Breeding For The Bluegrass
The sun’s shining bright on my old Kentucky home this week as forty three year olds, twenty one fillies and nineteen colts, line up for classic glory in the Bluegrass Oaks and Bluegrass Derby. Seven of our entries are scratchbreds, eleven were based on hemares and twenty two were bred from mares. Thirty sires were used to produce the runners on Saturday. Curlin is the most represented sire in the two races with three horses running. His sire Smart Strike is one of eight sires to have two runners in the race, along with Awesome Again, Giant’s Causeway, Indian Charlie, Medaglia D’oro, Special Week, Summer Bird and Zensational. Five first crop sires are represented by six runners. They are Blame, Eskendereya, Discreetly Mine, Lookin At Lucky and Summer Bird (2). Storm Cat is the leading damsire with four runners, while A.P. Indy, Awesome Again, Giant’s Causeway and Seeking the Gold each have three runners. Storm Cat also leads as damsdamsire with five runners, while Mr. Prospector is represented by four. The median grade of mare/hemare used to produce this year’s runners is f. Of the twenty two mares used for breeding the runners, fourteen have produced at least one other stakes winning offspring (it should be noted that Oaks runner Rattle That Cage does not have a stakes win but her dam has already produced a graded winner). Also, a number of this year’s runners are the first foals for their dams. Following is a compete rundown of the pedigrees of this year’s sophomore class stars.
Bluegrass Derby
Stevieboy – is a son of Stephen Got Even out of the h-grade Broad Brush x Robellino mare Robe Bell. The Grade Three winner is her third foal. Her first foal was the e-grade stakes winner City Cat Again, by Storm Cat. City Cat Again won his only stakes going a mile and one eighth on the grass, although he did win an allowance at a mile and one quarter on the dirt. He produced millionaire and multiple Grade Two winning marathoner A.P. Assault, by Stephen Got Even. Robe Bell’s second foal was unsuccessful and her two year old by Daiwa Major has yet to start.
Street Etiquette – The only filly in the field is a daughter of Street Cry based on the f-grade Giant’s Causeway x A.P. Indy horse Echoes in Eternity. Although he only won three races in his career, Echoes in Eternity did manage to earn over $100,000 and was stakes placed. He was an early maturing type who’s best season came at age two. Street Etiquette is the first filly in four generations for this family and is easily the best runner.
Immensely – Twice Grade One placed in his last two starts, Immensely is by Giant’s Causeway based on the f-grade Distorted Humor x A.P. Indy horse Caligula Blushed. Caligular Blushed won six times in his career, most of them at one mile. He never raced further than a mile and one eighth. Immensely is the most accomplished current runner bred on the Giant’s Causeway x Distorted Humor cross.
Clinton’s Ditch – The Sparkling Wine winner is a son of Smart Strike out of the g-grade Danzig x Halo mare Danzig Daze. Danzig Daze has produced eight foals to race, including a two year old of 2012. She has produced one other stakes winner, Flowers On Tuesday by Flower Alley. She also has produced two stakes placed runners. None of her four retired daughters has produced a stakes winner.
Chief Rainmaker – The first scractchbred runner in the race, Chief Rainmaker is Indian Charlie x Storm Cat x Mr. Prospector. The Indian Charlie x Storm Cat cross is represented by four additional stakes winners currently racing. Two excel in dirt sprints and two are turf middle distance runners. That’s five stakes winners total from eleven horses currently racing.
Southern Migration – The Ransom winner is a son of first-year sire Summer Bird based on the g-grade Tiznow x Kris S. hemare Longitudinal. Longitudinal won only once in his career, going six furlongs on the dirt. Longitudinal was produced from the g-grade mare S. River. S. River produced four foals who won a total of five races. Longitudinal is the only one of her foals to produce a stakes horse.
Weekly Express – The Florida Derby winner, is by Special Week out of the e-grade Afleet Alex x Unbridled’s Song mare Storm Express. Storm Express won thirteen races in her career including one stakes race (from only four attempts). The vast majority of her victories came at a flat mile and she never tried to run this far at all. Weekly Express is her only foal.
