Stallion Feature: Shackleford

Some paragraphs drawn from "Shackleford: A Charismatic Superstar" and "Recent Remarkable Broodmares"

Shackleford
Photo by Terri Cage

Taking a chance on a new stallion is, in the words of Forrest Gump, “…like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” Like a beautiful piece of chocolate that makes your mouth water just by the sight of it but then causes you to gag due to its horrid taste, a horse can enter his new life as a stallion with high hopes pinned upon him, but become a failure in the breeding shed. On the other hand, a young stallion can waltz into a stud career and take the Thoroughbred breeding industry by storm like that phenomenal piece of chocolate that leaves you wishing there were duplicates in the box.

So will Shackleford become a piece of chocolate that you regret tasting, or will he be one of the delicious treats that makes you realize why you bought the box in the first place? If his racing endeavors and stunning pedigree are any indication, Shackleford’s upcoming stud career looks to be a delectable one worth taking a chance on.

Following a ninth-place debut at Keeneland, Shackleford never raced over a synthetic surface again, redeeming himself in his second race by gamely capturing a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Churchill Downs, in which he defeated eventual 2012 Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) victor Fort Larned to culminate his brief juvenile campaign.

Shackleford commenced his sophomore season with a 2 ¼-length victory in an allowance event at Gulfstream Park, defeating Fort Larned yet again, as well as the stakes-placed and eventual graded stakes-placed Casper’s Touch and the stakes-winning Strike Oil. After finishing fifth in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (GII), Shackleford yet again made amends, battling Dialed In down the stretch of the Florida Derby (GI) to miss by a scant head at odds of nearly 69-1.

It was on to the Kentucky Derby (GI) for the blazed-faced Dale Romans trainee, in which Shackleford set the pace of the prestigious ten-furlong race, holding the advantage on the field as the horses turned for home. For a moment, Shackleford appeared to be the next victor of the Run for the Roses, but was run down in the stretch by eventual Champion Three-Year-Old Male, Animal Kingdom, finishing a game fourth.

But it was Shackleford’s next race that served as one of the defining moments of the horse’s career. Rather than setting the pace, Shackleford raced just off the quick, front-running Flashpoint, striking to the lead at the beginning of the far turn. He continued to hold the lead as the Thoroughbreds entered the homestretch, jockey Jesus Castanon urging him to maintain his advantage on his rivals. The Derby winner closed on the outside as Shackleford changed leads in late stretch, gaining ground on Shackleford as the wire grew closer. But Shackleford dug deep, exhibiting tremendous grit and determination as he held off Animal Kingdom to win the classic mile and three-sixteenths race by a half-length.

Shackleford at the 2011 Breeders' Cup
Photo by Terri Cage

Following a fifth-place performance over a sloppy track in the grueling Belmont Stakes (GI), Shackleford again showed his willingness to fight for victory in the Haskell Invitational Stakes (GI), finishing just a neck behind Coil. Less than a month later, Mike Lauffer and Bill Cubbedge’s homebred crossed the wire a lackluster eighth in the ten-furlong Travers Stakes (GI).

Shackleford then shortened up in distance, contesting in the Indiana Derby (GII), which would be his first time to race under nine furlongs since his maiden. The horse finished second behind Wilburn in that contest prior to starting in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI) at Churchill Downs, in which he again ran second, this time to the brilliant Caleb’s Posse. Despite not visiting the winner’s circle afterwards, Shackleford ran a terrific race in the 2011 Dirt Mile, pressing the pace and holding the lead until being overtaken by Caleb’s Posse.

After a very tough sophomore campaign spent in the company of the best of his crop, Shackleford returned in February 2012 as a four-year-old, finishing a dull seventh in the nine-furlong Donn Handicap (GI). Following two months away from the races, Shackleford again shortened up in distance, competing in the Carter Handicap (GI) at Aqueduct, in which the classic winner finished behind the grade one winners Jackson Bend and Caleb’s Posse.

In his following start, Shackleford returned to the winner’s circle for the first time since his triumph in the Preakness after battling 2011 Champion Sprinter Amazombie down the stretch of the Churchill Downs Stakes (GII), prevailing by a determined length in a final time that was just .22 seconds off the track record set by the brilliant Groupie Doll two races later. The blaze-faced fan favorite made it back-to-back victories by taking the renowned Metropolitan Handicap (GI), also known as the Met Mile, in his subsequent start.

