It's not every day that the oppotunity arises to purchase a daughter of the incomparable Personal Ensign. At the Keeneland November sale, though, it happens twice.
Personal Ensign (pedigree) is one of the rare Thoroughbreds about whom the mantle of greatness is unarguable. Her perfect racing career (13-for-13 on the track, including eight grade I wins) was followed by an equally impressive broodmare career (six black-type progeny including three grade I-winning offspring). And it's evident that the family 6-a genes are not weakening over time: granddaughter Storm Flag Flying was a champion 2-year-old filly and earned just shy of $2 million.
Keeneland's 2008 sale boasts the two daughters of Personal Ensign that were non-black type winners. Here are some details:
Hip 138 ( catalog, pedigree), an 8-year-old mare named Possibility, sells on opening day, Monday, Nov. 3.
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Race record: one win from seven starts for $43,278 earnings.
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Produce record: foals in 2006, 2007, and 2008.
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Covering sire: Distorted Humor ( SRO). This is an A++ nick according to TrueNicks.
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Pedigree: A daughter of the top sire A.P. Indy ( SRO). 5 x 5 inbreeding to the super La Troienne-line pedigree influence Glamour. |
Hip 1609 ( catalog, pedigree), a 16-year-old mare named Pennant Champion, sells Friday, Nov. 7, in Book 3, Day 5.
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Race record: twice a winner and five times in the money from seven starts for earnings of $48,070.
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Produce record: five winners from five starters and 10 offspring to date, including foals in 2007 and 2008.
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Coveirng sire: Arch ( SRO).
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Pedigree: By Mr. Prospector; no inbreeding within five generations. |
I'm not surprised to see Possibility mated with Distorted Humor -- the A.P. Indy/Mr. Prospector cross is a popular one because it can produce a powerhouse runner. To continue the pattern, I'd love to see Possibility booked to Seeking the Gold (SRO), bringing in another line of Buckpasser -- which Personal Ensign seems to like.
I'd try something different for Pennant Champion. She's had plenty of opportunity with A.P. Indy and Northern Dancer sire lines, and while the results have often been above average, she has yet to produce a black type runner. For her, I'd try going back to the Mr. P. line -- it hasn't yet been tried with this mare -- through It's No Joke (SRO), a TrueNicks A+ rated matchup that yields Mr. P. 4 x 3, and full siblings Personal Flag and Personal Ensign 3 x 2. (And I think the carried foal by Arch is worth following, as well...).
Share your thoughts: Is Personal Ensign one of your all-time favorites? How do you feel about crossing Mr. Prospector as a sire line and broodmare sire line? Will either of these mares be a bargain this November? And of course, who would you want to breed them to?
