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Not Your Father's Cross

Thursday, December 17, 2009 5:10 PM

We were interested to note the victory of Apapane in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (gr. I), the most important contest for two-year-old females in Japan. The race has been won in recent years by such stars as Buena Vista and Vodka, and Apapane was scoring for the third straight time in four starts. Apapane (TrueNicks rated A++ ) is by Kingmambo ( TrueNicks , SRO... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Dec 17, 2009 | 3 Comments

Family Rules

Tuesday, December 08, 2009 1:47 PM

Out of the Silver Deputy mare, Silvery Swan, El Corredor ( TrueNicks , SRO ) (by Mr. Greeley ( TrueNicks , SRO )) was the second grade I winner inbred to Mr. Prospector when he took the 2000 edition of the Cigar Mile (gr. I). He was also the first notable runner with such inbreeding to retire to stud and he quickly dispelled fears that his pedigree pattern would... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Dec 08, 2009 | 0 Comments

Some Gold For The Colts

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 6:32 PM

We’re very used to two-year-old descendents of Sadler’s Wells showing their classic credentials in major races towards the end of the European racing season. For example, Sadler’s Wells’ son, Montjeu, has recently been represented by St. Nicholas Abbey, Jan Vermeer and Joshua Tree, winners respectively of the Racing Post Tropy (gr. I), Criterium International... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Nov 18, 2009 | 3 Comments

The Ramsey's Joy

Wednesday, October 28, 2009 1:17 PM

Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey have done a tremendous job with their stallion, Catienus, a Storm Cat son whom they claimed, then sent out to win a minor stakes, run second in the Suburban Handicap (gr. II), two renewals of the Saratoga Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) and place third in the Whitney Handicap (gr. I). Catienus has never been a fashionable stallion, but... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Oct 28, 2009 | 0 Comments

No Doubt

Tuesday, October 27, 2009 8:37 PM

It might seem hard to believe, but only a handful of years ago, Sadler's Wells' legacy as far as the extension of his male-line appeared to be in severe doubt. That is no longer the case, and we were treated to a number of reminders of over the weekend. Sadler's Wells' son, High Chaparral has been rather in the shadow of his stud companions Galileo and Montjeu... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Oct 27, 2009 | 5 Comments

Juveniles Rule

Tuesday, October 13, 2009 6:39 PM

The surprising Pollard's Vision ( TrueNicks , SRO ) had leapt to the head of the Freshman class following the victory of Blind Luck in the Oak Leaf Stakes (gr. I) last weekend. That lead was short-lived, however, and Hill 'n' Dale's Roman Ruler ( TrueNicks , SRO ) now has the top spot after his son Homeboykris (TrueNicks A++) captured the Champagne Stakes (gr... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Oct 13, 2009 | 1 Comment

Good Vision

Thursday, October 08, 2009 8:53 AM

We've tracked the progress of freshman Pollard's Vision ( TrueNicks , SRO ) in several previous posts, but we must admit we didn't expect him to vault to the top of the Freshman Sire table. However, that's what happened when his daughter, Blind Luck, emerged from the Oak Leaf Stakes (gr. I) with a 2½ lengths victory. She is the fourth stakes winner from the first... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Oct 08, 2009 | 7 Comments

The Aga Khan Stars Also Shine

Wednesday, October 07, 2009 2:31 PM

Sea the Stars has rightfully dominated the headlines from Europe but the other story of the weekend was the remarkable performance of horses bred and owned by the Aga Khan. We'll start with the 2½ mile Prix du Cadran (gr. I), which went to Alandi (TrueNicks A ), who is by Galileo out of the stakes winning Darshaan mare, Aliya, and is one of no less than five... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Oct 07, 2009 | 3 Comments

A Juvenile Weekend

Wednesday, September 23, 2009 1:47 PM

There were several stakes for juveniles last weekend and two freshman sires, Kitten’s Joy (who also had the Summer S. (gr. III) runner-up Becky’s Kitten) and Roman Ruler ( TrueNicks , SRO ) put stakes winners on the board. Kitten’s Joy, who now has 11 first crop winners, was represented by Sunday Silence Stakes winner William’s Kitten who is out of a mare by... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Sep 23, 2009 | 4 Comments

