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Checking the TrueNicks website, we were somewhat shocked to find just how many new sires have already been declared for the 2013 breeding season. There is quite a lot to keep track of, so to try and ensure none get overlooked when making breeding plans for 2013, here is a very quick overview of the new sires of 2013 that are currently enrolled on the TrueNicks site.

Baryshnikov (TrueNicks,SRO) (Empire Maker–Ski Dancer, by Baldski; Oak Lodge USA, Paris, KY, $5,000) is a stakes winner over over $350,000 who was also four times graded stakes-placed. A son of Empire Maker, his dam was a two-time graded winner, and also grade I-placed.

Big Surf (TrueNicks) (Storm Cat–Surfside, by Seattle Slew; Royal Pegasus, Lexington, KY). This 2-year-old winning son of Storm Cat was exported to Azerbaijan for 2009, but has returned to stand in Kentucky for the coming year. He's certainly got the pedigree, as he is out of champion 3-year-old filly Surfside, who in turn is by Seattle Slew out of champion 2-year-old filly Flanders.

Bodemeister (TrueNicks) (Empire Maker–Untouched Talent, by Storm Cat; WinStar, Versailles, KY, $TBA) was one of the most exciting performers of 2012, breaking his maiden by 9 1/4 lengths, taking the Arkansas Derby (gr. I) by 9 1/2 lengths, then producing flamboyant front-running displays to take second in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes (both gr. I). He's one of the best by his classic-winning sire, Empire Maker, who is enjoying another outstanding year, with Bodemeister being joined by such as Royal Delta, Grace Hall, and In Lingerie. The dam, Untouched Talent, won two stakes at 2, including the Sorrento Stakes (gr. III) and took second in the Del Mar Debutante (gr. I). The granddam is a graded stakes-winning daughter of A.P. Indy, out of a stakes-winning daughter of Roberto, and the fourth dam is a stakes performer by Nijinsky II, so this is a thoroughly classic pedigree.

Caleb's Posse (TrueNicks,SRO) (Posse–Abbey's Missy, by Slewacide; Three Chimneys Farm, Midway, KY, $TBA). An sprinter/miler ace who carried his speed to win graded company at up to 8 1/2 furlongs, Caleb's Posse consistently ran tremendous numbers, and owns three of the top 10 Beyer speed figures of 2012 at up to a mile. Caleb's Posse is from the Deputy Minister line through Silver Deputy and his leading freshman sire son Posse, also sire of champion sprinter Kodiak Kowboy, and 2012 grade I-winning juvenile Rolling Fog.

Cal Nation (TrueNicks,SRO) (Distorted Humor–She's a Winner; by A.P. Indy, Merryland Farm, MD, $3,500), broke his maiden by 7 3/4 lengths going seven furlongs at Gulfstream Park in 1:22.02. He went on to become a multiple allowance scorer, and to be multiple graded-placed, including a third in the Carry Back Stakes (gr. II). He's a half brother to Bluegrass Cat, winner of the Haskell Invitational Stakes (gr. I), graded winner Lord of the Game, and stakes winner Sonoma Cat. The dam is a sister to the dam of Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Super Saver and graded scorer Brethren (by the same sire as Cal Nation), and a sister to grade I-winning sprinter Girolamo. This is also the immediate family of Not For Love, a son of Cal Nation's great-grandsire, Mr. Prospector, who has long been a dominant force in the Maryland sire colony.

Gemologist (TrueNicks) (Tiznow–Crystal Shard, by Mr. Prospector; WinStar Farm, Versailles, KY, $TBA). Having gone three-for-three at 2, including the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (gr. III), Gemologist returned to fulfill his promise at 3, beating grade I winner Currency Swap by seven lengths in a Gulfstream Park allowance event, then defeating Alpha by a neck in the Wood Memorial Stakes (gr. I). He lost his undefeated defeated record in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), a race he exited with a bruised foot. A son of Tiznow, whose first son with runners, Tiz Wonderful, is off to a promising start, Gemologist is out of the multiple stakes-producing Mr. Prospector mare Crystal Shard, a sister to multiple graded stakes winner Withallprobability, herself granddam of grade I winner Summer Colony. The granddam is Northern Dancer's graded winning daughter Sulemeif.

Hansen (TrueNicks) (Tapit–Stormy Sunday, by Sir Cat; location/$TBA). The charismatic gray earned honors as champion 2-year-old after going three-for-three, with victories in the Kentucky Cup Juvenile Stakes and Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I). At 3, he took the Gotham Stakes (gr. II) and had 10 lengths to spare at the wire in Iowa Derby (gr. III), and was as a very game second in the Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) and the Holy Bull Stakes. Hansen is the leading son of his sire, stallion sensation Tapit, and is a product of the very successful cross of his sire line, Tapit/Pulpit/A.P. Indy, over Storm Cat line mares.

Macho Rocket (TrueNicks) (Macho Uno–La Defense, by Wild Again; Starfish Stable LLC, Hot Springs, AR, $1,000) was a 2-year-old winner on his only start, defeating eventual stakes winner Fed Biz. He's by a champion 2-year-old who is enjoying a good year at stud with such as Mucho Macho Man, Macho Macho, and Potesta. Bred on the same cross as grade I winner Macho Again, he's out of the stakes-producing Wild Again mare La Defense, a half sister to graded winner Noisette and stakes winner Roi Maudit.

