Breeding and racing is an art, not an ego exercise.

In a few years…maybe Rags? Rachel? Zen? $$$ barefoot and pregnant…maybe ’cause i’m a gal i find it a little repugnant…

Young don’t mean great (unless you’re an odds maker) and old don’t mean dead (unless you lack patience and wisdom).

Was that really Baffert??? …fell out of my chair.

Really a great story especially considering Misremembered is now Candy Ride’s top earning offspring. Congratulations to Mr. Baffert and I hope we’ll be congratulating you again on the first Saturday in May.

Glad you ignored the “nick”. It’s just a marketing tool nothing more nothing less.

The jokes on you! What do you mean “end of the line”. Often times an older mare has daughters in production who add value to the pedigree and everyone with any sense knows buying a middle aged mare or older mare is usually a BARGAIN.

So many times breeders give up on a mare if her first 5 foals don’t produce a stakes horse. Buying a truly class racemare like Bob Baffert did will often times lead to great success. I should know. I bought a GSW who was being “dumped” because she hadn’t had a blacktype foal. Well guess what…3 months after I bought her the 3yo won a Graded stakes…and voila….my castoff was now worth more than ever. She’s done very well for me and she’ll never be sold or given away.

Congratulations to Bob Baffert for having faith in his judgement.

Small-timer such as me, buying older mares is best because after a lifetime in this business, I no longer have the heart to sell anything doesn’t see a certain future. (Older proven producer means I don’t get stuck caring for 5YO mama of clubfooted idiot foals which refuse to nurse.)

Modest dreams in keeping with one’s bankbook (and as Mr. Bob said, always breeding to the best I can afford), that’s what makes homebreds so much fun. Finding nice older mares for zero money in odd places, that’s fun too. Not long ago I paid a couple hundred bucks for a big, strong daughter of Gentlemen, breeding sound, riding sound, dam by Wild Again, second dam by Conquistador Cielo – lovely mover, conformation and temperament, produced two runners out of two foals, one earner – both by trendy stallions I wouldn’t have chosen – bought this old gal off a scum-swallowing pinheaded moron who’d purchased her for slaughter in Canada. Funny thing, but the stallion I chose for mare wasn’t the most expensive on my list, just the one I considered best for her conformation, type and pedigree. We’ll see in a couple of years, won’t we? Meanwhile, until she’s too far along, I’ve got another nice TB to hack across the hayfield at sunset. Nothin’ feels so good as bein’ able to feel the pedigree from the saddle, absolutely nothin’ on God’s green earth so fine as that.

Mr. Bob, if you’ve come back to check the comments, we’ve got a 5YO Silver Charm son bought as an unraced 4YO who’s won us many times his purchase price in just six outs. OLDER UNRACED HORSES NOT ALWAYS SUCH A BAD DEAL EITHER!

P.S. I wish everybody would use their real names, ‘specially nasty folks who clog discussions with cross-talk and sniping at the PR. That said, I’m gonna start puttin’ mine up. Lindajaniebroussard@yahoo.com.

If I’m buying to race, though, Rob seems to be correct. I’d love to see a study that controls for the “opportunity” factor that he cites.