Fri, 06/01/2018 - 10:56

Queen's Plate pedigree analysis: Wonder Gadot

Emily Shields
Wonder Gadot was runner-up in the Kentucky Oaks her last time out.

Wonder Gadot
Medaglia d’Oro–Loving Vindication, by Vindication
Bred in Ontario by Anderson Farms ($325,000 purchase by TM Investments at OBS April sale of 2-year-olds in training)

Mon, 05/28/2018 - 08:27

Sparkman: Accelerate helps sire Lookin At Lucky enjoy breakout weekend

Benoit Photo
Accelerate posted a 4 1/4-length win in Saturday's Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita.

In the fickle and hyper-competitive world of Thoroughbred stallions, failure to produce Grade 1 winners and fast 2-year-olds in a horse’s first crop to reach the races is too often a ticket to quick export to faraway lands. With hot new stallions retiring to stud every year, patience is not a virtue cultivated by either stallion managers or the yearling market.

Fri, 05/25/2018 - 13:40

Leslie's Lady bred to Not This Time

Blue hen Leslie’s Lady has been bred to Not This Time, the connections of the stallion announced on Wednesday evening.

Fri, 05/25/2018 - 11:26

Queen's Plate pedigree analysis: Cooler Mike

Michael Burns
Cooler Mike narrowly wins an allowance race last Sunday.

Cooler Mike
Giant Gizmo–Executive Affair, by Bold Executive

Bred in Canada by Mike and Nick Nosowenko

Queen’s Plate hopeful Cooler Mike brings a proven classic sire line to the Canadian Triple Crown, balancing out a speed-oriented female family that is cause for concern ahead of the series.

Wed, 05/23/2018 - 07:55

Mind Your Biscuits sold to Shadai Farm

Mathea Kelley/Dubai Racing Club
Mind Your Biscuits and jockey Joel Rosario win the Dubai Golden Shaheen by a head.

Mind Your Biscuits, winner of the Group 1, $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen in March for a second consecutive year, has been bought by Japan’s Shadai Farm and will stand stud there next year, according to Thoroughbred Racing Commentary.

Mind Your Biscuits will race this year for Shadai and his current ownership group, which includes Head of Plains Partners and trainer Chad Summers. He will continue to be trained by Summers.

Mind Your Biscuits is being pointed to the Grade 1 Metropolitan Mile on June 9 at Belmont Park.

Mon, 05/21/2018 - 16:49

Sparkman: Personal Ensign keeps firing away

Joe Labozzetta
Fire Away, by War Front, wins the Dixie Stakes at Pimlico.

The #metoo movement in American culture and politics has reminded us all of the gender inequality baked into our small world’s traditionally, historically patriarchal culture. There are few better examples of gender inequality, though, than in the world of Thoroughbred breeding. That inequality is, of course, enforced by the simple reality that the record number of foals produced by a single broodmare is 18, while successful contemporary stallions routinely sire more than 2,000 foals in their lifetimes.

Mon, 05/21/2018 - 11:50

Sire Uncle Mo has great Saturday at Pimlico

Kim Pratt
Ultra Brat posted a 10 1/4-length victory in Saturday's Grade 3 Gallorette Stakes.

Although classic sire Uncle Mo didn’t have a starter in the Preakness Stakes, he had an outstanding Saturday at Pimlico anyway.

His daughter Ultra Brat dominated the Grade 3 Gallorette Stakes by 10 1/4 lengths, and his son Uncle Mojo romped by 12 3/4 lengths in an allowance earlier in the day.

Mon, 05/21/2018 - 11:50

Freshman sire Cairo Prince has first winner

Chelsea Durand/NYRA
Abyssinian got a 71 Beyer Speed Figure with his maiden-race triumph.

The well-regarded freshman sire Cairo Prince was represented by his first winner Saturday at Belmont when his daughter Abyssinian wired the field for a seven-length maiden score.

This was the second start for Abyssinian, who finished the five furlongs in a solid 59.44 seconds on a sloppy, sealed track and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 71, the fourth-best by a juvenile in 2018. The filly finished second in her debut at Belmont on May 3.

Fri, 05/18/2018 - 11:16

Queen's Plate pedigree profile: Telekinesis

Amanda Hodges Weir/Hodges Photography
Telekinesis, shown winning his maiden Feb. 9, will make his stakes debut in the Lexington Stakes.

Telekinesis
Ghostzapper–Intentional Cry, by Street Cry
(Bred in Ontario by William D. Graham)

The 2011 dispersal of Edward P. Evans’s Spring Hill Farm has had a far-reaching effect on the Thoroughbred industry, with those connected to it including U.S. Horse of the Year Gun Runner and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Hootenanny.

Wed, 05/16/2018 - 14:20

Cuddle Alert retired, to be bred to California Chrome

Shigeki Kikkawa
California-bred stakes winner Cuddle Alert retired with earnings of $391,514.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Cuddle Alert, a $10,000 claimer in 2016 who went on to win the $100,000 Spring Fever Handicap for California-breds the following year, was retired last month with a minor injury, trainer Reed Saldana said.

Cuddle Alert has been bought privately by Perry and Denise Martin, who raced California Chrome, the Horse of the Year in 2014 and 2016. Saldana said the Martins plan to breed Cuddle Alert to California Chrome in 2019.

By the Forestry stallion Bedford Falls, the 7-year-old Cuddle Alert won 7 of 34 starts and earned $391,514.