MarketWatch Blog

Unlikely Double

sgillies — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:15:00 GMT

(By Avalyn Hunter)

The last time Gary Stevens sat on the winner of a classic race, Point Given had taken him to victory in the 2001 Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes (both gr. I). The last time Wayne Lukas had trained a colt of that caliber was in 2000, when Commendable won one of the more forgettable editions of the Belmont. And the last time a horse owned by Calumet won a Triple Crown race? Try 1968, when Forward Pass added a clear victory in the Preakness Stakes to a victory by disqualification in the Kentucky Derby.

Since then, Calumet has passed through an epic fall from grace and a changing of the guard at its helm; the historic farm is now owned by the Calumet Investment Group and is currently leased by businessman Brad Kelley. Gary Stevens retired from the saddle in November 2005 to become a well-known T.V. horse racing commentator as well as an actor, a jockey agent, and a stable owner. And Lukas? He still has the same fire in his heart and the same work ethic, but he hasn't had the same caliber of horses for years; his last horse of championship class was Folklore, the 2-year-old filly champion of 2005. But on May 18, the trio combined for back-to-back graded stakes wins, taking not only the Preakness with Oxbow but the Dixie Handicap (gr. IIT) immediately before it with Skyring. Anyone playing a parlay from Skyring to Oxbow would have been rewarded by $826.56 from an initial $2 bet, underscoring the improbability of the whole scenario.

Purists will argue that Calumet Farm is the same entity as the legendary operation of the mid-20th century in name only, with some truth. For all his unquestioned skills and talent, Gary Stevens is still an aging athlete with uncertain knees; while his sense of pace and his judgment are as keen as ever and his physical fitness would be the envy of many men decades younger, sooner or later wear and tear will end his comeback. And Oxbow still has a way to go to prove himself the equal of some of the champions Lukas trained in his younger days. But for one May afternoon, the years rolled backwards for all three of these racing legends. It may not have been quite the story people hoped for--a potential Triple Crown--but it's a good one nonetheless, and good stories are always a good thing for the sport.

Say Goodbye to Hollywood

sgillies — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:45:00 GMT

(By Avalyn Hunter)

For Hollywood Park, the long goodbye already has begun. While the venerable plant will keep the doors open for its fall meeting, that's it. Seventy-five years of racing history will come to a close when the lights shut down Dec. 22.

The handwriting has been on the wall for some time, of course. When Bay Meadows—owned and operated by the same company—fell to the developers' bulldozers in 2008, it became clear that Hollywood's days were numbered. In an increasingly crowded part of Southern California where land has long been at a premium, the plant is now more valuable for its acreage than for the revenue it can bring in as an operating track. And so the memories of Citation and Noor, Swaps and Round Table, will fade away beneath housing, office space, and asphalt.

Horsemen will adapt—they always have—and other plants in Southern California already have plans to expand racing dates, training facilities, or both. The California breeding industry is not likely to see much impact either, so long as the total number of racing days available stays reasonably stable. But one hopes Hollywood will not be forgotten entirely. Perhaps the monument marking the remains of Native Diver and commemorating his three consecutive victories in the Hollywood Gold Cup could be moved to the new park that is supposed to be part of the development complex, or else to Santa Anita or Del Mar. And perhaps the remains of Landaluce and Great Communicator could be moved, too, rather than simply being paved over and forgotten.

If Hollywood must pass, at least a little of its history should be preserved, to be seen and remembered.

The Company They Keep: Orb's and Jackson Bend's Connections

sgillies — Mon, 06 May 2013 19:35:00 GMT

(By Avalyn Hunter)

Calder Race Course is hundreds of miles from the glamour and glitz of Churchill Downs in May. There are no fancy hats, no celebrities, no swarms of journalists and photographers. Nor are the horses at work glamorous new stars looking for classic glory; they range from untried juveniles to tough old veterans trying to find out if aging legs still have another good race in them. But both tracks, disparate as they are, are blessed with a special group of men and women: those who know in their heart of hearts that, whatever the surroundings, it isn't about the money or the fame at the end of the day. And it isn't about building a reputation on a few races for a quick cash-in at the breeding shed or the sale ring. It's all about the horse: finding out what he wants to do and following where he leads.

Shug McGaughey is one of these old-schoolers, a Kentuckian with Thoroughbreds born in the blood. The owners he trains for, the Phipps and Jenney families, think as he does. They don't rush a horse, nor will they run one where they don't think it belongs or wants to be. Following the horse led to the scratch of Point of Entry from the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (gr. IT) on the undercard of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I); McGaughey didn't feel the rain-slicked turf course would suit the Phipps' grass star and that was that. But in the very next race, the still-improving Orb led his owners and McGaughey right into every American turfman's dream: the Kentucky Derby winner's circle. Never pushed to make a particular race at any stage of his career, the colt is now looking toward the second leg of the Triple Crown with fresh legs and an attitude that says that he enjoys the game as much as his people do.

Fred Brei is another horseman who follows the horse. On the surface, the veteran Florida breeder doesn't seem to have much to do with the people surrounding Orb. A native of Illinois, he does not belong to the elite circles of the Thoroughbred industry in which the Phippses and the Janneys have moved for generations. While he raced on a small scale in the Midwest in the 1970s, he didn't move into the industry full-time until 1997, when he began his breeding operation at Jacks or Better Farm near Ocala. Since then he has been one of the most successful small breeders in Florida, his equine "children" including 2010 champion juvenile filly Awesome Feather and grade I winners Midas Eyes and Jackson Bend.

Jackson Bend was supposed to be standing his first year at Journeyman Stud this season, but a slow recovery from a back injury suffered during an on-track collision with another horse last year at Saratoga prevented his entering service. So back he went to Jacks or Better for rehab. He returned to the track at Calder in March for some light work, mostly as a form of therapy. Or at least that was Brei's plan. The horse, though, seems to have other ideas: he's training strongly, wanting to do more and more. And on May 5, the day after Orb's run to Derby glory, Jackson Bend officially returned to the work tabs, spinning five furlongs in 1:03-2/5.

No one knows yet if Jackson Bend will face the starter again, except perhaps the horse. But Brei is listening, as is trainer Stanley Gold. And they have made it plain that they will follow Jackson Bend wherever he cares to go, whether it's back to the winner's circle or back to the green pastures of retirement. Regardless, they are in good company—and so are Orb and Jackson Bend, two splendid Thoroughbreds who are fortunate enough to have human connections for whom they come first. No horse could ask for more.

