this stakes event:

Zipping Classic 2400m
Group 2. Apprentices cannot claim

No    Horse (Barrier)        Jockey            Trainer                                    Weight  Price
 1    Precedence (4)          C Williams      Bart & James Cummings       59         3.40
 2    Sertorius (1)              R Maloney      J Edwards & B W Elkington 59         3.80
 3    Ransomed (6)            C Newitt         G R Vile                                 59        11.00
 4    Midsummer Sun (2)   D Oliver         Sam Kavanagh                      59         9.00
 5    What’s In A Name (3) D Dunn         J D Smith                              58        41.00
 6    Epingle (7)                 B Rawiller      M C Kent                              57         8.00
 7    Detox (9)                    B Melham      Jake Stephens                        57        41.00
 8    Queenstown (8)          N Rawiller     Ms G Waterhouse                  56         5.50
 9    Kazanluk (10)             K McEvoy    Anthony Freedman                56        15.00
10    Miss Zenella (5)         L Nolen        P G Moody                             56        31.00

Odds courtesy TAB

Comments by Stephen Wong (@SW064351)
 1 Precedence: Fought on bravely to prevail in Queen Elizabeth. In flying form and deserved favourite but 1-for-20 record at track is a concern.
 2 Sertorius: Just missed in Queen Elizabeth and meets Precedence 2.5 kilos worse but still one of the leading chances.
 3 Ransomed: Won Spring Classic two starts back before faltering in Sofitel last week. Worth another chance.
 4 Midsummer Sun: Broke awkwardly before storming home to grab second in Cup Day Plate. Must be respected.
 5 What’s In A Name: Southern Australian shipper who is racing well but this is much tougher.
 6 Epingle: Finished strongly in Matriarch. Consider.
 7 Detox: Struggling for best form. Tested in this.
 8 Queenstown: Consistent mare who has yet to miss the quinella this preparation. Will race prominently and take plenty of catching.
 9 Kazanluk: Worked home well enough in Matriarch. Rough place claims.
10 Miss Zenella: Should improve over the 2400m but others look to have her measure.

Tips
 4 Midsummer Sun
 1 Precedence
 8 Queenstown
 2 Sertorius

(Editor's note: Stephen's beautiful formatting on Word is unfortunately mangled in the machine we call Blogger.  If it looks sloppy, well, blame Blogger!  Or me, if you fancy...)

Pedigree Profile - Point of Entry

One of the many in this recent wave of year-end retirements, Point of Entry will command a $25,000 stud fee at Frank Stronach's Adena Springs Farm.  Unlike a few other new stallions in 2014, Point of Entry boasts longevity, finishing out his career at age five.  What this Phipps-bred stallion also has is a tremendous pedigree that should earn him a lot of points as a new stud.

Point of Entry is sired by Dynaformer, a temperamental son of Roberto whose offspring find their footing in all different kinds of situations.  From the brilliant three year-old Barbaro to the old veteran Perfect Drift, or Melbourne Cup (G1) winner Americain to steeplechase champion McDynamo, it seems like Dynaformers can do it all.  Yet after a quick search on Bloodhorse's Stallion Register, I found only 16 sons of the deceased stallion standing in America.  Point of Entry may be one of a few to carry on Dynaformer's male line.

Dynaformer himself was a Grade 2 winner and a grandson of Hail to Reason, whose son Halo - like Dynaformer - was particularly ill-tempered as well.  His dam, Andover Way, was a Grade 1 winning daughter of leading sire His Majesty, to whom Point of Entry is inbred 3x4.  Dynaformer passed away last April at the ripe old age of 27.

That stallion provides a solid top half to Point of Entry's sparkling female line.  It is a Phipps family product through the first couple of generations and boasts several champions.  Point of Entry is a half-brother to Pine Island (Arch), a two-time Grade 1 winner who suffered a fatal injury in the 2006 Breeders' Cup Distaff.  Another half-sister, Chili Cat (Storm Cat), was stakes-placed as a racehorse.  His dam, Matlacha Pass (Seeking the Gold), is a full sister to both Pleasant Home and Country Hideaway.  Pleasant Home is best known as the runaway winner of the 2005 Breeders' Cup Distaff, while Country Hideaway, a Grade 2 winner, produced another Grade 2 winner in Boca Grande (A.P. Indy).