Shackleford
Photo by Terri Cage

In the Met Mile, Shackleford contested against three other grade one winners, including his rival Caleb’s Posse. He broke very sharply, going straight to the lead down Belmont’s backstretch to set a brisk first quarter of 22.77. Extending his advantage on the others to 1 ½ lengths as the field began their journey into the wide, sweeping turn at Belmont, Shackleford completed the initial half-mile in a blistering 44.73; he had completed the second quarter-mile .81 seconds faster than the first one. With John Velazquez aboard for the first time due to an injury suffered by regular rider Jesus Castanon ten days earlier, Shackleford proceeded to hold the lead as the field turned for home. His white blaze led the charge of six talented Thoroughbreds into the long Belmont homestretch as Shackleford began to open up on the others. Though Caleb’s Posse was charging on the outside, growing closer to Shackleford with each and every stride, Shackleford dug in to hold off Caleb’s Posse, who appeared to have hung just slightly, to win by a nose before galloping out well ahead of the others. The final time for eight furlongs was a spectacular 1:33.30, just over a second off the track record.

Contesting over a muddy track in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (GI) next out at Saratoga, Shackleford finished last, adding to his lack of victories over a wet track, a surface he never won upon. Despite his uninspiring performance, Shackleford was entered in the seven-furlong Forego Handicap (GI) a month later, but was scratched due to a cough. The chestnut returned at the end of September, going to post in the one-mile Kelso Handicap (GII) at Belmont, in which Shackleford set a brisk pace prior to being overtaken by Jersey Town, crossing the wire as the runner-up.

Shackleford then shipped to Southern California for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI), which had been his goal for several months in the making. But to the fan favorite’s misfortune, Shackleford stumbled at the start and never gathered enough momentum throughout the race to gallop along better than third, finishing seventh. But the Dale Romans trainee was not to end his career on a sour note.

“Shack” – as his connections and an abundance of fans have lovingly nicknamed him – made his final start at a track over which he enjoyed running, Churchill Downs, in the Clark Handicap (GI). Going nine furlongs for the first time since the Donn and being ridden by Jesus Castanon, who had been his regular jockey prior to being injured just before the Met Mile, for the first occurrence since the Churchill Downs Stakes, Shackleford emerged from the gate cleanly, quickly advancing to the lead. The classic victor held an approximate one-length lead over 2012 Florida Derby (GI) winner Take Charge Indy as the field raced past the stands for the initial time, galloping along easily as the Thoroughbreds rounded the clubhouse turn. Through a steady first quarter of 24.31, Shackleford led his rivals by 1 ½ lengths down the backstretch under Castanon’s firm hold. Appearing very comfortable along the far straightaway, Shackleford posted an initial half-mile split of 48.65, maintaining his easy lead. His opponents loomed large around the final curve, but it was clear that Castanon still had “plenty of horse” beneath him as the field turned for home. Displaying the tremendous heart and perseverance that has become a Shackleford trademark, the four-year-old held off the charges of his challengers down the stretch, easily repelling them as he coasted to a one-length victory to culminate his career.

Shackleford preparing for the 2012 Breeders' Cup
Photo by Terri Cage

Shackleford’s career was one marked by durability and versatility. A horse that remained sound throughout his racing years, Shackleford competed ten times as a three-year-old – more than any male sophomore champion in their three-year-old campaigns since War Emblem in 2002 – and eight times as a four-year-old. His total of twenty career starts exceeds the number of lifetime starts made by four of the last five different horses to be crowned Horse of the Year. In addition, in 2011, Shackleford was one of just three horses to compete in each race of the taxing Triple Crown. Notably, Shackleford won at four different distances, from a range of seven furlongs to a mile and three-sixteenths.

Not only does a victory in the “stallion-making” Met Mile bode well for Shackleford’s chances at becoming a lucrative sire when he enters stud in 2013 at Darby Dan Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, but his parentage does as well. Both of his parents have been very successful producers themselves. His sire, Forestry, has sired such grade one winners as Diplomat Lady, Discreet Cat, and Forest Danger. His dam, Oatsee, was voted 2011 Broodmare of the Year and, aside from Shackleford, has produced the graded stakes winners Afleeting Lady, Baghdaria, and Lady Joanne. 

Notably, Forestry’s sire – Shackleford’s grandsire – is Storm Cat, one of the greatest sires to ever live. The very successful stallion was also very effective as a sire of sires, producing such sires as Bluegrass Cat, Giant’s Causeway, and Hennessy. This certainly augurs well for Shackleford, as Storm Cat is the grandsire of such productive stallions as Johannesburg and Shamardal.

Shackleford at Santa Anita
Photo by Terri Cage

The Northern Dancer sire line from which Shackleford descends is certainly among the most influential ones of the breed. In the 1970s, the Canadian-bred champion was the leading sire once in North America and four times in the United Kingdom, as well as the twentieth century’s most successful sire. Northern Dancer’s stud record was astounding, as the son of Canadian Hall of Famer Nearctic was an incredible producer of successful racehorses, sires, sires of sires, and broodmares. Among his best sons were the champions Nijinsky and Sadler’s Wells, both of which became leading sires, the latter of which was the leading sire in the United Kingdom for an astonishing thirteen consecutive years and for a total of fourteen years.

