HRN: The Legacy of Tiznow

From now on, I will be posting a notice on this blog whenever I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog. These notices will include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .

Horse Racing Nation: Past the Grandstand: The Legacy of Tiznow

“Tiznow wins it for America!”

How appropriate Tom Durkin’s words were as the magnificent Tiznow crossed the wire in front in the 2001 Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) at Belmont Park. The courageous Thoroughbred had captured the same prestigious race in a comparable manner the previous year at Churchill Downs and under both circumstances, the impressive Tiznow had denied international superstars victories in his nation.

As spine-tingling as his first victory in the Classic was, it was his second triumph that truly touched the hearts of Americans. Tiznow defended his title in New York, the state in which less than two months earlier, a terrorist attack on the World Trade Center had left our country in mourning. Belmont Park was just miles from Ground Zero and reminders of what had happened on September were everywhere, including heightened security – such as snipers on the grandstand’s roof, police dogs, armed soldiers – and a special opening ceremony honoring those lost in the attacks. America needed the presence of a true American champion, an American Thoroughbred that could prove to be a hero on that autumn day in New York. . ."

Click here to read the rest of my Horse Racing Nation article.

After the Auction: Ketel Twist

As an avid fan of sales with possible aspirations to become an adviser/bloodstock agent, auctions are one of my favorite topics to write about on Past the Grandstand. “After the Auctions” feature horses I selected in sales that have found success after the sale. 

There are few things more frustrating than “second-itis.” Repeatedly finishing second with a horse you know has the talent to win can be incredibly disappointing, so one could easily assume the connections of Ketel Twist felt this frustration. In her first three starts, the filly – one of my selections from the 2012 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale – played the role of runner-up, never finishing more than 2 ¼ lengths behind the winner.

In her debut, which occurred at Belmont Park on July Fourth going six furlongs on the inner turf course, Ketel Twist raced mid-pack before closing keenly to miss winner, a heavy favorite, by 1 ¾ lengths. That favorite was Richies Party Girl, who would go on to finish a strong fourth in a group three event at Deauville in France.

Ketel Twist stretched out to a mile and one-sixteenth next out, traveling over the turf course at Saratoga a month later. Sent off as the favorite, the Bill Mott trainee was rank as she sat off the leader and was edged late by La Reine Bourbon. At the beginning of September, Ketel Twist started in a maiden special weight at Saratoga of the same conditions, tracking the pace as the lukewarm favorite. Despite running gamely, she was outdueled by Courtesan, one of my 2012 Keeneland September Yearling Sale selections who outshone her by a half-length.

Three weeks later, Ketel Twist resurfaced at Belmont Park, where she made her dirt debut after the one-mile maiden special weight had been taken off the turf. Setting a steady pace, Ketel Twist held off a rally from a longshot down the homestretch, gamely fighting to score by a head.

Pedigree Analysis

A daughter of the late Dixie Union, Ketel Twist shares her sire with the grade one winners Hot Dixie Chick, Overanalyze, and Union Rags. Dixie Union is a son of Dixieland Band, who has proven to be a respectable sire of sires, producing not only Dixie Union, but also Bowman’s Band and Dixieland Heat.

Ketel Twist’s dam, Frozen Treat, is a daughter of the late Dynaformer, which allows Ketel Twist to be bred on the same Dixieland Band/Dynaformer cross as the grade one-winning Sharp Lisa. Although Frozen Treat only won a single race from ten starts, she is a full sister to the graded stakes winner Masseuse and a half-sister to the stakes winners Buff and Second Performance. Frozen Treat herself is taking steps toward becoming a successful broodmare like her dam, as she has also produced the stakes winner Catrageous.

HRN: A Royal Showdown: Royal Delta vs. Princess of Sylmar

From now on, I will be posting a notice on this blog whenever I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog. These notices will include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .

A Royal Showdown: Royal Delta vs. Princess of Sylmar

"For quite some time now, she has proven her supremacy amongst the other female Thoroughbreds in the United States, capturing six grade one races – including two editions of the most significant race for her division. Dubbed as the current “Queen of Racing” by many, she has earned that title, dominating the female division as of late. Her name is Royal Delta.

But there is another leading lady proving her brilliance, posing as a threat towards Royal Delta. Once a filly that played the role of the underdog, she has now risen to the top of her class, winning three of the most important races in her division, stamping herself as the “princess” of that division. Her name is Princess of Sylmar.

These two royalties will clash on Saturday in the Beldame Invitational Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park. . ." 

Click here to read the rest of my newest Horse Racing Nation article.

After the Auction: Courtesan

As an avid fan of sales with possible aspirations to become an adviser/bloodstock agent, auctions are one of my favorite topics to write about on Past the Grandstand. “After the Auctions” feature horses I selected in sales that have found success after the sale. 

Numerous brilliant turf runners have been conditioned by Christophe Clement, including the champion Gio Ponti and the multiple grade one-winning Winchester. Can Courtesan, one of my selections from last year’s Keeneland September Yearling Sale, add her name to this list?

