Hip #1323 ( catalog page, pedigree), a 12-year-old mare named WOODTHRUSH, sells Thurs., Nov. 6, 2008 at the Keeneland November mixed sale |
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Thoroughbred female family: 19-c
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Race record: unplaced in two starts at age 4.
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Produce record: dam of two foals, both runners of 2008, one winner.
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Covering sire: Scat Daddy ( SRO). Entered stud 2008. 2008 stud fee: $30,000. |
Woodthrush is out of the multiple graded-winning mare Barbarika, who was herself the daughter of a stakes winner. That class did not pass on to a third generation, however, as Barbarika can claim only four winners from 13 foals, none breaking into six figure earnings and none earning black type. One of those 13 foals, however, was the unraced Deputy Minister (of course!) mare Sherriff's Deputy, better known as the dam of super-horse Curlin.
Woodthrush is a Woodman half-sister to Sherriff's Deputy. The first and second dams on her catalog page boast an impressive quantity of black type, but her own produce record has been only slightly better than her career as a racehorse. A 2003 filly by the Seattle Slew son Satellite Sun has a few wins to her credit and has placed in low-level allowance company. A 2004 full sister has placed since the Keeneland catalog was printed. Both daughters are still in training.
If you're thinking "BOTH daughters?!? Her last foal was in 2004?," that's right -- Woodthrush's 2004 filly was her most recent foal. In 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008, Woodthrush had "no report" or was not mated.
Woodthrush must've been a nice-looking filly, because she brought $215,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. Her own race record and her stagnant family caused her value to plummet, and she sold in 2001 as a broodmare prospect for only $7,500. The success of Curlin could spark some new interest in this mare, however, and the choice of first-year sire Scat Daddy (SRO) as a mate will likely inspire even further excitement. (The cross earns an A+ from TrueNicks, coincidentally, and is notable for the 5 x 3 x 3 inbreeding to Mr. Prospector.)
An interesting potential cross might be Tenpins (SRO), who is bred on the same Smart Strike (SRO)/Deputy Minister cross as Curlin, and who stands for a hard-to-beat $6,500. It does bring in a 3 x 3 Mr. Prospector inbreeding that I would generally wish to avoid, however.
So, I guess the big question is, do you think this mare is worth a chance? An aunt of Curlin with first and second dams that both earned and produced black type -- versus a poor race career and uninspiring produce record. Who would you send her to -- is she worth a $30,000 stud fee or does she need to prove herself first?