Third dam Maplejinsky (Nijinsky II) was a nice racemare, winning a few Grade 1 events, but was even better in the breeding shed.  Her daughter Sky Beauty (Blushing Groom (FR)) was phenomenal on the track, winning 9 Grade 1 races, including the 1993 Filly Triple Crown.  She didn't produce much of note at first, but time has paid off - her great-grandson Violence (Medaglia d'Oro) is a Grade 1 winner and also a new stallion for 2014.  Maplejinsky also produced Silence Beauty (Sunday Silence), dam of Grade 1 winner Tale of Ekati.

Fourth dam Gold Beauty (Mr. Prospector) was the champion sprinter of 1982, beating the boys on a few separate occasions.  Her best offspring was the exceptional racehorse Dayjur, who won three year-old championships in England and France and only lost the 1990 Breeders' Cup Sprint to Safely Kept because he jumped a shadow in just a few strides before the wire. 

Besides His Majesty, Point of Entry is also inbred to Mr. Prospector (3x5), Nashua (4x5), and champion two year-old and Preakness (G1) winner Hasty Road (5x5).

An Obituary to a Filly

The idea for this eulogy, of a sort, has been sitting in my head since last Saturday; until now, I have found neither words nor sentiment to write it down.  Now, though, it is time to pay tribute to a beautiful racehorse and to ponder that age-old question, "What could have been?"

Though triumph is sweet, its bitter twin, tragedy, is never far behind, like a shadow clinging to light.  Bob Baffert may have won two Breeders' Cup races last Saturday, but not before tragedy reared its ugly head, taking the life of a filly that could be special.

We see this so often in horse racing, and yet it always hits us just as hard as the last.  There are always shining stars lost too soon to the world beyond our knowledge.  A delicate young horse, on legs seemingly too spindly to support all that muscle on top, runs at speeds many animals can only dream of.  Nature has designed those legs to carry weight, but, like any injury, there are times when fate steps into play, and not for the better.

Secret Compass had two wins in five starts going into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, including a narrow victory in the Grade 1 Chandelier Stakes over She's a Tiger, who would later be disqualified from her first place finish in the Breeders' Cup.  She was bred to be spectacular - by the speedy Discreet Cat, who was sometimes described as "freaky," and out of a mare by Maria's Mon, who sired not one, but two, Kentucky Derby winners.  On TVG's The Works, she received unanimous A+ ratings from the panel in her last workout before the big event.

It seemed as if Secret Compass had a real shot to win, and many selected her as their champion.

She's a Tiger set the early pace in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.  Not far behind, after a couple others, was Secret Compass, preparing to pounce on the far turn.  Her backers, whose eyes were glued to her, watched as she steadily made up inches down the backstretch.  They hit the far turn and the filly began to make a sharp move towards the inside.  She would collar the leaders soon -

It was almost like a punch in the gut.  Within instants, the filly stumbled and fell to her knees, her body flipping with the impact, struggling to bring herself upright.  The whole racing world drew in sharp breath.  Some cursed; some cried.  Others stared blankly, unwilling to believe what they had just witnessed.

Breakdowns, like other sudden, violent events, have a way of cementing themselves into the memory of every witness.  This injury was certainly no exception.

Prayers and pleas rang through the air in the minutes between the accident and the bad news.  At the wire, Ria Antonia had been declared the winner after She's a Tiger was disqualified for stretch interference.  Her connections whooped and hollered joyfully, but my mind - as well as many others' - was only for the fallen filly being attended to on the far turn.

A lateral condylar fracture, with dislocation, ripped Secret Compass from us.  She lost the blood supply in that leg, staggering near her injured jockey, and was euthanized before she could bring herself further pain.

John Velazquez missed the chance to ride several horses that day, including Wise Dan, who successfully defended his title in the Breeders' Cup Mile.  In an instant, the entire mood of the day took a turn.

