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Reader Challenge: Pedigree ID

Written by Ian Tapp | Jul 01, 2010 | 33 Comments

Reader challenge: Identify the following four horses represented by their 3-cross pedigrees. What do they have in common? Leave your guess in the comments section below. Good luck!

We will hold all comments until Monday, July 5, at 11:00am EDT.

UPDATE: Congrats to everyone who correctly identified Macho Uno (TrueNicks,SRO), Twice Over, Triple Bend, and Quadrangle, and noticed the numerical theme on this 4th of July weekend. Special thanks to Ann in Lexington for her excellent, in depth response!

Filed under: Pedigrees and Breeding, Just for Fun

33 Comments:

1. Macho Uno

2. Twice Over

3. Triple Bend

4. Quadrangle

refrain 01 Jul 2010 9:05 PM

1st pedigree-Macho Uno

2nd pedigree-Twice Over (GB)

3rd pedigree-Triple Bend

4th pedigree-Quadrangle

common theme-all won gr.I races

nakayama 01 Jul 2010 9:34 PM

Hey, that was fun !!!! thanx

MACHO UNO - TWICE OVER - TRIPLE BEND - QUADRANGLE

1 - 2- 3- 4

Rommy Faversham 01 Jul 2010 9:48 PM

Couldn't resist a go-

Macho Uno; Twice Over; several possible horses, the best of which are Straight as a Die (I think won the Royal Lodge (g2) in England) or Triple Bend (who might have broken a world record sprinting), the tough mare, Straight, would be another; only one that I can think of, and that would be Quadrangle.

Alan Porter 01 Jul 2010 9:50 PM

Forgot to notice all in common question. Well, each pedigree contains Blue Larkspur and *La Troienne. There are other commonalities as well.

refrain 01 Jul 2010 10:47 PM

Macho Uno, Twice Over, Triple Bend, Quadrangle. (I had a lot of help). All stake winners at 3 and 4?

Crystal C 01 Jul 2010 11:16 PM

1. Macho Uno

2. Twice Over

3. Bending Away, Straight As A Die, Straight

4. Quadrangle, Tehama

It seems the Myrtlewood Cross between Mr P and SS & visa versa is the most used today but what is currently the best cross by percentage or what crosses would be considered A++++ or is there a higher grade?

Maryland 02 Jul 2010 6:36 AM

Several correct responses so far, but don't over-think the common link in with these 4 horses. Hint: it's all in the name.

Ian

Ian Tapp 02 Jul 2010 8:53 AM

Ian,

Must admit, is very neat tie-in-

1-2-3-4.

refrain 02 Jul 2010 10:04 AM

I see Teddy/Ajax in all of these bloodlines.

MyBigRed 02 Jul 2010 10:17 AM

Macho Uno - Twice Over - Triple Bend - Quadrangle

1-2-3-4

Happy Fourth of July

Independence Day 02 Jul 2010 12:23 PM

Macho Uno

Triple Bend

Quadrangle

Numbers in the name? Couldn't get number two and it is painful since I am sure it will seem obvious once I find out.

gracy 02 Jul 2010 2:49 PM

First was pretty simple - Ta Wee's son had to be Great Above, sire of Holy Bull, which led logically to 1) Macho Uno

The second one gave me the most trouble, I guess because he is a Euro. When I started looking at sires with Roberto as a damsire, I found almost all of them were Northern Dancer-line. Finally came across Observatory, figured he had to be the sire. Which led to Twice Over. Interestingly, Observatory's best daughter, African Rose has the same damside stallions upside down - dam by Quest for Fame out of Nijinsky mare. Sure someone else has noticed this by now.

2) Twice Over

Third one had to be sired by either Bold Reason or Never Bend (Staunch Eagle a nonstarter). Fairy Bridge's damsire Forli is Hyperion line, but in 4th generation. Same for J. O. Tobin's damsire Hillary. Go to list of Never Bend's better SWs; aha! Triple Bend's damsire is Gun Bow, in utero import.

3) Triple Bend (I actually got to watch him race, back when I was a newcomer)

Oddly enough, the list of good sires who had La Troienne as a second dam is fairly short. Make Tracks and Immortality were good in Argentina, but unlikely to get mares by sons of Bull Dog. Leaving the old reliable Cohoes, who had only one real headline horse - Quadrangle, from a Bull Lea mare.

4) Quadrangle

1=Uno=one

2=Twice=2 times

3=Triple=3 of a kind

4=Quadrangle=4-sided

Ann in Lexington 02 Jul 2010 4:23 PM

We're getting some great comments -- can't wait to post these on Monday!

Several people have figured out the common theme, and one noticed how it ties in with this particular weekend.

Good job to all!

Ian Tapp 02 Jul 2010 4:49 PM

1-Macho Uno - the easiest

2-Twice Over - most difficult

3-Triple Bend

4-Quadrangle

Very cute - and a fun way to kill some time!

NCBred 02 Jul 2010 4:51 PM

It's all about the numbers, right? Macho Uno, Twice Over, Triple Bend, and Quadrangle? I'm fairly new to the nitty gritty details of racing and breeding, so this puzzle taught me a lot! Thanks!

ruffianruns 02 Jul 2010 9:39 PM

Thank You so much ! I've been waiting for something like this !! I will have my answer soon :)

Pedigree Shelly 02 Jul 2010 11:42 PM

The first pedigree is that of Macho Uno !