RIP Slew City Slew, Ultimate Breed-to-Race Stallion

sgillies — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 18:42:00 GMT

(By Avalyn Hunter)

Calling a horse a "breed-to-race sire" might be damning him with faint praise in the commercial market. But for the small owner-breeder looking for a reliable source of winners, there is no higher praise. In the vocabulary of the latter, a breed-to-race sire represents value for the money invested in a stud fee, promising soundness, honesty, and a good chance of getting a horse able to earn its keep.

Few horses have fit that description better than the late Slew City Slew, who died of old age April 3 at Airdrie Stud. While best known as the sire of the popular and versatile California-based gelding Lava Man—the first horse to win grade I races on dirt, turf, and synthetic surfaces—Slew City Slew was a stallion for Everyman. To date, Slew City Slew has 931 foals of racing age: 581 of those foals are winners and 55 are stakes winners. He could get runners on any surface, out of just about anything. And every now and then, he could come up with a horse with real class—all for a stud fee that peaked at $6,000. In his final season 2011, his advertised fee was just $2,500.

A plain, workmanlike horse with the dark bay or brown coat sported by so many of Seattle Slew's progeny, Slew City Slew was "just plain folks" despite his regal heritage and his own racing talent, which was enough to make him a multiple grade I winner in a career spanning four seasons and 42 starts. As good-natured as he was tough and sound, he was about as trustworthy as a stallion can be around farm visitors and children, making him a valuable ambassador for his breed as well as an asset to it. That's about as much as you can ask of any horse, and it is to be hoped that in his final crops—his 2011 crop numbered 13 and he had at least one foal born in 2012—at least one more runner will emerge who will do the "old man" proud and keep the memory of an honest, hard-knocking racehorse and sire fresh and green.

Cast Your Vote for MarketWatch Broodmare of the Year

sgillies — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 18:00:00 GMT

Competition for MarketWatch Broodmare of the Year is always fierce, and 2012’s contest is no exception. Contenders include the dam of a dual classic winner; the mare that foaled 2012’s Horse of the Year; several producers of last year’s Eclipse champions; the dams of a few multi-millionaires; and even multiple grade I producers.

Easter Bunnette (dam of Havre de Grace) won a year ago and Vertigineux (dam of Zenyatta) in 2011. Both were dams of the reigning Horse of the Year; will voters choose 2012 Horse of the Year Wise Dan’s dam Lisa Danielle in the online poll?

Or perhaps Delta Princess has the edge as the dam of champion older mare Royal Delta—in recent years, after all, the reader survey has rewarded dams of top racemares.

Read the biographies of 2012’s most prominent producers and decide for yourself which one deserves the Broodmare of the Year title. The following pages include 10 profiles, and last year’s nominee Oatsee returns as a contender; her profile is available on the MarketWatch blog. When you’ve determined the mare who’s earned the honor, make sure to vote online.

Profiles this year include:

Arch's Gal Edith, by Eric Mitchell
Arlucea, by Scot T. Gillies
Delta Princess, by Anne Peters
Don't Trick Her, by Avalyn Hunter
Leslie's Lady, by Evan Hammonds
Lisa Danielle, by Debbie Tuska
Memories of Silver, by Alan Porter
Mining My Own, by Christine Wittmer
More Than Pretty, by Ian Tapp
Oatsee, by Ian Tapp
Tizso, by Tom Hall

Please enjoy the broodmare profiles presented in the free report and review the associated data charts. When you have settled on a single mare you believe deserves the leading broodmare award, place your vote below—but be aware, the poll closes April 15.

Download the free report today: MarketWatch Broodmare of the Year

Bargains Open Sport to Potential Owners

sgillies — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 20:10:00 GMT

(By Avalyn Hunter)

In the wake of recent events, it seems as if horse racing is missing a major marketing opportunity. Take Ive Struck a Nerve. While he is off the trail to the spring classics, the former $1,700 weanling is now a grade II winner with more than $300,000 in the bank. And while the price Paul Braverman paid for an interest in the horse following the colt's upset of the Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) hasn't been disclosed, it seems safe to say that it's more than the $82,000 that Matt Bryan shelled out for Ive Struck a Nerve as a 2-year-old in training.

Or take Rose to Gold. A $1,400 yearling, the daughter of Friends Lake is now a multiple grade III winner who has earned $477,889. Another bargain-basement filly, Don't Tell Sophia, has won two listed stakes this spring and earned nearly a quarter-million dollars--a nice return on her original yearling price tag of $1,000. Not to mention that both fillies have now appreciated in value as broodmare prospects.

Not every inexpensive youngster is going to turn out this well, of course. But that isn't the point. The selling point is that Thoroughbred racing is a sport in which people with relatively modest bankrolls can enjoy the fun of having their own sports franchise with at least some chance of recouping part or all of their investment. Want a minor league baseball or hockey team? That'll set you back at least $250,000 for the franchise fee alone, not to mention ongoing expenses like player salaries, stadium rentals, and so forth. Want a race car? Depending on the level at which you want to race, you can get involved for as little as a few thousand, but if you want to play with the big boys, count on dropping a million or more on your racing team and equipment. Compare this to Thoroughbred racing, where about $25,000 can keep a horse in training for a year, and it's easy enough to see that you don't have to be a millionaire to be part of the "Sport of Kings."

Of course, more than marketing is needed to draw new owners into the sport. Even the least business-minded owner wants to have fun in return for the money--and that means having a pleasant experience while watching his or her horse race. Owners who are treated as necessary evils by tracks and trainers aren't likely to stick around long; neither are those whose horses aren't kept sound enough to race with reasonable frequency. But if racing wants to keep bringing in new blood at all levels of the game, touting the fact that there are bargains to be had for the clever and the lucky isn't a bad way to go.

Free Download: Sires With First Runners in 2013

sgillies — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 01:00:00 GMT

A few surprises might greet you when you read through MarketWatch's 2013 renewal of Freshman Sires to Watch. In this year's preview of first-crop sires of 2-year-olds, Alan Porter offers a strong argument for Pioneerof the Nile and Zensational; Avalyn Hunter likes Colonel John (and finds a few more reasons to support Pioneerof the Nile); and the MarketWatch editors throw Cowboy Cal into the mix. Download the free report, read our full list of predictions for 2013's freshman superstars, and then share your own analysis in the comments section.

What Will Be Unbridled's Song's Legacy After 100th Stakes Winner?

sgillies — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 16:30:00 GMT

(By Avalyn Hunter)

Unbridled's Song has been one of the more polarizing horses of recent years. A horse whose racing career flashed remarkable ability yet never quite delivered on the promise of greatness, his stud career has followed something of the same pattern. He has been a good sire of stakes winners and sales horses, yet has often been criticized--justly or unjustly--as a source of unsoundness. And while he has 15 grade I winners to his credit, including champion Midshipman, none have had that transcendent spark that sets the legends apart.

