Curlin as a Stallion Prospect

re: Curlin as a Stallion Prospect

Alfred — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 15:38:17 GMT

I own mare name Biogio's Rose she 13 now- she eanrned over $800,000 on the track, G3 stake winner, & placed in G1- she by Polish Numbers

Danzig Line/Has Northern Dancers in female family. Would she cross good with Curlin?

Scot's reply: Nice mare, Alfred! The Smart Strike/Danzig cross gave us Soaring Free (pedigree), the grade I-winning and multiple-champion Canadian Horse of the Year. His dam had a double of Northern Dancer's sire Nearctic -- including of course one instance of ND himself through Danzig. I personally don't have a problem with Northern Dancer this close (5 x 4 x 4) but others might disagree.

re: Curlin as a Stallion Prospect

paqueenb — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 05:36:49 GMT

How would Rags To Riches work with Smarty Jones or Afleet Alex? I thought of Rags and Smarty early on but I don't know much about breeding.

re: Curlin as a Stallion Prospect

draynay — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:01:46 GMT

Joulialou what a great thought Curlin and Rags To Riches. I'd pay to see those two go at it again. Bet the tussle in the Breeding Shed would be every bit as good as their battle on the track.

re: Curlin as a Stallion Prospect

PCO — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 02:33:54 GMT

mdfanofracing

Thanks for bringing HardSpun into the conversation.

re: Curlin as a Stallion Prospect

mdfanofracing — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:42:12 GMT

Peppers Pride makes an interesting cross when bred to Mineshaft. That nick is based on the same cross that produced Tapit, Bernardini, Great Hunter and Cool Coal Man. It's only rated a B, but she gets an A or A+ when crossed with Orientate, Johannesburg, Sky Mesa and Harlens Holiday. I tried her with Hard Spun to see where that went because he shows the same kind of spirit and determination that she has shown. It rated a D. Too bad. I think he displayed more heart & grit last season then any other horse on the track

re: Curlin as a Stallion Prospect

LDP — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:42:07 GMT

AnneM, i heard it was a knee injury, but i heard nothing about it being career ending. Lawyer Ro had a bone chip coming out of the Derby, then he came back the next year and was a monster. I'm not saying run the horse into the ground, just saying, that maybe instead of say oh they pulled a tendon or oh, the have a hairline fracture, so retire them, give them some time. Some R and R or TLC, bring them back test them out, and see how they go. And again maybe if our sport would start breeding for soundness, and not speed so much things like this would not happen.

re: Curlin as a Stallion Prospect

mdfanofracing — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 02:51:39 GMT

im only an amature but, Zenyatta has an A++ nick with Giants Causeway, A+ with AP indy and an A with Distorted Humor. Those are all very nice choices, don't you think?

re: Curlin as a Stallion Prospect

AnneM — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 02:51:05 GMT

I think Run Away and Hide had a very bad injury that caused his

early retirement.

Pepper's Pride will probably be bred next year -I am just curious if she would be suitable to be bred to Curlin - Her pedigree is not fashionable and sort of a hodge-podge of different lines

re: Curlin as a Stallion Prospect

LDP — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 19:03:08 GMT

If anyone hasn't seen who they just retired you'll learn so in just a minut. First off and this really ticks me off because the horse is only 2! And because he was such a stunning two year old we'll just wisp him off to stud, even though his Derby potential is HUGE!!!!!! Anybody remember Runawayandhide? The colt is unbeaten, and according to the trainer the whole package!!!!!!! Why retire him. If people were really interested in saving the sport and strenghening the breed they wouldn't do sh** like this! I can't believe it. How bout this until people actually do start to care about the sport and not money shut up and don't act like you care, cause actions speak louder than words, and this action is a slap in the face to everyone who does want the sport and breed to recover.

re: Curlin as a Stallion Prospect

wendyg — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 05:21:23 GMT

Just a question, but what about Zenyatta and Curlin?

re: Curlin as a Stallion Prospect

TJluvsTIZS — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 07:06:02 GMT

Scott,

There was a beautiful CH. mare offered today (did not meet the min. of $80K) at Keeneland named Homeward by Giant's Causeway that I believe would be a perfect fit with Curlin. The enick that is as close to Curlin that I could find was that of El Corredor (Mr. Prospector/ Deputy Minister).

The question I have is why would this mare have bred to Scat Daddy? Is the Storm Cat line of 4x3 an upcoming breeding potential? This enicks at an F as it also has Mr. P crossbred 5x3. It doesn't make sense. (It may be the reason why no one wanted to pay more than $80K for this beautiful mare).

re: Curlin as a Stallion Prospect

Gunfighter — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 22:52:32 GMT

By the time Curlin's offspring hit's the track, it will be on synthetic tracks, IMO breeders need to start focusing on turf/synthetic stallions if they want to have a sought after commodity.