Shackleford’s dam, Oatsee, raced twenty-one times, retiring with earnings of $106,945. Her first foal was Grand Portege, an earner of over $100,000 who contested in two black-type races. Her first “big horse” was Baghdaria, who won a trifecta of grade threes. Then came Lady Joanne, who was a graded stakes winner as a juvenile that went on to win a pair of graded stakes as a sophomore, including the ten-furlong Alabama Stakes (GI). Oatsee continued her success with Afleeting Lady, a graded stakes-winning daughter of Afleet Alex. Shackleford is, of course, Oatsee’s best offspring yet, having earned $3,090,101 during a career that saw him capture three grade ones. Oatsee is also the dam of the stakes-placed Stephanoatsee.

The sire of Oatsee, Unbridled, was not only a terrific sire and sire of sires, but he is also proven as a broodmare sire, being the damsire of the grade one winners Dream Rush and Tapit, as well as the graded stakes-winning runners Apart, Denis of Cork, and No Inflation. Oatsee is inbred 4 X 4 to In Reality, who yielded a spectacular one hundred fifty stakes winners as a broodmare sire. She also has two crosses of the great mare Aspidistra in her pedigree. Aspidistra, a Reine De Course dam, was the dam of the Hall of Famers Dr. Fager and Ta Wee, the graded stakes-winning Chinatowner, the stakes-winning A. Deck, and the graded stakes-placed Highbinder. From her fourth through eighth dams, Oatsee traces back to five Reine De Course mares. Most notable is Tamerett, who produced the champion Known Fact, the multiple grade one-winning Tentam, the grade two-winning Terete, the stakes-winning Tamtent, and the dams of the grade one winners Gone West and Tappiano.

As aforementioned, Shackleford’s damsire, Unbridled, sired the dam of Tapit, who was the third-leading North American sire of 2011. Unbridled himself was a very effective sire of sires, producing the successful sires Broken Vow, Empire Maker, and Unbridled’s Song.

Shackleford, a fan favorite at the racetrack, is a horse that will not soon be forgotten, as we have not yet heard the last from him. Racing fans have eagerly followed him throughout his career, moved by his tenacious victories and entertaining antics. And now that the popular chestnut has retired to the breeding shed, fans will await his foals, which will grace racetracks as spectators flock to see them, ready to see them carry on Shackleford’s charisma and brilliance. Shackleford’s career wasn’t perfect, but his journey, which exuded class, personality, and durability, ended on a textbook note, serving as the perfect ending to set him up for his next career.

Farewell, Shackleford!
Photo by Terri Cage

Recent Remarkable Broodmares

With their majestic stature, large stud fees, often impressive racing records, fans’ occasional ability to visit them, and their immense amount of offspring, stallions generally garner the most attention of Thoroughbred breeding stock. The highest quality, most productive sires typically produce well over one hundred foals annually and therefore, they are much more well-known than Thoroughbred broodmares.

Photo by Terri Cage

However, the mares are extremely significant as well. More often than not, top racehorses have impressive dam lines. Yet, it is not as common for a mare to produce more than one successful horse as it is for a stallion. For this reason, any broodmare that is capable of producing more than one productive racehorse is held in high regards.

Racing fans frequently enjoy watching siblings to their favorite racehorses contest before the grandstand, powering down the stretch like their famous sibling had done. However, it is frequent that these siblings to superstars are often much less talented than their more accomplished brother or sister. The offspring of La Ville Rouge, the dam of Barbaro, come to mind. Though she is a very successful broodmare, she has never produced another foal anywhere near as brilliant as Barbaro. Recent broodmares who have had solely one superstar include Sherriff’s Deputy (the dam of Curlin), Here I Go (the dam of Summerly), and Belle’s Good Cide (the dam of Funny Cide).

It is broodmares that produce more than one outstanding foal that are held in the highest regard. Those that produce several graded stakes winners become known as “blue hens,” a term used for mares that produce several successful racehorses. Often, these mares become influential in the dam lines of Thoroughbreds and if they remain very effective, they could become a Reine De Course (Queen of the Turf) mare, which is a broodmare who becomes very famous, influential, and important in the pedigrees of Thoroughbreds. Such mares include the greats La Troienne, Alcibiades, and Somethingroyal. We have seen many magnificent broodmares as of late and I have chosen nine of them to feature.

Baby Zip: Following a racing career that saw her win a stakes race and a total of over $60,000, Baby Zip retired to life as a broodmare. Her third foal was the first one who made an impact. City Zip, a son of Carson City, won several graded stakes races throughout his career and also placed in several, including three grade ones. Two years after delivering City Zip, Baby Zip produced her fifth foal, which would grow into Ghostzapper. After a three-year-old campaign in which he was a successful grade one-winning sprinter, the horse put together a Horse of the Year campaign, capping it off with a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI). He came back the next year to win the Metropolitan Handicap (GI). Both horses have gone on to be successful sires and Ghostzapper was recently elected to the Hall of Fame. Baby Zip is also the dam of the graded stakes-winning City Wolf.

