A fun experience has been following the developing 2YOs of newer stallions. My co-worker Marta encouraged me to pick a Stallion with a first crop of two-year-olds coming up in the world. So I took up this suggestion and have found the experience fun and educational.
This task has taught me a lot about how to follow horses in the industry, some naming conventions used and how to follow a horse from beginning, to their maiden debut on the track. Following these horses also allows you to create a bond and develop with the horse, if that is something that interests you. You will start to see how successful the sire will be through the success of his offspring, meaning if you watch the 2YOs win a lot of races, or vice versa, you will see if you should breed with him in the future and you will see how his stud fee changes. It is fun to also examine how the horse is bred to produce specific traits or qualities, for example sprinters or turf prone offspring.
To do this, pick a stallion prospect who will have a crop of 2YOs coming up. Create a document/database (ex. excel, word) to record this information in. I would recommend a Spreadsheet software. You look up all the registered two year olds you can find, try http://www.pedigreequery.com/...we have the luxury of having a nice research database here, so that could be challenging for you. Record all the horses both named and unnamed born in 2006 and type their info into your document. Make sure you record their Dam, so when the 2YOs are named, you can find their dam and type in the name.
When horses are starting to be named, go to a website that hosts a virtual stable. DRF, Equibase and Brisknet have such services. I would keep them separate from any other stables that may have horses you tend to follow regularly. The reason you input their names is so you can be notified by email when they begin to work out and train.
The Sire I chose was Prefect Soul (IRE). Again, partially because of the name, but a nice pedigree with some Irish on the side, since I have some Irish blood in me. Perfect Soul is by Sadler's Wells out of Ball Chairman.
Another reason I chose him was he has had several good races at Keeneland. The races were the Shadwell Keeneland Turf Mile Stakes and the Maker's Mark Mile Stakes, both of which he finished first, he raced the Shadwell Keeneland Turf Mile two different years, only winning one year. His record was 21-7-5-1. Which means of 21 starts he finished 1st seven times, placed 2nd five times and shown 3rd one time. A lifetime earnings of $1,527,764. 9 graded stakes.
He has sold 2 colts in 2008 Auctions with an average of $48,150 thus far
- OBS Feb. Out of Turn on the Charm - $95,000
- not sure about the second auction
Two horses have worked out for him so far as well.
March 3, 2008 he had his first 2YO to workout:
Almost Perfect F CH out of Almost Mystical (1993) at Mercury Equine Center
Dirt for 2 Furlongs, Breezing at 0:25.2 with a Fast track condition.
March 27, 2008 he had his second 2YO to workout:
Perfect Shower C DK B out of Showering (1991) at Payson Park
Dirt for 2 Furlongs, Breezing 0:24.8 with a Fast track condition.
UPDATE May 22, 2008:
I have created a permanent page of information on Perfect Soul for you all to have a single place to go. So whether I post blog updates or not, you can view his information here:
The Perfect Soul Page
Side Note:
Sugar Britches is a half-sister to one of Perfect Soul's 2YOs.
Sugar Britches just raced in a Maiden race at Gulfstream Park. Sugar Britches had started 5 times and finished 3rd once. She has earned $6,460.
Their Dam is Unchecked.
Perfect Unbridal F B 2006 Perfect Soul (IRE) (1998) Unchecked (1998) Unraced
