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Departing Adds to Confidence on War Front/Pulpit Cross

Friday, August 16, 2013 11:20 AM

While there is no doubt that nicks tend to run in sire lines, we've also often found it profitable to consider the dam of a stallion when attempting to predict potential crosses. For example, when Smart Strike ( TrueNicks ) retired to stud, we noted that he was a half brother to champion Dance Smartly, a daughter of Danzig. Since Smart Strike was a Mr. Prospector... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter | Aug 16, 2013 | 0 Comments

Smart Strike/Wild Again Nick Moving Fast

Friday, August 09, 2013 7:00 AM

Unbeaten filly Stopshoppingdebbie, a daughter of Curlin ( TrueNicks ), will try to become the first horse to sweep the Emerald Downs 3-year-old filly stakes division in tomorrow's Washington Oaks. She's bred on the emerging nick of Smart Strike ( TrueNicks ) and his sons over Wild Again mares. Photo: Erin Palmer/Emerald Downs Stopshoppingdebbie (right) wins the... Read More...

Written by Ian Tapp | Aug 09, 2013 | 7 Comments

Is Silverbulletday Skipping a Generation?

Wednesday, March 27, 2013 1:30 PM

Sunland Park's big day turned into a benefit for Bob Baffert and Mike Pegram, who took the Sunland Park Derby (gr. III, VIDEO ) with Govenor Charlie (also bred by Pegram) and the Sunland Park Oaks ( VIDEO ) with Midnight Lucky (owned by Pegram in partnership). The duo—who both scored in track record time—are both from the first crop of the Baffert-trained/Pegram... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter | Mar 27, 2013 | 20 Comments

Best Guesses Can Be Wrong

Monday, March 25, 2013 8:00 AM

Photo: Three Chimneys Flower Alley , who is inbred 3x3 to Mr. Prospector, has had success with mares carrying Mr. Prospector or Raise a Native. There are plenty of examples in racehorse breeding when popular opinion turns out to be wrong. I was looking through an old racing book, The Spell of The Turf (1926) by Hildreth and Crowell, and found an interesting passage... Read More...

Written by Ian Tapp | Mar 25, 2013 | 10 Comments

Chichicastenango's Never Bend Affinity

Wednesday, June 13, 2012 4:45 PM

A few weeks ago, when looking at the emerging French second year sire Turtle Bowl , we noted that he conformed to something of a recent trend in France, the appearance of a number of good sires with relatively unfashionable pedigrees, other examples that come to mind including Linamix (by Mendez), Muhtathir (by Elmaamul), and Chichicastenango (by Smadoun). The... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter | Jun 13, 2012 | 5 Comments

Danzig Line Domination in Europe

Thursday, April 22, 2010 7:36 AM

The sterling efforts of Pivotal, and of Sadler’s Wells sons Galileo and Montjeu – who come to the fore as the distance increase – not withstanding, European racing often appears to be dominated by the Danzig line, particularly via Danehill and Green Desert. Those two branches were particuarly in evidence in the last week, through Dansili – who is vying with Danehill... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Apr 22, 2010 | 4 Comments

Starting Early

Wednesday, April 21, 2010 3:16 PM

It’s hard to believe, but we’ve already had the first U.S. juvenile stakes of the new season. Winner of the colt’s division of the Copper Top was Verny. His sire, Gold Case (by Forty Niner), was 3-for-3, all at two, including the Old Hickory Stakes and Sugar Bowl Handicap. He’s now in New Mexico, but has been a very useful stallion wherever he has stood, getting... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Apr 21, 2010 | 1 Comment

Brother Also Rises

Thursday, April 15, 2010 7:25 AM

While Ghostzapper ( TrueNicks , SRO ) was represented by his first grade I winner when Stately Victor upset the Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I), his older half-brother City Zip ( TrueNicks , SRO ) , continued his progress when his daughter Unzip Me captured the Las Cienegas Handicap (gr. III). City Zip – who’s advertised stud fee for 2010 is just $10,000 – currently... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Apr 15, 2010 | 2 Comments

