HOY in the Breeding Shed 1991-2010

re: HOY in the Breeding Shed 1991-2010

Mary in Vermont — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 20:22:57 GMT

Thanks for adding Rachel's Haskell to her win list. 3 G1 victories over males. A first for a 3 YO filly.

This may be a dumb question, but how does a horse's running style come about? What attributes makes a horse a front runner vs a come from the clouds horse? Is it genetically determined? A matter of temperament? Well .. I guess temperament has a strong genetic component too. The mix of slow twitch vs fast twitch muscle fibers? That's genetic too. Have always wondered about that.

I am concerned about the plan to breed Rachel to Curlin, he being a dedicated closer and I think her best races were pressing the pace as in the Haskell. Why don't they breed dedicated closers to dedicated closers to concentrate whatever attributes make dedicated closers? And EPs to EPS to concentrate the attributes of an EP? Front runners to front runners? Etc?

Is it possible that breeding a dedicated closer to an EP or E could dilute the qualities of both doing neither parent justice? I know there is a lot more to it, none of which can be overlooked, but just wondered if you can straighten me out a bit on that.

Big Curlin fan here. Have a photo of him in the winner's circle after the Woodward staring straight into Valhalla.

re: HOY in the Breeding Shed 1991-2010

Ian Tapp — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 19:08:29 GMT

Hi Mary,

You're right, her Haskell was an epic performance. I added it to the list since you mentioned it. I'm not trying to give complete PPs for each horse, but rather a representative selection of big wins during their HOY season. Winning a filly classic, male classic, and G1 over older males tells a story in itself, but of course the Haskell was very impressive, as you described so well.

Thanks,

Ian

re: HOY in the Breeding Shed 1991-2010

Mary in Vermont — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 17:56:29 GMT

Shouldn't Rachel Alexandra's Haskell Invitational victory over top colts be in her list of accomplishments for her HOY year? I saw that race and that filly walked out onto the track snorting fire. Please folks, don't remember her by her 2010 efforts when she looked like she didn't want to be there.

Rachel bobbled slightly at the break, settled into the 3 path, and ran 3 wide all the way around the track until she was alone in the stretch. While still under wraps, this 3 yr. old filly stuck like glue to the top quality sprinter Munnings in the 2 path while he fired off fractions of 22:.99, 46:43, 1:09.92 until he was cooked ... and *STILL* drew off from the Belmont winner and future 3 YO champion Summer Bird who had benefited from an inside trip ... to win by 6 lengths ... in pure soup. Final Time 1:47:21 Stakes Record 1:47:00 Track Record 1:46:80.

I'll never forget it a long as I live. One for the ages.

re: HOY in the Breeding Shed 1991-2010

Ian Tapp — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 22:46:24 GMT

Hi robb,

Great question. I'm not sure he would have necessarily gotten "better" mares in the U.S. Even though he was a great racehorse, he wasn't seen as a prime stallion prospect at the time. The Hancocks tried to sell shares in him when he retired, but there were only three people interested. They got an $11 million offer from Japan, so they took it.

Two things that discouraged Kentucky breeders: a son of Halo with a very thin female family; and his conformation--rangy, cow-hocked, knock-kneed.

Sunday Silence really worked with the Japanese broodmare population, largely distance-oriented European bloodlines. Working with that population doesn't guarantee he would have had the same level of success in the U.S. environment.

Either way, he got the right profile of mares in Japan, and he really elevated their breeding industry. Perhaps one of his sons will find success here--Hat Trick and Silent Name both have 2YOs of 2011, so we'll see how they go.

Ian

re: HOY in the Breeding Shed 1991-2010

robb — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 17:45:03 GMT

How prolific would Sunday silence have been in the us with better quality mares than in Japan?

re: HOY in the Breeding Shed 1991-2010

barry aksarben — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 16:42:25 GMT

I'm not a big follower of HOY as in so many years the horse who truly deserved the award didnt get it - i much prefer following the stud careers of the horse i love

re: HOY in the Breeding Shed 1991-2010

katethegreat — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 16:06:58 GMT

AP Indy is the winner in the breeding shed by percentages!!

Breed the big Z to him. Old stud, young mare, match made in heaven.

re: HOY in the Breeding Shed 1991-2010

Ian Tapp — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 14:47:45 GMT

Rachel,

The title of this blog is "HOY in the Breeding Shed", but I'm sure you can find Cigar's complete race record elsewhere.

Ian

re: HOY in the Breeding Shed 1991-2010

Rachel — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 10:31:52 GMT

Pretty pathetic summation of Cigar's accomplishments.

re: HOY in the Breeding Shed 1991-2010

Ian Tapp — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 07:36:35 GMT

Lmaris,

Good idea. I left it off because it was non-domestic, but you're probably right. I added the race to Curlin (and Cigar) above. Thanks.

Ian

re: HOY in the Breeding Shed 1991-2010

Ian Tapp — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 07:19:46 GMT

Hi Susan,

Thanks. I'm including only black type SW, which is probably the reason for the discrepancy. Tiznow has 31 black type stakes winners.

Ian

re: HOY in the Breeding Shed 1991-2010

Lmaris — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 06:48:21 GMT

I'd have included Curlin's Dubai World Cup win since it was not only during his HOY year but also one of the deciding factors of him getting the award.

re: HOY in the Breeding Shed 1991-2010

Susan — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 03:26:27 GMT

Your info on Tiznow needs updating. He has 34 total stakes winners through the end of 2010. Check BH's own writeups, particularly in the last issue in which a stakes winner of his got a writeup. Also, the "Cumulative Stakes Winners" column in the final 2010 Leading Sires list, BH, January 15, 2011. You could hire me as a statistician except that I'm retired and only do Tiznow. J/K.

re: HOY in the Breeding Shed 1991-2010

Karen in Indiana — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 03:15:51 GMT

Looking at the historical to the present ages, it appears that as the number of foals increases, the stakes winning percentage decreases.

re: HOY in the Breeding Shed 1991-2010

Ian Tapp — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 23:40:43 GMT

JAJ,

It's foals of racing age, but even though 2YOs are officially included in that count, I removed 2YOs of 2011 since they haven't had an opportunity to race yet. "SW from foals" should always mean "SW from foals of racing age"; otherwise it skews the data for active stallions.

Ian

re: HOY in the Breeding Shed 1991-2010

JAJ — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 22:13:17 GMT

Do you calculate the percentage of stakes winners from FOALS OF RACING AGE or just from foals?

re: HOY in the Breeding Shed 1991-2010

JerseyTom — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 22:05:14 GMT

V-e-r-y interesting list/research. ... Seems the BC races carry the appropriate weight in assessing HOY. Another benefit is it shows the major races won by the horse in the HOY year, which is how the award should be determined. Facts/history very revealing. Thanks for the rundown Ian.

re: HOY in the Breeding Shed 1991-2010

Ian Tapp — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 20:57:32 GMT

Hi Teri L,

No, it should not. She did not win those races in the year she won Horse of the Year.

Ian

re: HOY in the Breeding Shed 1991-2010

Teri L — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 20:46:50 GMT

Shouldn't the "big wins" for Zenyatta list the Breeders' Cup Distaff (2008) and the Breeders' Cup Classic (2009)?!?