Thursday, March 18, 2010

Career Debut for Dixie's Hope Drawing Near

Pocket Aces Racing's Dixie's Hope breezed 5/8 in company this past weekend over a heavy main track at High Point training center. The gray daughter of Cozzene started her work several lengths behind, and to the outside, of stablemate Stellar Hope. As the duo began to pick up the pace down the backstretch Dixie's Hope collared her 3-year-old male companion around the 3/8 pole. The pair ran stride for stride until they straightened up at the head of the lane, at which point Dixie's Hope kicked in another gear and began to pull away from Stellar Hope. Dixie's Hope crossed the finish line a length and a half in front of her work mate, stopping the clock in 1:05.0 - the fastest time of the day at that distance.

In polite circles the time of 1:05.0 would be referred to as pedestrian, however, the main track at the La Grange, KY training facility has long been known for slower times, due in large part to its configuration. On this day there was the added factor of just enough rain overnight to make the track deep and very heavy. I was told by the High Point clocker that 1:05.0 here today is the equivalent of 1:01.0 at most tracks.

Pocket Aces Racing trainer Joe Deegan was very pleased with the move. He also felt like the work should really tighten her up as he begins his final preparations for her first start. Deegan has selected tentative starting dates of April 15th and 17th at Keeneland for Dixie's Hope, both are Maiden Special Weight events on the polytrack.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

4 Emerging Broodmare Sires


BELONG TO ME- From a relatively small pool of cumulative foals Belong To Me was the Broodmare Sire of a very respectable 10 Stakes Winners in 2009. Leading the way was millionaire, multiple Grade 1 winner and 2-year-old champion Lookin at Lucky. Belong to Me is also the Broodmare Sire of 2009 Arkansas Derby-G 2 winner Papa Clem, who like Lookin at Lucky is bred along the same Smart Strike x Belong To Me cross.

Belong To Me is impeccably bred as he is by the legendary Danzig and hails from the female family that produced Eight Belles. He has been an above average Central Kentucky stallion for the better part of 2 decades but I believe his most significant contribution to the breed is most likely to be seen in the future through his daughters.

LANGFUHR - As a foal of 1992 Langfuhr is still young by Broodmare Sire standards but he is already the sire of the dam of 2008 3-year-old champion and Kentucky Oaks-G 1 winner Proud Spell. In addition to that $2,000,000 + earner he is also the sire of the dams of black type winners Augusta Proud, Treadmill, I'm Fuhr Real, Whatever Whenever and several others.

Langfuhr, like Belong To Me, is a son of Danzig and as such I don't see the early success that his daughters have had as an aberration. It is more likely that the same superior genetic make up that Danzig passed along to his daughters, he is passing along to his sons - who in turn are passing it along to their daughters, which is why I see no end in sight for Langfuhr's success as a broodmare sire.

UNBRIDLED'S SONG - As the sire of so many great race fillies over the years (Octave, Splendid Blendid, Magnificent Song, etc.) it's hard to imagine Unbridled's Song not becoming a successful Broodmare Sire. From a small cumulative foal total (455 to be exact, 2009's top 10 broodmare sires had an average of over 2,100 cumulative foals) he is already the sire of 2009 Toyota Bluegrass S.-G 1 winner General Quarters and Grade 2 winner Hold Me Back.

Unbridled's Song's 5-cross pedigree is filled with prominent broodmare sires such as Mr. Prospector, Fappiano, Caro and In Reality which is a further indication of why it should be no mystery as why his broodmare sire career has gotten off to such a great start.

HOLY BULL - His daughters have only produced 502 foals but you can count leading 2010 Kentucky Derby-G1 contender Conveyance, Grade 2 winner Munnings and many other stakes winners among that small group. In 2009 his daughter's produce earned a very respectable $4,300,000 and they are already on pace to eclipse that figure for 2010.

Holy Bull is an out cross on both sides of his family whose stud career has benefited from the breeds ever dwindling gene pool as he gives the multitude of Phalaris line mare owners a viable option. This should equate to success in the Broodmare standings as well.