Morning Line (TrueNicks,SRO) (Tiznow–Indian Snow, by A.P. Indy; Lane's End Farm, Versailles, KY, $TBA). Won the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II) over nine furlongs at 3, but was also very effective as a sprinter/miler, missing a head in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) at 3 and taking the Carter Handicap (gr. I) at 4. He is one of the growing number of sons of Tiznow at stud, and is as well-bred as any, his dam, Indian Snow, being by A.P. Indy out Storm Cat's multiple grade I-winning daughter November Snow.

Revolving (TrueNicks) (A.P. Indy–Circle of Life, by Belong to Me; Stonehedge Farm South, Ocala, FL, $TBA). A winning son of A.P. Indy, Revolving is a half brother to the excellent Circular Quay, winner of the Hopeful Stakes (gr. I), Louisiana Derby (gr. II), New Orleans Handicap (gr. II), and Bashford Manor Stakes (gr. III). The dam won the Spinaway Stakes (gr. I) and was placed in three other graded stakes, two of them grade I.

Shackleford (TrueNicks) (Forestry–Oatsee, by Unbridled; Darby Dan Farm, Lexington, KY, $TBA). Classic winner of the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) last year, Shackleford has stamped himself as one of the top sprinter/milers of 2012 with victories in the Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) and Churchill Downs Stakes (gr. II). A grandson of Storm Cat, he is out of Oatsee, a stakes-placed daughter of Unbridled who has turned out to be a remarkable producer, as she is also dam of the Alabama Stakes (gr. I) heroine Lady Joanne, multiple graded stakes winner Baghdaria, and Afleeting Lady and Stephanoatsee, one a stakes winner this year and the other stakes-placed. This is also the family of sires Gone West, Known Fact, and Tentam.

Star Guitar (TrueNicks) (Quiet American–Minit Towinit, by Malagra; Clear Creek Stud, Folsom, LA, $TBA) is a Louisiana legend. An earner of almost $1,750,000, Star Guitar captured 22 stakes events, winning black-type contests in six straight seasons, including three consecutive renewals of both the Premier Night Championship and the Louisiana Champions Day Classic. His dam, by another Louisiana stalwart, Malagra, is a multiple stakes winner and is dam of additional stakes winners Gran Minit and Favorite Minit.

Take Charge Indy (TrueNicks) (A.P. Indy–Take Charge Lady, by Dehere; WinStar Farm, Versailles, KY, $TBA). Graded stakes-placed at 2, Take Charge Indy upset a field that included Union Rags, leading from wire-to-wire, to take the Florida Derby (gr. I). In addition to being a son of A.P. Indy, Take Charge Indy is out of Take Charge Lady, whose credits include the Ashland Stakes (gr. I) and a pair of Spinster Stakes (gr. I). The second dam is the excellent producer Felicita, also dam of stakes winners Commendation and Eventail, and granddam of graded winner Straight Story.

The Factor (TrueNicks,SRO) (War Front–Greyciousness, by Miswaki; Lane's End Farm, Versailles, KY, $15,000). One of the fastest of his generation at 2, 3, and 4, The Factor immediately drew attention to himself when he clocked 1:06.98 for six furlongs on his debut, albeit on a particularly slick Santa Anita surface. Subsequently, he added the Malibu Stakes (gr. I), Pat O'Brien Stakes (gr. I), San Vicente Stakes (gr. II), San Carlos Stakes (gr. II), and stretching his speed 8 1/2 furlongs, the Rebel Stakes (gr. II). The Factor is the leading son of the Danzig sprinter War Front, who has made such an explosive start with his relatively inexpensively-sired early crops.

To Honor and Serve (TrueNicks) (Bernardini–Pilfer, by Deputy Minister; Gainesway, Lexington, KY, $TBA). The highest earner for his sire, To Honor and Serve showed his potential at 2, by taking the Remsen Stakes (gr. II) and Nashua Stakes (gr. II). He added the Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II), and the Cigar Mile Handicap (gr. I) at 3 when defeating older horses. This term, he's captured the Westchester Stakes (gr. III) and Woodward Stakes (gr. I). Out of a stakes-winning Deputy Minister mare, To Honor and Serve is from a branch of the Darby Dan family that has has also supplied Dynaformer and top Japanese sire Brian's Time, both of whose dams are closely related to To Honor and Serve's fourth dam, graded winner Java Moon.

Union Rags (TrueNicks,SRO) (Dixie Union–Tempo, by Gone West; Lane's End Farm, Versailles, KY, TBA). Union Rags was one of the most charismatic and members of his crop. At 2, he won his first three starts, including the Saratoga Special (gr. II) and Champagne Stakes (gr. I), then narrowly lost the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) following a late race swerve. He kicked off 2012 with an impressive win in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II), encountered traffic problems in both the Florida Derby (gr. I) and Kentucky Derby (gr. I), but then found classic redemption—in what turned out to be his final start—with a last gasp win over Paynter in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I). By Dixieland Band's leading stallion son, he is a half brother to the dam of European stakes winners Vertiformer and Declaration of War. The granddam, Terpsichorist, is a multiple graded stakes-winning daughter of Nijinsky II and the Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Glad Rags II.

Filed under: Announcements, Sires, New Sires

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