City Zip
Photo by Terri Cage

Indications that Baby Zip would be a good broodmare are present in her pedigree. Her sire, Relaunch, is the damsire of such horses as the champion Forever Together, as well as the grade one victors Ad Valorem, House Party, Negligee, Passing Shot, Pure as Gold, Starrer, and Stellar Jayne. In addition, her dam is the multiple stakes-winning and grade one-placed daughter of the Reine De Course mare Sailaway, who also produced the stakes-winning Cutter Sam. She also descends from female family twenty-three, which has yielded the dams of the champions Affirmed, Big Drama, Dance Smartly, and Mine That Bird.

For her obvious success as a broodmare, Baby Zip was voted Broodmare of the Year in 2005. As a dam of a champion and two other graded stakes winners, Baby Zip is clearly a very prosperous broodmare. The fact that she has sired two successful sires suggests that she could be considered a Reine De Course mare before long, as she could have great impact on many Thoroughbreds’ pedigrees.

Better Than Honour: Already considered a Reine De Course mare, Better Than Honor was a successful horse before she even headed to the breeding shed. At the races, she won the Demoiselle Stakes (GII) via disqualification, ironically defeating La Ville Rouge. She then ran second in both the Comely Stakes (GII) and the Acorn Stakes (GI) prior to finishing third in the Mother Goose Stakes (GI) to end her career.

Her first foal was a daughter of Storm Cat named Teeming, who won the final three starts of her career. Then her third foal, Jazil, came along. The son of Seeking the Gold ran second in the Wood Memorial Stakes (GI) prior to finishing fourth in the prestigious Kentucky Derby (GI). Five weeks after his good performance in the Run for the Roses, Jazil took the renowned third leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes (GI). The same year Jazil took home the carnations after winning New York’s biggest race, a filly that would become Better Than Honour’s best foal debuted. Her name was Rags to Riches. The next year, the daughter of A.P. Indy won four grade ones, including the Kentucky Oaks (GI) and the Belmont Stakes (GI). With Rags to Riches’ win in the Test of the Champion, Better Than Honour became the only mare to produce two Belmont winners. Impressively, a year later, she had a top contender for the Belmont in Casino Drive after the Japan-based son of Mineshaft won the Peter Pan Stakes (GII). However, a foot bruise kept him out of the Belmont. The colt went on to become a stakes winner and group one-placed runner in Japan. Better Than Honour’s next foal, Man of Iron, went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Marathon. In 2008, Better Than Honour brought the highest price ever for a broodmare, when she sold for $14 million at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale.

As a daughter of Deputy Minister, Better Than Honour is a granddaughter of the very successful sire, sire of sires, and broodmare sire, Vice Regent. Deputy Minister was a tremendous broodmare sire as well, being the damsire of the champions Curlin and Halfbridled, the multiple group one-winning Kane Hekili, the Belmont Stakes-winning Sarava, and the grade one-winning Bob and John. Better Than Honour also hails from a very strong dam line, being a daughter of the Kentucky Oaks (GI)-winning dam of two other group stakes winners. The third dam of Better Than Honour is Best in Show, a Reine De Course mare and the 1982 Broodmare of the Year. As a descendant of female family eight, Better Than Honour is a member of a prolific female family that has produced the dams of the great horses Bold Ruler, Nijinsky II, Ruffian, and Whirlaway.

As 2007 Broodmare of the Year and a mare that is already listed as a Reine De Course mare, Better Than Honour is already considered to be one of the greatest Thoroughbred producers of all-time. Should her foals become at least fairly productive, she could certainly leave a lasting impact on Thoroughbred bloodlines.

Dear Birdie: Her racing career saw her go to post twenty times, once placing in a black-type race. She had a decent career on the track, but Dear Birdie was far more successful on the breeding farm. For several years, however, she appeared to be a flop in the breeding shed. Her first black-type horse was her seventh foal, Mountain Bird, who finished second in a grade two at Keeneland in his only stakes performance. Dear Birdie experienced a breakthrough with her next foal – a filly by Cape Town that would grow up to be the multiple grade one-winning champion Bird Town, who captured the Kentucky Oaks (GI). Dear Birdie was on a roll; her following foal was Birdstone, the multiple grade one winner who spoiled the beloved Smarty Jones’  bid for the Triple Crown. She has since produced the stakes-placed So Long Birdie.