Oh Canada

Monday, September 21, 2009 9:21 PM

A lot of the key North American action was focused in Canada this weekend. The most valuable race of the weekend was the $1,000,000 (Canadian funds) Woodbine Mile (gr. I), which was taken in storming fashion by the five-year-old mare Ventura (TrueNicks A++ ). She is a reminder of just how severe a loss the premature death of her sire, Chester House was. He sired... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Sep 21, 2009 | 0 Comments

Interesting Patterns Abound in Elusive Quality's Latest String of Stakes Winners

Monday, August 24, 2009 4:00 PM

A sire who has been on fire of late is Elusive Quality ( TrueNicks , SRO ) . The month started well when Quality Road returned to from the injury that sidelined him from the classics to take the 6½ furlong Amsterdam Stakes (gr. II) in a new track-record. Six days later, on August 9, Elusive Heat (a daughter of Xtra Heat, and a Pedigree Consultants recommended... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Aug 24, 2009 | 3 Comments

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Blushing Groom and Service Stripe Double-Team

Wednesday, August 19, 2009 4:45 PM

There was some activity of note among the younger stallions over the past weekend. Second-crop sire Even the Score ( TrueNicks , SRO ) , who had Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT) winner Take the Points a week earlier, was represented by Four Gifts (a graded winner earlier this year), who took the $250,000 Charles Town Oaks. She is out of a mare by Service Stripe (by... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Aug 19, 2009 | 1 Comment

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Smart Strike -- Striking Fast and Early

Thursday, August 13, 2009 8:50 AM

With runners like Curlin ( TrueNicks , SRO ), English Channel ( TrueNicks , SRO ) , and Labatt Woodbine Oaks winners Eye of the Sphinx and Gold Strike, Smart Strike ( TrueNicks , SRO ) is generally considered a horse whose runners do their best work when given some time, and often over middle-distance. That consensus, however, overlooks another side to his character... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Aug 13, 2009 | 14 Comments

Danehill Dancer Domination

Monday, July 27, 2009 11:57 AM

Scarcely a weekend goes by without sons of Danehill striking all over the world -- they had stakes winners in Europe, the U.S., and Australia over the latest weekend -- but they don't often match the achievement of Danehill Dancer (IRE), who had the first three home in the Camas Park and Ashtown House Studs Phoenix Stakes (Ire-I), a six-furlong event for 2-year... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Jul 27, 2009 | 0 Comments

A Storm Cat Kind of Weekend

Wednesday, July 15, 2009 3:28 PM

Twelve graded stakes were run in North America over the weekend, and as the results came in it seemed as if you didn't have a Storm Cat-line horse, you were out of luck. When final results were tallied, runners from that line mopped up seven of those contests. Storm Cat progeny wins included one of the weekend's biggest prizes, the $500,000 Man o' War Stakes... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Jul 15, 2009 | 7 Comments

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Dynamite Dynaformer Crossed With Mr. Prospector

Wednesday, July 08, 2009 11:40 PM

Sunday was a huge day for Dynaformer ( TrueNicks , SRO ) , who scored an international "classic" group/grade I double.Wiener Walzer (GER) scored Sunday in the IDEE Deutsches Derby (Ger-I) and Gozzip Girl captured the American Oaks Invitational Stakes (gr. IT) the same day. What's particularly interesting is that both Wiener Walzer and Gozzip Girl are out of mares... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Jul 08, 2009 | 36 Comments

Speight of Success

Monday, July 06, 2009 11:19 AM

We've written a lot abut this year's group of second-season stallions and one of that group -- Speightstown ( TrueNicks , SRO ) -- enjoyed a truly exceptional weekend. It started quietly enough Friday, with Fufty Too ( A ), taking the Dean Kutz Stakes at Canterbury Park. The primary importance of that victory was that it took Speightstown's total of first-crop... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Jul 06, 2009 | 2 Comments