Whether he has finally gotten a horse with that spark in Graydar, his 100th stakes winner, is yet to be seen, but he certainly hit the century mark with a flourish. Allowed to cruise unmolested on the lead, the lightly weighted Graydar proved to have plenty left in the stretch when the late runners launched their bids, and galloped home in the Donn Handicap (gr. I) in just his fourth lifetime start. He is now 3-for-4 lifetime and would seem to have plenty of potential for greater things.

The next several years will be pivotal in determining the long-range influence Unbridled's Song will have on the breed. He has no fewer than eight sons among this year's freshman sires, including the brilliant sprinter Zensational; multiple grade I winner Thorn Song will be a freshman sire of 2014, albeit with a small initial crop, as will Midshipman. Given that the earlier sons of Unbridled's Song have not exactly lit the breeding world on fire and that the early crops of grade I winners Political Force (now in Saudi Arabia) and First Defence have yet to show much, Unbridled's Song may well be dependent on his younger sons (and perhaps his multiple grade I-winning grandson Dullahan, by Even the Score) to continue his male line. He may also be dependent on his younger daughters for his name as a broodmare sire, given rather disappointing results in that area so far: The best runner produced by his daughters to date is millionaire Better Than Ever, a multiple highweight in Singapore. Time will tell whether Unbridled's Song becomes an important name in pedigrees or just another talented horse who never quite delivered on his promise.

Tapit's Sophomores Deliver Weekend Hat Trick in Graded Races

sgillies — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 10:45:00 GMT

(By Avalyn Hunter)

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. First, Tapicat sailed home in the Florida Oaks (gr. IIIT) at Tampa Bay Downs, stamping herself as a filly with a future on the grass. Then Flashback romped home in the Bob Lewis Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita, suggesting that the full brother to multiple grade I winner Zazu may be a legitimate candidate for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). Finally, Honorable Dillon capped off the day with a game score in the Hutcheson Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park.

Tapit, of course, doesn't need much introduction. The leading freshman sire of 2008, the son of Pulpit and the Unbridled mare Tap Your Heels was fourth on last year's general sire list and currently occupies the top spot in this year's standings. He has yet to sire the winner of an American classic race, but that is about the only major hole remaining in his resume. He now has 23 graded/group winners to his credit, 10 at the grade I level, and with two grade-I winning sons (Hansen and Tapizar) standing their first seasons in Kentucky this year, he appears to have extended the Seattle Slew/A.P. Indy sire line for at least another generation.

Tapit is a member of the Foggy Note family and so is from the immediate family of the top sire Relaunch; champion sprinter Rubiano, a useful stallion; and the good regional sires Chimes Band and Glitterman. Another member of this family is 2009 champion 3-year-old male Summer Bird, who was sold to Japanese interests after standing just two seasons in Kentucky. His first foals will reach the races in 2014; by the time they complete their 3-year-old seasons in 2015, we will probably have a fairly good idea as to whether the members of his syndicate were smart to take the money while it was there or whether their move was sadly premature.

Lord Avie Rose From Modesty to Prestige

sgillies — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 20:04:00 GMT

(By Avalyn Hunter)

If hope springs eternal in the breast of the small breeder and owner, it's because of horses like Lord Avie. The recently deceased champion cost just $37,000 as a 2-year-old in 1980--the same year for which he was named U.S. champion juvenile male--in part because of a relatively modest pedigree. His sire, the Sir Gaylord horse Lord Gaylord, won just one minor race in six tries. He was a much better stallion than racer, becoming a perennial leader in the Mid-Atlantic region, but Lord Avie would represent the apex of his career. Lord Avie's dam, the Gallant Man mare Avie, already had produced grade II winner Jolly Johu (by Restless Native) and and graded-placed stakes winner Avum (by Umbrella Fella), but she was 15 years old at the time of Lord Avie's birth; he would be her final foal. Avie herself, though a full or half sister to three stakes winners--including the 1963 Alabama Stakes winner Tona (by Nashua)--had won just one of 24 starts. Overall, the pedigree could be characterized as solid but not particularly fashionable.

Lord Avie outran that pedigree with a vengeance. During his championship juvenile season, he was never out of the money in 10 tries, his victories including the Champagne Stakes and the Young America Stakes (both gr. I). The aplomb with which he won these late-season distance events suggested that he was a genuine threat to win a classic race. Injury spoiled that dream, but he did win the Florida Derby (gr. I) and place in both the Haskell Invitational and the Travers (both gr. I) before retiring to stud. His bankroll of $705,977 was more than all six of his elder siblings had earned put together, and more appreciation on his initial price was to come, as the colt was syndicated for $10 million.

While Lord Avie never sired his own equal, he did get some good runners, among them 2007 Canadian champion turf horse Cloudy's Knight, European highweight Ode, and multiple grade I winner Magical Maiden. He gained a reputation as a solid breed-to-race sire while standing at Spendthrift and Lane's End, with some loyalists willing to haul mares across multiple states to get to him. They had reason; he eventually sired 503 winners, 84 of them stakes winners, from 854 named foals before being pensioned in 2002.

Unfortunately, Lord Avie has left neither a good sire son nor a reputation as a major broodmare sire. His best hope for the continuation of his legacy was probably his maternal grandson Lawyer Ron, the champion older male of 2007, but this hope was cut short after Lawyer Ron died from complications of colic surgery after siring just two crops. Nonetheless, Lord Avie compiled a more than honorable record as both a racer and a sire and gave one more proof that with a little luck, even modest players in the Thoroughbred game can reach for the stars.

A.P. Indy Sire Line Loses Leading Heir Pulpit

sgillies — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 14:26:00 GMT

(By Avalyn Hunter)

Claiborne's famed stallion cemetery now has one more tenant. If Pulpit was not the equal of the likes of Nijinsky II, Danzig, and Mr. Prospector as a sire, he nonetheless had an honorable record. Through his son Tapit (currently fourth on the general sire list), he has also succeeded in securing the future of the Seattle Slew/A.P. Indy sire line for another generation and perhaps even establishing his own branch, no small accomplishment in itself. Other sons, most notably Sky Mesa and Stroll, have sired some good runners, and Corinthian is currently seventh on the second-crop sire list.

Somewhat surprisingly given his own beautiful pedigree and the quality of the mares that he saw, Pulpit has not yet made the splash as a broodmare sire that might have been expected. But he has been represented this year as a maternal grandsire by Ashland Stakes (gr. I) winner Karlovy Vary, multiple grade II winner Newsdad, and Canadian grade II winner Imboundtoscore. Given that Pulpit's eldest daughters are only 13, there are bound to be more where those came from.

