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Your task is simple: select one of these champion female racehorses as a broodmare prospect, and explain your reasoning in the comments below.

Goldikova has become a poster girl for keeping good racehorses in training. After a multi-championship season and back-to-back Breeders’ Cup Miles, the daughter of outstanding Danzig stallion Anabaa returned to race as a 5-year-old. In her seasonal debut, she dominated the Prix d’Ispahan (gr. I) in record time, looking – somehow – better than ever. Goldikova’s next target is Tuesday’s hot renewal of the Queen Anne Stakes (gr. I) at Royal Ascot. Goldikova will bid for a third Breeders’ Cup Mile this fall at Churchill Downs, the site where her trainer Freddie Head rode Miesque to her second Mile victory in 1988. As a point of consideration, Miesque was a phenomenal broodmare, producing four group winners, including influential stallion Kingmambo (TrueNicks,SRO) and French Highweight East of the Moon.

Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra will make her next appearance against a short field in Saturday’s Fleur de Lis Handicap (gr. II) at Churchill Downs. Two narrow losses to open her 4-year-old campaign have taken some luster off her 2009 crown, but there can be no denying Rachel’s brilliance displayed in her monumental 3-year-old season. She combined speed, stamina, and determination to post two 20-length wins and three grade I victories over males. Rachel Alexandra is a daughter of Medaglia d'Oro (TrueNicks,SRO) and the stakes-winning Roar mare Lotta Kim.

Rags to Riches was racing’s darling of 2007 after she out-gamed eventual Horse of the Year Curlin (TrueNicks,SRO) to win the Belmont Stakes (gr. I). The daughter of A.P. Indy (TrueNicks,SRO) won a total of four grade I events, including the Kentucky Oaks, before injury cut her exciting career short. Retired to the breeding shed, Rags to Riches has a yearling filly by Giant's Causeway (TrueNicks,SRO), a strapping colt foal by Henrythenavigator (TrueNicks,SRO), and was covered this season by Irish-based champion sire Galileo. Top broodmare Better Than Honour, who sold for $14-million at the 2008 Fasig-Tipton November sale, is the dam of Rags to Riches, making her a half sister to 2006 Belmont winner Jazil (TrueNicks,SRO), Peter Pan Stakes (gr. I) winner Casino Drive, and Breeders’ Cup Marathon winner Man of Iron.

Considering Zenyatta’s glowing résumé, it feels unsatisfying to see her running in the Vanity Handicap (gr. I) this weekend instead of what would’ve been a stellar Stephen Foster (gr. I). But we can look forward to the rest of her season, which includes a possible tilt at repeating her thrilling win in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I). On Sunday, Zenyatta will be odds-on to extend her perfect streak to 17-for-17. Unquestionably one of the all-time greats, Zenyatta is an imposing daughter of Street Cry (IRE) (TrueNicks,SRO) and half sister to grade I winner Balance.

Resources to help you manage your broodmare band:

• Broodmare Analysis Report: This research tool allows you to run any 50 stallions of your choosing against your mare. The report ranks the stallions by nick rating and Broodmare Sire Improvement Index. See a sample report for Rachel Alexandra.
• View all the stallions subscribed to TrueNicks to run FREE reports, compliments of the stud farm. All hypothetical reports give the nick rating, 5-cross pedigree, and top 5 best horses bred on the cross.

Filed under: Mares, Broodmare Analysis Report