Courtesan debuted on the dirt at Saratoga, going seven furlongs in a maiden special weight originally scheduled for a mile and one-sixteenth on the grass. Against five other opponents, Courtesan finished nearly 15 lengths behind the top two finishers as she crossed the wire in third, 4 ½ lengths clear of her nearest rival. However, the sloppy surface likely contributed to the exaggerated distances between horses.

The following month, Courtesan had her chance to make her turf debut, facing nine other juvenile fillies in a mile and one-sixteenth maiden special weight. Racing over good going, Courtesan settled near the inside as she tracked the pace, galloping less than three lengths behind the frontrunner. Swinging wide around the far turn, Courtesan found room to run between competitors and partook in a battle with the favorite, Ketel Twist (who, ironically, was one of my selection's from last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale and would go on to win her subsequent start), down the homestretch to prevail by a half-length.

Pedigree Analysis

Courtesan is a daughter of 2007 Kentucky Derby winner, Street Sense. Since entering stud in 2008, Street Sense has proven to be a tremendous sire of fillies, siring the grade one-winning fillies Aubby K and Sweet Reason, the graded stakes-winning filly Unlimited Budget, and the additional stakes-winning females Ice Cream Silence, Sensible Lady, and Silverette. Street Sense is a son of the spectacular stallion Street Cry, who is perhaps best known for siring the great champion Zenyatta. Including Street Sense and Zenyatta, Street Cry has produced an astounding thirteen grade/group one winners.

This filly’s dam, Lady Discreet, is out of the Reine De Course mare Pretty Discreet, making her a half-sister to the grade one winners Discreet Cat and Discreetly Mine, as well as the stakes-winning, grade one-placed Pretty Wild and the graded stakes-placed Discreet Treasure. Lady Discreet is a daughter of Boundary, a son of the legendary sire Danzig. This Street Cry/Danzig sire line cross has produced the grade/group one winners Here Comes Ben, Lyric of Light, and Shocking, as well as the additional graded/group stakes winners Falls of Lora, Motor City, Princess Highway, Splash Point, Street Sounds, and Tallow.

SUCCESS SINCE THIS ARTICLE:
WON: Juvenile Filly Turf Stakes
3rd: Jessamine Stakes (GIII)

After the Auction: Zinzay

As an avid fan of sales with possible aspirations to become an adviser/bloodstock agent, auctions are one of my favorite topics to write about on Past the Grandstand. “After the Auctions” feature horses I selected in sales that have found success after the sale. 

No matter how talented a young racehorse that has not yet started may seem, the answer is not revealed until the true test: the horse’s performance on the racetrack. For Zinzay, the betting public certainly doubted her, allowing the well-bred filly to enter the starting gate for her debut at odds of nearly 20-1. But her connections had confidence in her. Whose opinion would she uphold?

Facing nine other juvenile fillies in a mile and one-sixteenth turf maiden special weight at Saratoga, Zinzay – while racing three paths off the rail – tracked the steady pace. After pressing the pace throughout, the daughter of Smart Strike began to make her move around the far turn as she set her sights on the favored leader, Hillhouse High. Dueling down the stretch with that rival, Zinzay triumphed by a neck in a good final time of 1:41.09.

After the race, Zinzay’s trainer, Rusty Arnold, told The BloodHorse’s Ron Mitchell, "I never expect them to pull out a victory. I expect them to run well. She had trained well and we thought she had performed well, and that's all you can ask for a 2-year-old first-time starter. Winning is just a bonus.”

Zinzay, a $700,000 two-year-old purchase at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton Florida Sale, was among my selections for the 2012 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, at which she sold for $250,000.

Pedigree Analysis

Zinzay is a daughter of the elite sire Smart Strike, who topped the North American sires list in 2007 and 2008. A Canadian Hall of Famer, Smart Strike is also the sire of the champions Curlin, English Channel, Lookin At Lucky, My Miss Aurelia, and Soaring Free. Smart Strike is a son of Mr. Prospector, one of the most influential stallions to ever live. The Mr. Prospector sire line has produced an astounding number of champions, including six Horse of the Year honorees in the United States.

Zinzay’s dam is Music Room, who is a half-sister to the multiple grade/group one winners Musical Chimes and Music Note, as well as the multiple graded stakes-winning steeplechaser Top of the Bill. Zinzay’s third through sixth dams are all Reine De Course mares, including It’s In The Air – a champion racehorse and dam of four black-type horses, including a graded stakes winner.

Zinzay’s maternal grandsire is the late Unbridled’s Song, who is also the broodmare sire of the grade one winners J. B.’s Thunder, The Lumber Guy, and Unbridled Command, as well as the additional graded stakes winners Alpha Kitten, Etched, Out of Bounds, and Super Ninety Nine.

Part Two: 2013 Keeneland September Yearling Sale

With 18 seven-figure yearlings and a gross that surpassed that of the 2012 sale by the seventh session, it is clear that the Keeneland September Yearling Sale has experienced remarkable gains. Covering this sale in a different manner than I have ever covered a sale, I selected eleven yearlings from three consignments based primarily on conformation, though pedigree was also considered. It is my hope that these athletically built youngsters will blossom into talented racehorses.

