Great female family? Check. Up-and-coming sire? Check. Multiple winner? Black type? Available for cheap? Check, check, and check.

The Comparable Index is a tool that helps evaluate how strong a stallion's book of mares is -- either from year to year, or compared to other sires in a given year. It has many applications -- and I include an example of how commercial breeders might benefit with a bit of smart prospecting.

Beyond Perfection was barren three times, slipped three more, and produced one dead foal (along with five less-than-impressive runners) before being booked to Candy Ride in 2005. The resulting grade II winner indicates the trouble was worth it -- but was it a good breeding decision?

Fewer off-the-track fillies are in demand as broodmare prospects in this down economy, and they join the thousands of retired Thoroughbred geldings that need new homes every year. How will the industry fund retirement for all of them?

Once as a grandsire and once as a damsire, the In Reality son Relaunch was represented by impressive graded winners over the Independence Day weekend.

Rahy becomes a pensioner and with his retirement the Thoroughbred breeding industry loses one more source of diversity. (Plus a quick look at the Nasrullah sire line.)