One of the most surprising developments in international racing and breeding over the past decade has been the renaissance of the German Thoroughbred. Even as German racing has experienced financial difficulties and some internal upheaval, German breeding has made unexpected inroads on international racing, and the principal agent of that renaissance is perhaps the most surprising development of all.

While there are a bevy of unknowns when handicapping the Kentucky Oaks, one of the most challenging quandaries is figuring out who will be able to handle the mile and an eighth distance.

Marchfield, a two-time champion older horse and young sire in Canada, has been sold to Moutonshoek Stud in South Africa, Racing Post reports.

The 9-year-old son of A.P. Indy began his stallion career in 2011 at Park Stud in Ontario. He was represented by 41 foals in his first crop.

There were some awe-inspiring performances by the human participants at the Keeneland spring meet that ended April 26, notably the single-meet records established by owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey, trainer Mike Maker, and jockey Joel Rosario.

But just below all that Keeneland clatter could be heard a buzz of a familiar sort: Trainer Wesley Ward dominated the spring “baby races” yet again, prompting folks to wonder aloud how he does what he does with those first-time-starting 2-year-olds of his.

A strong field of 11 fillies will contest the Grade 1, $1 million Kentucky Oaks Friday at Churchill Downs. 

“It’s all pretty darn scary from where I’m standing,” trainer Sal Santoro, who will send out multiple graded stakes winner Rose to Gold, said of the depth of the field, which is headed by morning-line favorite Dreaming of Julia.

Below is a closer look at the individual pedigrees and backgrounds of this year's Kentucky Oaks entrants, in post position order. 

Alhaarth, a champion racehorse who went on to sire such Group 1 winners as Haafhd and Phoenix Reach, has been pensioned from stud duty due to what Derrinstown Stud in Co. Kildare, Ireland, described as “an ongoing cardiac condition.”

Derrinstown announced Alhaarth’s pensioning Tuesday, just days after his son Mourayan won Australia’s Group 1 Sydney Cup.

As the racing world’s spotlight shifted to Louisville, Ky., in anticipation of the Kentucky Derby, two members of the handicap division scored triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures in standout performances.

Group 1 winner and Grade 1-placed Crowded House has been retired and will stand at Wattle Grove Stud in Berrima, New South Wales, Australia, for the Southern Hemisphere season.

The 7-year-old Rainbow Quest horse was added to the Wattle Grove roster to replace sires Hellenus, who died earlier this month, and Shellscape, who was withdrawn from stud duty after his foals were both without tails, according to a Racing Post report.

Passion for Gold, a Group 1 winner in France for Sheikh Mohammed al-Maktoum’s Godolphin operation, has been sold to begin his stallion career at Jose Luis Gatica’s Haras Puerta de Hierro in Chile, Racing Post reports.

The 6-year-old son of Medaglia d’Oro retired from racing at the end of his 2011 campaign, following a career where he won three of seven races for earnings of $268,125.

The Old Friends equine retirement facility in Georgetown, Ky., will host its ninth annual Old Friends Homecoming event and fundraiser at its Dream Chase Farm on May 5.

The party will start at 3 p.m. and will feature a barbecue dinner by Furlongs Catering, live bluegrass music by Shades of Grass, farm tours, and live and silent auctions including racing memorabilia, stallion halters, jewelry, fine art, and more.