A Roar From Turkey

Tuesday, April 13, 2010 3:37 PM

The rush to judgement that we mentioned last time with regard to Ghostzapper ( TrueNicks , SRO ), along with the current economic climate has led to opportunities for some countries to purchase stallions that would have been well-beyond reach a year or two ago. One such example is Lion Heart, who was exported to Turkey for the 2010 breeding season. The son of... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Apr 13, 2010 | 0 Comments

Victor Victorious

Tuesday, April 13, 2010 2:30 AM

Although he was relatively sparingly-raced – 11 starts in four seasons – and carefully-managed, both form book and speed-figures suggest that Ghostzapper ( TrueNicks , SRO ) is worthy of a place alongside the all-time greats. Indeed, a record that includes wins in the 6½ furlong Vosburgh Stakes (gr. I); the seven furlong Tom Fool Handicap (gr. II, in 1:20.42... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Apr 13, 2010 | 3 Comments

He Ain't Heavy...

Sunday, April 11, 2010 2:27 PM

While his brother Giant's Causeway ( TrueNicks , SRO ) has been ruling the roost – he was Leading Sire of 2009, and currently leads the table again this year – Freud ( TrueNicks , SRO ) has quietly been making his way towards the head of the stallion ranks in New York. He’s so far sired 17 stakes winners and 35 stakes horses (for a number approaching 20% stakes... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Apr 11, 2010 | 0 Comments

More Of A Good Thing

Tuesday, April 06, 2010 10:50 AM

In our last post we noted that the three sophomore grade I winners last weekend all had some form of Storm Cat and Blushing Groom on their pedigree pages. Storm Cat and Blushing Groom are also found in the pedigree of American Lion (TrueNicks B+ ) who punched his ticket to Churchill Downs with a 2¾ lengths win in the Illinois Derby (gr. III). The son of Tiznow... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Apr 06, 2010 | 1 Comment

A Grade I Combination

Monday, April 05, 2010 4:42 PM

Sidney’s Candy took the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) and is by young sire sensation, Candy Ride (ARG) ( TrueNicks , SRO ). He follows Evita Argentina and Capt. Candyman Can as the third grade I winner by the sire from only ten starters out of mares by Storm Cat and his sons. Can we say “emerging nick” anyone? He’s from the second crop of Candy Ride (a grandson of... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Apr 05, 2010 | 1 Comment

More From Meydan

Tuesday, March 30, 2010 11:06 AM

One nick that has a 100% strike-rate is that of Yankee Victor with mares by Woodman, which has produced stakes winner Timely Reflection, and Kinsale King (TrueNicks A++) , who took the Golden Shaheen (gr. I) in Dubai. The granddam, Flaming Leaves is a stakes winner and graded placed, and is a three-part-sister to Champion Two-Year-Old Colt Roving Boy (both by... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Mar 30, 2010 | 2 Comments

Glory de Brazil

Monday, March 29, 2010 6:26 PM

Brazil is the country that gave us football legend Pele and is no stranger to domination in that sport. They are, however, less often at the top of the racing world, but Saturday at Medyan, Brazilian breeding prevailed in the shape of Gloria de Campeao. The much-traveled seven-year-old – runner-up last year to Well Armed – led virtually throughout and held on... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Mar 29, 2010 | 2 Comments

The Devil Went Down To Florida

Thursday, March 25, 2010 7:18 AM

Last year’s Frizette Stakes (gr. I) captress, Devil May Care re-established herself near the top of the division with a 2¾ lengths win in the Bonnie Miss Stakes (gr. III). She’s a Pedigree Consultants recommended mating (for Diamond A Racing Corp) and is by the A.P. Indy ( TrueNicks , SRO ) son [Malibu Moon] out of the Red Ransom mare, Kelli’s Ransom (rated A... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Mar 25, 2010 | 3 Comments

Ice Box Avenges His Sire

Wednesday, March 24, 2010 2:36 PM

Pulpit ( TrueNicks , SRO ) was one of the sensations of the early part of 1997, going undefeated through his first three starts at Gulfstream Park. In succession he took a seven furlong maiden by 7½ lengths, an allowance race by 6¼ lengths, and the Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II). The triumphant progress was interrupted when, taken further off the pace than... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Mar 24, 2010 | 4 Comments