Robert, you want stamina look at German breed sires, not US breed, Curlin is only conciderd a middle distance horse outside NA.

re: Curlin as a Stallion Prospect

LanceS — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 20:59:58 GMT

Note to kdd:

Actually Coolmore has sent a number of mares to Bernardini, so they certainly aren't adverse to using Darley sires.

re: Curlin as a Stallion Prospect

Dee — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:38:49 GMT

I dont know much about breeding but what i would love to see is a Curlin / Weekend in Seattle (mambo in seattle's dam - full sister to a.p. indy) cross. Or even Curlin / Dancinginmydreams. BTW why isn't anyone talking about an ideal fantasy breeding curlin to zenyatta ... just a thought ...

Scot's reply: Good question about Zenyatta, Dee. I'll give my own viewpoint but would like to hear others' ideas.

I don't like the Mr. Prospector 3 X 4 in the sire and broodmare sire lines that would result from the Curlin-Zenyatta cross. Lest that should seem inconsistent -- I said earlier in this blog that I *encourage* Deputy Minister 3 x 3! -- I should clarify that specific horses are okay in close inbreedings... others I wouldn't try. Mr. P., especially in the tail-male lines of both sire and dam, isn't my favorite.

re: Curlin as a Stallion Prospect

Printo — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:08:40 GMT

Curlin naturally would greatly benefit from the Northern Dancer line mares as his sires great dam,No Class had great success when mated with Northern Dancer line stallions.

re: Curlin as a Stallion Prospect

NANCY PALMER — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:59:09 GMT

How do you think my mare, Country Oldee by Country Model out of I M O'Hara would do with Curlin - Bold Ruler sire line on top and the great Mill Reef on her dam's side.

Thanks!

Scot's reply: Smart Strike has had several stakes winners with Bold Reasoning mares -- through Capote, Seattle Slew, Fast Play, so in theory, the cross shows promise. I'm guessing Country Oldee's lack of black type would keep her from making Curlin's first few books, though.

re: Curlin as a Stallion Prospect

Kayte — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 03:13:50 GMT

I had already known back when they retired Rags that she probably never be bred to Curlin, as much as it would probably make a very nice foal. Deputy Minister is too close up front and, at least it was my opinion, that breeding her to him wouldn't be such a great idea.

As for Curlin as a stallion in general, I can't wait until his first foals hit the track. He's a versatile horse who is tough as nails and hopefully he will do well and pass that on to his babies.

re: Curlin as a Stallion Prospect

Chching — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 02:27:25 GMT

I would like to see Curlin bred to Ouija Board. Seems like too many people breed for looks, pure speed, etc. and not enough emphasis on soundness, structure, strength and endurance...

re: Curlin as a Stallion Prospect

KatintheHat — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 02:27:15 GMT

Better than Honour to Smart Strike?

Beyond the obvious Deputy Minister damsire, what about the bottom line?

If she were mine. . . :)

re: Curlin as a Stallion Prospect

ashelbie — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 02:23:43 GMT

I would also agree that AP Indy and his sons would cross well with Curlin, when he retires. I also like the idea of mares from Indy's female family and crossing them back to Curlin.

re: Curlin as a Stallion Prospect

ladyreb — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:18:12 GMT

Essentially Coolmore owned Rags to Stret Cry who stands at Darley? Not ever going to happen, lol.

re: Curlin as a Stallion Prospect

kdd — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 23:14:50 GMT

I would have to think he would be lovely with a Danzig-line mare and will cross well with the umpteen milling Storm Cat mares.

For the record, I hear Rags is going to Henrythenavigator next year.

re: Curlin as a Stallion Prospect

ROBERT — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:38:45 GMT

To answer the person who asked about Rags To Riches.....the cross is a good one, but inbreeding to Deputy Minister this close is not my first choice. 3x4 is as close as I would get. Now Smart Strike to Rags is beautiful. Rags To Riches will probably go to Giants Causeway or Street Cry as they are the "now" stallions and with good reason......they are terrific. Curlin has the breeding to be a good stallion, but there is a little question about quality when you introduce Bates Motel and Wise Exchange a little futher back. Hopefully Curlin will be another Top stallion because our breed in in need of some stamina influences and our main stamina sires are aging.

re: Curlin as a Stallion Prospect

Julialou — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:10:20 GMT

I don't have any breeding knowledge, but would Rags to Riches make a suitable cross?

Scot's reply: You bet she would! The Mr. Prospector/Seattle Slew cross has been a great nick, and it's likely to continue to hit with their sons, Smart Strike and A.P. Indy (sires, respectively, of Curlin and Rags to Riches). The specific cross would give Deputy Minister 3 x 3, which in my book is an advantage.