Dear Birdie is sired by Storm Bird – the stallion famous for producing the great sire Storm Cat. Storm Bird was not only a top sire and sire of sires, but also a productive damsire. The son of Northern Dancer was the broodmare sire of the grade one winners Commentator, Court Vision, Medicean, Sand Springs, and Stay Thirsty. Dear Birdie’s own broodmare sire, the champion Silent Screen, was also the damsire of such horses as the grade one-winning horses Peter Davies and Secret Hello, the graded stakes-winning runners Yourmissinthepoint, and the multiple black-type-winning and graded stakes-placed Slide Show. The dam of Dear Birdie was the multiple graded stakes-winning Hush Dear, which makes Dear Birdie a direct descendant of three Reine De Course mares.

Honored as 2004 Broodmare of the Year, Dear Birdie has already been dubbed a Reine De Course mare. This is logical, considering she is the dam of the sire of both a Kentucky Derby (GI) winner and a Belmont Stakes (GI) victor. Dear Birdie has clearly left a large impact on the Thoroughbred racing world and should her offspring continue to be productive, her presence in a horse’s pedigree could be very beneficial.

Lisa Danielle: Though not very successful on the track, Lisa Danielle has been very lucrative as a broodmare. Lisa Danielle was productive immediately; her first foal, Our Royal Dancer, was a stakes winner. She later produced the multiple graded stakes-winning and grade one-placed Successful Dan and the brilliant grade one-winning victor of many graded stakes races, Wise Dan. Within less than two weeks of each other, both Successful Dan and Wise Dan scored in graded stakes races in Kentucky while setting new track records.

By the South African Horse of the Year Wolf Power, Lisa Danielle provides her offspring with the same damsire as the multiple grade one-winning Milwaukee Brew. Interestingly, Lisa Danielle’s broodmare sire is the great Secretariat, who was not only tremendous as a racehorse, but also as a damsire. Big Red is also the broodmare sire of such horses as the great Thoroughbreds A.P. Indy, Chief’s Crown, Gone West, and Storm Cat. Lisa Danielle also has power in her dam line, as her fourth dam is the Reine De Course mare Vali, who not only produced the tremendous racehorse and sire Val De Loir, but also the dam of the graded stakes-winning Savannah Dancer. Lisa Danielle also features two crosses of the excellent broodmare sire Princequillo in her pedigree. Princequillo is not only the damsire of Secretariat, but also the champions Key to the Mint and Mill Reef. The son of Prince Rose was the leading North American broodmare sire an incredible eight times.

Though Lisa Danielle has not produced multiple grade one winners yet, she could certainly be on her way to that feat, as both Wise Dan and Successful Dan are making big impressions at the track currently. Lisa Danielle’s breeding certainly implied that she’d be a successful producer and she has certainly lived up to those expectations.

Mining My Own: A result of the mating between the grade one-winning Smart Strike and the stakes-placed Vice Regent mare Aspenelle, Mining My Own never made it to the races. Rather, she visited Birdstone in 2005 at Gainesway Farm. Approximately eleven months later, the chestnut mare delivered a bay colt. He grew up into a small gelding named Mine That Bird and as a juvenile, he won two ungraded stakes and a graded stakes at Woodbine, earning divisional honors in Canada. Two months into the next year, Mining My Own foaled her third colt – a chestnut by Even the Score. It was just three months later that Mine That Bird became the second longest shot ever to win the Kentucky Derby (GI) before finishing in the money in both the Preakness Stakes (GI) and Belmont Stakes (GI). Though Mine That Bird never won again after his victory in the Run for the Roses, the colt that was foaled just months before he won the Derby would continue to add to Mining My Own's value. The colt by Even the Score was named Dullahan and in his first career victory, he won the Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity (GI). Six months later, he won the Blue Grass Stakes (GI) prior to finishing third in the Kentucky Derby (GI). Mining My Own is also the dam of Brother Bird, an earner of over $155,000 who once finished third in the Star of Cozzene Stakes, defeating the grade one-winning Jackson Bend.

Dullahan
Photo by Terri Cage

Mining My Own’s pedigree certainly supports her as far as being a successful broodmare goes. Her sire, Smart Strike, is the damsire of such horses as the champion and Queen’s Plate Stakes (10F)-winning Inglorious, the Hollywood Gold Cup (GI, 10F)-winning First Dude, and the group two-winning Strong Return. The sire of her dam, Aspenelle, was the Canadian Hall of Famer Vice Regent, who has sired the dams of the Canadian Horse of the Year Benburb, the champion juvenile Boston Harbor, the Dubai World Cup (GI)-winning Captain Steve, the Canadian champion three-year-old Cryptocloser, the champion older horse Victory Gallop, the Canadian champion three-year-old filly Eye of the Sphynx, and the grade one-winning Jambalaya.

Mining My Own, however, does not come from the strongest of dam lines, though hers is not one to sneeze at. The mare has already exceeded expectations in her success as a broodmare is certainly a broodmare anyone would be lucky to have in their broodmare band.