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Ready for More Buckpasser

Tuesday, June 30, 2009 2:50 PM

We've often mentioned that More Than Ready ( TrueNicks , SRO ) crosses well with mares carrying Buckpasser lines. This is scarcely surprising as his broodmare sire, Woodman, is out of a Buckpasser mare who is inbred to La Troienne through the similarly-bred Busanda (dam of Buckpasser) and Striking, and that his own fourth dam is inbred 3 x 2 to La Troienne. The... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Jun 30, 2009 | 14 Comments

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Job Well Done for Sadler's Wells Sire Line

Monday, June 29, 2009 8:37 PM

It might have taken a while for Sadler's Wells to hit his stride as a sire of sires, but he's been making up for lost time at a tremendous rate -- as evidenced this weekend when his line dominated group and grade I racing. The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (Ire-I) resulted in a one-two for the offspring of his sons as Investec Epsom Derby (Eng-I) runner-up Fame... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Jun 29, 2009 | 2 Comments

A.P. Indy Line -- Eyeing a Big Weekend

Thursday, June 25, 2009 9:26 AM

It was a relatively quiet weekend in international racing, but there was one classic in North America, Canada's classic Queen's Plate. The race went to favorite, Eye of the Leopard, who narrowly held of from Mr. Foricos Two U, with Canadian Oaks winner Milwaukee Appeal third. Eye of the Leopard certainly has the pedigree for the job as he is by A.P. Indy ( TrueNicks... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Jun 25, 2009 | 11 Comments

German Bloodlines Dominate in Europe

Thursday, June 18, 2009 9:00 AM

First it was the Investec Epsom Derby (Eng-I), where the first and second -- Sea the Stars (IRE) and Fame and Glory (GB) -- both came from German female lines. Then Le Havre (IRE) , out of a German-bred mare, took the Prix du Jockey Club (Fr-I). This weekend it was the turn of Stacelita (FR) , who maintained her undefeated record with a four-length win in the... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Jun 18, 2009 | 8 Comments

Stallions Battle at WinStar

Wednesday, June 17, 2009 3:33 PM

WinStar stallions Tiznow and Distorted Humor , who are currently fighting for leadership of the General Sires list, both had good weekends. Distorted Humor ( TrueNicks , SRO ) had two stakes winners, including veteran Commentator, who overwhelmed a field of New York-breds.The grade I winner has now annexed stakes at ages 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. The Tiznow ( TrueNicks... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Jun 17, 2009 | 10 Comments

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Incoming Sires of 2004: Third-Crop Sires Excel

Tuesday, June 16, 2009 5:26 PM

In recent reports, we’ve given plenty of props – and deservedly so – to the stellar group of U.S. second-crop sires. The most recent weekend, however, belonged to their seniors, the stallions whose first foals were born in 2005. One of these, Macho Uno ( TrueNicks , SRO ), had the weekend's big winner, Macho Again, who took the Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Jun 16, 2009 | 0 Comments

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Second-Crop Sires Make History

Thursday, June 11, 2009 8:45 AM

This week's Porter on Pedigrees column at BloodHorse.com discusses the rare classic doubles earned this year by second-crop sires Birdstone and Medaglia d'Oro (both were represented by different winners in classic races).That hasn't happened Stateside since -- as pointed out by Mahubah's Corner columnist Avalyn Hunter -- Count Fleet sired Count Turf and Counterpoint... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Jun 11, 2009 | 7 Comments

Medaglia d'Oro Can't Get Enough Cure the Blues

Wednesday, June 10, 2009 3:53 PM

A quick observation: A recent Porter on Pedigrees column discussed the unusually strong success of this year's second-crop sires. In it, I mentioned Cure the Blues in Gabby's Golden Gal's pedigree. It's interesting to note that Cure the Blues is also sire of the second dam of Rachel Alexandra -- that’s right, he’s in the dam side of both grade I winners by Medaglia... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Jun 10, 2009 | 1 Comment

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