121 - Desert Party - Secret Psalm (Cryptoclearance)
Bay filly consigned by Paramount Sales, Agent VI
This filly is by Desert Party, a son of Street Cry who did fairly well on the track, with a win in the Grade 2 Sanford and a strong second-place finish in the UAE Derby behind Regal Ransom. His first crop of foals are yearlings this year, which means it's crunch time for the young sire. Will his offspring do well in the sales ring? With this pedigree here, this filly can do nothing but help him. She is a half-sibling to Delosvientos, winner of the Grade 2 Brooklyn Handicap, as well as the stakes-placed Temple Yard and the stakes producer One Twenty One. Her dam is a full sibling to Strategic Maneuver, a mare that one races like the Spinaway, the Matron and the Demoiselle Stakes. Strategic Maneuver herself produced stakes winners and stakes producers. Also siblings to Secret Psalm are stakes winners Ashford Castle and Missionary.
126 - Hold Me Back - Sheena's Gold (Fast Gold)
Dark bay or brown filly consigned by Brookdale Sales, Agent
Hip 126 is a half-sibling to Champagne Stakes winner The Groom Is Red, along with five other winners. She is part of the first crop of Hold Me Back, a Grade 1 placed stakes winner by prolific sire Giant's Causeway. Sheena's Gold is a half-sister to a mare who produced some international blacktype, including Where or When, a Grade 1 winner in England, and All the Way, who won the Singapore Derby. Another sister to Sheena's Gold is On the Tiles, the dam of French Grade 1 winner Air de Rien. This pedigree is intriguing merely for the fact that there are so many different countries and ways of racing represented. With Giant's Causeway blood on top and European blood on the bottom, this filly has the potential to go anywhere.
146 - Colonel John - Star of Johar (Johar)
Bay filly consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, Agent XLI
It's hard to ignore a Colonel John in the sales ring. The young sire has produced some beautiful offspring so far, and with already two winners out of a handful of starters, they're running as well as they look. My love affair with Colonel John is no secret, so it shouldn't be surprising that I have at least one of his progeny listed here. The first and second dams are relatively unproven, although the latter has produced three winners from as many starters, including a Grade 3 placed runner. The third dam is where the money lies. Charmie Carmie herself produced seven winners, including Peruvian champion Faaz. She is a half-sister to the dams and granddams of champions like Winning Colors, Chief's Crown, and Deep Sky. Johar himself was one of the two horses who won the 2003 Breeders' Cup Turf via dead heat. Colonel John was versatile enough to win on all three surfaces, so this classy-blooded filly should have no problem with what's under her feet.
153 - Malibu Moon - Sweet and Savory (Storm Cat)
Bay colt consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, Agent XLV
This is yet another Malibu Moon I've chosen to preview. The stallion, sire of horses like Orb, Life at Ten and Declan's Moon, has been on fire lately, so it's the right time for this well-bred colt to hit the sales ring. He is the first foal out of a full sister to Breeders' Cup winners Life is Sweet and Sweet Catomine. Third dam Symbolically produced six winners, including Grade 1 winner Pirate's Revenge. This colt's pedigree is distinguished, with two of the most influential sires of our times - A.P. Indy and Storm Cat - represented in the top and bottom halves of his pedigree, respectively.
168 - Brother Derek - Try a Gator Girl (Copelan)
Dark bay or brown colt consigned by Brereton C. Jones/Airdrie Stud, Agent
Brother Derek was part of the memorable three year-old crop that included the ill-fated Barbaro and the spectacular Bernardini, among others. Although he lives in the shadow of peers like Bernardini and Bluegrass Cat, he still has done well for himself, producing horses like stakes winner Zee Bros and stakes-placed Miss Derek. This colt is a half-brother to Grade 3 winner Now a Victor. Second dam produced all winners from seven to race, and third dam Loss or Gain is best known as the dam of dual Grade 1 winner Lost Code.
169 - Tale of the Cat - Turning Wheel (Seeking the Gold)
Chestnut colt consigned by Imagine LLC/Perrone Sales Ltd., Agent
This colt is a half-brother to eight winners out of nine to race, including listed stakes winner Boat Trip. Second dam Misinskie is a half-sister to the good racehorse and sire Phone Trick, as well as a couple other stakes winners. Besides Turning Wheel, who is a stakes winner, Misinskie is the dam of stakes winners Minds Music and Space Cruiser. Sire Tale of the Cat has proven to be a very versatile sire, as sons of Storm Cat tend to be. Among his best progeny are champions Gio Ponti, Malevola and Platinum Couple, and Grade 1 winners Lion Heart and Tale of Ekati.
176 - Discreetly Mine - Untarnished (Unbridled)
Chestnut colt consigned by Denali Stud, Agent I
Sire Discreetly Mine had the privilege of being a half-sibling to Discreet Cat, one of the most hyped horses in the last decade, but he didn't do so bad himself, winning the Grade 1 King's Bishop Stakes, among other races. This yearling is part of his first crop of foals. Untarnished is a full sister to champion three year-old filly Banshee Breeze and minor stakes winner Unbridled Wind. Quack a Doodle Doo, this colt's whimsically named third dam, was responsible for a female family that produced the likes of European champion Twice Over and Grade 1 winners Mutual Trust, Timepiece, Hilda's Passion and Passage of Time.
The final edition of this series should be up much sooner than later!
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Throwback Thursday - 2008 Dubai World Cup
A popular hashtag on social media sites like Twitter or Instagram these days is #tbt, which stands for "Throwback Thursday." Numerous people add pictures or quotes from times gone by. Most are fond memories, though some are deliberate potshots at old friends or sad reminiscences of past relationships. Well, I'm going to utilize this blog to create my own category of Throwback Thursday...my favorite memories of horse racing, from the Belmont in 2004 (the race that made me a fan) to the present day.
My very first Throwback Thursday features Curlin's open-length romp in the Dubai World Cup five years ago. Curlin, a two-time Horse of the Year and the first American racehorse to crack the $10 million mark in earnings, is one of my very favorite racehorses. I enjoyed watching him each time he ran, and this race was certainly no exception.
American-trained horses had won this race before - horses like Cigar, Silver Charm and Pleasantly Perfect had all taken the international championship event. Curlin was attempting to become the first horse to win from post 12; he would face twelve others. The post bothered few - as trainer Eoin Harty said a few days before the race, "“Even if they started Curlin on Nad al Sheba road, I don’t think it would make much difference." Harty had entered Well Armed, who was one of two horses that would go on to win the Dubai World Cup in later years. The other was Gloria De Campeao, who won the first synthetic running of the race.
Other competitors vying for the win against Curlin were horses like Premium Tap, who finished a strong second to Invasor in the previous year's edition of the World Cup; Asiatic Boy, the previous year's UAE Derby winner; and Vermilion, a Japan Cup Dirt winner. Though Curlin had easily won his lone prep for the race, a small stakes at Nad Al Sheba, he still faced some stiff competition.
It's a tradition for me to wake up in the early morning to watch the races on Dubai World Cup day. It starts out with the Arabian race, then moves on to the Godolphin Mile, the UAE Derby...years of watching have cemented the day's schedule into my brain. This year, I woke up with some extra excitement, for Curlin was to start in the Dubai World Cup! As post time drew nearer, my stomach began to knot up more and more. The big chestnut had looked good training. Really good. Could he hold off these strong international competitors and prove himself the best dirt horse in the world?
I will never forget this race, whether I die tomorrow or in a hundred years. They raced up the backstretch at Nad Al Sheba. Curlin raced with his head cocked strangely to the side, almost as if he was getting a good look at his rivals. Well Armed took the lead on the rail - it was only a year later that the gelding would go wire-to-wire in the World Cup, setting a record for largest margin of victory. That, however, was 2009. This was 2008 and it was Curlin's year to shine.
They had gone a first quarter in a pedestrian 25 and change, but from there, they did nothing but pick up the pace. As they reached the far turn, going six furlongs in 1:10 4/5, Well Armed still had the lead, but it must have been daunting for Aaron Gryder, with horses like Curlin and Asiatic Boy breathing down his mount's neck with every stride. At the top of the stretch, Albarado finally asked Curlin to run. The power he displayed in running past Asiatic Boy and Well Armed is cemented in my brain for life. The big chestnut colt was an express train, running the mile in 1:34 and change and taking the lead.
From there on out, it was a procession. With 200 meters left to go, after a few smart taps with the whip, Curlin was all alone. He floated down the Nad Al Sheba stretch, his hockey hand-riding him to the wire. He was toying with this field of world-class racehorses! It was clear that this was not the same three year-old colt that Rags to Riches had toyed with in the Belmont Stakes less than a year before. He was a mature, powerful four year-old colt, and he was destroying the field in the world's richest horse race. If ever he deserved the accolades thrown at him, it was in that moment, when he galloped past the colorful red, white and gold finish line a winner by nearly eight lengths.
"And from the red, white and blue corner, by TKO, the undefeated champ is Curlin!"
Those words from announcer Terry Spargo will always give me chills. Curlin's victory marked the fourth time a Breeders' Cup Classic winner had come back the next year to win the desert championship. The others were Cigar, Pleasantly Perfect and Invasor.
The chestnut colt returned to the states to begin his march to another Horse of the Year title. In the last five starts of his career, he won three of them, finished a game third on his first start on turf behind Red Rocks and Better Talk Now, and finished fourth after making an early move in the Breeders' Cup Classic, failing to become the first repeat winner since Tiznow. The second-to-last start of his career, the Jockey Club Gold Cup, is where he soared past Cigar to become America's richest racehorse in history.
In a race designed to crown the best horse in the world, Curlin set his name in stone in the biggest way possible. The race had succeeded - he was king of the world, and rightly so. If Curlin is to be remembered for something, savor the sight of that colt, eight lengths in front of his rivals, winning the richest race in the world in a hand ride. It will always be one of my favorite races. I'll never get sick of watching it, over and over again.
My very first Throwback Thursday features Curlin's open-length romp in the Dubai World Cup five years ago. Curlin, a two-time Horse of the Year and the first American racehorse to crack the $10 million mark in earnings, is one of my very favorite racehorses. I enjoyed watching him each time he ran, and this race was certainly no exception.
American-trained horses had won this race before - horses like Cigar, Silver Charm and Pleasantly Perfect had all taken the international championship event. Curlin was attempting to become the first horse to win from post 12; he would face twelve others. The post bothered few - as trainer Eoin Harty said a few days before the race, "“Even if they started Curlin on Nad al Sheba road, I don’t think it would make much difference." Harty had entered Well Armed, who was one of two horses that would go on to win the Dubai World Cup in later years. The other was Gloria De Campeao, who won the first synthetic running of the race.
Other competitors vying for the win against Curlin were horses like Premium Tap, who finished a strong second to Invasor in the previous year's edition of the World Cup; Asiatic Boy, the previous year's UAE Derby winner; and Vermilion, a Japan Cup Dirt winner. Though Curlin had easily won his lone prep for the race, a small stakes at Nad Al Sheba, he still faced some stiff competition.