Why?  Her name is added to the list of those fillies we lost so soon - Landaluce, Go for Wand, Ruffian - that could have gone on to do even greater things.  As with any premature loss, "What could have been?" hangs heavy in the air, sticking in the throats of the grieving and prompting questions and debates for decades to come.  The loss of something so young, so promising - a child, if you will - will break any heart that stops and ponders this seemingly unfair occurrence.

The game went on.  Her trainer, Bob Baffert, won two Breeders' Cup races that day, including the Breeders' Cup Juvenile with New Year's Day.  Sorrow filled his eyes and choked his voice at the mention of his deceased filly; even in triumph, tragedy has a way of maintaining a stranglehold.  As for me, my heart felt a little heavier for the rest of the day.  With each time the horses left the gate, I would wish and pray that all of them crossed the wire unscathed. 

That's what we all want, isn't it?  "May they all come home safe."

Some people have a way of portraying this sport as a selfish, cruel way to go about things, forcing horses to run against their will and putting their riders in harm's way.  In the end, though, every pastime has its flaws, its fears, and its tragedies.  Each time a horse goes down on the track, a human in the barn sheds more than a few tears.  They are not just commodities or athletes to the people who live and work with them every day; these horses become family, friend, and idol alike.

So as Secret Compass is a member of a family, it is fitting to give her tribute, as we would for any of our family members.  It has been observed that the youngest stars to die often do so violently; they also shed the brightest light for the longest time.  Through her short time here, Secret Compass showed brilliance.  Now she runs in some other realm, unencumbered by pain.  Those who loved her will not forget her; the history books will still contain her name.  But as we humans are so connected to the here and now, the earthly solidity of things, we must bid her a proper farewell.

Goodbye, Secret Compass.

Throwback Thursday - Twitter Edition!

Throughout yesterday and part of today, I asked my Twitter followers for some of their favorite racing memories.  Here's what they had to say:

Do you have a great memory you'd like to share?  Add it below in the comments!

Stephen Wong's Thoughts on the G1 Crown Oaks

This is guest blogger Stephen Wong's take on tonight's Crown Oaks at Flemington.  Remember that Stephen backed the winner, Fiorente, in the Melbourne Cup!

Crown Oaks 2500m

Group 1. Apprentices cannot claim

No     Horse (Barrier)            Jockey               Trainer                     Weight        Price

 1     May’s Dream (5)           N Hall               D K Weir                     55.5          7.00

 2     Arabian Gold (1)           H Bowman        D Vandyke                  55.5          10.00

 3     Kirramosa (10)             N Rawiller          J G Sargent                 55.5          2.50

 4     Gypsy Diamond (8)     J McDonald        J A O’Shea                 55.5           9.00

 5     Solicit (4)                    G Boss                M Ellerton & S Zahra  55.5          10.00

 6     Quayside (7)               B Avdulla            D Payne                       55.5          21.00

 7     Every Faith (9)            M Zahra              R W Smerdon             55.5          51.00

 8     Zanbagh (2)                B Shinn               G H Walter                  55.5          4.80

 9     Melaleuca (3)              B Prebble            T & K O’Sullivan       55.5          20.00

10     Tear Gas (6)               C Williams           D T O’Brien               55.5          41.00

Odds courtesy TAB

Comments by Stephen Wong (Twitter handle: @SW064351)

 1 May’s Dream: Battled determinedly to edge Solicit for second on Saturday. Consider.

 2 Arabian Gold: Kept on okay in Wakeful but distance is a query. Place looks best.

 3 Kirramosa: Rallied wide from rear to win Wakeful. Pace is a concern but is still the one to beat.

 4 Gypsy Diamond: Ran on in closing stages on Saturday but pace looks against her here. Place claims.

 5 Solicit: Classy filly who hasn’t missed a place this preparation. One of the leading chances.

 6 Quayside: Hit the line strongly when winning at Rosehill. Each-way claims.

 7 Every Faith: Has failed to threaten in recent runs. Pass.

 8 Zanbagh: Strung together a pair of easy wins at Ballarat. Worth some thought.

 9 Melaleuca: Put in a shocking run in Wakeful. Looking elsewhere.

10 Tear Gas: Weakened tamely in first attempt at Group company and looks well held.

Tips

 3 Kirramosa

 5 Solicit

 6 Quayside

 1 May’s Dream