Of my eleven selections (each of which was featured in Part One), seven sold, three did not reach their reserves, and one was declared out of the auction. The seven that were purchased totaled $1,375,000 with an average price of $196,429. Listed below are my eleven selections, along with their sale price and buyer.

Hip 17: RNA ($340,000)

Hip 273: Red Wings, $160,000

Hip 595: XIB, Agent, $190,000

Hip 725: Willis Horton, $285,000

Hip 881: Top Racing LLC, $150,000

Hip 896: Niall Brennan, Agent, $80,000

Hip 922: Ben Glass, Agent, $310,000

Hip 1067: Lavin Bloodstock, Agent for Mark Grief, $200,000

Hip 1964: RNA ($120,000)

Hip 1969: OUT

Hip 2664: RNA ($67,000)

After the Auction: Mosler

As an avid fan of sales with possible aspirations to become an adviser/bloodstock agent, auctions are one of my favorite topics to write about on Past the Grandstand. “After the Auctions” feature horses I selected in sales that have found success after the sale.

Each year during the largest yearling auction in the world, the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, numerous young Thoroughbreds sell for six-figure prices. But whether these expensive youngsters ever blossom into successful racehorses is a gamble in and of itself. If they ever earn back that large sum is an even greater risk.

As for Mosler, he is progressing toward proving his $1.05 million price tag worthy. One of my selections at the 2012 September Sale, Mosler has earned $49,000 in two starts and although he has a long journey ahead to equal or surpass his purchase price, he exhibits the potential to do so.

A half-brother to the multiple grade one-winning Contested, Mosler debuted on August 10, 2013 at Saratoga, finishing fourth as the second betting choice. Both the runner-up and third-place finisher – Sound of Freedom and Tiznowforamerica, respectively – won their subsequent starts.

Approximately a month later, Mosler made the second start of his career at Belmont, facing six rivals in a one-mile maiden special weight over the dirt. Despite being brushed at the start, Mosler went straight to the lead, setting a steady pace down the Belmont backstretch. He only extended his lead from there, drawing away in the stretch to score by 3 ½ lengths.

In just two starts, Mosler has already exhibited professionalism, which speaks volumes about his potential. What the future holds for this Bill Mott trainee, owned by Adele Dilschneider, is unknown, but it certainly appears bright.

Pedigree Analysis

War Front
Photo by Terri Cage

Mosler is a son of the hottest sire in town, War Front. A graded stakes-winning son of Danzig, War Front has sired fifteen graded stakes winners to date since entering stud at the renowned Claiborne Farm in 2007. Among those fifteen horses are the grade/group one winners Data Link, Declaration of War, Summer Soiree, The Factor, and Warning Flag (Sweet Orange). Not only is War Front capable of producing a quality racehorse, but he has also proven to be a top commercial sire. Currently ranked as the ninth-leading sire of yearlings in the world, War Front is the sire of the current sale topper at the 2013 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, a $2.5 million son of the During mare Blading Gold Ring.

As aforementioned, Mosler is a half-brother to the multiple grade one-winning filly Contested. His dam, Gold Vault, is a daughter of Arch, a sire of seven grade one winners. As a broodmare sire, the grade one-winning son of spectacular dam sire Kris S has yielded the dams of the dual classic-winning champion I’ll Have Another, the multiple grade one-winning champion Uncle Mo, and the group stakes-winning Lines of Battle – the latter of which is bred on the same War Front/Arch cross as Mosler. Gold Vault is a half-sister to the multiple grade one-winning sire Pomeroy and a direct descendant of the Oaks Stakes-winning Imprudence II.

Part One: 2013 Keeneland September Yearling Sale

September marks the winding down of summer, the opening of the door for autumn. It is also home to the world’s largest, most important yearling auction: the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Each year, thousands of yearlings stroll through the sales ring in Lexington, Kentucky as bidders from around the globe place their bids upon the young Thoroughbreds. Although these horses are just a year old, at least two years’ work has been put into this auction. Matings were chosen, mares were bred and prepared to foal, foals were cared for, and yearlings were prepped. Through blood, sweat, tears, rain, snow, and heat, these horses have been meticulously prepared for this significant point in time. Those two years of hard work and dedication all come down to these moments.

Nearly 4,000 yearlings were entered in this year’s September Sale, outnumbering last year’s auction by about 300. Beginning on Monday (September 9) at noon (Eastern time), the auction will last until Saturday, September 21, spanning five books and twelve sessions. Book 1 will cover the first four days of the sale, offering the first 875 hips. Each of these sessions will begin at noon. After a break on Friday, September 13, the sale will resume on Saturday, September 14 and end on September 21, presenting the yearlings in Books 2 through 5, with each book covering two days. Each of these sessions will commence at 10:00 AM.

