Posts Tagged ‘The American Thoroughbred’

The Paulick Report is pleased to once again offer the pedigree insights of Edwin Anthony in the weeks leading up to the Kentucky Derby. Ed has lifelong experience in the Thoroughbred industry, has practical experience planning matings for his family’s stable and formerly as a pedigree adviser to Three Chimneys Farm. His perspective is straightforward and refreshingly opinionated, and I advise anyone interested in Thoroughbred pedigrees to pick up a copy of his book, “The American Thoroughbred (Volume One)”—available for purchase here.

In this first of a series of articles, he looks at the pedigree of Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth winner Eskendereya. – Ray Paulick

ESKENDEREYA (Giant’s Causeway—Aldebaran Light, by Seattle Slew)
By Edwin Anthony
I wrote a series of eight pedigree profiles for horses on the “Triple Crown trail” starting about this time last year, and recent Fountain of Youth (G2) winner Eskendereya will serve as the first horse in our series this season. It’s interesting to look back at the horses we profiled last year (Friesan Fire, Quality Road, Pioneerof the Nile, Dunkirk, I Want Revenge, Papa Clem, Chocolate Candy, Rachel Alexandra) to see how they fared.

Quality Road is obviously a top horse (he missed the Triple Crown with quarter cracks), while Dunkirk and Pioneerof the Nile were each able to place in one classic race, and I wrote a token piece about Rachel Alexandra because she looked like a very special filly, even though she had not won anything more than a G2 race at that stage.  Only a fortune teller could have predicted Rachel Alexandra’s Horse of the Year campaign after changing hands or the rapid ascension of Birdstone (sire of longshot classic winners Mine That Bird and Summer Bird) as a major classic influence.

Even though I have studied Thoroughbred pedigrees for going on 25 years, no one can get around the folly of bad luck, injuries in training, or the fact that many horses look dominant going nine furlongs (a mile-and-an-eighth) but simply aren’t up to the demanding task of running classic distances at a competitive speed.

That’s the mystery of stamina and genetics that we’re constantly trying to figure out.  Of course, even a horse that is capable of competing at classic distances still needs to put out the effort, and sometimes horses have off-days just like people.

If nothing else, we strive to learn about the strengths and limitations of the stallions and ancestors under discussion and hope to come out smarter on the other side.  At the very least, we want to learn what strategies are working in pedigrees, even if some of them aren’t up to the classic standard.  Who are the soundest horses, where is the stamina coming from, and what ancestors are best to inbreed to?  These are the answers we’re looking for.

Pedigree analysts (like myself) try to identify patterns in graded stakes results as a way of predicting the future.  Given that the Storm Cat line has been a poor source of classic winners, then you probably wouldn’t want to lean heavily on Storm Cat’s sons (or stallions out of Storm Cat mares) in your stallion recommendations for breeders that want to breed for the classics.  The Storm Cat line hasn’t had a winner of a Triple Crown race since Tabasco Cat in 1994, although Bluegrass Cat was second in the Kentucky Derby, Belmont, and Travers in 2006.  You should note that Bluegrass Cat is out of a mare by classic influence A.P. Indy and his dam is heavily inbred to the foundation mare La Troienne, including being from the Numbered Account (champion 2YO filly by Buckpasser) branch of that important family.

So, while the Storm Cat line is dominant in 2-year-old racing and in races contested at distances of 9 furlongs or shorter, it does not appear capable of producing classic types, unless there is a LOT of help on the dam side of the equation.  Of course, when you start to speak in these kinds of absolutes, a special horse can come along and provide us with the exception to the rule.

Storm Cat’s son Giant’s Causeway was a tough campaigner in Europe out of a good racemare by Rahy, with a second dam by English Derby winner and classic influence Roberto.  He was undeniably consistent and high class, winning a series of Group 1 races at more than a mile. In his final start, he gave classic distance specialist Tiznow a real run for his money in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, that being his only start on dirt.  So, Giant’s Causeway was sound, very fast, and capable of competing with top horses at the American classic distance of 10 furlongs (a mile-and-a-quarter).  This makes him an exception among sons of Storm Cat, as most of his sons that have found any measure of success at stud were much better at a mile or less and have passed on this penchant for speed among their progeny.

Giant’s Causeway has already sired Grade 1 winners in America over 10 furlongs like Heatseeker (Santa Anita Handicap), Frost Giant (Suburban), and Red Giant (NWR, Clement L. Hirsch Memorial Turf Championship), so you can see that if there is a son of Storm Cat capable of siring an American classic winner, then Giant’s Causeway is probably the one.

The runaway win by Eskendereya (by Giant’s Causeway) in the Fountain of Youth (G2) was more than visually impressive.  You could see that the horse really relished the opportunity to go two turns, and he is now 3 for 3 on the dirt, his only losses coming in his first start (a maiden event on turf at Saratoga) and a poor effort in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), contested over the synthetic surface at Santa Anita.  He was reported to have a troubled trip in that race as well.