Oatsee: On the track, Oatsee raced twenty-one times, retiring with earnings of $106,945. Her first foal was Grand Portege, an earner of over $100,000 who contested in two black-type races. Her first “big horse” was Baghdaria, who won a trifecta of grade threes. Then came Lady Joanne, who was a graded stakes winner as a juvenile that went on to win a pair of graded stakes as a sophomore, including the ten-furlong Alabama Stakes (GI). Oatsee continued her success with Afleeting Lady, a graded stakes-placed daughter of Afleet Alex. Oatsee’s best offspring yet is Shackleford, a colt who has earned over $2 million with victories in the prestigious Preakness Stakes (GI) and Metropolitan Handicap (GI). She is also the dam of the stakes-placed Stephanoatsee.

Shackleford
Photo by Terri Cage

The sire of Oatsee, Unbridled, was not only a terrific sire and sire of sires, but he is also proven as a broodmare sire, being the damsire of the grade one winners Dream Rush and Tapit, as well as the graded stakes-winning runners Apart, Denis of Cork, and No Inflation. Oatsee is inbred 4 X 4 to In Reality, who yielded a spectacular one hundred fifty stakes winners as a broodmare sire. She also has two crosses of the great mare Aspidistra in her pedigree. Aspidistra, a Reine De Course dam, was the dam of the Hall of Famers Dr. Fager and Ta Wee, the graded stakes-winning Chinatowner, the stakes-winning A. Deck, and the graded stakes-placed Highbinder. From her fourth through eighth dams, Oatsee traces back to five Reine De Course mares. Most notable is Tamerett, who produced the champion Known Fact, the multiple grade one-winning Tentam, the grade two-winning Terete, the stakes-winning Tamtent, and the dams of the grade one winners Gone West and Tappiano.

As a result of her outstanding success as a producer, Oatsee was voted 2011 Broodmare of the Year. All along, her bloodlines have insinuated that she would become a lucrative producer, as the roster of names found in her pedigree have pushed her in the right direction for becoming a tremendous broodmare. Should her offspring be even half as effective at producing as her, Oatsee could have an enduring impression on Thoroughbred bloodlines.

Set Them Free: Owned by Jerry and Ann Moss, Set Them Free conquered four black-type races in California, acquiring earnings of $173,275 before retiring to life as a broodmare. Her first foal to race, which was the third foal she had produced, only raced four times, but captured a maiden special weight and first-level allowance in southern California by a combined 8 lengths. Set Them Free became a black-type producer with her next foal, Sea Jewel, as the filly placed in a graded stakes as a two-year-old prior to doing the same as a three-year-old. Her following foal was the one that marked her as an outstanding broodmare: Giacomo. The son of Holy Bull was grade one-placed as a juvenile and as a three-year-old, won the esteemed Kentucky Derby (GI). He added another graded stakes victory to his credit as a four-year-old and by the end of his career, Giacomo had placed in five graded stakes and retired with earnings of over $2.5 million. Set Them Free’s next foal was, at best, a first-level allowance winner, but it was her foal after that one that endorsed the mare as an incredible producer. That foal was Tiago, who won two grade ones as a three-year-old and also finished third in the Belmont Stakes (GI). He was a graded stakes winner as an older horse and placed in seven graded stakes races throughout his career, obtaining more than $2.3 million dollars in earnings.

Stop the Music, Set Them Free’s sire, has certainly played a role in her success as a broodmare. The son of the influential Hail to Reason is also the broodmare sire of the Canadian champion Kimchi, the grade one-winning Timely Warning, and the multiple graded stakes-winning Bursting Forth. In addition, Set Them Free shares her second dam, Barbarossa, with the champion Baiser Vole, as well as the multiple group stakes-winning horses Squill and Tenue de Soiree.

Set Them Free was never honored with a Broodmare of the Year award, but she is certainly one of the best broodmares we have seen lately. It is not common at all for a mare to produce two winners of over $2 million, but yet the Moss’ mare accomplished just that. 

Sweet Life: A homebred for Marty and Pam Wygod, Sweet Life was rather successful at the races, competing in southern California her entire career to capture a stakes victory and finish in the money in a pair of graded stakes, including the Beverly Hills Handicap (GI). She retired with earnings of $223,486 and was sent to Storm Cat, the powerhouse sire that she visited numerous times.

The result of her first mating was Sweet Catomine, who won three graded stakes as a juvenile – including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) – to be named Champion Two-Year-Old Filly. As a three-year-old, Sweet Catomine – also a homebred for the Wygods – added two more graded stakes wins to her credit, including a triumph in the Santa Anita Oaks (GI). Sweet Life’s next two foals never amounted to much, but then again, they weren’t by the sire she crossed with best – the great Storm Cat. The next time she visited the famous stallion resulted in Life Is Sweet, a filly that would go on to capture four graded stakes victories – including the Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (GI) and the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (GI). Her following foal, Calimonco, was also by Storm Cat. The colt – who is still currently racing – was quite a late bloomer, not winning his first stakes race until he was five years old. Since that win, Calimonco has placed in a pair of grade threes and won another ungraded stakes contest.

