Bloodlines

The top events at Epsom Downs produced three outstanding performances, with Auguste Rodin (by Deep Impact) winning the Group 1 Derby with a powerful performance, Soul Sister (Frankel) taking the Oaks, and Emily Upjohn (Sea the Stars) defeating colts in the Coronation Cup. Of the three, Auguste Rodin drew the most praise and commentary by […]

Perched in time, as we are, between the second and third classics of the American Triple Crown, and within sneezing distance of the Derby at Epsom, racing fans can look back in wonder at one of the greatest broodmares in the breed, Maggie B.B. (by Australian), who produced a winner of each of these races. […]

The family that produced the 2023 Preakness Stakes winner National Treasure has been owned by breeder Peter Blum since Moses was wearing diapers. Over the past seven generations of this family, from sixth dam Mono (by Better Self) to breeding and selling the Preakness winner through the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale consignment of Bridie Harrison, whose […]

When Arrogate died in June 2020, his oldest foals were only yearlings. None had gone into training; nothing substantial was known about their potential or prowess. The best-known racer from that first crop is 2022 Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath, also winner of the Grade 2 Azeri this season and second in the G1 Apple […]

The victory of Mage (by Good Magic) in the 149th Kentucky Derby was the culmination of visions and hopes, of plans and dreams. And as befits the success of a colt going off at 15-1, the triumph had something unexpected, almost magical, to it. Bred in Kentucky by Robert Clay and partners’ Grandview Equine, Mage […]

Among the 20 colts entered for the 2023 Kentucky Derby on May 6, there is one who is unique among his peers for a tie to a Kentucky Derby winner of decades past. Hit Show has this special heritage and was bred in Kentucky by Gary and Mary West Stables Inc. and races for the […]

Fifty years ago, the hottest topic in racing, as well as the subject of numerous comments and rumors from Las Vegas odds-maker Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder, was Secretariat, the son of 1957 Horse of the Year Bold Ruler who had been named the 1972 Horse of the Year following his sterling juvenile campaign. Coming into […]

If there were an award for “inbred of the week,” it should go to Clairiere, who carries a plethora of inbreeding. In particular, she is inbred to a couple of sires that some commentators have declared as negative influences for inbreeding. The closest of these is Mr. Prospector (by Raise a Native), who’s in the […]

Lord Miles closed on the outside for victory in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, and as a result, another son of Horse of the Year Curlin (by Smart Strike) has become a “talking horse” for the classics. From his first crop of racers, which included Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice, Curlin showed that […]

When Classic Empire won the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile by a neck from Not This Time (by Giant’s Causeway) in 2016, it seemed that Kentucky Derby second Pioneerof the Nile (Empire Maker) was fashioning his own branch of the most classic line of Mr. Prospector. The latter’s son Fappiano sired Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled, […]