With two sons of Pulpit (Parading and Stroll) on its roster, Pulpit will not soon be forgotten at Claiborne, nor will the farm be in any hurry to rush out and secure a successor. Nonetheless, his loss will be felt in the months to come. May he rest well in greener pastures than even Kentucky offers.

Classic Hopes in Calumet's Renewal

sgillies — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 16:00:00 GMT

(By Avalyn Hunter)

2012 has been a year of changes for historic Calumet Farm. Sold to the Calumet Investment Group Trust and officially leased to billionaire businessman Brad Kelley, the farm now is revamping its breeding operations. Stallions Ice Box and Cactus Ridge, who both stood at Calumet in 2012 while the farm was still owned by Kennelot Stables (part of the de Kwiatkowski Trust), have moved on, and in their place are two sons of Dynaformer--2010 Emirates Melbourne Cup (Aus-I) winner Americain and stakes winner Lentenor--and the multiple grade II winner Aikenite, by Yes It's True.

Calumet already owns a majority interest in English Channel, like Americain a staying turf runner but one who appears to be defying the American bias against such horses as sires. Currently third on the second-crop sire list behind Hard Spun and Scat Daddy, English Channel's runners include Optimizer, who represented Kelley in the 2012 Triple Crown races.

Optimizer finished up the track in the classics, but he may be a signal as to Kelley's intentions for his breeding program at Calumet. Another may be the acquisition of Americain, who will fall heir to a number of mares purchased specifically to be sent to his sire. These moves do not suggest someone who is looking either for profits in the sale ring or a quick return on investment at the track. What they do suggest is that Kelley is serious about breeding horses that can recapture Calumet's glory days in the mid-20th century. And that means horses with the stamina, soundness, and speed to capture Triple Crown races, the top weight-for-age races, and major handicaps.

Lentenor and Aikenite are also signals that Kelley is willing to think a bit outside the box and perhaps longer-term than most in pursuit of his breeding goals. Neither can be said to have a particularly fashionable pedigree, although Lentenor does have the cachet of being a full brother to 2006 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Barbaro and Aikenite descends from the same family as 1999 dual classic winner Charismatic. But both have speed combined with pedigrees that hold some stamina elements, a good combination for use with more stamina-oriented mares than will suit Americain.

Breeding programs oriented toward the classics and other major races in the range of nine to 12 furlongs usually require serious planning and investment up front and plenty of patience before the desired results start coming in--if they ever do. Kelley appears to be making the investment; it remains to be seen if his planning is as sound as it is daring by conventional standards of wisdom. Here's hoping that his patience will be rewarded.

Do Keeneland November Results Predict Downturn?

sgillies — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 23:31:00 GMT

(By Avalyn Hunter)

Generally speaking, the auction picture in 2012 has been rosier than in 2011, with most sales reporting increases in average and median prices. Keeneland November suffered big drops to both figures, but when the Edward P. Evans and Saud bin Khaled dispersals of 2011--which grossed more than $72.7 million between them--are factored out, the 2012 numbers are quite encouraging for players at the top of the market.

But the news is not so good for everyone, and anyone expecting a continued bull market in the horse world next year, even on a modest level, would be wise to proceed with caution. At the middle and lower levels of the market, returns were not as solid as at the top. On the ninth through 11th days of Keeneland's sale, the median prices were down compared to the same days of last year's sale, and while the average for day 11 of the 2012 sale was higher than for the final day of the 2011 sale, this was largely thanks to the sale of Royal Irish Lass for $210,000--the highest price by far brought by any horse during the sale's final three days.

Historically, soft markets at the middle and lower levels have been warning signs of a lack of stability in the overall market. Sales of relatively modest stock don't create headlines, but they have much to say about both the confidence in the future held by smaller owners and breeders and the amount of money such people are able and willing to spend. With the overall economy still shaky at best and the threat of significant tax increases looming for next year, it seems that the owners of most medium- to small-sized Thoroughbred businesses are doing the same thing that other small business owners are doing: playing matters conservatively and waiting for more favorable times before deciding to expand. That means that the market in 2013 is likely to see modest gains at best and may still be quite vulnerable if conditions in the overall economy decline. Let the seller, as well as the buyer, beware.

Experiencing History: Havre de Grace Sells at Fasig-Tipton

sgillies — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 16:37:00 GMT

(By Lizz Kunz)

A large crowd generated buzz Nov. 5 at Fasig-Tipton before the start of the Lexington company’s elite sale, anticipating the appearance of Havre de Grace. She was slated to be the second Horse of the Year ever available for purchase at public auction— and fans, members of the press, and industry professionals eagerly gathered around Barn 2 to snap shots of the beautifully balanced mare.

Havre de Grace had been an amazing racemare, having won against almost every top filly in her four-year career. A winner at 2 and graded winner at 3, the daughter of ill-fated Saint Liam dominated at 4, annexing three grade I contests. In the Beldame Invitational (gr. I) she annihilated a talented field that included two-time Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (gr. I) winner Royal Delta. This impressive score came only three weeks after accomplishing what many thought she couldn’t: matching Rachel Alexandra’s performance against males in the Woodward Stakes (gr. I). Her win in the Woodward defined her not just as a spectacular filly, but as one of the sport’s greats. The colts Havre de Grace defeated were the elite of their division: Flat Out, two-time winner of the Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I); 2012 Monmouth Cup (gr. II) winner Rule; and Ice Box, who finished second to Super Saver in the 2010 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

Havre de Grace was not done making headlines when her retirement was announced. As she paraded around the Fasig-Tipton back ring, onlookers started to gather. The viewing area became so crowded the 2011 Horse of the Year barely had room to show off before entering the auction stage. While bidding quickly hit seven figures, what happened next had everybody in awe. Her price climbed past $5 million, then notched six, seven, eight million. The audience gasped as Havre de Grace’s price soared to $9 million. I know I wasn’t the only one in the room with chills.

After the final bid hit eight figures—$10 million—the crowd was mute as the hammer fell. The mare walked off the stage with the same poise she demonstrated on the track. We all needed a moment to soak in what had just happened. The big girl had made history yet again, and now has the opportunity to bestow the blue in her blood to her offspring.

While Havre de Grace’s dam, Easter Bunnette, didn’t do much on the track, second dam Toll Fee showed the ability to run in graded stakes races and to produce an outstanding race horse as well. Toll Fee earned more than $300,000 on the track and produced two graded-placed offspring. One of them, the Seeking the Gold daughter The Bink, is best known as the dam of multiple grade I winner Riskaverse (by Dynaformer), who earned more than $2.1 million dollars. Another graded-winning The Bink filly won $300,000 on the track, proving Riskaverse wasn’t a fluke: This family passes speed, stamina, and the power to produce through the generations.

