Will 2009's running be the first edition of the Breeders' Cup that doesn't introduce a hot stallion prospect to the American Thoroughbred breeding market?

Do you watch for the Breeders' Cup Classic winner to go on to a successful stallion career? The Travers, maybe? Or is it one of the juvenile races that "makes" a stallion for you?

Anak Nakal's Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II) win gives me the opportunity to tie together such disparate topics as inbreeding to Dr. Fager... the re-emergence of a branch of female family #1... Quiet American as a broodmare sire... and Djebel (FR) blood in the modern Thoroughbred.

Archipenko stands out for two reasons, both related to his female family. His dam was old when she produced him, and his granddam is a truly special mare.