Pedigree Shelly 03 Jul 2010 12:04 AM

Ian, I've been going nuts for 2 days and have figured out only one, Macho Uno. The rest may make me try harder, or just beat my head against a wall while pulling out my hair. I now need a nap.

Slew 03 Jul 2010 8:38 PM

Well I'm back. I've figured out the connection between the four is that as in Macho Uno sired by Holy Bull, and Bull Dog was the grandsire of Two Lea...the connection is horses with "bull" in their name since this week in Pamplona is The Running of the Bulls.

Slew 04 Jul 2010 3:25 AM

This is my final take...I took a wrong turn some where. My scalp is bloody from missing hair I already pulled out, my eyes are crossed, and my fingertips have been worn to a nub. I thought the connection was "bull" but I'm getting Triple Bend for #3 and can't find the connection. As for #4, it comes down to Mr Busher as a sire, but then Bull Lea had so many champions I must concede defeat. You got me Ian. (I mean Mr. Prospector and Bull Lea really spread themselves out across todays TB's)

Slew 04 Jul 2010 8:58 AM

1. Macho Uno

2. Twice Over

3. Triple Bend

4. Quadrangle

russf 04 Jul 2010 11:04 PM

Well...that makes me feel quite fuzzy-brained. I guess the bulls won't run...and I had the totally wrong angle. Some days are just too hot to think straight. Thanks for some fun, Ian.

Slew 05 Jul 2010 7:50 AM

Sorry , I know my comment is a little too late but , when your computer has been down for 30+ hours things get a little frustrating :( I came up with Macho Uno fairly quick but,the rest were very tricky ! Congrats to those who succeded ! Is it just my computer or is anyone else having trouble with Equineline.com ????

Pedigree Shelly 05 Jul 2010 3:16 PM

I am really kicking myself right now ! Twice Over is the fifth dam of a filly I once owned !!! Wasted Words

Pedigree Shelly 05 Jul 2010 3:25 PM

Ian,

These puzzles can be fun, but not sure how well it tests pedigree knowledge vs computer/research skills. It would seem a difficult task, but why not try to devise something which negates the latter.

Alan's reply would almost suggest answers off the top of his head (no use of research-but for use of, perhaps, 5x pedigrees). So tell us Alan, is this inference correct?

refrain 05 Jul 2010 4:24 PM

refrain,

I agree, and I've got a couple ideas to make the next puzzle "computer-proof"...you'll see.

Ian

Ian Tapp 05 Jul 2010 10:17 PM

Refrain: I guarantee I know so little about pedigrees for the most part, it was Google and 5-cross files, and guesses.

Slew 06 Jul 2010 9:35 AM

refrain and Ian - I'm sure it is frustrating for people with true pedigree knowledge to see answers that Google spits out. At the same time, as a fully admitted newbie (see above), Google spit out VERY LITTLE in terms of puzzle answers! I read a lot of wikipedia entries and different articles on sires and mares and I looked at the pedigrees on pedigreequery.com. It took me a long time to solve the puzzle. Twice Over was the hardest for me. Maybe I'm so new that I don't know where to look.

Anyhow, my point: I learned a lot about different lines, terminology, horses, naming patterns, etc., so don't make future puzzles TOO hard for people like me who don't have "hard copy" reference materials and "hard copy" knowledge!

I am so impressed with Alan's response and Ann's response. You both sent me on some additional chases. Thanks!

Maryland called the Mr. P and SS pairing the "Myrtlewood Cross." I found Myrtlewood on Mr. P's dam side, but not on Seven Springs side. Am I missing something? Forgive my ignorance!

Slew, I went down the "bull" road for awhile, too.

Thanks again for the challenge.

ruffianruns 06 Jul 2010 11:26 AM

ruffianruns,

SS = Seattle Slew in that case. Myrtlewood is the 5th dam of Seattle Slew and 4th dam of Mr. Prospector.

Equineline.com has a new pedigree analysis tool that allows you to Query By Position, meaning that you could figure the puzzle out very quickly using this. I'll try to find a balance and make the next puzzle both challenging and possible with or without the Query By Position.

Ian

Ian Tapp 06 Jul 2010 11:40 AM

Ian,

Thanks for explaining SS. I'm sure glad I declared my ignorance before asking that question! So many more questions arise!

I didn't use the new tool you spoke about - so hopefully I came by my answers a little more honestly!

ruffianruns 06 Jul 2010 2:25 PM

Hi Ian,

I was bluffing. I have the Jockey Club Pedigree Analysis program (see at www.equineline.com), so it could find the stakes winners with those patterns in seconds.

I did fill in their backgrounds from memory, which made it sound off the cuff! I'm really impressed by the number of readers who did the hard way.

It does highlight the change in the business since I started in the game. The skill set has changed from memory and knowing which books to look in, to anybody with the right program be able to get the information, and skill set being interpretation.

Ann in Lexington: I noted the reverse connection in Observatory's best two winners in the Euro round up. Well spotted!

Alan Porter 06 Jul 2010 9:45 PM

Alan!

I'm devastated!

ruffianruns 07 Jul 2010 8:09 PM

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Reader Challenge: Pedigree ID

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