Is This a Broodmare? -- Smoking Kay Has Strong Family, Multiple Wins

re: Is This a Broodmare? -- Smoking Kay Has Strong Family, Multiple Wins

sherpa — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 19:17:32 GMT

Well Scot, I've made a selection for Kay's mate. I set certain criteria: 1)under $10,000 stud fee (which automatically rules out most of the "name" stallions); 2) TrueNicks rating C or better; 3) a reasonably good race record; 4) dosage profile strong on Classic and preferably some Professional as well. Of course, I had to like the looks of him, too. ;-)

Every evening, I opened my BH Stallion Register and tried a few Horses at random in TrueNicks with Kay to find the ones who met my criteria.

And the winner is: Senor Swinger! (El Prado-Smooth Swinger by Kris S)

$4000 s&n. Regal Heir Farm, Grantville, PA.

TN rated B, 1.95 Variant, Dosage profile 2-1-7-2-0 (DI 1.18). Best horses bred on the same cross: Rachel Alexandra, Warrior's Reward, Passion for Gold, etc.

SS was best on Turf, Kay seems to have raced on Dirt, so that gives their pretty gray filly/colt more options.

I'm sure the experienced pedigree folks here are laughing out loud at my choice; nevertheless, I'd like to have their opinions (and yours) of this mating!

re: Is This a Broodmare? -- Smoking Kay Has Strong Family, Multiple Wins

Diane — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 05:10:56 GMT

Hi Scott,

So which stallion would you recc. for her, in the Mid-Atlantic area?

Thanks for your positive opinions... I like her too!

re: Is This a Broodmare? -- Smoking Kay Has Strong Family, Multiple Wins

sherpa — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 03:45:11 GMT

It often amazes me that any horse with a pedigree as fine as Smoking Kay's could be relegated to the claiming ranks. If I owned such a mare and couldn't afford to race her in the company she deserves, I'd probably offer her at any price to a farm with a solid broodmare band, unraced.

Personally, I like the bottom half of her pedigree better than the top, but it's all good.

I look at the pedigree of every horse that catches my attention - iow, LOTS of them, but don't often see the uber-stamina turfer Manila - probably because he was sent to Turkey midway in his stud career. But there he is, 'Kay's second dam's sire. Not to mention *two* daughters of Princequillo at 4x & 5x. I also love to see the grand Damascus/Sword Dancer line here.

Do I think she's a broodmare candidate? IMHO, definitely. Don't even bother to look at her "conformation" picture. It's terrible. You get a better sense of her conformation from the racing picture, though still not good. In any case, she has the genes to pass along (if properly mated) whether she possesses perfect conformation or not. I like her and wish she will find a good owner who will value her appropriately. She's earned it.

Now I'll go to work to find the right stallion for her...

p.s. - good "homework" assignment! Thanks, Scott!

re: Is This a Broodmare? -- Smoking Kay Has Strong Family, Multiple Wins

Perry — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 15:11:57 GMT

Now let me see... Majesty's Crown. 5k Two Punch 4k. Smoke Glacken? Priceless....Kinda wonder if the fella holding the mare could have stood her up a little better?

re: Is This a Broodmare? -- Smoking Kay Has Strong Family, Multiple Wins

Pedigree Shelly — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 01:26:53 GMT

To Karen in Indiana , Hello fellow Hoosier :) I'm blogging from Batesville ! I've seen you're blogs and always wondered where in Indiana you're from ? I'm so happy that Indiana has Slots !! It benefits the Breeders and the Horsemen but , most importantly , The Horse !

re: Is This a Broodmare? -- Smoking Kay Has Strong Family, Multiple Wins

Pedigree Shelly — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 22:27:34 GMT

I love this mare's female line ! Being from the family of Honour and Glory and Ogygian ! Her dosage index is a little high but , that is no problem . I agree with Robert, she would do well with a stallion from the AP Indy line! Stephen Got Even would be an excellent choice ! He seems to sire Classic type horses like First Dude and I Want Revenge for a very reasonable price !

re: Is This a Broodmare? -- Smoking Kay Has Strong Family, Multiple Wins

Terry — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 21:46:12 GMT

There is a mare named Lady Whimsy up for adoption

www.petfinder.com/.../15532546

for $800. She ran 91 times, mostly low-level claimers. She is a gorgeous 13-year-old Northern Dancer granddaughter out of an Alleged mare. Makes you wonder how & why she ended up here. I'd buy one like her ahead of the grey. Durable, good pedigree, gorgeous!

re: Is This a Broodmare? -- Smoking Kay Has Strong Family, Multiple Wins

Springsmom83 — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 21:23:48 GMT

I am not so sure that her neck is really as short as it appears. It looks better in the racing photo, the mane stopping at the halfway point creates an illusion of shortness. She is a little heavy in front, but I like her apparent length of hip and her bone. Congaree and Red Giant look interesting to me, Red Giant especially. I like the infusion of Damascus there. Congaree could also be interesting.

re: Is This a Broodmare? -- Smoking Kay Has Strong Family, Multiple Wins

Elaine — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 20:17:01 GMT

Holy Cow Charmed by Silver!

