Sales horses have edge over homebreds in Derby
Of all the roads that lead a horse and his connections to the Kentucky Derby, the most conventional path to this year's edition went through the auction ring.
Joe NevillsMay 02, 2016
Of all the roads that lead a horse and his connections to the Kentucky Derby, the most conventional path to this year's edition went through the auction ring.
Nyquist followed in young stallion Uncle Mo's hoofprints by becoming an unbeaten juvenile champion. Meanwhile, Outwork diverged from his sire's path to avenge one of the stallion's biggest career disappointments.
Freshman sire Coil, by Point Given out of Eversmile, by Theatrical, sired his first winner from his first starter when his juvenile filly Recoiling won a 4 1/2-furlong maiden race for at Golden Gate on May 1.
Empire Way, a son of Empire Maker, sired his first winner when Dutt Bart won the first race at Los Alamitos on Apr. 29. Dutt Bart won the event for juvenile maidens going 4 1/2 furlongs by coming from off the pace in the six-runner field and drawing away in the stretch to win by 2 1/4 lengths at odds of 6-1.
The inaugural Kentucky Derby sire future wager didn't generate a large pool, but offered plenty of value for savvy horseplayers who took pedigree into account.
While a strong performance in the Kentucky Derby can carry a horse all the way to a stall at a major stallion farm, several in this year's field enter the gates with their stud careers already secured.
The small-scale, but quality, operation Hinkle Farms will have a strong rooting interest in both the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, as its broodmare band of about 30 includes the dams of both Derby favorite Nyquist and Oaks contender Weep No More.
Freshman sire Caleb’s Posse sired his first winner from his first starter when the juvenile colt I Shod the Sheriff won the third race at Gulfstream on Apr. 28.
Curlin, who is coming off a career-best season by his racing progeny in 2015, is a rising star in the North American sire ranks. The stallion will look to really break through with a Kentucky Derby winner in Exaggerator, romping winner of the Santa Anita Derby.
The blood runs hot in the Thoroughbred, and few are hotter right now – on a number of levels – than those by Tapit.