It's a tradition for me to wake up in the early morning to watch the races on Dubai World Cup day. It starts out with the Arabian race, then moves on to the Godolphin Mile, the UAE Derby...years of watching have cemented the day's schedule into my brain. This year, I woke up with some extra excitement, for Curlin was to start in the Dubai World Cup! As post time drew nearer, my stomach began to knot up more and more. The big chestnut had looked good training. Really good. Could he hold off these strong international competitors and prove himself the best dirt horse in the world?
I will never forget this race, whether I die tomorrow or in a hundred years. They raced up the backstretch at Nad Al Sheba. Curlin raced with his head cocked strangely to the side, almost as if he was getting a good look at his rivals. Well Armed took the lead on the rail - it was only a year later that the gelding would go wire-to-wire in the World Cup, setting a record for largest margin of victory. That, however, was 2009. This was 2008 and it was Curlin's year to shine.
They had gone a first quarter in a pedestrian 25 and change, but from there, they did nothing but pick up the pace. As they reached the far turn, going six furlongs in 1:10 4/5, Well Armed still had the lead, but it must have been daunting for Aaron Gryder, with horses like Curlin and Asiatic Boy breathing down his mount's neck with every stride. At the top of the stretch, Albarado finally asked Curlin to run. The power he displayed in running past Asiatic Boy and Well Armed is cemented in my brain for life. The big chestnut colt was an express train, running the mile in 1:34 and change and taking the lead.
From there on out, it was a procession. With 200 meters left to go, after a few smart taps with the whip, Curlin was all alone. He floated down the Nad Al Sheba stretch, his hockey hand-riding him to the wire. He was toying with this field of world-class racehorses! It was clear that this was not the same three year-old colt that Rags to Riches had toyed with in the Belmont Stakes less than a year before. He was a mature, powerful four year-old colt, and he was destroying the field in the world's richest horse race. If ever he deserved the accolades thrown at him, it was in that moment, when he galloped past the colorful red, white and gold finish line a winner by nearly eight lengths.
"And from the red, white and blue corner, by TKO, the undefeated champ is Curlin!"
Those words from announcer Terry Spargo will always give me chills. Curlin's victory marked the fourth time a Breeders' Cup Classic winner had come back the next year to win the desert championship. The others were Cigar, Pleasantly Perfect and Invasor.
The chestnut colt returned to the states to begin his march to another Horse of the Year title. In the last five starts of his career, he won three of them, finished a game third on his first start on turf behind Red Rocks and Better Talk Now, and finished fourth after making an early move in the Breeders' Cup Classic, failing to become the first repeat winner since Tiznow. The second-to-last start of his career, the Jockey Club Gold Cup, is where he soared past Cigar to become America's richest racehorse in history.
In a race designed to crown the best horse in the world, Curlin set his name in stone in the biggest way possible. The race had succeeded - he was king of the world, and rightly so. If Curlin is to be remembered for something, savor the sight of that colt, eight lengths in front of his rivals, winning the richest race in the world in a hand ride. It will always be one of my favorite races. I'll never get sick of watching it, over and over again.
Friday, June 21, 2013
Pedigree Highlights - Fasig-Tipton July (Part Two)
75 - Warrior's Reward - Nakiska Moon (Malibu Moon)
Bay colt consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, Agent LIII
Sire Warrior's Reward is one of the few Medaglia D'oro sons at stud, and certainly the most successful as a racehorse. His sire is best known for his fillies, such as Oaks winner Rachel Alexandra and Plum Pretty. That alone lends some intrigue to this young sire, who won the Grade 1 Carter during his track career. Nakiska Moon has already produced a winner (by Latent Heat) in her first starter. Second dam Nakiska Wind produced a whopping twelve winners, including two listed stakes winners. This colt's third dam, Breezy Stories, was the head of a female family that produced Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Desert Stormer as well as Grade 1 winners Better Lucky and White Moonstone. Those are just three of the many stakes winners from that lineage.
86 - Sky Mesa - Perfect Story (Tale of the Cat)
Chestnut filly consigned by Gainesway, Agent II
This filly's sire, Sky Mesa, has always sired some consistent horses, including Grade 1 winners General Quarters and Sky Diva. He's always had competition, though - as a son of Pulpit, he battles for mares against a number of Pulpit sons, including the popular Tapit. Still, the compact bay stallion is a value, with horses at sales averaging much more than his $25,000 stud fee. This filly is a half-sister to the Grade 2 placed winner Medjool (Monarchos). Second dam Turko's Turn is best known as the dam of classic winner Point Given, who previously stood at Three Chimneys alongside Sky Mesa. Third dam Turbo Launch also produced U R Unforgettable, a graded stakes-placed winner and producer.
89 - Flashy Bull - Pleasure Cat (Cat's Career)
Gray or roan colt consigned by Brereton C. Jones/Airdrie Stud, Agent
This colt is a full brother to graded stakes contender Flashy Gray, as well as five other winners. Flashy Bull himself was a Grade 1 winner and has sired the winners of nearly $4.5 million. Second dam Hill Pleasure is a sibling to stakes winners like Honest Moment and Sabatani. She is the dam of eight winners, including two stakes-placed horses. Her daughter Cherie's Hope produced two graded stakes winners herself, Silver Wizard and Ammy Hills. This female family is not as strong as I would like to see from a potential purchase, but being a full sibling to a filly who's run with horses like Rose to Gold and Unlimited Budget should help pique some interest in this colt.
99 - Majestic Warrior - Quiet Strike (Quiet American)
Chestnut filly consigned by Gainesway, Agent I
Majestic Warrior was a popular and promising juvenile in 2007, with his biggest win coming in the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes. Although he didn't live up on the hype on the racetrack, he hasn't done too shabby this year. His first crop has turned out great, and the leader of that crop is undoubtedly Princess of Sylmar, the upset winner of the Kentucky Oaks. This filly is a half-sibling to five winners out of six horses to race. Her second dam, Regal Realm, is the dam of four stakes winners, including Kalookan Queen, a Grade 1 winning sprinter and millionaire. There's plenty of blacktype below that as well; third dam Clear Copy produced seven winners herself, and I see that her descendants have been responsible for no less than eight stakes winners, including Tutelada, a champion in Brazil.
103 - Pulpit - Referendum (Unbridled)
Chestnut filly consigned by Mill Ridge Sales, Agent
Depending on how she looks, this filly should be very popular in the sales ring. You can't ignore a Pulpit. The regal son of A.P. Indy has become a sire of sires, with names like Corinthian, Ice Box, Purge, and of course Tapit, among his numerous offspring. Dam Referendum, an unraced daughter of Derby winner Unbridled, has yet to prove herself as a broodmare, but her dam Miss Bold Appeal looks just fine. She produced Jersey Girl, a multiple Grade 1 winner who in turn produced Jersey Town, a Cigar Mile winner. Third dam Bid Gal is a half-sibling to Mepache, the dam of sire Valid Expectations. She herself produced the stakes winner Valid Wager, who has since become a sire as well, and Copelan's Bid Gal, the dam of another Cigar Mile winner in Purge. If there was ever a smashing pedigree for a middle distance, this one would be it.
113 - Pleasantly Perfect - Royaletta (Dixieland Band)
Bay filly consigned by Randal Family Trust/Paramount Sales, Agent
The popular Breeders' Cup Classic and Dubai World Cup winner Pleasantly Perfect hasn't done as well in the shed as he did in the racetrack, but he does have a Breeders' Cup winner in Shared Account, as well as several other stakes winners to his credit. If her sire has defiencies, however, her female family more than makes up for it. This filly's dam is a full sister to Grade 2 winner Devoted Brass, and has produced three winners out of four to race. She is a part of a female family that boasts the names of numerous popular sires, and it all started with fourth dam On the Trail. That mare produced horses like Andover Way, Darby Creek Road and Regal Road. Andover Way was the dam of Dynaformer (I don't even need to go into how important he's been to the industry) and the granddam of horses like Offlee Wild, U S Ranger, and Lines of Battle. Regal Road is the great-granddam of Derby winner and sire Monarchos.
119 - Old Fashoned - Santa Cristina (Black Tie Affair)
Chestnut colt consigned by Foundations Farm, Agent
Although there aren't many famous names in this colt's immediate pedigree, his dam can boast something that not many mares can. Out of all her foals to race - seven of them - all of them are winners. That includes the likes of stakes winners Trying Brian and Kristine's King. Santa Cristina herself was a stakes winner in Mexico. Her dam, Terry's Song, was sent to the Philippines but is the dam of four known winners. Third dam Musical Holme also was a 100% winner-producer. Sire Old Fashioned's first crop of foals hits the racetrack this year. The gray stallion is a good-looking son of Unbridled's Song and a Grade 2 winner. While this colt may not be as commercially popular as some of the yearlings listed above, he does have the advantage of coming from a winning family.
Stick around for parts three and four of this series!
Bay colt consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, Agent LIII
Sire Warrior's Reward is one of the few Medaglia D'oro sons at stud, and certainly the most successful as a racehorse. His sire is best known for his fillies, such as Oaks winner Rachel Alexandra and Plum Pretty. That alone lends some intrigue to this young sire, who won the Grade 1 Carter during his track career. Nakiska Moon has already produced a winner (by Latent Heat) in her first starter. Second dam Nakiska Wind produced a whopping twelve winners, including two listed stakes winners. This colt's third dam, Breezy Stories, was the head of a female family that produced Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Desert Stormer as well as Grade 1 winners Better Lucky and White Moonstone. Those are just three of the many stakes winners from that lineage.
86 - Sky Mesa - Perfect Story (Tale of the Cat)
Chestnut filly consigned by Gainesway, Agent II
This filly's sire, Sky Mesa, has always sired some consistent horses, including Grade 1 winners General Quarters and Sky Diva. He's always had competition, though - as a son of Pulpit, he battles for mares against a number of Pulpit sons, including the popular Tapit. Still, the compact bay stallion is a value, with horses at sales averaging much more than his $25,000 stud fee. This filly is a half-sister to the Grade 2 placed winner Medjool (Monarchos). Second dam Turko's Turn is best known as the dam of classic winner Point Given, who previously stood at Three Chimneys alongside Sky Mesa. Third dam Turbo Launch also produced U R Unforgettable, a graded stakes-placed winner and producer.
89 - Flashy Bull - Pleasure Cat (Cat's Career)
Gray or roan colt consigned by Brereton C. Jones/Airdrie Stud, Agent
This colt is a full brother to graded stakes contender Flashy Gray, as well as five other winners. Flashy Bull himself was a Grade 1 winner and has sired the winners of nearly $4.5 million. Second dam Hill Pleasure is a sibling to stakes winners like Honest Moment and Sabatani. She is the dam of eight winners, including two stakes-placed horses. Her daughter Cherie's Hope produced two graded stakes winners herself, Silver Wizard and Ammy Hills. This female family is not as strong as I would like to see from a potential purchase, but being a full sibling to a filly who's run with horses like Rose to Gold and Unlimited Budget should help pique some interest in this colt.