Prior to this year’s Fasig-Tipton July Sale, I had never attended an auction before. Due to this, I made all of my sale selections based solely off of pedigree – and movement in breeze shows for two-year-old sales – as I lacked the opportunity to study conformation as a result of not being present for the auctions I covered, although I knew it was incredibly important. But now, having attended the July Sale and the Fasig-Tipton Texas Summer Yearlings Sale, I have fully realized the significance of conformation and will no longer make sale selections without being able to analyze sale entrants’ conformation. However, thanks to three sales agencies’ posting of conformation shots of several of their consignments, I was able to study the conformation of numerous yearlings for this renowned auction. Although not the equivalent of analyzing a yearling firsthand, this gave me the opportunity to cover the sale I have yearned to cover all year despite not being able to attend: the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

A big thanks goes out to Denali Stud, Elm Tree Farm, and Three Chimneys Farm for posting conformation shots of several of their Keeneland September consignments. Because of these useful tools, I was able to select yearlings off of not only pedigrees, but my favorite component: conformation. Listed below are the eleven yearlings I selected from these consignments, along with information on when they are selling, their consignor, analyses of their pedigrees and conformation, and links to their conformation photos.

Note: I only selected yearlings from these three consignments, as they are the only sales agencies that posted conformation photos of most of their offerings in time for me to make selections. I chose no yearlings off of pedigree alone, as I used conformation as my most important deciding factor. 

Hip 17 – Consigned by Denali Stud (Craig and Holly Bandoroff), Agent XIII – Book 1, Session 1, Monday, September 9
Gray/roan colt; Tapit – Flock of Doves (Kingmambo)

A son of one of the top sires in the nation in Tapit, hip 17 is out of Flock of Doves – an unraced daughter of Kingmambo. Flock of Doves is a half-sister to the group one-winning highweight Pathfork. His third dam, the stakes-winning, group one-placed Imperfect Circle, is the dam of three black-type horses, including the multiple group one-winning highweight Spinning World.

A rather correct individual, hip 17 may be thick about the neck and slightly post-legged, but he is rather evenly balanced, being solid about the shoulder and topline. View his conformation photo here.

Hip 273 – Consigned by Three Chimneys Sales, Agent – Book 1, Session 2, Tuesday, September 10
Bay colt; Speightstown – Northern Station (Street Cry)

Sired by leading sire Speightstown, hip 273 is out of the black-type-winning mare Northern Station. His third dam produced three black-type horses – including the graded stakes-winning Polonius – and the dam of the graded stakes-winning Advice. This is the same family as the graded stakes-winning mares Ascutney and Words of War, who, between them, have produced the grade one winners Raven’s Pass and No Matter What – the dam of champion Rainbow View.

As a result of a sturdy, rather sloping shoulder, hip 273 boasts a short, durable topline, causing him to be very well-balanced and athletically built. The colt is very short-necked and slightly calf-kneed, but is otherwise breathtakingly correct. A conformation photo of hip 273 can be found on this page.

Hip 595 – Consigned by Elm Tree Farm LLC (Mr. and Mrs. Jody Huckabay), Agent IX – Book 1, Session 3, Wednesday, September 11
Dark bay/brown colt; Giant’s Causeway – Van Lear Rose (Stroll)

A son of the consistently elite sire Giant’s Causeway, hip 595 is the second foal out of Canadian champion Van Lear Rose. The Giant’s Causeway/A.P. Indy sire line cross on which this colt was bred has proven to be quite successful, producing the graded stakes winners Chief Havoc and Worth Repeating to date.

A colt of impressive muscularity, hip 595 displays a rounded, powerful hip that hints of great propulsion from the hind end. A very solid individual, hip 595 exhibits round muscles of great volume, but remains proportional, being short and compact over the topline. He is also very structurally correct when viewed from the side, being straight through the knees and correctly angled about the pasterns. View his conformation photo here.

Hip 725 – Consigned by Elm Tree Farm LLC (Mr. and Mrs. Jody Huckabay), Agent IV – Book 1, Session 4, Thursday, September 12
Bay colt; Tale of the Cat – Buddha Lady (Buddha)

Sharing his sire with the likes of the grade one winners Gio Ponti, Glamour Puss, Lion Heart, and Tale of Ekati, this son of Tale of the Cat is out of the black-type-winning mare Buddha Lady. This makes him a direct descendant of the foundation mare of family 1-n – the stakes-winning Reine De Course mare Chelandry – thus allowing hip 725 to descend from the same tail female line as the dual-classic-winning champion Swale, the grade one-winning, dual classic-placed Bodemeister, and the group one-winning Americain.

A uniquely-marked, flashy bay colt, hip 725 is a compact, balanced yearling who exhibits notable muscling. Perhaps his best feature is his powerful hip, which is long and full, which will likely provide hip 725 with great drive and impulsion from his hindquarters. View his conformation photo here.

Hip 881 – Consigned by Three Chimneys Sales, Agent – Book 2, Session 5, Saturday, September 14
Chestnut colt; Elusive Quality – Fiery Dancer (Atticus)

This colt’s sire, Elusive Quality, is best known for siring the dual-classic winning champion Smarty Jones, the multiple record-breaking grade one winner Quality Road, and the additional grade/group one winners Camarilla, Certify, Elusive City, Elusive Kate, Maryfield, Raven’s Pass, and Sepoy. Hip 881 is out of the black-type-winning mare Fiery Dancer, who is a full sister to the graded stakes-winning Atticus Kristy and a half-sister to the stakes-winning, graded stakes-placed Distorted Reality. This is the same family as 2011 Broodmare of the Year Oatsee, the dam of numerous graded stakes winners, including the grade one winners Lady Joanne and Shackleford.