The stars aligned to form the mating that produced Havre de Grace. The cross combined a daughter of Carson City—one of the top broodmare sires in the U.S. and sire of the dam of beloved Barbaro—with Saint Liam, 2005 Horse of the Year and winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (gr. I). Saint Liam, whose bloodlines added desirable crosses of Halo and Quiet American into Havre de Grace’s pedigree, stood only one season before his untimely demise—and Havre de Grace was one of 10 stakes winners from the 82 runners of that lone crop.

We hope to see Havre de Grace—the $10 million broodmare prospect—continue her family legacy as a producer of top runners. In the meantime, we will enjoy memories of her as a racehorse during a time when fillies—Zenyatta, Rags to Riches, Rachel Alexandra—took North American Thoroughbred racing by storm.

Seoul Winner Represents Korean Breeding Program in U.S.

sgillies — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 15:45:00 GMT

(By Avalyn Hunter)

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 internationally competitive by producing its first U. S. winner. The historic event took place September 6, when Korean-bred Feel So Good triumphed by seven lengths in the third race at Calder. The race itself was only a maiden claiming event, but it was nonetheless a milestone and one that the Korean Racing Association hopes signals better things to come.

Horse racing in Korea actually dates back to the early 1920s, but in recent years, Korean horsemen have been busily acquiring American stallions, among them grade I winners Vicar, Yankee Victor, Commendable, Volponi, The Groom Is Red, Menifee, Pico Central, Whywhywhy, Officer, Ecton Park, and Peace Rules. While none of these horses were setting the world alight as stallions prior to export, that's still a pretty fair amount of racing talent that has boarded the plane to Seoul. Koreans also have been active buyers of both racing prospects and broodmares, making significant inroads at venues in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.

In their acquisitions, Korea is following in the footsteps of Japan and Turkey, where breeders used imported horses with talent and pedigree to upgrade their own stock. Japanese-bred horses have won grade/group I events in North America, Europe, Australia, Dubai, and Hong Kong, and it looks to be only a matter of time before Turkish-bred horses not only can take on European invaders in the annual racing festival at Istanbul, but will be able to take their form abroad.

A son of the grade III-winning (and grade II King's Bishop Stakes-placed) Cure the Blues horse Ft. Stockton out of U.S. stakes-placed Courting Dreams, by Eastover Court (a Seattle Slew half brother to the good Maryland sire Two Punch), Feels So Good is now headed back to Korea, where he will be sold for further racing in his native land. He isn't likely to be mistaken for a great horse any time soon, but he has provided encouragement to an entire nation's horsemen, and that in itself is no small achievement. And if he encourages Koreans to continue buying American bloodstock, he will have benefited the American Thoroughbred industry as well--not a bad legacy for an "ordinary" maiden winner.

Troubled Times for Ontario's Thoroughbred Industry

sgillies — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 19:09:00 GMT

(By Avalyn Hunter)

While this year's Fasig-Tipton yearling sale at Saratoga was down somewhat, optimism is still widespread in the 2012 yearling market thanks to solid performances at regional sales. From Minnesota to Florida, average and median prices for young horses have been either holding steady or gaining over 2011 standards. But before concluding that recovery is complete in the Thoroughbred industry, a sobering look needs to be taken north of the border, where Ontario horsemen are providing an unwilling object lesson on just how fragile and unpredictable the Thoroughbred marketplace can be. Ontario horsemen's situation is a warning on how fast a single legislative decision can knock the props out from under a region's breeders and owners.

The issue, of course, is the Slots at Racetracks Program (SARP) for Ontario racing, which was removed by the provincial legislature effective March 31; the removal was upheld by a review panel in findings released August 24. The latter decision has been devastating to Ontario's horsemen, many of whom had their hopes pinned on a reprieve. And no wonder: SARP was funding 64% of purses in the province. For those few owners and breeders with programs capable of competing on the international stage in the sale ring and at the track, the loss of SARP revenue is unwelcome but not insurmountable. But for the smaller owners and breeders whose profitability depended on the generous purse structure at Woodbine--in 2010, the third highest for any state or province in North America after New Jersey and Kentucky--the loss is catastrophic.

Ironically, the inflow of money from SARP has had only modest benefits on the market for Ontario-bred yearlings, as SARP funds were not restricted to or even primarily used for races for Ontario-breds or Ontario breeders' awards. But the inevitable reduction in the Ontario purse structure following the end of SARP is likely to have a backlash at the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society's Canadian-bred yearling sale next month at Woodbine. And Ontario breeders are now looking at their mares in foal and their weanlings of this year and wondering if there will be any chance at all to recoup their investments, much less make a profit; some are already deciding that they will be unable to remain in business. In an economy still more fragile than many people acknowledge, even a relatively small reduction in yearling sale prices, coupled with a likely shrinkage in racing opportunities, may well send the Ontario breeding industry into a downward spiral from which it will not soon recover.

As the industry struggles with primary concerns, secondary effects also are predictable. Loss of value in racing and breeding stock likely will increase the strain on already overburdened rescue and rehoming operations, for example.

To its credit, the provincial government has recognized that Ontario horsemen will need help if the core of Canada's breeding and racing industry is to remain viable, though the review panel noted that the $50 million allocated for the purpose over the next three years is insufficient for the need. But the lesson here for U. S. horsemen is not a critique of Ontario's actions for good or ill; that is between the province's government and its voters. The warning for American owners and breeders is that regional markets depending on slots or other forms of revenue authorized by state governments are equally vulnerable to shifts in politics and can reverse upward trends at any time. Optimism may be in the air, but those who temper it with a healthy dose of caution and an eye on activities in their states' legislatures may be showing the better part of wisdom.

Australia Sends Shuttle Stallions North

sgillies — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 18:35:00 GMT

(By Avalyn Hunter)

Calling it a trend might be premature, but Australia may be on the verge of reversing the shuttle sire market that for years had the island nation receiving visiting sires from North America and Europe. This year, we were treated to Lonhro being sent to Kentucky, courtesy of Darley. A group I winner from 1,400 to 2,000 meters (about seven to 10 furlongs) with a blistering turn of foot, Lonhro was the Australian Horse of the Year for the 2003-2004 racing season and was crowned the Australia's leading sire in 2011.