99 - Majestic Warrior - Quiet Strike (Quiet American)
Chestnut filly consigned by Gainesway, Agent I
Majestic Warrior was a popular and promising juvenile in 2007, with his biggest win coming in the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes. Although he didn't live up on the hype on the racetrack, he hasn't done too shabby this year. His first crop has turned out great, and the leader of that crop is undoubtedly Princess of Sylmar, the upset winner of the Kentucky Oaks. This filly is a half-sibling to five winners out of six horses to race. Her second dam, Regal Realm, is the dam of four stakes winners, including Kalookan Queen, a Grade 1 winning sprinter and millionaire. There's plenty of blacktype below that as well; third dam Clear Copy produced seven winners herself, and I see that her descendants have been responsible for no less than eight stakes winners, including Tutelada, a champion in Brazil.
103 - Pulpit - Referendum (Unbridled)
Chestnut filly consigned by Mill Ridge Sales, Agent
Depending on how she looks, this filly should be very popular in the sales ring. You can't ignore a Pulpit. The regal son of A.P. Indy has become a sire of sires, with names like Corinthian, Ice Box, Purge, and of course Tapit, among his numerous offspring. Dam Referendum, an unraced daughter of Derby winner Unbridled, has yet to prove herself as a broodmare, but her dam Miss Bold Appeal looks just fine. She produced Jersey Girl, a multiple Grade 1 winner who in turn produced Jersey Town, a Cigar Mile winner. Third dam Bid Gal is a half-sibling to Mepache, the dam of sire Valid Expectations. She herself produced the stakes winner Valid Wager, who has since become a sire as well, and Copelan's Bid Gal, the dam of another Cigar Mile winner in Purge. If there was ever a smashing pedigree for a middle distance, this one would be it.
113 - Pleasantly Perfect - Royaletta (Dixieland Band)
Bay filly consigned by Randal Family Trust/Paramount Sales, Agent
The popular Breeders' Cup Classic and Dubai World Cup winner Pleasantly Perfect hasn't done as well in the shed as he did in the racetrack, but he does have a Breeders' Cup winner in Shared Account, as well as several other stakes winners to his credit. If her sire has defiencies, however, her female family more than makes up for it. This filly's dam is a full sister to Grade 2 winner Devoted Brass, and has produced three winners out of four to race. She is a part of a female family that boasts the names of numerous popular sires, and it all started with fourth dam On the Trail. That mare produced horses like Andover Way, Darby Creek Road and Regal Road. Andover Way was the dam of Dynaformer (I don't even need to go into how important he's been to the industry) and the granddam of horses like Offlee Wild, U S Ranger, and Lines of Battle. Regal Road is the great-granddam of Derby winner and sire Monarchos.
119 - Old Fashoned - Santa Cristina (Black Tie Affair)
Chestnut colt consigned by Foundations Farm, Agent
Although there aren't many famous names in this colt's immediate pedigree, his dam can boast something that not many mares can. Out of all her foals to race - seven of them - all of them are winners. That includes the likes of stakes winners Trying Brian and Kristine's King. Santa Cristina herself was a stakes winner in Mexico. Her dam, Terry's Song, was sent to the Philippines but is the dam of four known winners. Third dam Musical Holme also was a 100% winner-producer. Sire Old Fashioned's first crop of foals hits the racetrack this year. The gray stallion is a good-looking son of Unbridled's Song and a Grade 2 winner. While this colt may not be as commercially popular as some of the yearlings listed above, he does have the advantage of coming from a winning family.
Stick around for parts three and four of this series!
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Pedigree Highlights - Fasig-Tipton July (Part One)
So I went through the catalog for Fasig-Tipton July and picked out some hip numbers that, to me, had intriguing bloodlines. First and foremost, this is not a list of who I think will sell well. Remember that pedigree is only part of a complicated puzzle that includes conformation, physical fitness and good health and temperament. This is only an exercise of bloodline research - for a while, I had my heart set on being a bloodstock agent, and the pedigree and sales aspect of the game still highly intrigues me. In the 250 or so horses entered in the sale, I picked out 28 whose pedigrees caught my eye. I'll break it down into four parts, so each post has seven colts or fillies to briefly look at.
Hip 12 - Midshipman - Heaven's Gate (Septieme Ciel)
Chestnut colt consigned by Catalyst Bloodstock, LLC
I must admit, at first glance, I was not familiar with this colt's broodmare sire. Upon further investigation, I discovered that he's this handsome bay son of Seattle Slew who primarily raced in France. Anyway, he's a son of Midshipman - a member of that stud's first crop, in fact - the 2008 winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. This colt is a half-brother to Grade 2 winner This One's For Phil and stakes winner Tap Dancer, as well as many other winners, as his dam has produced nine winners out of twelve to race. His second dam produced Grade 2 winners Finality and Stolen Beauty, and his female family includes stakes horses like Island Sand, Giant Moon, Jiggs Coz and Frumious.
Hip 21 - "Charlie's House", Notional - House of Soviet's (Housebuster)
Bay colt consigned by Susan Y. Foreman, Agent
This colt is going to peak early and go fast, if his pedigree has any say in the matter. He's by Notional, who made a splash early on the Triple Crown trail of 2007 by winning the Risen Star Stakes, among others. Unfortunately for him, both as a racehorse and a stud, he was a part of a gifted crop that included Street Sense, Curlin, Hard Spun, and Rags to Riches, as well as several other talented racehorses. Still, he's done pretty well, siring a few stakes winners so far. This colt's broodmare sire is Housebuster, a champion sprinter. He's a half to a listed stakes winner in Lady Banks and out of a mare who has produced seven winners out of eight racehorses. His dam is also a half-sister to the speedy sire Indian Charlie, as well as a couple of stakes producing mares.
Hip 33 - Line of David - Just for You (Silver Deputy)
Bay filly consigned by Bill Murphy, Agent IV
Line of David, a handsome son of Lion Heart, won the Arkansas Derby in the year that Mine That Bird upset the Run for the Roses at 50-1. His sire has since gone abroad, leaving Line of David as one of the remnants of his line here in the States. This filly's dam is a half-sister to Minister's Melody, an excellent broodmare responsible for the likes of Grade 1 winner Bob and John and stakes horses Connie Belle and Sweet Sonnet. Just for You has already produced a winner in her first starter by Belong to Me. Third dam Too Bald was a broodmare of the year who produced Grade 1 winners and sires Capote and Exceller, as well as a slew of other black-type runners and producers.
Hip 39 - Flatter - Lady Fairway (Dixie Union)
Bay colt consigned by Morris B. Floyd and Chuck Givens, Agent
With promise in both halves of his pedigree, this colt should do well at the races. Flatter, his sire, is a well-established producer whose best offspring is Flat Out, a multiple graded stakes winner. His dam, by the ever influential Dixie Union, has already produced two foals to race, and both of them are winners. She is a half-sister to the dam of Hook and Ladder, a Grade 2 winner and popular regional sire who now stands at stud in the Philippines. Third dam Fairway Fable launched an ambitious female family. She produced Northern Fable, who ended up being the granddam of several graded stakes winners, including Cara Rafaela and Love and Pride. This colt is from the fine female family of champion and sire Bernardini.
Hip 45 - Tiz Wonderful - Lakefront (Deputy Minister)
Bay filly consigned by Eaton Sales, Agent
This filly's sire is by the famous Tiznow, the two-time Breeders' Cup Classic hero who is now one of the best sires in America. Although Tiz Wonderful wasn't the most successful of his sire's sons, he is doing quite well at stud, including producing My Happy Face, a speedy stakes winning filly who gave Dreaming of Julia all she could handle in the Grade 1 Frizette Stakes last year. This filly is a half-sibling to three winners, including listed stakes winner Dattts Our Girl (Thunder Gulch). Second dam Lakeway was a four-time Grade 1 winner and the granddam of another Grade 1 winner in Mushka. Third dam Milliardaire is a full sister to sire Saratoga Six and jump-started a female family that includes names like the late graded stakes winner Giant Ryan.
Hip 58 - "Tiz Major", Tiz Wonderful - Major's Girl (Purge)
Chestnut colt consigned by Kinsman Farm; Lane's End Farm, Agent
Another Tiz Wonderful yearling! This time it's a colt who is the second foal out of an unraced mare by Purge, a Cigar Mile winner from the crop that brought us Smarty Jones, Birdstone and Rock Hard Ten. Major's Girl is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Siphonic as well as the unraced Rose of Summer, who ended up producing turf graded stakes winners Laragh and Summer Front. In all, second dam Cherokee Crossing has produced seven winners. Third dam Sky Meadows was also unraced but ended up foaling track-record setting stakes winner Dixie Dot Com.
Hip 68 - Malibu Moon - Miss Moonlight (Broad Brush)
Bay filly consigned by Spendthrift Farm LLC; Warrendale Sales, Agent
The last yearling to highlight in this post is a filly by Malibu Moon. If there was ever a sire being talked about right now, it would most definitely be Malibu Moon, whose biggest triumph this year came through Orb and his Derby win. Malibu Moon, a son of A.P. Indy, has also brought us horses like champion Declan's Moon and Grade 1 winner Life at Ten. This filly is a half-sister to six winners, including stakes winner More Moonlight (More Than Ready). Second dam Sultry Sally was quite the producer, getting five winners herself and becoming the granddam of countless others through her female offspring, including Grade 1 placed Night Patrol. Third dam Graffiti Gal is a half-sister to the dam of champion Blushing John, and she herself is the granddam of Grade 1 contender Lucky Roberto.
Stay tuned for the next three installments!
Hip 12 - Midshipman - Heaven's Gate (Septieme Ciel)
Chestnut colt consigned by Catalyst Bloodstock, LLC
I must admit, at first glance, I was not familiar with this colt's broodmare sire. Upon further investigation, I discovered that he's this handsome bay son of Seattle Slew who primarily raced in France. Anyway, he's a son of Midshipman - a member of that stud's first crop, in fact - the 2008 winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. This colt is a half-brother to Grade 2 winner This One's For Phil and stakes winner Tap Dancer, as well as many other winners, as his dam has produced nine winners out of twelve to race. His second dam produced Grade 2 winners Finality and Stolen Beauty, and his female family includes stakes horses like Island Sand, Giant Moon, Jiggs Coz and Frumious.
Hip 21 - "Charlie's House", Notional - House of Soviet's (Housebuster)
Bay colt consigned by Susan Y. Foreman, Agent
This colt is going to peak early and go fast, if his pedigree has any say in the matter. He's by Notional, who made a splash early on the Triple Crown trail of 2007 by winning the Risen Star Stakes, among others. Unfortunately for him, both as a racehorse and a stud, he was a part of a gifted crop that included Street Sense, Curlin, Hard Spun, and Rags to Riches, as well as several other talented racehorses. Still, he's done pretty well, siring a few stakes winners so far. This colt's broodmare sire is Housebuster, a champion sprinter. He's a half to a listed stakes winner in Lady Banks and out of a mare who has produced seven winners out of eight racehorses. His dam is also a half-sister to the speedy sire Indian Charlie, as well as a couple of stakes producing mares.
Hip 33 - Line of David - Just for You (Silver Deputy)
Bay filly consigned by Bill Murphy, Agent IV
Line of David, a handsome son of Lion Heart, won the Arkansas Derby in the year that Mine That Bird upset the Run for the Roses at 50-1. His sire has since gone abroad, leaving Line of David as one of the remnants of his line here in the States. This filly's dam is a half-sister to Minister's Melody, an excellent broodmare responsible for the likes of Grade 1 winner Bob and John and stakes horses Connie Belle and Sweet Sonnet. Just for You has already produced a winner in her first starter by Belong to Me. Third dam Too Bald was a broodmare of the year who produced Grade 1 winners and sires Capote and Exceller, as well as a slew of other black-type runners and producers.
