Any betting person would have selected American Pharoah to be the leading freshman sire of 2019, and, with progeny earnings of $2,703,916 and 27 winners, he was. But the second leading freshman sire was more than a bit of a surprise: Constitution, with as many winners as American Pharoah from a smaller foal crop, and $2,168,422 in earnings.
Category Archives: Bloodstock
Diamond Oops And The Came Home Connection
There’s another fascinating aspect of Diamond Oops’ pedigree. Remember the little horse, Came Home? Born in 1999, he was the precocious winner of the Hollywood Juvenile and the Hopeful Stakes.
The Uncle Mo Show Rolls On In The G1 Starlet at Los Alamitos
There is no reason for me to attempt to disguise my love for Uncle Mo. It was, in fact, love at first sight, at an Ashford Stud open house a few years ago. He is, simply, the most magnificent stallion I’ve ever seen.
Tattersalls UK – December Sale Stars
The recently completed Tattersalls December Foal and Mare Sale revealed robust bidding for top mares, enough to heighten the median this year 32% over last year’s sale, the most telling statistic for such mixed sales. Twenty-two mares brought over 500,000 guineas, a record.
European Breds Finish 1-2-3 In G2 Mrs. Revere Stakes at Churchill
The North American-breds didn’t have a chance in the Mrs. Revere S.-G2 at Churchill Downs on November 29. Irish-bred Nay Lady Nay (No Nay Never) found her way to the wire first, followed by German-bred Dalika (Pastorius) and Irish-bred The Mackem Bullet (Society Rock).
Tattersalls UK November Sale – The Ubiquitous Green Desert
The first day of the Tattersalls December Foal Sale had no special fireworks, though three of the top lots were from the first crops of sires El Kabeir, Territories and Night of Thunder, all of which sold in the 60-65,000 guineas range. Examine the pedigrees of these three foals, however, and one will find the one presence they have in common: Green Desert
Keeneland Sale November Shows Strength Of Top End & Weakness Of Middle Market
Keeneland’s November Sale demonstrated how the thoroughbred market seems to continue to encompass the widening gulf between the haves and have-nots. There is almost no middle market at horse sales at this time, as the just-completed Keeneland November Sale showed.
Snowflakes, Goffs Ireland And The Legacy of The Tetrarch
The top-selling lot of the Goffs November Breeding Stock and Foal Sale was Snowflakes, who sold for £525,000, in foal to the promising young Coolmore sire U S Navy Flag. Snowflakes, like the unicorn, is that rare if not fantastical creature: a gray Galileo mare.
Bated Breath’s Offspring Invade US
When the handsome gray colt Jack and Noah won the Atlantic Beach S. with ease at Aqueduct on November 9, he represented what might be a first wave of invaders by the young Dansili stallion, Bated Breath. North Americans may not be aware of Bated Breath, but he is a beautifully bred sprint specialist (five and six furlongs were his best distances) from the truly admirable Juddmonte breeding program.
Iridessa’s Stunning Win in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf
Given her three Group One wins in Ireland, Iridessa seemed a huge overlay in the Filly and Mare Turf-G1. Then again she was up against one of the horses, along with Midnight Bisou and Omaha Beach – Sistercharlie, who seemed a mortal lock to close out her unbeaten season with a win