Coolmore had already made a top Aussie horse available to European breeders, having shuttled crack sprinter Choisir between Ireland and Australia. Now leading Australian breeder Arrowfield Stud is getting into the act by sending multiple group I winner Redoute's Choice, the highweighted Australian 3-year-old miler of 1999, to the Aga Khan's stud in France. From a breeding point of view Redoute's Choice offers even more impressive credentials than does Lonhro, having earned Australian sire championships in 2006 and 2010.

Redoute's Choice and Choisir are actually treading a familiar path as they are a son and grandson, respectively, of Danehill, who came to Coolmore Ireland and broke the stranglehold of Sadler's Wells at the top of the European sire list in 2003 after earning nine sire championships in Australia. (He would earn three more sire championships in Europe posthumously.) But both offer an outcross to European breeding through the distaff sides of their pedigrees, which offer top Australian strains not easily found elsewhere in Europe.

As a male-line descendant of Sir Gaylord's son Sir Ivor (whose male line has flourished in Australasia as it has nowhere else in the world) from a New Zealand-based female family, Lonhro is far more exotic in the American market than Redoute's Choice and Choisir are to Europeans. But therein, perhaps, lies the opportunity. Other than a cross of Mr. Prospector at his third generation, Lonhro is free of the predominant strains in North American breeding, making him a potential vehicle for the international outcross beloved by Claiborne Farm's legendary Bull Hancock. (Lonhro himself is a tribute to Hancock's legacy as he carries strains of six Claiborne-based stallions in the first five generations of his pedigree: Not only did Sir Ivor and Mr. Prospector stand at Claiborne, but so did the Argentine champion Forli, who appears in the fourth generation of Lonhro's pedigree; Nasrullah and his son Bold Ruler, along with Round Table, appear in the fifth generation.)

Unfamiliar pedigrees have generally gotten a jaundiced eye in America during the last several decades, but the time may be ripe for an infusion of new blood. We will have a better idea when The Jockey Club's annual report of mares bred comes out as to whether American breeders have been willing to take a chance on Lonhro and the opportunity he represents.

Federal Oversight Threatens Thoroughbred Racing Self-Governance

sgillies — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 20:45:00 GMT

(By Avalyn Hunter)

On July 19, the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA, the parent company of Blood-Horse Publications) announced that 40 owners had pledged not to race any of their juveniles on Salix or other anti-bleeding medications in 2012. Among them were many of the most respected and recognizable names in the business: Ogden Mills Phipps, William S. Farish, George Strawbridge Jr., Adele Dilschneider, Arthur Hancock III, Barry Irwin, and Gretchen and Roy Jackson, to name just some. These are not ignorant people with no regard for the health and well-being of their horses; on the contrary, most have been in the Thoroughbred industry for decades and are deeply concerned about both their animals and the sport they love.

Their action is a step in the right direction. Lax medication rules and the widespread perception that cheating is taken lightly have created a public relations nightmare for Thoroughbred racing. While recent New York Times articles on injury rates and medication use have been rightly criticized for failure to separate Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse statistics and questionable methodology, the fact remains that they are only a very visible indicator of more widespread questions among those even casually acquainted with racing--the very people that racing must attract as new fans if the sport is to remain viable.

Racing must overcome not only the negative publicity it has generated for itself but its addiction to quick fixes and the belief that more is better when it comes to equine medicine. This is not to denigrate the work of equine veterinarians, who are a vital part of the industry and instrumental in treating the illnesses and injuries of equine athletes. But over the past several years, a slow tide of change has been sweeping through human medicine, as reviews of available evidence reveal time and again that many supposedly "preventive" health measures do more harm than good by having healthy people undergo extra tests and procedures for conditions that would probably never have caused them significant harm in the first place--or would have been better handled through lifestyle change. The question must be asked as to whether we are giving our horses the same over-treatment we give ourselves, along with medication as a quick fix for lack of basic fitness, chronic exposure to respiratory iirritants, nagging aches and pains, and other long-term issues that require time and patience (and sometimes some sleuth work) to correct.

Unfortunately, the racing community may be awakening to its danger too late for the best good of the industry, as the threat of federal oversight looms ever closer. While American racing has long needed a centralized authority to oversee racing rules, medication, and discipline of chronic violators, the sport would have been far better served by agreeing to develop such an authority in-house. There is little reason to doubt that Senator Tom Udall (D-New Mexico) and Representative Ed Whitfield (R-Kentucky) have the welfare of horses and racing in mind in proposing legislation providing for federal oversight of medication rules, but it should not have come to the point where politicians rather than horsemen are making those decisions. For politicians serve more than one master, and the master that usually matters most is their perception of public opinion, particularly when election time rolls around. And once horse racing falls under the federal government's controlling hand, it will not easily get free again of what may be an increasingly meddlesome uncle.

On the Fate of the Holy Bull Male Line

sgillies — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 18:30:00 GMT

(By Avalyn Hunter)

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. Though far from a failure, Holy Bull has not been a great sire. But he has been a link back to the past in American breeding, continuing the male line of 1898 Kentucky Derby winner Plaudit.

Like the brilliant Domino, whose male line hangs by the success or failure of Include in getting a successor, Plaudit was sired by Himyar, whose grandsire Eclipse (by Orlando) brought the male line to America with his importation in 1859. (Himyar's seventh-great-grandsire was the sire line founder Eclipse, great-great-grandson of the Darley Arabian.) The leading sire of 1893, Himyar was a very good racehorse in his own right, sharing the juvenile championship of 1877 with Duke of Magenta. He lived to age 30, but while he was a prolific sire by the standards of the day, only Domino and Plaudit among his sons left much lasting mark on breeding.

Domino's male-line descendants wielded considerable influence up through the middle of the 20th century but since then have dwindled steadily. Plaudit's male line, on the other hand, has always had a tenuous existence, with only one outstanding stallion during the first half-century of its existence. This was Rough'n Tumble, who sired one of the all-time greats in Dr. Fager (along with 23 other stakes winners, including champion juvenile filly My Dear Girl, from 209 foals) and became the broodmare sire of In Reality, the modern conduit for the male line of Man o' War.

Dr. Fager, alas, died when only 12. Though he led the American sire list posthumously in 1977, he failed to get a successor, and it fell to Great Above to become the next savior of the Plaudit line. A grandson of Rough'n Tumble through Minnesota Mac out of Dr. Fager's champion half sister Ta Wee (by In Reality's sire Intentionally), Great Above was mostly a good regional sire in Florida. He touched on greatness only twice: when he sired Big Dreams, the dam of two-time champion sprinter Housebuster, and when he sired a striking gray colt out of the Al Hattab mare Sharon Brown. That colt, of course, was Holy Bull, who won 13 of 16 starts before breaking down in the 1995 Donn Handicap (gr. I) and passing the torch to another racing legend in the making, Cigar.