Evenly balanced, hip 881 boasts a strong shoulder and back. Both proportional and muscular, the chestnut displays a powerful hip and heart girth, which hints at greater body capacity. A conformation photo of hip 881 can be found on this page.

Hip 896 – Consigned by Denali Stud (Craig and Holly Bandoroff), Agent XXVIII – Book 2, Session 5, Saturday, September 14
Dark bay/brown filly; Smart Strike – Giant’s Princess (Giant’s Causeway)

Bred on the same Mr. Prospectors/Giant’s Causeway sire line cross as the grade one-winning Evening Jewel, hip 896 shares her sire – Smart Strike – with numerous champions, including Curlin, English Channel, Lookin At Lucky, My Miss Aurelia, and Soaring Free. Her granddam, the graded stakes-winning Lotta Dancing, produced the graded stakes-winning Fantasticat, as well as Shootforthestars – the unraced dam of the grade one-winning Centralinteligence and three additional black-type runners. Hip 896’s third dam is Lotka, a grade one-winning daughter of Danzig.

Although thick and low-tying about the neck, hip 896 is balanced and proportional, being short about the topline and rather easily divided into thirds. She is quite muscular, having forearms and gaskins of notable volume, as well as a strong shoulder and long hip. View her conformation photo here.

Hip 922 – Consigned by Denali Stud (Craig and Holly Bandoroff), Agent XI – Book 2, Session 5, Saturday, September 14
Bay colt; Mineshaft – Hidden Cat (Storm Cat)

Hip 922 is sired by Mineshaft, Horse of the Year and sire of the grade one winners Dialed In, Discreetly Mine, and It’s Tricky. His dam, the black-type-winning Hidden Cat, has produced two black-type winners: Global Power and Pegasusbystorm. His granddam is the Canadian champion Alywow, who begat not only hip 922’s dam, but also the group stakes-winning Century City.

Although hip 922 possesses some structural flaws, he is well-balanced and athletically built, being both proportional and muscular. His depth of heart girth, length of hip, and volume of shoulder bespeak power. View his conformation photo here.

Hip 1067 – Consigned by Elm Tree Farm LLC (Mr. and Mrs. Jody Huckabay), Agent VI – Book 2, Session 5, Saturday, September 14
Gray/roan colt; More Than Ready – Red Hot Buddha (Buddha)

By elite sire More Than Ready, hip 1067 is a son of the black-type-winning mare Red Hot Buddha, who is a half-sister to a pair of black-type runners, including the graded stakes-placed Cue the Moon. His third dam produced the graded stakes-winning half-sisters Allamerican Bertie and Hurricane Bertie.

A stunning dark gray with a white face, hip 1067 is a breathtaking physical specimen, being not only very muscular, but also impeccably balanced. Having a strong, sloping shoulder that provides him with a short, sturdy topline, hip 1067 can easily be divided into equal thirds. View his conformation photo here.

Hip 1964 – Consigned by Denali Stud (Craig and Holly Bandoroff), Agent XIV – Book 3, Session 7, Monday, September 16
Gray/roan filly; Quality Road – Throbbin’ Heart (Smoke Glacken)

Hip 1964 is a member of Quality Road’s first crop. Quality Road, a multiple grade one winner who set numerous track records, is a son of the outstanding stallion Elusive Quality, who has sired nine grade/group one winners to date. Out of the stakes-winning Smoke Glacken mare Throbbin’ Heart, hip 1964 is a great-granddaughter of the dam of the graded stakes-winning, grade one-placed Count the Time, the stakes-winning granddam of the group one winner Foxwedge, and a pair of graded stakes-placed runners.

An exquisite gray/roan filly, hip 1964 flaunts a sleek, athletic build. She is a very structurally correct individual according to her conformation photo, having appropriately angled pasterns and forming a straight line through her knees. View her conformation photo here.

Hip 1969 – Consigned by Denali Stud (Craig and Holly Bandoroff, Agent – Book 3, Session 7, Monday, September 16
Bay colt; Stormy Atlantic – Toula (Bold Executive)

This colt shares his sire, Stormy Atlantic, with the grade one winners Get Stormy and Stormello, as well as the Canadian champion Leonnatus Anteas. His dam is a half-sister to the Canadian champion Sweetest Thing, in addition to the stakes-winning Medidocihospisurg and the stakes-placed Bold Thing.

Bearing an uncanny resemblance to his sire, hip 1969 is a colt of remarkable muscularity and noteworthy balance. Displaying a long, powerful hip and a heart girth of great depth, hip 1969’s build indicates strength and power. His strong, sloping shoulder allows his topline to be short and sturdy, accentuating his balance. View his conformation photo here.