Hip 39 - Flatter - Lady Fairway (Dixie Union)
Bay colt consigned by Morris B. Floyd and Chuck Givens, Agent
With promise in both halves of his pedigree, this colt should do well at the races. Flatter, his sire, is a well-established producer whose best offspring is Flat Out, a multiple graded stakes winner. His dam, by the ever influential Dixie Union, has already produced two foals to race, and both of them are winners. She is a half-sister to the dam of Hook and Ladder, a Grade 2 winner and popular regional sire who now stands at stud in the Philippines. Third dam Fairway Fable launched an ambitious female family. She produced Northern Fable, who ended up being the granddam of several graded stakes winners, including Cara Rafaela and Love and Pride. This colt is from the fine female family of champion and sire Bernardini.
Hip 45 - Tiz Wonderful - Lakefront (Deputy Minister)
Bay filly consigned by Eaton Sales, Agent
This filly's sire is by the famous Tiznow, the two-time Breeders' Cup Classic hero who is now one of the best sires in America. Although Tiz Wonderful wasn't the most successful of his sire's sons, he is doing quite well at stud, including producing My Happy Face, a speedy stakes winning filly who gave Dreaming of Julia all she could handle in the Grade 1 Frizette Stakes last year. This filly is a half-sibling to three winners, including listed stakes winner Dattts Our Girl (Thunder Gulch). Second dam Lakeway was a four-time Grade 1 winner and the granddam of another Grade 1 winner in Mushka. Third dam Milliardaire is a full sister to sire Saratoga Six and jump-started a female family that includes names like the late graded stakes winner Giant Ryan.
Hip 58 - "Tiz Major", Tiz Wonderful - Major's Girl (Purge)
Chestnut colt consigned by Kinsman Farm; Lane's End Farm, Agent
Another Tiz Wonderful yearling! This time it's a colt who is the second foal out of an unraced mare by Purge, a Cigar Mile winner from the crop that brought us Smarty Jones, Birdstone and Rock Hard Ten. Major's Girl is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Siphonic as well as the unraced Rose of Summer, who ended up producing turf graded stakes winners Laragh and Summer Front. In all, second dam Cherokee Crossing has produced seven winners. Third dam Sky Meadows was also unraced but ended up foaling track-record setting stakes winner Dixie Dot Com.
Hip 68 - Malibu Moon - Miss Moonlight (Broad Brush)
Bay filly consigned by Spendthrift Farm LLC; Warrendale Sales, Agent
The last yearling to highlight in this post is a filly by Malibu Moon. If there was ever a sire being talked about right now, it would most definitely be Malibu Moon, whose biggest triumph this year came through Orb and his Derby win. Malibu Moon, a son of A.P. Indy, has also brought us horses like champion Declan's Moon and Grade 1 winner Life at Ten. This filly is a half-sister to six winners, including stakes winner More Moonlight (More Than Ready). Second dam Sultry Sally was quite the producer, getting five winners herself and becoming the granddam of countless others through her female offspring, including Grade 1 placed Night Patrol. Third dam Graffiti Gal is a half-sister to the dam of champion Blushing John, and she herself is the granddam of Grade 1 contender Lucky Roberto.
Stay tuned for the next three installments!
Sunday, June 9, 2013
June 9, 1973 - A Tremendous Machine Remembered
On this day, 40 years ago, the mighty Secretariat galloped home an easy victor of the Triple Crown. The importance of the 1973 Belmont Stakes cannot be understated. First of all, the colt known as "Big Red" - the same name given to his greatest historical rival, Man O' War, more than 50 years previous - ended a Triple Crown drought that had lasted for 25 years. Not since Citation in 1948 had a horse accomplished the feat of winning those three Classic races, though some had come agonizingly close. Secretariat didn't just win the Belmont, though. He put in a timeless performance that ranks as one of the greatest accomplishments of all time in any sport.
It was clear from the get-go that this chestnut colt was something special. He was a Horse of the Year as a two year-old, which is something rare indeed. Doubt clouded the beginning of his three year-old career when he finished a dull third in the Wood Memorial behind Angle Light and Sham. Rumors floated around Churchill Downs during Derby week - was the champion sound? Would he run up to potential? Secretariat entered the Derby with a lot of question marks.
Jockey Ron Turcotte and Secretariat silenced all naysayers. In the entries for the Derby, he was coupled with Angle Light, and the two enjoyed 3-2 favoritism over the field. Secretariat broke slowly, settling into last place, but slowly began to move past horses on the backstretch. Impressively enough, the chestnut colt never showed any signs of tiring, running each quarter mile split faster and faster. He pulled away convincingly in the stretch to win by 2 1/2 lengths. Sham, his greatest earthly rival, finished second at odds of 5-2. The crowd was stunned as the race time appeared on the toteboard. 1:59 2/5 for ten furlongs! No Derby winner had ever run faster. No Derby winner since has run faster. Secretariat was for real.
In Baltimore, Secretariat broke last again. This time, he wouldn't wait for the backstretch for the lead. Big Red, with a tremendous rush, catapulted past horses on the first turn to take the lead. In a race going a mile and three-sixteenths, this move would undo most horses, tiring them early and leaving them nothing for the stretch drive. Secretariat, however, was not "most horses." He dominated again, leaving his rival, Sham, in the dust. Due to a timer malfunction, there was much dispute about his final time, which was originally listed as 1:54 2/5. However, in June of 2012, after a long and arduous examination of historical tapes, his time was changed to 1:53 flat, giving him the record for the Preakness Stakes as well.
Secretariat was now a national celebrity, appearing on newspapers and magazines around the country. His name was popular conversation in the spring of 1973. His Derby and Preakness wins were among the greatest performances by any American Thoroughbred in history. However, Big Red had not done his best work. The June 9th Belmont Stakes was fast approaching, and racing fans held their breath in anticipation of the first Triple Crown winner since Citation.
Big Red was assigned the #2 post position but would break from the rail, as Knightly Dawn scratched from the race. A huge throng of people had gathered at Belmont Park, excited to see the great champion in the flesh. As the gates opened, Secretariat broke slower than the others, as usual. My Gallant and Twice A Prince rushed toward the lead, as did Sham on the outside. But like a chestnut rocket, Secretariat, with giant strides, was making up ground on his rivals and took the lead going for the turn. His bay rival, Sham, joined him on the lead. Secretariat's connections in the stand must have been more than nervous, for what animal could last a mile and a half at that speed?
They zipped through a quarter in 23 and change. For a sprint, that was reasonable. For the twelve furlong Belmont, that was much too quick for any horse to bear. Sham and Secretariat were inseparable. For a brief moment, Sham pushed his head in front, looking to get the jump on the Derby and Preakness winner. That soon faded as Secretariat fought back. Heads and noses bobbed as they flew down the backstretch. The half went in 46 1/5. One or the other would buckle soon under that hot pace.
You can almost pinpoint the exact moment that Secretariat broke Sham's heart. It's a cliche line to use, but as Secretariat began to pull away from his rival, it is the only thing that comes to mind. Three quarters in 1:09 4/5, and Sham was done. Secretariat's lead increased as the gallant bay Sham fell back. He would eventually finish last, exhausted from the Triple Crown and his battles with Secretariat. My Gallant and Twice a Prince were giving each other quite the battle for second place, but no one was keeping up with Secretariat.
His lead kept increasing. The crowd was amazed - off of that pace, how was Secretariat not being reeled in by a closer or two? Big Red hit a mile in 1:34 1/5, much faster than most milers ran in their entire careers. All of this he did without being pushed by his jockey. He was running completely under his own power. Entering the stretch he was twenty lengths in front. He was all alone.
"He is moving like a tremendous machine!" Chic Anderson called into the microphone. The roar from the crowd was deafening. Aboard the mighty Secretariat, Ron Turcotte caught a glimpse at the toteboard and the fraction times. As they hit a mile and a quarter in 1:59 flat, faster even than the Kentucky Derby, he knew he and his champion had a chance to make history and break a record. He looked back over his shoulder; the horses were mere specks in the distance. He gave Secretariat a few nudges and the colt responded explosively. Secretariat streaked under the wire an easy winner. The cameras panned away and focused on Twice A Prince, coming home in second, many lengths behind.
Turcotte had wanted a record; he must have been shocked at the final time. 2:24 flat. No horse had ever run a mile and a half on dirt that fast. No horse had even come close. Secretariat is the only horse in history to ever have cracked the 2:25 mark for twelve furlongs on dirt. And he did it so easily!
Racing officials eventually determined the margin of victory to be about 31 lengths. That figure is in dispute by some; some say his final margin is more along the lines of Count Fleet's in 1943, which was 25 easy lengths. The margin doesn't matter. Like that performance or Man O' War's 100 length decimation of Hoodwink in the Lawrence Realization Stakes, figures are of no consequence when a horse does it so easily as to almost mock his rivals. Coming back to the winner's circle, Big Red didn't even look tired. He held his head high as they placed the carnations around his neck. Penny Chenery, his owner, was all smiles. His trainer and jockey glowed with satisfaction. Secretariat would be known as one of the all-time greats from then on.
Yesterday's Belmont concluded the Triple Crown season of 2013. The winner and his nearest rivals staggered home in just 2:30 4/5 - nowhere close to Secretariat's track record. Even Easy Goer, who ran the 2nd fastest Belmont ever in 1989, was still two seconds slower than Secretariat. People wondered on that fabled June 9th - would there ever be a Belmont performance to match Big Red's? 40 years later, with Secretariat holding records in all three Triple Crown races, the answer is still a resounding "no."
It was clear from the get-go that this chestnut colt was something special. He was a Horse of the Year as a two year-old, which is something rare indeed. Doubt clouded the beginning of his three year-old career when he finished a dull third in the Wood Memorial behind Angle Light and Sham. Rumors floated around Churchill Downs during Derby week - was the champion sound? Would he run up to potential? Secretariat entered the Derby with a lot of question marks.
Jockey Ron Turcotte and Secretariat silenced all naysayers. In the entries for the Derby, he was coupled with Angle Light, and the two enjoyed 3-2 favoritism over the field. Secretariat broke slowly, settling into last place, but slowly began to move past horses on the backstretch. Impressively enough, the chestnut colt never showed any signs of tiring, running each quarter mile split faster and faster. He pulled away convincingly in the stretch to win by 2 1/2 lengths. Sham, his greatest earthly rival, finished second at odds of 5-2. The crowd was stunned as the race time appeared on the toteboard. 1:59 2/5 for ten furlongs! No Derby winner had ever run faster. No Derby winner since has run faster. Secretariat was for real.
In Baltimore, Secretariat broke last again. This time, he wouldn't wait for the backstretch for the lead. Big Red, with a tremendous rush, catapulted past horses on the first turn to take the lead. In a race going a mile and three-sixteenths, this move would undo most horses, tiring them early and leaving them nothing for the stretch drive. Secretariat, however, was not "most horses." He dominated again, leaving his rival, Sham, in the dust. Due to a timer malfunction, there was much dispute about his final time, which was originally listed as 1:54 2/5. However, in June of 2012, after a long and arduous examination of historical tapes, his time was changed to 1:53 flat, giving him the record for the Preakness Stakes as well.