While the brilliance of his 1994 Woodward Stakes (gr. I) victory over the best of the older males then in training earned Holy Bull titles as champion 3-year-old male and Horse of the Year, it was perhaps the 1994 Travers Stakes (gr. I) that was the defining moment of Holy Bull's career. After being pressed through six furlongs in 1:10-3/5 by Commanche Trail, Holy Bull found enough heart and stamina left to stave off the closing run of eventual Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) winner Concern by a neck. To that time, only one horse had ever run the first six furlongs of the Travers faster and still had enough left to win, and that was the incomparable Man o' War.

Holy Bull retired to Jonabell Farm (now Darley at Jonabell) and remained there throughout his stud career. His get acquired a reputation for tending to have minds of their own, but the best, including 2000 champion juvenile male Macho Uno and 2005 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Giacomo, could really run. None, though, were ever quite like their sire. But then, few are.

Now that Holy Bull has passed from the breeding scene, the fate of the Plaudit sire line most likely rests with his grade I-winning sons Macho Uno, Giacomo, and Flashy Bull and with his very quick grandson Harlem Rocker (by Macho Uno), who will be a freshman sire of 2014. (Another grandson, grade I winner Macho Again, was exported to Venezuela.) But Mucho Macho Man's authoritative win in the Suburban suggests that he too may have a role to play. He still needs a grade I win to round out his resume as a prospective stallion--preferably at least two--but with the markedly improved form he has shown so far as a 4-year-old, that may be only a matter of time.

Significance of Royal Ascot

sgillies — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 14:30:00 GMT

(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 ill-judged ride to win. In between, England's premier venue staged a series of completely satisfying races that can only be described as "fit for a Queen."

The whole was a striking contrast to the disappointment surrounding this year's American Triple Crown series, which saw I'll Have Another fall prey to injury the day before he was to have challenged for a place among racing's immortals. But there was another contrast which American racing would do well to pay heed to. Among those who watched the racing at Ascot, there was not one whisper about drugs and their possible role in both performances and injuries--unlike the speculations which surrounded I'll Have Another, trainer Doug O'Neill, and American racing in general all through the Triple Crown--and this in a country where animal welfare and animal rights organizations wield more political clout than in the USA.

In fairness to I'll Have Another and his connections, few serious horsemen appear to think that the results of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands and Preakness (both gr. I) were anything but the best horse seizing victory; likewise, his injury prior to the Belmont was simply one of the unhappy chances that dog horse racing. But public sentiment and the judgments of professional horsemen are two different things, and in the court of public opinion, questions about the role of race-day medications and speculations about whether illicit substances were involved ran rampant both before and after the Belmont Stakes (gr. I). Is it any wonder that in England, racing is flourishing as a popular sport even as it sinks toward irrelevance in the sporting world of North America?

Dynaformer's Huge Presence

sgillies — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:40:00 GMT

(By Avalyn Hunter)

When I saw Dynaformer at Three Chimneys in 2006, my first reaction was "wow." It was not because he was pretty; there have always been plenty of handsomer horses. It was his presence, as massive and
powerful as his body. His was a personality that brooked no rivals. And he had none. At Three Chimneys, better racehorses came and went, but after the departure of Seattle Slew in 2002, Dynaformer was the unquestioned king of the farm.

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, working up from a stud fee of $5,000 (his initial published fee) to the $150,000 he commanded from 2007 onward. And he did so on sheer merit. To date, Dynaformer has sired 130 stakes winners (11% of his foals 3 years old and older), with 25 of them scoring at the grade I level. So far in 2012, he has been represented by Ashland Stakes (gr. I) winner Karlovy Vary, grade II winners Casino Host and Point of Entry, and grade III winner Dynamic Host.

Throughout his career, Dynaformer consistently improved on his mates' produce records. Further, he was a welcome source of bone, soundness, and stamina. His average winning distance for his runners of 8.86 furlongs was the longest for any commercially viable stallion in the North American market, and his runners 3 years old and older have averaged 18 starts each, a figure that will probably rise as his youngest runners finish out their careers. Those runners, by the way, represent 85% of his foals 3 years old and older, and 63% of those foals have been winners. Dynaformer is also the broodmare sire of 78 stakes winners, and that number is sure to continue growing for some time.

Although Three Chimneys still has several solid stallions on the roster, the farm's hopes for a truly top-class sire to replace Dynaformer now rest with Big Brown, whose first juveniles will race this year. But it may be long years before American breeding is graced with another sire who combines the ability to combine class with stamina and soundness as Dynaformer has. Rest in peace, big fellow.

Vote for MarketWatch Broodmare of the Year

sgillies — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:00:00 GMT

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 title go to Oatsee, the only dam of a 2011 American classic winner in consideration? Or will it be Tranquility Lake, who leads all 2011 graded stakes-producing dams by Comparable Index? Those mares and seven others were selected as candidates based on stellar 2011 progeny performances and lifetime achievements.

Read through the 10 broodmare profiles on the following pages. Take a look at the data charts below and on page 13. When you have settled on a single mare you believe deserves the leading broodmare award, place your vote on the MarketWatch Blog. Voting closes April 16, 2012. Results will appear in the April issue.

New profiles this year include:

Magnificient Style, by Alan Porter
Laurel Delight (GB), by Ann Ferland
Tranquility Lake, by Eric Mitchell
Uff-Uff (BRZ), by Avalyn Hunter
Ava Knowsthecode, by Tom Hall
Flying Passage, by Christine Wittmer
Easter Bunnette, by Anne Peters
Oatsee, by Ian Tapp
Teaksberry Road, by Scot T. Gillies
Lady Shirl, by Evan Hammonds

Download the free report today: MarketWatch Broodmare of the Year

What Ails Us

sgillies — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 22:08:00 GMT

(By Avalyn Hunter)

I was talking last week to a new coworker, a nurse practitioner who was once a groom in Kentucky. She loved Thoroughbreds then and still does. But she wants nothing to do with American racing. "A lot of it's the drugs," she said. "They give the stuff to all of them and they don't care whether the horse really needs it or what else might be the problem. Just give them a shot and run them until they drop."

Of course, this is only one person's perception. But when you talk to people outside racing circles, you find out pretty fast that she isn't the only one holding such opinions. In fact, most of the people I work with--primarily well-educated professionals--look askance at horse racing. Sure, the Kentucky Derby's exciting, but ask them to state three things they know about racing, and drugs and breakdowns will usually be two of the three. They can't name the last Derby winner, but they sure can remember Barbaro and "that filly who broke down in the Derby."

