I always liked Bayern as a race horse, as I’m a sucker for big, handsome guys, and he was one of the biggest—to the point that his trainer, Bob Baffert, went to measure Zenyatta, sure that his guy was every bit as huge as the supermare. He wasn’t, but he sure came close. And big handsome guys who win the Breeders’ Cup Classic-G1, along with the Haskell-G1, at three, and earn over $4.4 million? How could you not be a fan?

First of all, there’s the weird pedigree. Bayern is a son of Oflee Wild, and the Wild Again line in general has pretty much disappeared from prominence, let alone that of his sons at stud. A small, fine-boned horse, it’s amazing that a giant of Bayern’s proportions is a grandson. But, as is always noted in this column, there’s a ringer in Bayern’s dams’ side—his third dam is one of the greatest three or four Blue Hens of the twentieth century, the amazing Courtly Dee, who still influences pedigrees today.

Bayern had his first winner, from his first crop of two-year-olds, on June 18 at Indiana Grand Race Course, the filly Bayerly Seen, who won by 12 ¼ lengths in the five furlong contest that had been taken off the turf because of inclement weather. Owned by Gen Star Thoroughbreds and Hidden Brook Farm, bred by Hartwell Farm, and trained by Brad Cox, this filly is one to watch given this brilliant start, even though it wasn’t at a major track. I’d wager that some big offers have been floated for her already.

Here comes the broken record that this column has become. There’s another Blue Hen in Bayerly Seen’s pedigree well worth noting: the great Toussaud. Bayerly Seen is out of a First Defence mare, Overseen. First Defence represents the best of Juddmonte’s fabulous breeding program, being by Unbridled’s Song, out of the stakeswinning daughter of Toussaud, Honest Lady, by Seattle Slew. Given the recent success of Close Hatches as a broodmare, a Juddmonte home-bred also by First Defence, this may represent an important trend. Is First Defence the next great broodmare sire on the horizon? I’d certainly be looking for one at the upcoming fall sales, and I’d be trying to get a season to Bayern for her. He stands at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms in Lexington for only $15,000, a bargain for a race horse of his caliber, undoubtedly because of his dubious sireline. But perhaps he is the long-awaited scion to grandpa, Wild Again, winner himself of the first Breeders’ Cup Classic. We can only hope, as there is vigor in that silenced sireline that the breed needs.

-- Roberta Smoodin