Secretariat was now a national celebrity, appearing on newspapers and magazines around the country. His name was popular conversation in the spring of 1973. His Derby and Preakness wins were among the greatest performances by any American Thoroughbred in history. However, Big Red had not done his best work. The June 9th Belmont Stakes was fast approaching, and racing fans held their breath in anticipation of the first Triple Crown winner since Citation.
Big Red was assigned the #2 post position but would break from the rail, as Knightly Dawn scratched from the race. A huge throng of people had gathered at Belmont Park, excited to see the great champion in the flesh. As the gates opened, Secretariat broke slower than the others, as usual. My Gallant and Twice A Prince rushed toward the lead, as did Sham on the outside. But like a chestnut rocket, Secretariat, with giant strides, was making up ground on his rivals and took the lead going for the turn. His bay rival, Sham, joined him on the lead. Secretariat's connections in the stand must have been more than nervous, for what animal could last a mile and a half at that speed?
They zipped through a quarter in 23 and change. For a sprint, that was reasonable. For the twelve furlong Belmont, that was much too quick for any horse to bear. Sham and Secretariat were inseparable. For a brief moment, Sham pushed his head in front, looking to get the jump on the Derby and Preakness winner. That soon faded as Secretariat fought back. Heads and noses bobbed as they flew down the backstretch. The half went in 46 1/5. One or the other would buckle soon under that hot pace.
You can almost pinpoint the exact moment that Secretariat broke Sham's heart. It's a cliche line to use, but as Secretariat began to pull away from his rival, it is the only thing that comes to mind. Three quarters in 1:09 4/5, and Sham was done. Secretariat's lead increased as the gallant bay Sham fell back. He would eventually finish last, exhausted from the Triple Crown and his battles with Secretariat. My Gallant and Twice a Prince were giving each other quite the battle for second place, but no one was keeping up with Secretariat.
His lead kept increasing. The crowd was amazed - off of that pace, how was Secretariat not being reeled in by a closer or two? Big Red hit a mile in 1:34 1/5, much faster than most milers ran in their entire careers. All of this he did without being pushed by his jockey. He was running completely under his own power. Entering the stretch he was twenty lengths in front. He was all alone.
"He is moving like a tremendous machine!" Chic Anderson called into the microphone. The roar from the crowd was deafening. Aboard the mighty Secretariat, Ron Turcotte caught a glimpse at the toteboard and the fraction times. As they hit a mile and a quarter in 1:59 flat, faster even than the Kentucky Derby, he knew he and his champion had a chance to make history and break a record. He looked back over his shoulder; the horses were mere specks in the distance. He gave Secretariat a few nudges and the colt responded explosively. Secretariat streaked under the wire an easy winner. The cameras panned away and focused on Twice A Prince, coming home in second, many lengths behind.
Turcotte had wanted a record; he must have been shocked at the final time. 2:24 flat. No horse had ever run a mile and a half on dirt that fast. No horse had even come close. Secretariat is the only horse in history to ever have cracked the 2:25 mark for twelve furlongs on dirt. And he did it so easily!
Racing officials eventually determined the margin of victory to be about 31 lengths. That figure is in dispute by some; some say his final margin is more along the lines of Count Fleet's in 1943, which was 25 easy lengths. The margin doesn't matter. Like that performance or Man O' War's 100 length decimation of Hoodwink in the Lawrence Realization Stakes, figures are of no consequence when a horse does it so easily as to almost mock his rivals. Coming back to the winner's circle, Big Red didn't even look tired. He held his head high as they placed the carnations around his neck. Penny Chenery, his owner, was all smiles. His trainer and jockey glowed with satisfaction. Secretariat would be known as one of the all-time greats from then on.
Yesterday's Belmont concluded the Triple Crown season of 2013. The winner and his nearest rivals staggered home in just 2:30 4/5 - nowhere close to Secretariat's track record. Even Easy Goer, who ran the 2nd fastest Belmont ever in 1989, was still two seconds slower than Secretariat. People wondered on that fabled June 9th - would there ever be a Belmont performance to match Big Red's? 40 years later, with Secretariat holding records in all three Triple Crown races, the answer is still a resounding "no."
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Go the Distance - Belmont 2013
The Belmont is called "The Test of the Champion," and rightly so. Those wide, sweeping turns are daunting enough without the formidable distance of twelve furlongs. In years past, twelve furlongs was a middle distance, a comfortable length for horses to run. As history progresses, however, the distances are getting shorter. Only in turf racing do you see regular twelve furlong races carded, and even then, they are slowly being cut back. A twelve furlong dirt race is a complete anomaly in today's day and age, which is what makes the Belmont Stakes so special - a throwback to a tougher era.
Nowadays, it's not so much as a race of talent as it is a question of who can stagger home first. Sure, some horses relish the mile and a half, despite going on to never run that long again. However, there have been years where sprint-bred horses have waltzed home lazily to call the carnations their own. This is evidenced by the recent final times - for three consecutive years, we've had race times of 2:30 or over. The last time that occurred was in the '40s, when horses were bred to go a little longer and yet a little slower.
So in this Belmont field of 14, who has the best chance of staying the twelve furlongs? It's not all about pedigree - last year, the leggy Union Rags outdistanced his speedy Dixie Union top half to win the Belmont in gritty fashion - but bloodlines play a huge part.
1) Frac Daddy
Ken McPeek stated on Twitter today that his goal was to send Frac Daddy to the front. It is clear by this statement that horsemen don't want another nightmare pace scenario as there was in Baltimore, when Gary Stevens and Oxbow all but stole the race out front. This gray colt will give the Preakness winner some company, but can he last? The first glance at his pedigree is not promising. The Storm Cat line through Hennessy is not exactly one that boasts stamina, and Scat Daddy has sired distance horses, but mostly on turf and synthetic. Although his top half seems rather speedy, Frac Daddy is out of a Skip Away mare. Skip Away finished a strong second to Touch Gold in the Belmont, defeating Derby and Preakness winner Silver Charm. If you look even farther back, he is inbred to Nashua and Damascus, two top-notch Belmont winners. Like Union Rags last year, Frac Daddy has speed on top and a good base of stamina on the bottom. He could stay the distance, if he doesn't burn himself out on the front end.
2) Freedom Child
This son of Malibu Moon splashed home last time out in the Peter Pan Stakes, winning by 13 powerful lengths. That win sparked a buzz in the racing world - could this colt be Orb's greatest competitor in the Belmont? Before the Peter Pan, he was a non-starter in the Wood Memorial. Albertrani has been all but doing rain dances for Freedom Child, who clearly loves the slop. Even if the track is sloppy, will he get the distance? Both Orb and Freedom Child bear the weight of Malibu Moon and his question marks as a distance sire. However, Malibu Moon is by A.P. Indy, a Belmont winner, who in turn was sired by Seattle Slew, another Belmont winner. A.P. Indy not only won the Belmont, he relished the distance, winning in a speedy time of 2:26 1/5. Only Secretariat and Easy Goer went faster. If that confidence boost isn't enough, Freedom Child's damsire is Deputy Minister. The stallion, though a speedster on the racetrack, has instilled stamina in his foals. He is responsible for four Belmont winners as either a sire or damsire, three of them as a damsire. If Freedom Child's Peter Pan win was not a fluke, and it does indeed rain on Satuday, he could be dangerous.
3) Overanalyze
Todd Pletcher's Arkansas Derby winner is set to run a big one after a not-so-good showing in the Derby five weeks ago. He boasts a win at Belmont - the Futurity Stakes of last year - and has been training marvelously up to this race. Like last year's winner Union Rags, this colt is sired by Dixie Union, and that fact alone should give him some play at the windows by people looking for lightning to strike twice. His bottom line is pretty solid as well. He is out of an Unaccounted For mare. Unaccounted For is from the Damascus line; Damascus was sired by Sword Dancer, and both of them are Belmont winners. Overanalyze is also inbred to Gold Digger, the dam of Mr. Prospector, and while she herself never ran at a long distance, her son was responsible for being the tail-male ancestor of 15 Belmont Stakes winners in 31 years. The problem with Overanalyze is his consistency. He wins one, he throws in a clunker. He wins one, he throws in a clunker. If you go by that fact, though, he's set to run a good one on Saturday.
4) Giant Finish
The name Dutrow associated with the Belmont Stakes might leave a bad taste in one's mouth after the debacle that was Big Brown and his performance in the 2008 version of the classic. Luckily, it's not Rick but Tony Dutrow this time, bringing his stakes-placed colt Giant Finish. The chestnut racehorse caused quite a stir during Derby week as a last-minute addition to the field. Despite all that, he finished tenth, beating horses like Verrazano and Goldencents. Now, he returns to his home state as one of the longest shots on the board. Giant Finish is by Frost Giant, a Grade 1 winner at ten furlongs from the Giant's Causeway line - a good source of stamina. It doesn't hurt that he's inbred to two Belmont Stakes winners, Seattle Slew and Secretariat - the latter of which clearly loved twelve furlongs. Sprinkled throughout his female side are good distance horses like Princequillo and Nashua. He may not be the caliber of these horses, but he won't be staggering home.
5) Orb
Shug McGaughey has done a marvelous job keeping this horse in tip-top shape. Even after the Preakness, where he put in a lackluster off-the-board performance, the colt still looks great. At Belmont, in the Janney colors, he will be a popular favorite. He is inbred to Mr. Prospector, as so many of these horses are. Orb is also from the A.P. Indy line, just like Freedom Child. Unbridled, his damsire, is also a strong source of stamina through Fappiano. Orb is from a strong Phipps female family anchored by Shenanigans, the dam of Ruffian. The brilliant dark bay filly, described by some as a "freak," handled Belmont Park's twelve furlong distance with ease in her last win before her death, the Coaching Club American Oaks. What Orb really needs is luck in this race. A clear path to the outside and lack of trouble will be the key to his success. I, myself, believe that he is the best of his crop and that he'll come through with a win at Belmont. The last horse to win both the Derby and the Belmont Stakes was Thunder Gulch in 1995.
6) Incognito
Last time out, Incognito was a distant fifth in the Peter Pan Stakes, won by Freedom Child. Kiaran McLaughlin, who won in 2006 with Jazil, is deciding to take a shot again. This gray colt is one of the most beautifully bred in the field. He is by A.P. Indy, who has already been mentioned for his Belmont prowess. Incognito is out of the beautiful gray Octave, who won the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks when it was still twelve furlongs. Although she was sired by Unbridled's Song, a sire noted to get offspring that can't last through the rigors of a racing career, she had a strong female family rooted in both American and European distance tradition. Names like Caro, Tom Rolfe and Santa Claus are there. In fact, this colt is inbred to Caro, who was a Grade 1 winner at just over ten furlongs. Incognito is also inbred to Bold Ruler, the fleet-footed sire of Secretariat. Incognito has the pedigree to last twelve furlongs, but does he have the class to run twelve furlongs with this crowd?