It is a cruel irony that Barbaro and Eight Belles suffered their life-ending breakdowns while in the care of Michael Matz and Larry Jones, respectively, two of the best-respected and most genuine horsemen in the game. The problem is that the average person can't tell a Matz or a Jones from those trainers whose names keep coming up in the news in connection with drug positives or other rules violations. What they see is the animal with its broken leg; they hear the outcries about the "abuse" entailed in racing, including the use of drugs; and they make what seems to them to be a logical connection. Is it any wonder that racing finds its fan base slipping away?

That might not matter if fans had no influence on the game, but the fact is that even casual fans are significant. New owners and breeders do not magically sprout up from cabbage patches; unless they belong to families that have been associated with racing for generations, they are people who fell in love with the sport somewhere along the way and started to want more than casual involvement. Fans wager. Fans pay admissions and buy food and drink and souvenirs at the track. Fans who have had positive experiences attract other fans by word of mouth. And fans draw media coverage and the associated advertising, a potential source of revenue which should not be ignored.

Eleven months ago, the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA, the parent company of The Blood-Horse) went on record as supporting the movement to ban race-day medication, going so far as to state that their American Graded Stakes Committee would ban the use of race-day medication in all graded stakes for juveniles in 2012. This was a step in the right direction, not just for reversing the public perception that horse racing is inherently abusive but for strengthening the position of American Thoroughbreds in the international market. Now TOBA has backtracked, citing the lack of concerted action by the various entities governing racing, even though those entities do not control the AGSC.

In response, George Strawbridge and Charlotte Weber, two owners both known for their deep love of their horses as well as their long-term commitment to the sport, have withdrawn from membership in protest; another of the same breed, Arthur Hancock, has publicly criticized TOBA's action as catering to the interests of service providers rather than those of owners. Their voices, and those of others like them, cannot be ignored; they are pointing to an increasing rift between those who place the interests of the horses and the sport on at least an equal basis with their own business interests and those whose interests lie in maintaining the status quo.

In his famous "A House Divided" speech, Abraham Lincoln said in regards to slavery that this nation could not stand, half slave and half free. The American Thoroughbred industry appears to have come to a similar crossroads. Medication is by no means the only problem facing horse racing, but because of its position in the public eye, it must be dealt with. The industry has a choice: it can reshape the public's perceptions by taking actions that speak of integrity, or it can continue a piecemeal approach that speaks primarily of self-interest.

Classic Prep Sire Lines

sgillies — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 19:33:00 GMT

(By Avalyn Hunter)

Regardless of temperatures across the country, it's been a hot 2012 so far for recently pensioned A.P. Indy and his sire line. So far, 14 graded classic preps have been run (effectively 15, since the grade III Southwest Stakes was run in two divisions), and six have fallen to A.P. Indy grandsons or great-grandsons:

Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III): Algorithms, by Bernardini
Withers Stakes (gr. III): Alpha, by Bernardini
Hutcheson Stakes (gr. II): Thunder Moccasin, by A.P. Warrior
Risen Star Stakes (gr. II): El Padrino, by Pulpit
Gotham Stakes (gr. III): Hansen, by Tapit
Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II): Prospective, by Malibu Moon

The next most productive line has been that of Storm Cat, represented by:

Sham Stakes (gr. III): Out of Bounds, by Discreet Cat
Sam F. Davis Stakes (gr. III): Battle Hardened, by Giant's Causeway
El Camino Real Derby (gr. III): Daddy Nose Best, by Scat Daddy
San Felipe Stakes (gr. II): Creative Cause, by Giant's Causeway
Swale Stakes (gr. III): Trinniberg, by Teuflesberg).

Numbers aren't everything, and there is no guarantee that either A.P. Indy or Storm Cat will have a starter in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), let alone a winner. Algorithms and Out of Bounds are already off the Derby trail with injuries, and both Thunder Moccasin and Trinniberg look better suited to sprinting, at least at this stage of the game. But it's nonetheless an interesting comparison. The results look particularly strong for A.P. Indy considering that Storm Cat is nine years his elder, sired more foals (1,452 to 1,189), and has more sons and grandsons at stud.

The Mr. Prospector sire line accounts for four graded preps with:

LeComte Stakes (gr. III): Mr. Bowling, by Istan
Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. II): I'll Have Another, by Flower Alley
Southwest Stakes (gr. III): Castaway, by Street Sense
Southwest Stakes (gr. III): Secret Circle, by Eddington

Mr. Prospector has more than one route to get his genes to the Derby winner's circle, however; thanks to his daughters and those of his sons and grandsons, he appears in the pedigrees of all six of A.P. Indy's representatives as well as the pedigrees of Out of Bounds, Daddy Nose Best, and Trinniberg. Mr. Prospector also appears in the pedigree of current Derby favorite Union Rags through his son Gone West, the colt's broodmare sire, and in fact appears well on his way to becoming universal in the pedigrees of top-class American runners.

Call for Broodmare of the Year Nominations

sgillies — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:00:00 GMT

The editors of The Blood-Horse MarketWatch once again are preparing for our annual Broodmare of the Year special report. We've been poring over our notes about a handful of mares that produced 2011's top runners. (A huge data file that we pull each year also brings to light several dams whose accomplishments are worthy of notice.)

Every year we open the final polling to MarketWatch readers. That comes in mid-March, after the 10 finalists have been identified and profiled in the March issue of our publication. Last year we asked you to get involved in the process earlier by nominating mares to be included on our short list of candidates. It's that time again.

What Thoroughbred dam deserves to be Broodmare of the Year? Here are a few mares whose offspring had stellar campaigns last year--please voice your opinion on them or suggest a mare that didn't make it to this list.

Abbey's Missy
Always Asking
Ava Knowsthecode
Bethany
Candlelightdinner
Catboat
Champagne Glow
Delta Princess
Discreetly Awesome
Easter Bunnette
Executricker
Flying Passage
Foolish Gal
Greyciousness
Honorine (IRE)
Ideal Image
Lady Shirl
Laurel Delight (GB)
Leaping Water (GB)
Lisieux
Lucky One
Magnificient Style
My Miss Storm Cat
Oatsee
Periza (CHI)
Remember the Day
Rhumb Line
Roger's Sue
Rosie's Posy (IRE)
Soignee (GER)
Starinthemeadow
Teaksberry Road
Uff-Uff (BRZ)
Wilshe Amaze
Winning in Style
Worldly Pleasure

Are you new to the MarketWatch Broodmare of the Year contest? Take a look at last year's report--available free!--to see what it's all about.