Bloodlines

Let us then praise good broodmares. Theirs is the more dangerous and less celebrated part of the breeding equation. Yet without them, even the best stallions do not shine as brightly or accomplish so much. Take, for example, leading sire Into Mischief (by Harlan’s Holiday), who had his 50th graded stakes winner when Gerrymander won […]

With thousands of airline flights canceled across the country over the past holiday weekend, many would-be vacationers can identify with the subject of this week’s column: Stolen Holiday. This highly pedigreed daughter of leading sire War Front (by Danzig), however, isn’t a taker. She’s a giver, and she gave an impressive front-running performance in the […]

The results of the 2022 Belmont Stakes produced a double of different kinds for both the sire of the winner Mo Donegal (by Uncle Mo) and for the breeders, the Lyster family’s Ashview Farm and Richard Santulli’s Colts Neck Stables, which bred and sold the winner, as well as the runner-up, Nest (Curlin). With a […]

There were a trio of classics over the past weekend: at Epsom, the Oaks on June 3 and the Derby on June 4, then the next day at Chantilly, the Prix du Jockey Club. Those might as well have been held as benefits for the great stallion Galileo (by Sadler’s Wells). Vadeni (by the Galileo […]

The legendary jockey Lester Piggott, who died in Switzerland on May 29, exerted an unexpected influence on breeding due to his mastery of the craft of race riding, and its components of pace, balance, and timing. The Long Fellow’s mindfulness in the saddle allowed him to maintain his composure under pressure, and those qualities were […]

“Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer by this sun of … Gun Runner” “Frank, are you misquoting Shakespeare again?” “Well, sort of. I prefer to think of it as expanding the context of the immortal Bard, Ray.” “I don’t believe the greatest writer in the language needs you to improve him. Consider […]

With the entry of Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath in the 2022 Preakness, the daughter of the late champion Arrogate (by Unbridled’s Song) bids to become the seventh filly to win the classic. Most recently, Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d’Oro) in 2009 and Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) in 2020 defeated colts to claim the classic at Pimlico […]

When Rich Strike swept under the wire a winner in the 2022 Kentucky Derby, he became the 10th winner of the race bred in the name of Calumet Farm. Under Warren Wright’s ownership, the farm bred 1941 winner Whirlaway (by Blenheim), 1944 winner Pensive (Hyperion), 1948 winner Citation (Bull Lea), 1949 winner Ponder (Pensive), and […]

All the most recent winners of the Kentucky Derby who have retired – through 2020 winner Authentic (by Into Mischief) – are at stud in Kentucky. This includes 2018 winner Justify (Scat Daddy), who stands at Ashford Stud outside Versailles, Ky. Both Justify and 2017 Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming (Bodemeister) have their first juveniles […]

For most of his potential racing career, Scalding, winner of the Grade 3 Ben Ali Stakes at Keeneland on April 23, has looked like a hot mess. Unraced at two and only placed second from a pair of starts at three, the dark bay son of champion and leading sire Nyquist (by Uncle Mo) had […]