Hip 2664 – Consigned by Three Chimneys Sales, Agent – Book 4, Session 9, Wednesday, September 18
Bay filly; Big Brown – Nicksappealinglady (Successful Appeal)

A daughter of dual classic winner Big Brown, hip 2664’s sire has also produced the stakes winners Brown Almightly, Bella Castani, and Shades of Sugar since entering stud in 2009. Out of a stakes-placed Successful Appeal mare, hip 2664’s third dam produced the multiple grade one-winning Ladies Din. This Danzig/Valid Appeal sire line cross is the same that produced the multiple grade one-winning Jersey Girl.

A very athletically built filly, hip 2664 is a well-balanced yearling, displaying a solid topline to support her proportional frame. Although leggy and quite dainty, the filly does display power in her shoulder and heart girth. Her conformation photo can be found on this page.

A summary of how these yearlings sell will be posted on Wednesday, September 18 or Thursday, September 19.

HRN: Strong Mandate: A Savvy Purchase

From now on, I will be posting a notice on this blog whenever I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog. These notices will include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .

Strong Mandate: A Savvy Purchase

"The most famous public auction in the Thoroughbred world, the Keeneland September Yearling Sale can easily be compared to a marathon.  With nearly two weeks to search for a potential champion, hopeful buyers have thousands of yearlings to analyze with hopes of finding that one special prospect. The large size of the sale is not the only reason its name is so well-known in the Thoroughbred industry; it also frequently proves to be a quality source for finding a successful racehorse, having offered two of the past five Kentucky Derby winners, four of the past five Preakness Stakes winners, three of the past five Belmont Stakes winners, and two of the past five Breeders’ Cup Classic winners. In 2013 alone, the sale has produced 29 grade/group one winners to date.

As if an endorsement for the upcoming Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Strong Mandate romped in the Hopeful Stakes (GI) at the most prestigious meet in the United States: Saratoga. Sold as hip 69 at last year’s September auction, Strong Mandate was purchased for $200,000 by Robert Baker and William Mack, who have campaigned the likes of the grade one winners Dublin, Grand Slam, and Scorpion – all trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas..."

Click here to read the rest of my newest Horse Racing Nation article.

Industrial Policy: All in the Family

“I never could have known when I wrote down Hip No. 50 in my journal of horses to watch at a nearby Fasig-Tipton sale in 2010 that it would lead to such an incredible journey. Each time I see my beloved Fifty, I know that if I had never had the courage to write Dolphus Morrison, I never would have essentially experienced what it felt like to own a racehorse while I was so young. I never would have led a horse onto the track at Churchill Downs as a young fan or come within inches of the great Zenyatta. And most of all, I know God has blessed me with a tremendous filly that will always be an important part of my life.” – OTTB Spotlight: Miss Fifty, December 2012

Miss Fifty’s racing days are over and with the conclusion of those days comes the end of tracking her workouts and races, replaced with feeding her grain and alfalfa every day – and of course treats that she demands she be given. She is now retired from the racetrack, where she earned $81,917 in 17 starts.

But while her career has come to an end, that of her three-year-old half-sister – Industrial Policy – is just beginning. Born just weeks before I met Miss Fifty, Industrial Policy and Fifty share the same dam in Copa de Oro (by Coronado’s Quest), but, whereas Miss Fifty is sired by Johannesburg, Industrial Policy is a daughter of Harlan’s Holiday.

As a two-year-old, Industrial Policy was purchased by Klaravich Stables for $75,000 at the OBS April Sale. Klaravich Stables, headed by Seth Klarman – the founder and president of one of the world’s largest hedge funds, The Baupost Group – is run in partnership with another successful businessman: William Lawrence, CEO and Chief Investment Officer of one of the world’s most distinguished alternative investment advisers. Like many horses that carry the white and red silks for Klaravich Stables, the daughter of Harlan’s Holiday was given a name with a financial theme.

Placed in the barn of Chad Brown – a young, successful trainer who had previously worked for the late Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel – Industrial Policy made her debut on December 16, 2012 at Aqueduct, encountering a field of five other two-year-old fillies in a maiden special weight going a mile and seventy yards over the inner track. Tracking the pace, Industrial Policy made a rally in the late stages, finishing a good second behind the runaway winner. Although she crossed the wire six lengths behind the winner, she was five lengths clear of the third-place finisher.

Industrial Policy’s respectable debut earned her favoritism in her second start, but the filly could only manage a third-place finish in a five-horse field. After another third-place effort at Aqueduct – this time in just a four-horse contest – Industrial Policy descended to the maiden claiming ranks.

In her first start at the claiming level, Industrial Policy was available for a $65,000 tag in a race that had been initially scheduled for the turf, but had been taken off the grass due to rain. Again, the blaze-faced filly finished third. Competing at the same level in her subsequent start – and this time on the turf – Industrial Policy made her Belmont Park debut, in which she made a notable late rally, only to come up a head short as she finished second.

This game effort earned a return to maiden special weight company, which came two and one-half months later at Saratoga. Remaining on the turf, Industrial Policy faced seven rivals in the mile and one-sixteenth contest. The filly closed from nearly the rear of the field to finish second, separated by the winner by just ¾ of a length.