Gogossos – Another scratchbred runner, this one is by Monsun x Sadler’s Wells x Sharpen Up. There are five other stakes winners bred on the Monsun x Sadler’s Wells cross (from twenty one current runners). All five won their stakes on the grass, with two winning in sprints and the other three at longer distances.
Too Many Questions – A scratchbred son of Discreetly Mine x Capote x Carson City, Too Many Questions is the best runner from his sire’s first crop. He is his sire’s only stakes winner at a route; he took the End of the Line Futurity last fall.
Lookin At Hotrod – Sired by first crop stallion Lookin At Lucky, Lookin At Hotrod was based on the c-grade Danehill Dancer x Stephen Got Even horse Hot Rod Lincoln. Hotrod Lincoln won eight stakes in turf sprints and earned almost a half a million dollars. Second dam Seeking Stephen was a Grade Three winning turf sprinter. She also produced Honor and Obey by Sadler’s Wells who won five stakes races on the grass between a mile and three sixteenths and a mile and five sixteenths.
Lucky’s Franklin – One of three Curlin’s running in the two Classics, Lucky’s Franklin was based on the f-grade A.P. Indy x Storm Cat horse Lucky’s Oh Hi Oh. Lucky’s Oh Hi Oh won all six of his starts sprinting on the dirt.
Gengis Khani is a son of Dalakhani out of the b-grade Hennessy x Private Account mare Carol of the Bells. Carol of the Bells won eight races including four graded stakes during her career. All of her victories came at a mile or a mile and one sixteenth. She was well-beaten in three attempts at running further. Her first foal is Bluegrass Oaks winner Taylor’s Storm by Distorted Humor, who has never attempted running further than a mile and one eighth. Second foal Belle’s Glory by Street Cry seems to be the black sheep of the family with only one win in seven starts. Gengis Khani is her third foal and he became a Grade One winner in the Corkscrew Stakes. Carol of the Bells’ two year old by More Than Ready just broke his maiden last week in his second start.
Silverton is a son of Smart Strike based on the c-grade Silver Deputy x Dixieland Band horse Band of Silver. Band of Silver won three stakes races; one at one mile and two at a mile and three sixteenths. He was second by a nose in another stakes at a mile and one quarter and had an additional stakes third at that distance. Silverton won the Wooden Indian in his last start.
Major Alex – A three time graded winner last season, Major Alex is a son of the hot young Japanese sire Daiwa Major out of the f-grade Awesome Again x Storm Cat mare Beatbenwithastick. Beatbenwithastick won five starts in her career, all dirt sprints. Her first foal is the magnificent Champion Union Jack Flyer (by A.P. Indy) who won last season’s Breeders’ Bowl Distaff. Second foal Union Jack Express, a full sister to Union Jack Flyer has not lived up to the family’s expectations so far although she is still competing and could prove better with age.
Ras El Hanout – Undefeated on the dirt, Ras El Hanout is a son of Tanino Gimlet based on the f-grade Sadlers Wells x Forty Niner horse Covent Garden. Covent Garden did his best running in dirt routes, including two allowance wins at a mile and one quarter. Covent Garden is the only foal for his dam, f-grade Lady Witch.
Bolton Valley is a son of Belong To Me out of the h-grade Mr. Prospector x What Luck mare Luck Sliding. Luck Sliding has produced ten foals. Her first was graded winning millionaire sprinter Ms. Waqwhat by Waquoit. She has a six year old stakes winning daughter by Limehouse, another sprinter, and a four year old stakes winning son of Brahms who does his best running around a mile. In addition three of her other foals were stakes placed in their careers. Of What Luck’s five retired foals, only Ms. Waqwhat has gone on to produce a stakes winner.