7) Oxbow
No matter what happened, someone always kept an eye out for Oxbow. Even after he strung together losses in the Rebel, the Arkansas Derby and the Kentucky Derby, there were still those who had faith in him, including his legendary trainer-jockey combination, D. Wayne Lukas and Gary Stevens. On Preakness day, Stevens guided him to an easy lead and an easy victory, holding off all challengers and galloping out by open lengths. It was just a game for the pair at Baltimore, but it won't be so easy this Saturday. If Frac Daddy and Palace Malice push him, can he last the distance? His pedigree was just right for the Derby distance, ten furlongs, but can it get him to twelve? His sire, Awesome Again, was truly awesome at ten furlongs. His offspring have also excelled at ten furlongs. Oxbow's biggest plus, as far as bloodlines go, is Paynter, his brother in blood (both of them being by Awesome Again and out of full sisters to Tiznow). Paynter finished a game second to Union Rags last year after leading the whole way with moderate fractions. If Oxbow can get away with fractions like his blood brother, they may not be able to catch him again. However, I find it highly unlikely that Stevens and his bay colt will get no pressure. Orb isn't the only one with a target on his back this time.
8) Midnight Taboo
Repole has three in this race, including this very lightly raced colt. In three starts, Midnight Taboo has won once and finished second twice, and enters this race after training well at Belmont Park. At first glance, his pedigree looks very good for distance. While his sire, Langfuhr, was a sprinter, he is well known for siring distance horses. He has sired stakes winners that have won or placed at twelve furlongs, including Wando, Jambalaya and Lawyer Ron. Midnight Taboo's bottom half boasts Thunder Gulch, a Belmont Stakes winner who just happens to be his damsire. Also there is Relaunch, a branch of the In Reality line that is known for injecting stamina into bloodlines. While his pedigree looks good for the distance, there are still a lot of question marks surrounding this colt. It seems that his entry into this race is more of a gut reaction than anything, and his 30-1 is well-deserved.
9) Revolutionary
Revolutionary was one of the most popular horses going into the Derby, and his odds remained low throughout the day. He finished a strong third in the race, making his way up the rail. This gritty colt is reminiscent of old warriors of old, as he has overcome tremendous obstacles to win some of his races. That tenacity will do nothing but help him in the Test of the Champion. His sire, the belated War Pass, was a champion two year-old that couldn't hold up to the rigors of a three year-old season. He has a solid female family responsible for racers like Horse of the Year Mineshaft. Revolutionary has six Belmont Stakes winners in the first five generations of his pedigree alone. If there was ever a deserving second choice - Orb is at 3-1; he is at 9-2 - Revolutionary would be it. He's going to be dangerous, especially with Javier Castellano on his back.
10) Will Take Charge
This horse is one of three to run in all three legs of the Triple Crown. The other two are the two classic winners, Orb and Oxbow. D. Wayne Lukas' handsome chestnut colt was well-regarded going into the Derby but wound up finishing up the track. There were people who liked him in the Preakness, as well, but he also put in a lackluster performance. Now he is back to contest the mile and a half Belmont. What is there, if anything, in this colt's pedigree that suggests him going this distance? He is inbred to Fappiano, but, in my opinion, through the wrong strains. His sire, Unbridled's Song, was previously mentioned as a sire whose offspring tend to be rather fragile. The other source of Fappiano in this colt's pedigree is through Rubiano, a champion sprinter. Take Charge Lady, Will Take Charge's dam, was a brilliant racemare but never won at a distance farther than a mile and an eighth, and her sire, Dehere, was a champion two year-old at sprint distances. Will Take Charge is a big colt who has taken a while to grow into himself. Could that be the excuse for his poor performances the last couple of races?
11) Vyjack
Vyjack is back, and, as I found out yesterday, people still back him. To me, Vyjack looks to hit a wall after maybe eight and a half furlongs. In the Wood Memorial, he ran an uninspiring third, but came out of the race with lung problems. In the Derby, he drew the horrendous post 20 and ran poorly, finishing 18th of 19. Now he comes into this race with a new jockey, as Gomez was switched in favor of Julien Leparoux. The mile and a half Belmont, I feel, will not be to his liking. He is by Into Mischief, a quick, sprinting son of router Harlan's Holiday. Into Mischief's other 2013 Derby runner, Goldencents, is being pointed towards the seven furlong King's Bishop Stakes at Saratoga. In his top half, you see names like Icecapade and Clever Trick, brilliant sprinters. His damsire is Stravinsky, a fleet-footed sprinter from Europe who sires good milers. The only distance link really going for Vyjack is a small bit of Princequillo. I don't think this horse wants to go twelve furlongs. He will do much better at races at a mile and a mile and a sixteenth, I think. Now watch him prove me wrong.
12) Palace Malice
Does anyone know whether Palace Malice runs with blinkers this time or not? In the Derby, using the equipment for the first time, he rocketed to the front and set blazing fractions that paved Orb's way to victory. The only horse to finish well sitting off of his brutal pace was Oxbow, who came back to steal the Preakness. Now Palace Malice is back - what's his strategy? Will he keep Frac Daddy - and possibly Oxbow - company on the lead, or will he settle? Because if he can settle, this colt's pedigree is mint for going a distance. Curlin, his sire, gave Rags to Riches all she had in the Belmont and wound up finishing a strong second. His dam's side is even better for going long. His damsire is Royal Anthem, who won the Canadian International over twelve furlongs. Royal Anthem was sired by Theatrical, a two time Breeders' Cup Turf winner. Also seen in this part of the pedigree is Epsom Derby winner Roberto as well as Belmont Stakes winner Damascus. There is twelve furlongs everywhere on Palace Malice's female side, and if there was ever a horse bred for this distance, it would be him. Now we just wait and see if the colt burns himself out, like he did five weeks ago.
13) Unlimited Budget
Girls just wanna have fun, right? Moving past that painful '80s pop reference, Rosie Napravnik aboard the filly Unlimited Budget will be the biggest story on Saturday. They're up against history - Rosie is attempting to become only the second female rider in history to win a Triple Crown race, 20 years after Julie Crone won the Belmont on Colonial Affair. There have been only four fillies to win the Belmont Stakes in its long history, including Rags to Riches, who did it in 2007. Rags to Riches, a half-sister to the previous year's winner, Jazil, had it in her blood to win. Does Unlimited Budget? She is a daughter of Street Sense, a Derby and Travers winner brilliant at middle distance races. This filly is the stallion's highest earner so far. Her female side is an interesting one, with not many familiar names etched into it. Her damsire, Valid Appeal, is from a sireline tracing back to Man O' War. Interestingly enough, there is no inbreeding in the first five generations of her pedigree. Her trainer, Todd Pletcher, also led Rags to Riches to victory, but this filly needs to outstay her largely middle distance pedigree if she wants to play a part in this race.
14) Golden Soul
I can't imagine how proud Charles Fipke must have been to see his longshot homebred Golden Soul come running down the stretch to finish a game second behind Orb in the Derby. The chestnut colt exceeded all expectations that day, and he looks to do so again at much shorter odds of 10-1. Golden Soul has a lot of inbreeding back a few generations, including a few strains of Belmont winner Native Dancer, through blue hen mare Natalma and the speedy juvenile Raise a Native. Despite racing so little and so short, Raise a Native was responsible for many classic winners; he was the grandsire of Belmont Stakes legend Affirmed and the sire of his greatest rival, Alydar. Also inbred in this pedigree is Nasrullah, who sired Belmont Stakes winners Jaipur and Nashua and was the grandsire of Secretariat, and Hail to Reason, who despite a short-lived career sired Epsom Derby winner Roberto, whose bloodlines are known for their toughness. Golden Soul's sire, a handsome bay stallion named Perfect Soul, is by the sensational international sire Sadler's Wells and is also the sire of Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner Perfect Shirl. There is nothing in this colt's pedigree to suggest that he shouldn't get the distance - he should do just fine, and proved five weeks ago that he can hang with this crowd.
Will this year's edition of the Belmont be one for the ages? Or will it again feature glorified sprinters staggering home by sheer luck? Looking at the pedigrees in this field, I can't imagine the second one happening, but you never know. Personally, I'd just like them to crack the 2:30 mark.
Nowadays, it's not so much as a race of talent as it is a question of who can stagger home first. Sure, some horses relish the mile and a half, despite going on to never run that long again. However, there have been years where sprint-bred horses have waltzed home lazily to call the carnations their own. This is evidenced by the recent final times - for three consecutive years, we've had race times of 2:30 or over. The last time that occurred was in the '40s, when horses were bred to go a little longer and yet a little slower.
So in this Belmont field of 14, who has the best chance of staying the twelve furlongs? It's not all about pedigree - last year, the leggy Union Rags outdistanced his speedy Dixie Union top half to win the Belmont in gritty fashion - but bloodlines play a huge part.
1) Frac Daddy
Ken McPeek stated on Twitter today that his goal was to send Frac Daddy to the front. It is clear by this statement that horsemen don't want another nightmare pace scenario as there was in Baltimore, when Gary Stevens and Oxbow all but stole the race out front. This gray colt will give the Preakness winner some company, but can he last? The first glance at his pedigree is not promising. The Storm Cat line through Hennessy is not exactly one that boasts stamina, and Scat Daddy has sired distance horses, but mostly on turf and synthetic. Although his top half seems rather speedy, Frac Daddy is out of a Skip Away mare. Skip Away finished a strong second to Touch Gold in the Belmont, defeating Derby and Preakness winner Silver Charm. If you look even farther back, he is inbred to Nashua and Damascus, two top-notch Belmont winners. Like Union Rags last year, Frac Daddy has speed on top and a good base of stamina on the bottom. He could stay the distance, if he doesn't burn himself out on the front end.
2) Freedom Child
This son of Malibu Moon splashed home last time out in the Peter Pan Stakes, winning by 13 powerful lengths. That win sparked a buzz in the racing world - could this colt be Orb's greatest competitor in the Belmont? Before the Peter Pan, he was a non-starter in the Wood Memorial. Albertrani has been all but doing rain dances for Freedom Child, who clearly loves the slop. Even if the track is sloppy, will he get the distance? Both Orb and Freedom Child bear the weight of Malibu Moon and his question marks as a distance sire. However, Malibu Moon is by A.P. Indy, a Belmont winner, who in turn was sired by Seattle Slew, another Belmont winner. A.P. Indy not only won the Belmont, he relished the distance, winning in a speedy time of 2:26 1/5. Only Secretariat and Easy Goer went faster. If that confidence boost isn't enough, Freedom Child's damsire is Deputy Minister. The stallion, though a speedster on the racetrack, has instilled stamina in his foals. He is responsible for four Belmont winners as either a sire or damsire, three of them as a damsire. If Freedom Child's Peter Pan win was not a fluke, and it does indeed rain on Satuday, he could be dangerous.