On August 19, Industrial Policy went to post for her seventh lifetime start. Despite several good performances – she’d never finished worse than third – she’d yet to visit the winner’s circle. Staying in maiden special weight company on the grass, the Chad Brown trainee was extending to a mile and three-sixteenths – a furlong farther than she had ever traveled.

Breaking from the outside in a nine-horse field, Industrial Policy settled into her usual closing position near the back, racing three paths off the rail as the fillies entered the first turn. With five lengths separating her from the leader down the backstretch, Industrial Policy remained off the rail, racing alongside rivals as the horses neared the final bend.

Jose Ortiz, who had ridden the filly in her third start, gradually began to ask Industrial Policy to increase the pace around the far turn. As a contingent of horses battled for the lead at the top of the stretch, forming a wall before the daughter of Harlan’s Holiday, Industrial Policy was forced to swing widest of all in order to find racing room. Charging down the center of the track, Industrial Policy found her best stride at the sixteenth pole, suddenly accelerating impressively as she surpassed her opponents, kicking clear to win by an easy two lengths.

Now that Industrial Policy has finally earned a victory, more difficult battles await, as she will no longer face horses who have never won. But even though it took her seven attempts to break her maiden, she has been a very consistent runner who has never lacked ability. No matter what her future holds, Industrial Policy will have a loyal follower in me.

Pedigree Analysis

The first of Copa de Oro’s offspring to be sired by a stallion other than Johannesburg, Industrial Policy is a daughter of another grandson of Storm Cat, Harlan’s Holiday. A graded stakes winner as a two-year-old and a grade one winner at both three and four, Harlan’s Holiday was an outstanding racehorse, winning two of the most well-known Kentucky Derby (GI) prep races – the Florida Derby (GI) and Blue Grass Stakes (GI) – as a sophomore before capturing the Donn Handicap (GI) as a four-year-old prior to finishing second in the world’s richest race, the Dubai World Cup (GI).

Harlan’s Holiday has carried his brilliance into his stud career, which began at Airdrie Stud in Kentucky. Now standing at one of the nation’s premier farms, WinStar Farm, Harlan’s Holiday’s progeny have found success both in the sales ring and on the track since the earner of $3.6 million entered stud in 2004. In just his first crop, Harlan’s Holiday produced nine stakes winners, including the grade one-winning juvenile Into Mischief – who has blossomed into a successful sire himself.

Harlan’s Holiday has sired ten grade one horses to date, including the 2012 Champion Two-Year-Old Male Shanghai Bobby, the grade one-winning Majesticperfection, and Denis of Cork – who finished second in the Belmont Stakes (GI) and third in the Kentucky Derby. Harlan’s Holiday is currently ninth on this year’s list of leading sires in North America, on which he finished eleventh last year in terms of earnings. He ranked eighth among sires of stakes winners in 2012, for which he currently stands in sixth.

The sire of Harlan’s Holiday, Harlan, was a grade one-winning sprinter whose success as a sire – though respectable – does not match his own son’s achievements, although Harlan’s Holiday has not yet sired an equivalent to himself. Also the sire of the multiple grade one-winning Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes (GI) runner-up Menifee, Harlan is a son of the legendary Storm Cat. This of course makes Harlan’s Holiday a grandson of the tremendous sire, allowing him to share that status with several other notable stallions, including not only Johannesburg, but also First Samurai, Shamardal, and Wiseman’s Ferry.

The successful Storm Cat/Mr. Prospector sire line cross was brought to life with Industrial Policy. Ann and Jerry Moss of Zenyatta fame chose to keep their mare, Copa de Oro, with a sire from the Storm Cat line, choosing Harlan’s Holiday. This cross has produced many of Harlan’s Holiday’s graded stakes winners, including Denis of Cork, General Election, Mendip, Notacatbutallama, and Willcox Inn. The Storm Cat/Mr. Prospector cross in general has been incredibly productive, yielding the likes of the grade one winners Aragorn, Book Review, Denebola, Finder’s Fee, Ghanaati, Mani Bhavan, and One Cool Cat.

Copa de Oro is a daughter of Coronado’s Quest, a multiple grade one-winning son of champion Forty Niner. Coronado’s Quest, a homebred for Stuart S. Janney III, has also served as the broodmare sire of the grade one winners Boys at Tosconova and Mani Bhavan, as well as the additional graded stakes winners Delaunay and Mendip.

Although winless in her six starts, all three of Copa de Oro’s foals that have raced have found the winner’s circle, each of them earning at least $60,000. Her first foal, a Johannesburg colt named Gold Cup Kid, won four of his twelve starts, earning $61,530 while only once running outside the claiming or starter allowance ranks. Miss Fifty, her second foal, garnered $81,917 in her seventeen-race career, capturing five of those starts.

Industrial Policy, although she has only won once thus far, is arguably Copa de Oro’s best foal yet, having earned $100,000 while only running for a tag twice. With a win at America’s most prestigious meet, Industrial Policy has shown perhaps the most class of any of Copa de Oro’s offspring.