Doctor Sax – The Eruption winner is a son of Giant’s Causeway based on the b-grade Dynaformer x Unbridled’s Song horse On the Road. On the Road was a multiple graded winner at or around one mile. He was the only stakes winner from four foals for his dam Freedom of Speech, although she did produce a stakes placed runner.
Letmegocrazyonu is a son of Eskendereya out of the c-grade Seeking the Gold x Nijinsky II mare Sim Fanatic. Letmegocrazyonu won the California Derby in his most recent start. That was the first stakes win of his career. Sim Fanatic won two stakes races, including one Grade Three, both at a mile and three sixteenths. She scored five victories going a mile and one quarter during her career. This is her only foal.
Skitzoid – The Vermont is 4 Lovers winner is a scratchbred son of Awesome Again x A.P. Indy x Storm Cat.
Proust – The Sand Castle Derby winner is a son of Zensational out of the f-grade Giant’s Causeway x Forty Niner mare Papito. Papito’s first foal was a filly by Tapit who won twice in twenty two starts. Her second foal is the multiple Grade One winning four year old Prenzlauerberg, also by Zensational. Prenzlauerberg was not as forward as a two year old as Proust was but he matured rapidly mid-way through his three year old season. Papito’s current two year old is a daughter of Zensational and she is already stakes placed in two starts.
Bluegrass Oaks
Fleetwood Fleury is a daughter of Any Given Saturday out of the b-grade Strike the Gold x Seattle Slew mare Fleetwood Mia. Fleetwood Mia was a millionaire and Grade One winner in dirt sprints. Her first foal Fleetwood Myers (by Mr. Greeley) was stakes placed with the same propensity. Second foal Elite Saturday is a full brother to Fleetwood Fleury and has scored graded victories as far as a mile and one quarter on the dirt. They also have a two year old full brother who broke his maiden last week.
Ensalata is a daughter of Medaglia D’oro out of the f-grade Fusaichi Pegasus x Kingmambo mare Morse Code. Morse Code’s first foal is a stakes winner by Ghostzapper. Her third foal, Galaxy Alliance is a Grade Three winner at one mile. He is a son of Dehere as is the four year old model out of Morse Code, who was stakes placed but has already been retired. Morse Code’s two year old is unraced.
Estrada is a scratchbred daughter of Curlin x A.P. Indy x Storm Cat, the same cross as Bluegrass Derby runner Lucky’s Franklin.
Medulla Oblongata is the second Medaglia D’oro in the field. She is out of the e-grade Awesome Again x Unbridled’s Song mare Pentagram. Pentagram was a stakes winner at one mile on the dirt. Medulla Oblongata is her first stakes runner from four foals including a winning two year old of 2012. Pentagram was the only stakes winner from five foals for her dam Five Son.
Made Indy USA is a daughter of A.P. Indy based on the f-grade Storm Cat x Alydar horse Lightening Wave. Lightening Wave won six races, none of them further than one mile.
Doubt’s About is a daughter of Redoute’s Choice out of the g-grade Seeking the Gold x Dixieland Band mare Old The Fertile. The seventeen year old mare has nine foals to race, including a two year old of 2012. She produced one other graded winner, the Doneraile Court horse Court Case who was a dirt sprinter.
Wonderful Dream is a daughter of Curlin out of the e-grade Vindication x Silver Charm mare Install This. Install This won one stakes race at a mile and three sixteenths. Wonderful Dream is her first foal and her two year old is unraced. Install This was a half-sister to No Installation (by Mineshaft) who was a Grade Three winner, also at a mile and three sixteenths.
Incredible Show is a daughter of Awesome Again out of the c-grade Gone West x Summer Squall mare Incredible Rip. Incredible Rip won six stakes at marathon distances on the dirt. Her second foal was the stakes winning mare Incredible Ghost (by Ghostzapper) who produced Incredible Phenom, a three year old daughter of Fusaichi Pegasus who is also a stakes winner. Third foal Incredible Rippa is a graded winner by Ghostzapper and fourth foal Incredible Log (by Big Brown) is stakes placed.