Sired by Kris S, it is easily understandable why Sweet Life is such a productive broodmare. Kris S is also the broodmare sire of the grade one winners Balance, Kris Kin, Ladies Din, Student Council, and Zenyatta. As a son of Roberto, Kris S was sired by the broodmare sire of such graded stakes winners as Amerique, Icy Groom, Fair Judgment, Muntej, Risk Seeker, and Snit. Furthermore, Kris S was out of a Princequillo mare. Princequillo is one of the greatest broodmare sires of all-time, having been the leading North American damsire a remarkable eight times while siring the dams of such horses as Key to the Mint, Mill Reef, and Secretariat. Sweet Life descends from a line of Harbor View Farm – the same farm that produced the Triple Crown-winning champion Affirmed and the great mare Flawlessly – mares, being a daughter of the multiple black-type-placed Symbolically. Her dam produced not only the talented Sweet Life, but also the graded stakes-winning Pirate’s Revenge, the black-type winners Caribbean Pirate and Echo of Yesterday, the graded stakes-placed Strive, and the black-type-placed Magic Fantasy.

Sweet Life, as a producer of two Eclipse Award champions, was named 2009 Broodmare of the Year. As the dam of top females, Sweet Life could certainly have an influential presence in the dam lines of future racehorses. The Wygods’ beloved mares – Sweet Life and her champion daughters – will live out their days at the renowned Lane’s End Farm, bringing to the world possible future champions. After all, it’s in the family.

Vertigineux: She had a short career at the track, winning two of seven races and running fourth in an ungraded stakes at Delaware Park. Vertigineux quickly became a useful broodmare, when her first foal, Where’s Bailey, became a black-type winner in the South. But she really made impressions when her second foal, Balance, had a terrific two-year-old campaign in southern California, winning a stakes race while placing in not only a non-graded stakes, but also the Hollywood Starlet Stakes (GI). Balance furthered Vertigineux’s value when she later triumphed in the Las Virgenes Stakes (GI), the Santa Anita Oaks (GI), the La Canada Stakes (GII), and the Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (GI). Shortly after Balance’s career ended came the debut of not only Vertigineux’s best offspring, but one of the best racehorses the world has ever seen: Zenyatta. The great mare went nineteen-for-twenty, winning thirteen grade ones, including the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (GI) and the Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI), the latter in which she became the only female racehorse to ever win the race. Zenyatta not only captured four Eclipse Award titles – including Horse of the Year – but she also captured the hearts of thousands of racing fans and retired as one of the greatest horses to ever grace the racetrack. Vertigineux has also produced Souper Spectacular, an earner of over $100,000 who has twice finished fourth in grade three events.

Zenyatta
Photo by Terri Cage

Like Sweet Life, Vertigineux had the support of Kris S as her sire when she entered her career as a broodmare, as the son of the influential Roberto has recently proven to be among the best broodmare sires. Vertigineux herself is out of a successful broodmare, being a daughter of the dam of the multiple stakes-winning and group stakes-placed Restrained and the group stakes-placed On the Staff. Her damsire, the Argentinian Horse of the Year Forli, was also the broodmare sire of such horses as the champions Nureyev, Precisionist, and Swale. As a member of female family four, Vertigineux is among an elite group that descends from the Layton Barb mare. Other descendants of this female family include the dams of the Triple Crown winners Assault and Gallant Fox, as well as the champions Afleet Alex, Bowl of Flowers, Hail to Reason, Real Quiet, and Sunny’s Halo.

Vertigineux was recently named not only 2008 Broodmare of the Year, but also a Reine De Course mare, and rightfully so. She provided the world with one of the greatest racehorses it has ever seen, as well as one of the most brilliant fillies southern California has seen in recent years.

It is the broodmares that I admire most in the Thoroughbred breeding industry. They do not receive anywhere near the amount of attention that the stallions do, but it is also much more difficult for them to become successful. Nonetheless, broodmares are incredibly important in the breeding of Thoroughbred racehorses.


*Of course these are not the only recent remarkable broodmares - others include Chipeta Springs, Prospectors Delite, and Toussaud. Perhaps I will feature them, as well as some others, eventually.


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Shackleford: A Charismatic Superstar

Shackleford
Photo by Terri Cage

With his energetic parade before the gathered crowd, his big white blaze, his shining copper coat, and his charismatic personality and presence, it is easy to fall in love with Shackleford. A colt I have followed since his maiden victory, the 2011 Preakness Stakes (GI) victor has certainly made a name for himself, and not just for his racing talent, but for his appeal and the energy he displays on the track. Due to his compelling characteristics and racing brilliance, Shackleford has garnered a large fan base, which affectionately refers to him as “Shack.”