You want to send a mare that is worth $5,000 to a $75,000 stallion?

So much for investing approximately 1/3 of the mare's value in a stud fee!

re: Is This a Broodmare? -- Smoking Kay Has Strong Family, Multiple Wins

Charmed By Silver — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 18:00:05 GMT

A mare doesnt have to be a shining star to throw a star quality baby. She may not be what a high end breeder would be looking for, not at least until one of her babies is also track proven, but for a breed to race owner - shes worth a shot. She has a good pedigree and if bred to the right sire, perhaps Elusive Quality - she may throw a foal who wants to run. She has a race record that solidifies her durability - and though the races were not all allowance or stakes quality - not every thoroughbred owner can afford the high entry fees to take the mare to that level. Shes a proven race runner with a decent pedigree and with the right cross may throw a race runner.

re: Is This a Broodmare? -- Smoking Kay Has Strong Family, Multiple Wins

Helen — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 16:57:30 GMT

I agree with previous comments about the "conformation" photo not being a fair judge of what this mare looks like and would certainly want to see a better photo or the mare in the flesh to make a better assessment. Would also be nice to see a short video of how she moves over level ground )walk/trot).

Given that was OK, her race record and caliber of races she ran in may have been what her owner(s) had to spend. Not every Thoroughbred owner and breeder has a bottomless bank account on which to enjoy their hobby/business. There are some small (one or two foals a year) breeders out there that enjoy regional success and perhaps one of their "babies" gets noticed by a "big name" trainer or sales agent.

Cnderella horses do happen. Part of the magic of racing.

re: Is This a Broodmare? -- Smoking Kay Has Strong Family, Multiple Wins

Robert — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 16:54:14 GMT

If you could get this mare to Quiet American, I would love the additional crosses back to the female line this mare and Q.A. share. Other than that, I agree her neck seems short so I would be looking for some stretch and a bigger hip. I think she would cross well with His Majesty's line (Pleasant Tap) and even a son of A.P. Indy (Flatter, Stephen Got Even), with Mr P in the broodmare pedigree if possible. You will have to have a set limit on what to spend and this mare might throw some nice foals. I am going on the fact that the picture is a little out of focus and that she is standing at an awkward angle. If she is not, then I would not touch her. Maybe if I got her extremely cheap....less than $2500.00, but otherwise I would stay away.

re: Is This a Broodmare? -- Smoking Kay Has Strong Family, Multiple Wins

Ann in Lexington (aka Pedigree Ann) — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 14:52:47 GMT

The "conformation" picture has her standing in a field, on an angle, with her head sort of canted towards the left. Don't think they hired a pro or anything, or even read something about how to take conformation shots (on level pavement, people). Would certainly want to see her to determine if she is as heavy over the forelegs as she looks here.

That said, a regional program looks best for her.

re: Is This a Broodmare? -- Smoking Kay Has Strong Family, Multiple Wins

Skyler — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 01:04:12 GMT

Hmmm ... Based on the "conformation" photo included here, I'm be wary of this mare. She isn't well balanced, she has a poor shoulder and her necx is woefully short. She doesn't really exude class.

But maybe that's more the fault of the photo than the mare.

Anyway, assuming she was more conformationally appealing, she'd be an intriguing possibility for a breed-to-race owner. Her dam is being bred to excellent stallions, so with luck, one of her half-siblings will hit it big and add some quality black type to the family.

I'd think she'd do best in a good state-bred program. Not that we have one here anymore in California (more's the pity), but if she belonged to me (again, assuming her conformation is better than pictured), I'd send her to Unusual Heat, Benchmark or In Excess.

re: Is This a Broodmare? -- Smoking Kay Has Strong Family, Multiple Wins

Karen in Indiana — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 23:49:29 GMT

At this point, she probably would not be what buyers at an auction like Keeneland would be looking for. But I agree she has potential for someone who wants to breed to race. Unfortunately for Kentucky, it would seem to make sense to look at having the foal be a state bred in Pennsylvania or Indiana. And it would make sense to look in those states for a stallion, even if not wanting a state bred, because you will be able to find lower stud fees for good quality. Albert the Great in Pa. being an example - Ribot sire line, he has proven that he can get some top class offspring & his stud fee is only $3500.

Glad you're back!