Copa de Oro’s dam is the multiple stakes-winning Slide Show, who produced the graded stakes-winning, multiple grade one-placed Voodoo. Slide Show, a daughter of the stakes-placed Screen Landing, is a half-sister to the black-type winner Goodie Good Girl and the black-type-placed runners Boomer Land and Western Flick.

Through her dam, Industrial Policy is a direct descendant of the Reine De Course mare Astrology, a stakes-placed English-bred mare who produced the stakes-winning leading sire Star Shoot, who sired the first American Triple Crown winner, Sir Barton. As a descendant of female family nine, Industrial Policy is a member of the same family as Alydar, Bull Lea, Mahmoud, Shergar, Urban Sea, and Upset.

HRN: Game On Dude: Better with Age?

From now on, I will be posting a notice on this blog whenever I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog. These notices will include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .

Game On Dude: Better with Age?

"What does it take to earn respect in the Thoroughbred racing industry? Does it take an Eclipse Award? A Breeders’ Cup triumph? Perhaps a grade one win on the East Coast?

Game On Dude has accomplished none of the above, but that certainly does not mean he’s not one of the best horses in training. Though the six-year-old gelding does not always receive the great respect he deserves, he is abundantly admired and adored. Having raced at nine different tracks since his career began in January of 2010, Game On Dude has been hard to ignore, contesting in twenty-four graded stakes throughout his career, which has spanned twenty-seven starts to date..."

Click here to read the rest of my newest Horse Racing Nation article.

Please enjoy these photos of "The Dude" by Casey Phillips. Like her photography page on Facebook here.

Photo by Casey Phillips

Photo by Casey Phillips

Photo by Casey Phillips

After the Auction: Fascinating

As an avid fan of sales with possible aspirations to become an adviser/bloodstock agent, auctions are one of my favorite topics to write about on Past the Grandstand. “After the Auctions” feature horses I selected in sales that have found success after the sale. *Note: If an “After the Auction” features a two-year-old, it will also be listed as a “Juvenile Spotlight.”

$1.3 million is the price tag attached to Fascinating’s name. A half-sister to the brilliant grade one winner Bodemeister, the filly sold for this large amount at the 2012 Keeneland September Yearling Sale as the third-highest priced yearling and one of my selections at the near-two-week-long auction.

Put into training with the same Hall of Fame trainer as Bodemeister, Bob Baffert, Fascinating finished third in a pair of maiden special weights at Del Mar at the beginning of her career. Tracking the pace in each of these contests, Fascinating could do no better than third, though she closed more impressively in her second start than she did in her debut.

Despite having never won a race, the Virginia-bred filly’s connections thought highly enough of her to enter her in the Del Mar Debutante Stakes (GI). Facing seven other talented juvenile fillies, Fascinating broke slowly and, as a result, raced near the back of the pack as the field galloped down the backstretch. With nearly 10 lengths separating her from the leaders, Fascinating remained comfortable as the trailer as the fillies entered the far turn.

Under Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, Fascinating began to make her move, swinging to the outside and making slight contact with Bajan around the bend while struggling to change to the desired lead while doing so. Once she found her best stride, however, her turn of foot devastated her nearby rivals as she raced toward She’s A Tiger. In spite of her impressive closing run, Fascinating ran out of time and distance, finishing a diminishing ½-length behind the winner.

Although Fascinating is still a maiden, she has proven herself as an incredibly talented filly. Without ever visiting the winner’s circle, the filly has found stakes success and is sure to find more in the future.

Pedigree Analysis

Obviously, being a half-sibling to a grade one-winning, multiple classic-placed horse in Bodemeister, Fascinating stems from a strong female family. Her dam is the graded stakes-winning mare Untouched Talent, who earned over $240,000 in her career. Untouched Talent’s bloodlines bring to the table a large amount of powerhouse sires. She is a daughter of the great sire Storm Cat, who is also an incredibly successful broodmare sire, being the damsire of brilliant horses such as the champions Folklore and Speightstown, as well as several grade one winners, including Dialed In, Sky Mesa, and Sidney’s Candy. Untouched Talent is also a granddaughter of the great sire A.P.Indy, who is the sire of her multiple graded stakes-winning dam Parade Queen. In just her first five generations, Untouched Talent traces back to a plethora of influential sires, including Northern Dancer, Roberto, Bold Ruler, Princequillo, Nijinsky, and Buckpasser. Notably, she is a direct descendant of the foundation mare of family 1-n – the stakes-winning Reine De Course mare Chelandry – thus allowing Fascinating to descend from the same tail female line as the dual-classic-winning champion Swaleand the group one-winning Americain.

Fascinating is a daughter of the elite sire Smart Strike, who topped the North American sires list in 2007 and 2008. A Canadian Hall of Famer, Smart Strike is also the sire of the champions Curlin, English Channel, Lookin At Lucky, My Miss Aurelia, and Soaring Free. Smart Strike is a son of Mr. Prospector, one of the most influential stallions to ever live. The Mr. Prospector sire line has produced an astounding number of champions, including six Horse of the Year honorees in the United States.