After Shackleford captured the Preakness in a stirring victory over Kentucky Derby (GI) winner Animal Kingdom, however, it began to seem impossible for the lovable chestnut colt to find the winner’s circle again. Between his Preakness triumph and the Breeders’ Cup six months later, Shackleford raced four times, finishing off the board twice and crossing the wire second in two graded stakes races, including the Haskell Invitational Stakes (GI).

In the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI), Shackleford helped set the pace with The Factor and as the horses turned for home, Shackleford held a 2 ½-length advantage on the others. He ran very well down the stretch, but was outrun by Caleb’s Posse, a colt he had finished in front of in the Indiana Derby (GII) when the two ran behind Wilburn.

Shackleford began 2012 on a sour note, finishing seventh in the Donn Handicap (GI) prior to a third-place result behind Jackson Bend and Caleb’s Posse in the Carter Handicap (GI). “Shack” finally returned to his winning ways a year after he contested in the Kentucky Derby, gamely battling champion sprinter Amazombie down the stretch in the Churchill Downs Stakes (GII) before prevailing by a length.

Following Shackleford’s gutsy return to the winner’s circle, trainer Dale Romans prepared the classic-winning colt for a start in the legendary Metropolitan Handicap (GI) – better known as the Met Mile – at Belmont Park on Memorial Day. The colt was slated to run against three other grade one winners, including his rival Caleb’s Posse. The field was sure to make the race one of the best of the year, but no one could predict just how thrilling it would be.

Shackleford broke very sharply, going straight to the lead down Belmont’s backstretch to set a brisk first quarter of 22.77. Extending his advantage on the others to 1 ½ lengths as the field began their journey into the wide, sweeping turn at Belmont, Shackleford completed the initial half-mile in a blistering 44.73, meaning he had completed the second quarter-mile .81 seconds faster than the first one. With John Velazquez aboard for the first time due to an injury suffered by regular rider Jesus Castanon ten days earlier, Shackleford proceeded to hold the lead as the field turned for home. His white blaze leading the charge of six talented Thoroughbreds into the long Belmont homestretch, Shackleford began to open up on the others, but Caleb’s Posse was charging on the outside, growing closer to Shackleford with each and every stride. However, Shackleford dug in to hold off Caleb’s Posse, who appeared to have hung just slightly, to win by a nose before galloping out well ahead of the others. The final time for eight furlongs was a spectacular 1:33.30, just over a second off the track record.

In his past two victories, Shackleford has conquered two Breeders’ Cup winners, Sprint victor Amazombie and Dirt Mile champ Caleb’s Posse. In addition, he has defeated two Eclipse Award champions – Amazombie and Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom.

The Met Mile has long since been considered a “stallion-making” race, producing several victors that went on to be very successful sires, including Langfuhr, In Excess, Gulch, Conquistador Cielo, Fappiano, In Reality, Buckpasser, and Native Dancer. Not only does a victory in the Met Mile bode well for Shackleford’s chances at becoming a lucrative sire when he stands stud at Darby Dan Farm, but so does his pedigree.

Both of his parents have been very successful producers themselves. His sire, Forestry, has sired such grade one winners as Diplomat Lady, Discreet Cat, and Forest Danger. His dam, Oatsee, was voted 2011 Broodmare of the Year and has produced the graded stakes winners Baghdaria and Lady Joanne.  

Notably, Forestry’s sire – Shackleford’s grandsire – is Storm Cat, one of the greatest sires to ever live. The very successful stallion was also very productive as a sire of sires, producing such studs as Bluegrass Cat, Giant’s Causeway, and Hennessy. This certainly augurs well for Shackleford, as Storm Cat is the grandsire of such productive stallions as Johannesburg and Shamardal.

Shackleford’s damsire, Unbridled, sired the dam of Tapit, who was the third-leading North American sire of 2011. Unbridled himself was a very effective sire of sires, producing the successful sires Broken Vow, Empire Maker, and Unbridled’s Song. Shackleford’s fifth dam, Tamerett, could also serve as a catalyst in Shackleford’s stud career, as another direct descendant of the dam of the great racehorse and sire Known Fact is the legendary sire Gone West.

Shackleford, a fan favorite at the racetrack, is a horse that will not soon be forgotten, as we have not yet heard the last from him – on the track or in the breeding shed. With a win in the Met Mile, Shackleford earned a position in the starting gate in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita Park this fall – a race in which he will be seeking revenge. Racing fans will eagerly follow the stunning colt throughout the rest of 2012, reflecting on his outstanding victories in not only the Preakness, but the Met Mile as well. And when the popular chestnut retires to the breeding shed, fans will await his foals, which will grace racetracks as spectators flock to see them, ready to see them carry on Shack’s charisma and brilliance.

Shackleford
Photo by Terri Cage

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