With his progeny stakes scores now in triple digits, Unbridled's Song is a stalwart of American Thoroughbred breeding. But what of his legacy, asks Avalyn Hunter....
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Stallions just don't have much better days than Tapit did Feb. 2, when three of his progeny rolled home in graded stakes at three different tracks and over two different surfaces. ...
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Pedigree analyst Avalyn Hunter eulogizes departed champion Lord Avie....
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Avalyn Hunter eulogizes deceased stallion Pulpit and reflects on his contribution to North American Thoroughbred breeding....
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Two sons of Dynaformer are part of the equation as the most famous farm in the bluegrass enters a new phase--and looks to restore its legacy in the American classics....
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Historically, soft markets at the middle and lower levels have been warning signs of a lack of stability in the overall market. If you're a player below the top tier, caution is the watchword for 2013....
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Fans, members of the press, and industry professionals eagerly gathered around Barn 2 to snap shots of the second Horse of the Year ever to pass through an auction ring....
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Korea--an international power in Thoroughbred racing and breeding? Well, it hasn't happened yet, but the country's young breeding program has taken its first step toward international competitiveness....
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A rule change in Ontario promises to affect provincial breeders and owners quickly and significantly. With the Thoroughbred industry a topic of American political debate, what can U.S. horsemen learn from our northern counterparts?...
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For years Australian Thoroughbred breeders have welcomed European and American stallions as shuttlers. Recently Lonhro, Choisir, and now Redoute's Choice have returned the visits--and Northern Hemisphere breeding is better for it....
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Avalyn Hunter believes a strong, centralized policing authority is necessary in the Thoroughbred industry--but that the U.S. Congress is the wrong master. Is a federal takeover avertable?...
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The impressive Suburban Handicap (gr. II) victory of Mucho Macho Man on July 7 is in interesting juxtaposition to the pensioning of his grandsire, Holy Bull, which was announced one day later....
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(By Avalyn Hunter) This year's Royal Ascot meeting saw two coronations. One was that of Frankel as possibly the best miler Europe has ever seen--rarefied air indeed when one considers the likes of Brigadier Gerard, Miesque, and Goldikova. The other was that of Black Caviar as not only the world's best sprinter but as a champion whose heart matches her stunning talent, overcoming both injury and an...
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Dynaformer was not a horse that had everything handed to him. While a multiple grade II winner on the track, he started his career in the shadow of two similarly-bred sons of Roberto, both members of his crop, who were both better racers: champion turf male Sunshine Forever and multiple grade I winner Brian's Time. But Dynaformer eclipsed both at stud.... (Avalyn Hunter reflects on Dynaformer's legacy.)...
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Fans of superhorse Zenyatta rallied for the 13-time grade I winner to take home any and all annual honors—even if by proxy. Vertigineux was the runaway winner of last year’s MarketWatch Broodmare of the Year title as fans of her 2010 Horse-of-the-Year daughter flooded the ballot boxes. Will Easter Bunnette, dam of reigning champion Havre de Grace, receive similar support this year? Will the broodmare...
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The American Thoroughbred industry has reached a crossroads. Medication is by no means the only problem facing horse racing, but because of its position in the public eye, it is paramount....
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Three stallion lines dominate the list of potential 2012 Triple Crown candidates. Avalyn Hunter identifies the prospects--and also discusses the one stallion that appears well on his way to becoming universal in the pedigrees of American classic winners....
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What Thoroughbred dam deserves to be Broodmare of the Year?...
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Dynaformer may be getting older but his offspring never lack in talent. MarketWatch intern Lizz Kunz reviews some of the Three Chimneys stallion's recent top-performing runners....
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A special report available from The Blood-Horse MarketWatch identifies which sires have been successful at Breeders' Cup host site Churchill Downs....
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The story of Raven's Pass includes several parallels to Giant's Causeway—certainly a welcome comparison given the latter's current two-year reign atop the general sires list....
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Most observers would agree that we probably don't need to go back to the days when a first-year stallion who looked likely to produce flashy juveniles might serve 200 or more mares at the expense of good but not particularly fashionable sires. But the current contraction has its drawbacks, too....
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As the Irish-bred victor of Belmont's Man o'War Stakes prepares for the Arlington Million as part of his American race campaign, MarketWatch intern Lizz Kunz argues that Cape Blanco is the perfect stallion prospect--for Kentucky....
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Here's last year's Undervalued Sires feature -it's a free PDF download for our blog followers. Read it and then tell us who you think needs to be included on this year's list. Convince us, and we just might include your stallions in the August feature!
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The board of the Breeders' Cup announced its plans to phase out all race-day medication for Breeders' Cup entrants; in truth, this was a move that was badly needed, and probably should have come sooner.
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