Rattle That Cage is a daughter of Danehill Dancer out of the g-grade Giant’s Causeway x Forty Niner mare All I Want. All I Want’s first foal is the graded winner Covet by Dansili. Her two foals between Covet and Rattle That Cage have not been of the same caliber. Although Rattle That Cage has not won a stakes race yet her strong second in the Grade Two Las Vegas In Spain Special suggests that she will certainly get one soon.
Final Exit is a daughter of Dynaformer out of the b-grade Seeking the Gold x Northern Dancer mare Heaven’s Gate. Heaven’s Gate was a grade two winning sprinter. She has produced nine foals to race, including a winning two year old of 2012. She has produced two other graded winners, Panhandling (by A.P. Indy and Arbor Day (by Forestry). She also has produced two listed stakes winners, In Perfect Stride (by Pleasantly Perfect) and Cancello Del Cielo (by Bernardini). She is also the ancestress of two other stakes winners.
Giant Zen is a daughter of Zensational (who also sired Derby runner Proust) based on the g-grade Storm Cat x Mr. Prospector horse Giant Move. Giant Zen is bred similarly to Proust who’s out of a Giant’s Causeway (by Storm Cat) x Forty Niner (by Mr. Prospector) mare.
Box of Time is a daughter of Montjeu out of the g-grade Kingmambo x Pleasant Colony mare Box of Pain. Box of Time is a full sister to the millionaire Artemis and Apollo, a multiple grade one winner. Box of Pain’s four year old daughter of Dynaformer, Box of Gold, was recently claimed by the Super empire for the bargain price of $30,000. Her two year old is by Cape Cross and is winless in one start.
Its Your Fault is a daughter of Blame out of the d-grade Vindication x Mr. Prospector mare B.K. Lounge. B.K. Lounge was grade two placed at one mile on the dirt during her career. Its Your Fault is her second foal and first stakes runner. B.K. Lounge is a half-sister to graded winner Watch Your Son (by Callous Doughboy).
Elusive Maam is a scratchbred daughter of Elusive Quality x Mr. Prospector x Deputy Minister.
Storm Saga is a daughter of Tale of Ekati based on the f-grade More Than Ready x Gone West horse Storm Fly. Storm Fly won most of his races at short distances but as a three year old he did capture a mile and one half allowance race. Storm Fly is a half-brother to stakes winner Stormcreeper (by Unbridled’s Song).
Stolen Away is a daughter of Fusaichi Pegasus out of the d-grade Vindication x Lear Fan mare Leinart. Leinart won two stakes races in turf sprints. Her first foal Stausburg (by Dynaformer) is stakes placed on the grass at one mile and looks likely to become a stakes winner this year. Stolen Away is her only other foal.
Secret Shuffler is a scratchbred daughter of Speightstown x Awesome Again x Tiznow.
Fine Point is a daughter of Indian Charlie out of the d-grade Point Given x Storm Bird mare I See Your Point. I See Your Point did not win a stakes race but placed twice in grade two dirt sprints. Her other two foals have yet to reach the winner’s circle in thirteen tries.
Summer Luxury is a daughter of Summer Bird out of the g-grade Deep Impact x Storm Cat mare Luxury Tax. This is her only foal. She won five races in her career, between a mile and three sixteenths and a mile and one half on the dirt. Luxury Tax is a half-sister to grade two winner Rattleshirt (by More Than Ready) and three other stakes winners.
Newbie’s Luck is a daughter of Special Week out of the b-grade Storm Cat x Mr. Prospector mare Newbie’s Dream. Millionaire Newbie’s Dream won the Grade One California Oaks as a three year old before going on to finish fourth in this race in 2001. Her first foal was Grade One winner Danzig With Sal (by Danzig), a miler. Second foal Beginner’s Luck (by Carson City) was also a stakes winner. Her four foals between Beginner’s Luck and Newbie’s Luck were anything but lucky as they each earned either stakes or graded stakes placings, without winning.