3) Overanalyze
Todd Pletcher's Arkansas Derby winner is set to run a big one after a not-so-good showing in the Derby five weeks ago. He boasts a win at Belmont - the Futurity Stakes of last year - and has been training marvelously up to this race. Like last year's winner Union Rags, this colt is sired by Dixie Union, and that fact alone should give him some play at the windows by people looking for lightning to strike twice. His bottom line is pretty solid as well. He is out of an Unaccounted For mare. Unaccounted For is from the Damascus line; Damascus was sired by Sword Dancer, and both of them are Belmont winners. Overanalyze is also inbred to Gold Digger, the dam of Mr. Prospector, and while she herself never ran at a long distance, her son was responsible for being the tail-male ancestor of 15 Belmont Stakes winners in 31 years. The problem with Overanalyze is his consistency. He wins one, he throws in a clunker. He wins one, he throws in a clunker. If you go by that fact, though, he's set to run a good one on Saturday.
4) Giant Finish
The name Dutrow associated with the Belmont Stakes might leave a bad taste in one's mouth after the debacle that was Big Brown and his performance in the 2008 version of the classic. Luckily, it's not Rick but Tony Dutrow this time, bringing his stakes-placed colt Giant Finish. The chestnut racehorse caused quite a stir during Derby week as a last-minute addition to the field. Despite all that, he finished tenth, beating horses like Verrazano and Goldencents. Now, he returns to his home state as one of the longest shots on the board. Giant Finish is by Frost Giant, a Grade 1 winner at ten furlongs from the Giant's Causeway line - a good source of stamina. It doesn't hurt that he's inbred to two Belmont Stakes winners, Seattle Slew and Secretariat - the latter of which clearly loved twelve furlongs. Sprinkled throughout his female side are good distance horses like Princequillo and Nashua. He may not be the caliber of these horses, but he won't be staggering home.
5) Orb
Shug McGaughey has done a marvelous job keeping this horse in tip-top shape. Even after the Preakness, where he put in a lackluster off-the-board performance, the colt still looks great. At Belmont, in the Janney colors, he will be a popular favorite. He is inbred to Mr. Prospector, as so many of these horses are. Orb is also from the A.P. Indy line, just like Freedom Child. Unbridled, his damsire, is also a strong source of stamina through Fappiano. Orb is from a strong Phipps female family anchored by Shenanigans, the dam of Ruffian. The brilliant dark bay filly, described by some as a "freak," handled Belmont Park's twelve furlong distance with ease in her last win before her death, the Coaching Club American Oaks. What Orb really needs is luck in this race. A clear path to the outside and lack of trouble will be the key to his success. I, myself, believe that he is the best of his crop and that he'll come through with a win at Belmont. The last horse to win both the Derby and the Belmont Stakes was Thunder Gulch in 1995.
6) Incognito
Last time out, Incognito was a distant fifth in the Peter Pan Stakes, won by Freedom Child. Kiaran McLaughlin, who won in 2006 with Jazil, is deciding to take a shot again. This gray colt is one of the most beautifully bred in the field. He is by A.P. Indy, who has already been mentioned for his Belmont prowess. Incognito is out of the beautiful gray Octave, who won the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks when it was still twelve furlongs. Although she was sired by Unbridled's Song, a sire noted to get offspring that can't last through the rigors of a racing career, she had a strong female family rooted in both American and European distance tradition. Names like Caro, Tom Rolfe and Santa Claus are there. In fact, this colt is inbred to Caro, who was a Grade 1 winner at just over ten furlongs. Incognito is also inbred to Bold Ruler, the fleet-footed sire of Secretariat. Incognito has the pedigree to last twelve furlongs, but does he have the class to run twelve furlongs with this crowd?
7) Oxbow
No matter what happened, someone always kept an eye out for Oxbow. Even after he strung together losses in the Rebel, the Arkansas Derby and the Kentucky Derby, there were still those who had faith in him, including his legendary trainer-jockey combination, D. Wayne Lukas and Gary Stevens. On Preakness day, Stevens guided him to an easy lead and an easy victory, holding off all challengers and galloping out by open lengths. It was just a game for the pair at Baltimore, but it won't be so easy this Saturday. If Frac Daddy and Palace Malice push him, can he last the distance? His pedigree was just right for the Derby distance, ten furlongs, but can it get him to twelve? His sire, Awesome Again, was truly awesome at ten furlongs. His offspring have also excelled at ten furlongs. Oxbow's biggest plus, as far as bloodlines go, is Paynter, his brother in blood (both of them being by Awesome Again and out of full sisters to Tiznow). Paynter finished a game second to Union Rags last year after leading the whole way with moderate fractions. If Oxbow can get away with fractions like his blood brother, they may not be able to catch him again. However, I find it highly unlikely that Stevens and his bay colt will get no pressure. Orb isn't the only one with a target on his back this time.
8) Midnight Taboo
Repole has three in this race, including this very lightly raced colt. In three starts, Midnight Taboo has won once and finished second twice, and enters this race after training well at Belmont Park. At first glance, his pedigree looks very good for distance. While his sire, Langfuhr, was a sprinter, he is well known for siring distance horses. He has sired stakes winners that have won or placed at twelve furlongs, including Wando, Jambalaya and Lawyer Ron. Midnight Taboo's bottom half boasts Thunder Gulch, a Belmont Stakes winner who just happens to be his damsire. Also there is Relaunch, a branch of the In Reality line that is known for injecting stamina into bloodlines. While his pedigree looks good for the distance, there are still a lot of question marks surrounding this colt. It seems that his entry into this race is more of a gut reaction than anything, and his 30-1 is well-deserved.
9) Revolutionary
Revolutionary was one of the most popular horses going into the Derby, and his odds remained low throughout the day. He finished a strong third in the race, making his way up the rail. This gritty colt is reminiscent of old warriors of old, as he has overcome tremendous obstacles to win some of his races. That tenacity will do nothing but help him in the Test of the Champion. His sire, the belated War Pass, was a champion two year-old that couldn't hold up to the rigors of a three year-old season. He has a solid female family responsible for racers like Horse of the Year Mineshaft. Revolutionary has six Belmont Stakes winners in the first five generations of his pedigree alone. If there was ever a deserving second choice - Orb is at 3-1; he is at 9-2 - Revolutionary would be it. He's going to be dangerous, especially with Javier Castellano on his back.
10) Will Take Charge
This horse is one of three to run in all three legs of the Triple Crown. The other two are the two classic winners, Orb and Oxbow. D. Wayne Lukas' handsome chestnut colt was well-regarded going into the Derby but wound up finishing up the track. There were people who liked him in the Preakness, as well, but he also put in a lackluster performance. Now he is back to contest the mile and a half Belmont. What is there, if anything, in this colt's pedigree that suggests him going this distance? He is inbred to Fappiano, but, in my opinion, through the wrong strains. His sire, Unbridled's Song, was previously mentioned as a sire whose offspring tend to be rather fragile. The other source of Fappiano in this colt's pedigree is through Rubiano, a champion sprinter. Take Charge Lady, Will Take Charge's dam, was a brilliant racemare but never won at a distance farther than a mile and an eighth, and her sire, Dehere, was a champion two year-old at sprint distances. Will Take Charge is a big colt who has taken a while to grow into himself. Could that be the excuse for his poor performances the last couple of races?
11) Vyjack
Vyjack is back, and, as I found out yesterday, people still back him. To me, Vyjack looks to hit a wall after maybe eight and a half furlongs. In the Wood Memorial, he ran an uninspiring third, but came out of the race with lung problems. In the Derby, he drew the horrendous post 20 and ran poorly, finishing 18th of 19. Now he comes into this race with a new jockey, as Gomez was switched in favor of Julien Leparoux. The mile and a half Belmont, I feel, will not be to his liking. He is by Into Mischief, a quick, sprinting son of router Harlan's Holiday. Into Mischief's other 2013 Derby runner, Goldencents, is being pointed towards the seven furlong King's Bishop Stakes at Saratoga. In his top half, you see names like Icecapade and Clever Trick, brilliant sprinters. His damsire is Stravinsky, a fleet-footed sprinter from Europe who sires good milers. The only distance link really going for Vyjack is a small bit of Princequillo. I don't think this horse wants to go twelve furlongs. He will do much better at races at a mile and a mile and a sixteenth, I think. Now watch him prove me wrong.
12) Palace Malice
Does anyone know whether Palace Malice runs with blinkers this time or not? In the Derby, using the equipment for the first time, he rocketed to the front and set blazing fractions that paved Orb's way to victory. The only horse to finish well sitting off of his brutal pace was Oxbow, who came back to steal the Preakness. Now Palace Malice is back - what's his strategy? Will he keep Frac Daddy - and possibly Oxbow - company on the lead, or will he settle? Because if he can settle, this colt's pedigree is mint for going a distance. Curlin, his sire, gave Rags to Riches all she had in the Belmont and wound up finishing a strong second. His dam's side is even better for going long. His damsire is Royal Anthem, who won the Canadian International over twelve furlongs. Royal Anthem was sired by Theatrical, a two time Breeders' Cup Turf winner. Also seen in this part of the pedigree is Epsom Derby winner Roberto as well as Belmont Stakes winner Damascus. There is twelve furlongs everywhere on Palace Malice's female side, and if there was ever a horse bred for this distance, it would be him. Now we just wait and see if the colt burns himself out, like he did five weeks ago.
13) Unlimited Budget
Girls just wanna have fun, right? Moving past that painful '80s pop reference, Rosie Napravnik aboard the filly Unlimited Budget will be the biggest story on Saturday. They're up against history - Rosie is attempting to become only the second female rider in history to win a Triple Crown race, 20 years after Julie Crone won the Belmont on Colonial Affair. There have been only four fillies to win the Belmont Stakes in its long history, including Rags to Riches, who did it in 2007. Rags to Riches, a half-sister to the previous year's winner, Jazil, had it in her blood to win. Does Unlimited Budget? She is a daughter of Street Sense, a Derby and Travers winner brilliant at middle distance races. This filly is the stallion's highest earner so far. Her female side is an interesting one, with not many familiar names etched into it. Her damsire, Valid Appeal, is from a sireline tracing back to Man O' War. Interestingly enough, there is no inbreeding in the first five generations of her pedigree. Her trainer, Todd Pletcher, also led Rags to Riches to victory, but this filly needs to outstay her largely middle distance pedigree if she wants to play a part in this race.
14) Golden Soul
I can't imagine how proud Charles Fipke must have been to see his longshot homebred Golden Soul come running down the stretch to finish a game second behind Orb in the Derby. The chestnut colt exceeded all expectations that day, and he looks to do so again at much shorter odds of 10-1. Golden Soul has a lot of inbreeding back a few generations, including a few strains of Belmont winner Native Dancer, through blue hen mare Natalma and the speedy juvenile Raise a Native. Despite racing so little and so short, Raise a Native was responsible for many classic winners; he was the grandsire of Belmont Stakes legend Affirmed and the sire of his greatest rival, Alydar. Also inbred in this pedigree is Nasrullah, who sired Belmont Stakes winners Jaipur and Nashua and was the grandsire of Secretariat, and Hail to Reason, who despite a short-lived career sired Epsom Derby winner Roberto, whose bloodlines are known for their toughness. Golden Soul's sire, a handsome bay stallion named Perfect Soul, is by the sensational international sire Sadler's Wells and is also the sire of Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner Perfect Shirl. There is nothing in this colt's pedigree to suggest that he shouldn't get the distance - he should do just fine, and proved five weeks ago that he can hang with this crowd.