King For A Day

Tuesday, March 23, 2010 3:45 PM

March 18 might as well have gone down as Kingmambo ( TrueNicks , SRO ) day in France, as his sire ons dominated the stakes events at Deauville. The 6½ furlong Prix Montenica, for three-year-old colts and geldings, went to Too Nice Name, a son of Kingsalsa. A group III winning miler, Kingsalsa also finished second in the Prix de la Salamandre (gr. I) and third... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Mar 23, 2010 | 2 Comments

Meydan Musings, Part II

Tuesday, March 09, 2010 9:29 AM

In the Burj Nahaar (gr. III), Cat Junior became the first stakes winner by Storm Cat, out of a mare by Sadler’s Wells (although there have only been a handful of starters on the cross). Funnily enough, Storm Cat’s son Giant's Causeway ( TrueNicks , SRO ) , has already sired three stakes winners on the cross. Mind, Cat Junior’s dam, Luna Wells is not just “a Sadler... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Mar 09, 2010 | 0 Comments

Meydan Musings

Monday, March 08, 2010 11:20 AM

Last Thursday was “Super Thursday” in Dubai, the preview to World Cup Day. Here's a look a some of the more interesting pedigrees. Presvis, who took the Jebel Hatta (gr. II), is by the Riverman, grandson, Sakhee, winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (gr. I), and Juddmonte International (gr. I). What’s more unusual, however, is that Presvis, is out of a mare... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Mar 08, 2010 | 1 Comment

An Exciting Thursday at Medyan

Monday, March 01, 2010 9:15 PM

In the UAE Oaks Guineas, Raihana avenged her UAE 1,000 Guineas defeat by Siyaadah, who took third here. A daughter of Elusive Quality ( TrueNicks , SRO ) , Raihana is out of the Sunday Silence mare, Esubooh. The mating is rated B+ by TrueNicks on the basis of the broad Mr. Prospector/Sunday Silence cross, a nick that has also produced Japanese grade one winners... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Mar 01, 2010 | 2 Comments

Reversal of Fortune

Tuesday, February 23, 2010 9:50 PM

When the gates opened for Saturday’s Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II), Buddy’s Saint was the favorite for the Kentucky Derby. But after a disastrous trip a he passed the baton to runaway winner Eskendereya. From the only crop of Horse of the Year Saint Liam, out of a mare by Blushing John, Buddy’s Saint (TrueNicks A++ ) is bred on the Halo/Blushing Groom cross... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Feb 23, 2010 | 2 Comments

On The Derby Trail

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 3:59 PM

Rule, was expected to get his classic campaign off to a bright start in the Sam F. Davis Stakes (gr. III) and he accomplished this with aplomb. Rule certainly has a classic pedigree. He is from the first crop of Roman Ruler ( TrueNicks , SRO ) (by Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner, Fusaichi Pegasus ( TrueNicks , SRO )), who had a good weekend with his daughter Roman... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Feb 17, 2010 | 2 Comments

Silver Lining

Tuesday, February 16, 2010 4:29 PM

Roman Chestnut, winner of Saturday's Busher S. in New York, is the fifth stakes winner, and tenth stakes horse, from the first crop of Roman Ruler ( TrueNicks , SRO ) , the top North American-raced son of Fusaichi Pegasus ( TrueNicks , SRO ). What made us do a double-take, however, was when we noticed that Roman Chestnut’s dam, Silverdew, is by Silver Deputy... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Feb 16, 2010 | 12 Comments

Q&A - Why a 'C' Rating?

Monday, February 15, 2010 1:22 PM

Phyllis asks: Using the Equineline data base, I found that Even the Score and a Deputy Minister line mare produced the filly Four Gifts, a grade III winner who has earned well in excess of $600,000 (and still running). I called and spoke to the farm today about a season with my Deputy Minister mare. I did a TrueNick, and see that it is being rated as a C Nick... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Feb 15, 2010 | 2 Comments

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