Will this year's edition of the Belmont be one for the ages? Or will it again feature glorified sprinters staggering home by sheer luck? Looking at the pedigrees in this field, I can't imagine the second one happening, but you never know. Personally, I'd just like them to crack the 2:30 mark.
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Galileo - The True Ruler of the World
Yesterday's Epsom Derby was something else, indeed. Dawn Approach was heavily favored; most people thought he could get the trip and there were Triple Crown aspirations in the air. When the gates opened, however, fate dealt its heavy hand. The chestnut son of New Approach tugged and chomped at the bit, begging to run, expending himself. For more than half of the twelve furlong race, the favorite was rank. Finally, his rider allowed him his head and he stormed to the front. His backers crossed their fingers, hoping the Guineas winner could stay the trip after so much trouble. But when Duke of Marengo came back at him, he folded immediately. Dawn Approach faded to the rear of the field; Coolmore's Ruler of the World came on to snatch victory.
Ruler of the World is handsomely bred, a half-brother to Grade 1 winner and Cartier champion Duke of Marmalade. His female family is steeped in American tradition - his third dam, Lassie Dear, sparked a lineage that produced classic winners A.P. Indy, Lemon Drop Kid, and Summer Squall. His pedigree was a lovely mix of bloodlines from both sides of the Atlantic.
The Derby winner's sire is Galileo, but that fact doesn't make Ruler of the World anything special. In fact, eight out of the twelve runners in the Derby were directly related to the sire, and five of them were sired by him. Galileo has indeed become the monarch of Europe, and while his son's name is fitting, it suits the grand stallion much more.
A good sire, for the most part, comes from stellar bloodlines, and Galileo is no exception. His sire is Sadler's Wells, who is to Europe much like what Storm Cat is to America. Besides Galileo, his get includes sires Montjeu, Perfect Soul, and High Chapparal, as well as great stakes winners Powerscourt and Yeats. In America, his son El Prado produced Medaglia D'oro, who is one of the best sires around today. While he is very much a sire of sires, Sadler's Wells has also produced some great fillies, including Salsabil, the 1990 Irish Derby winner. His influence as a broodmare sire is also acutely felt; he's been near the top of broodmare sire lists for years.
That's only half of the puzzle. Galileo's dam, Urban Sea, was an elite racemare. Her biggest victory came in the prestigious Arc de Triomphe, beating the males. She evolved into an excellent broodmare; her name is gold in the breeding industry. She deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as mares like Mumtaz Mahal and La Troienne. Urban Sea is certainly one of the best producers of our time. Besides Galileo, her greatest claim to fame is her son Sea the Stars, a six time Grade 1 winner that has been touted as one of the best in recent years. His first crop of foals is due to race this year. Galileo's half brother, Black Sam Bellamy, was a good racehorse but couldn't produce foals up to the caliber of his famous family. Urban Sea has also produced several daughters, the greatest of which is My Typhoon, a multiple graded stakes winner. She also boasts Grade 1 placed Melikah, who in turned produced stakes winner Masterstroke.
Galileo became a terrific racehorse. He won the Epsom Derby in the second-fastest time in its long history, then went on to win the Irish Derby as well. In the King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, he defeated the great older horse Fantastic Light, but his rival got the better of him at ten furlongs in the Irish Champion Stakes. Nevertheless, Galileo retired as a European three year-old champion, with a very good Timeform rating of 134.
If Galileo as a racehorse was stunning, the horse's stud career has been awe-inspiring. He has become the king of Coolmore's formidable stud operation, which is saying something, considering they boast sires like Danehill Dancer, Fastnet Rock and Giant's Causeway. On their website, they list their sires with short blurbs about their accomplishments. Most give some detail; Galileo's is short, almost laconic, but rings so true - "Probably the best sire in the world."
He was very well supported by his owner, as all of their sires are. He started producing winners right away. Among the members of his first crop are Sixties Icon, a St. Leger winner, and Red Rocks, who traveled to America to win the 2006 Breeders' Cup Turf and to hand the mighty Curlin a defeat in his only turf start in 2008. The results just kept getting better and better for Galileo. Next came Irish Derby winner Soldier of Fortune, and the top-class colt Rip Van Winkle followed. He was becoming one of the most sought-after sires in the world. American Turf Eclipse winner Cape Blanco flew his sire's flag proudly, as did Irish Derby winner Treasure Beach and multiple graded stakes winner Nathaniel.
The horse who really set Galileo's name in stone forever, though, was Frankel. The compact bay colt captured the imaginations of millions of people, winning races with such brilliance and ease. He could do anything. His most famous race will always remain the 2000 Guineas, where he rocketed to the front and took the lead by many lengths, easily batting away the closers to remain on top. Most of Frankel's successes came at a mile, but at ten furlongs, he handed St. Nicholas Abbey and Cirrus Des Aigles defeats. Those two names ring familiar as two of the best horses in the world, and he handled them easily. Frankel, who now stands at stud, was a monster. A horse of his caliber won't be seen again for a very long time. The champion colt, who was assigned history's highest Timeform rating of 147, not only etched his name into history books but his proven sire's name as well.
Galileo's fee is listed as private, but you're sure to pay a huge price if you want to breed to the elite stallion. Still, his name is popping up everywhere in Europe's pedigrees, not only as a sire, but as a grandsire and a broodmare sire. His son New Approach, as previously mentioned, produced this year's 2000 Guineas winner Dawn Approach as well as a handful of other nice stakes winners, including the Oaks winner, Talent. Galileo has become the most influential sire on a continent known for good breeding. That lineage is spreading - Cape Blanco stands in the United States, and there's even a son of Galileo standing in China.
When Ruler of the World crossed the finish line ahead of Libertarian and Galileo Rock, many astute eyes did not fail to notice the similarities there. Ruler of the World and Galileo Rock - sired by Galileo. Libertarian and the failed favorite Dawn Approach - grandsons of Galileo. Even Chopin, the first German horse to compete in an Epsom Derby, was out of a mare by Galileo. This year's Epsom Derby not only showcased the best three year-old colts in Europe, it also put on display the extreme success of bloodlines sparked by Galileo, the son of champions.
Ruler of the World is handsomely bred, a half-brother to Grade 1 winner and Cartier champion Duke of Marmalade. His female family is steeped in American tradition - his third dam, Lassie Dear, sparked a lineage that produced classic winners A.P. Indy, Lemon Drop Kid, and Summer Squall. His pedigree was a lovely mix of bloodlines from both sides of the Atlantic.
The Derby winner's sire is Galileo, but that fact doesn't make Ruler of the World anything special. In fact, eight out of the twelve runners in the Derby were directly related to the sire, and five of them were sired by him. Galileo has indeed become the monarch of Europe, and while his son's name is fitting, it suits the grand stallion much more.
A good sire, for the most part, comes from stellar bloodlines, and Galileo is no exception. His sire is Sadler's Wells, who is to Europe much like what Storm Cat is to America. Besides Galileo, his get includes sires Montjeu, Perfect Soul, and High Chapparal, as well as great stakes winners Powerscourt and Yeats. In America, his son El Prado produced Medaglia D'oro, who is one of the best sires around today. While he is very much a sire of sires, Sadler's Wells has also produced some great fillies, including Salsabil, the 1990 Irish Derby winner. His influence as a broodmare sire is also acutely felt; he's been near the top of broodmare sire lists for years.
That's only half of the puzzle. Galileo's dam, Urban Sea, was an elite racemare. Her biggest victory came in the prestigious Arc de Triomphe, beating the males. She evolved into an excellent broodmare; her name is gold in the breeding industry. She deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as mares like Mumtaz Mahal and La Troienne. Urban Sea is certainly one of the best producers of our time. Besides Galileo, her greatest claim to fame is her son Sea the Stars, a six time Grade 1 winner that has been touted as one of the best in recent years. His first crop of foals is due to race this year. Galileo's half brother, Black Sam Bellamy, was a good racehorse but couldn't produce foals up to the caliber of his famous family. Urban Sea has also produced several daughters, the greatest of which is My Typhoon, a multiple graded stakes winner. She also boasts Grade 1 placed Melikah, who in turned produced stakes winner Masterstroke.
Galileo became a terrific racehorse. He won the Epsom Derby in the second-fastest time in its long history, then went on to win the Irish Derby as well. In the King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, he defeated the great older horse Fantastic Light, but his rival got the better of him at ten furlongs in the Irish Champion Stakes. Nevertheless, Galileo retired as a European three year-old champion, with a very good Timeform rating of 134.
If Galileo as a racehorse was stunning, the horse's stud career has been awe-inspiring. He has become the king of Coolmore's formidable stud operation, which is saying something, considering they boast sires like Danehill Dancer, Fastnet Rock and Giant's Causeway. On their website, they list their sires with short blurbs about their accomplishments. Most give some detail; Galileo's is short, almost laconic, but rings so true - "Probably the best sire in the world."
He was very well supported by his owner, as all of their sires are. He started producing winners right away. Among the members of his first crop are Sixties Icon, a St. Leger winner, and Red Rocks, who traveled to America to win the 2006 Breeders' Cup Turf and to hand the mighty Curlin a defeat in his only turf start in 2008. The results just kept getting better and better for Galileo. Next came Irish Derby winner Soldier of Fortune, and the top-class colt Rip Van Winkle followed. He was becoming one of the most sought-after sires in the world. American Turf Eclipse winner Cape Blanco flew his sire's flag proudly, as did Irish Derby winner Treasure Beach and multiple graded stakes winner Nathaniel.
The horse who really set Galileo's name in stone forever, though, was Frankel. The compact bay colt captured the imaginations of millions of people, winning races with such brilliance and ease. He could do anything. His most famous race will always remain the 2000 Guineas, where he rocketed to the front and took the lead by many lengths, easily batting away the closers to remain on top. Most of Frankel's successes came at a mile, but at ten furlongs, he handed St. Nicholas Abbey and Cirrus Des Aigles defeats. Those two names ring familiar as two of the best horses in the world, and he handled them easily. Frankel, who now stands at stud, was a monster. A horse of his caliber won't be seen again for a very long time. The champion colt, who was assigned history's highest Timeform rating of 147, not only etched his name into history books but his proven sire's name as well.
Galileo's fee is listed as private, but you're sure to pay a huge price if you want to breed to the elite stallion. Still, his name is popping up everywhere in Europe's pedigrees, not only as a sire, but as a grandsire and a broodmare sire. His son New Approach, as previously mentioned, produced this year's 2000 Guineas winner Dawn Approach as well as a handful of other nice stakes winners, including the Oaks winner, Talent. Galileo has become the most influential sire on a continent known for good breeding. That lineage is spreading - Cape Blanco stands in the United States, and there's even a son of Galileo standing in China.
When Ruler of the World crossed the finish line ahead of Libertarian and Galileo Rock, many astute eyes did not fail to notice the similarities there. Ruler of the World and Galileo Rock - sired by Galileo. Libertarian and the failed favorite Dawn Approach - grandsons of Galileo. Even Chopin, the first German horse to compete in an Epsom Derby, was out of a mare by Galileo. This year's Epsom Derby not only showcased the best three year-old colts in Europe, it also put on display the extreme success of bloodlines sparked by Galileo, the son of champions.
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