I have often thought that a true classic type horse is able to simply get into a steady gallop and carve out “12’s,” which is to say that he can consistently complete each furlong of a race in 12 seconds.  It becomes increasingly difficult to do with each furlong, as the muscles begin to tire, and Secretariat’s world record time of 2:24 in the 1973 Belmont (over 12 furlongs) is the best example of a horse being able to accomplish this feat over such a distance.  It’s not about an explosive move or “turn of foot” with classic horses; it’s steady horsepower over a distance.  Classic horses “stay” (as the Europeans like to say), while horses more suited to shorter distances simply run out of gas, unable to maintain a steady stream of “12’s” on the toteboard teletimer.

This is exactly what Eskendereya did to the field in the Fountain of Youth (G2)—he galloped them into submission.  After taking over after a half-mile in a soft 47.92, he completed six furlongs in 1:12.41, a mile in 1:36.54, with a final time for nine furlongs of 1:48.87, echoing the many 12-second furlongs before the last one.  So, like several other sons of Giant’s Causeway, Eskendereya looks capable of running a distance of ground as far as 10 furlongs at a competitive rate of speed.  Let’s look at the bottom side of his pedigree to check for more stamina.

Eskendereya’s damsire, Seattle Slew, won the Triple Crown and has been a very successful classic influence, with descendants like A.P. Indy (Belmont, Breeders’ Cup Classic), Bernardini (Preakness, Travers), Cigar (Breeders’ Cup Classic, Dubai World Cup), Lemon Drop Kid (Belmont, Travers), Mineshaft (Jockey Club Gold Cup, Suburban), and Slew o’ Gold (Jockey Club Gold Cup twice) serving as notable examples.

Alydar (second in all 3 Triple Crown races to Affirmed) is the sire of Eskendereya’s second dam, and beyond the fact that he sired two Kentucky Derby winners (Alysheba and Strike the Gold) and a Belmont winner (Easy Goer), Horse of the Year Point Given (Preakness, Belmont, Travers) was produced by a mare by champion Turkoman, he being a son of Alydar.

We know that inbreeding to the family of Almahmoud (second dam of both Halo and Northern Dancer) has been quite successful, and Giant’s Causeway is a very good example of this, as Storm Cat is a grandson of Northern Dancer and Rahy (his damsire) is out of a mare by Halo.  The pedigree of Eskendereya shows why a six-generation computer program is a good investment, as his third dam carries intensive inbreeding to the Almahmoud family as well.  His third dam is by Northern Dancer himself (giving Eskendereya “balanced” inbreeding to Northern Dancer—through a son and a daughter), and while his fourth dam was sired by the stout stamina influence Ribot (winner of the 12-furlong “Arc” twice) his fifth dam is actually the mare Cosmah, she being the dam of Halo and a daughter of Almahmoud. Thus, Eskendereya is not only inbred to Northern Dancer through  a son and a daughter, he is inbred to Halo’s dam, Cosmah, 6 x 5 and carries four total crosses of Almahmoud.

As the ancestors Northern Dancer, Halo, and their granddam Almahmoud get further back in pedigrees, this reinforcement strategy of crossing horses inbred to Almahmoud should continue to find success and revive their influence in classic pedigrees.  My parents bred and raced Preakness winner Pine Bluff (inbred 4 x 4 to Almahmoud), and I have noticed him working well with reinforcement of Almahmoud’s genes, crossing successfully with stallions like More Than Ready (by Southern Halo—closely inbred to Almahmoud), Menifee (by Harlan—closely inbred to Almahmoud), and Jules (from the Northern Dancer family and carrying Halo in his pedigree).  So, it seems to be a strategy that is paying dividends with stallions and mares already carrying inbreeding to Almahmoud.

Given the fact that Giant’s Causeway has already proven capable of siring runners that excel at classic distances, and the fact that Eskendereya carries a number of other classic influences in his pedigree (Seattle Slew, Alydar, Ribot, and intensive inbreeding to the influential Almahmoud family), I’d say that his classic prospects look very bright indeed.  His clear preference for dirt racing and ability to string together one 12 second furlong after another only boosts his stock, in my opinion.  If Eskenereya can arrive in Louisville with a solid Florida Derby (G1) effort under his belt, he should be a very strong contender.
 
Edwin Anthony was the staff pedigree consultant at Three Chimneys Farm for six years and has penned dozens of articles on pedigree research.  He also published The American Thoroughbred (Volume I) in 2008, which can be ordered via the banner ad link on this web page or on his web site at www.thoroughbredadvisor.com.

This is the fifth in a series of articles written by Edwin Anthony examining the pedigrees of leading contenders for this year’s Kentucky Derby. Previously, he looked at Louisiana Derby winner Friesan Fire, Florida Derby winner Quality Road, Santa Anita Derby winner Pioneerof the Nile and the talented Dunkirk.

This week, Anthony examines the bloodlines of I Want Revenge, who made a miraculous worst to first finish in the Wood Memorial after severely stumbling out of the gate. Anthony, who spent six years as the staff pedigree consultant for Three Chimneys Farm and has contributed to numerous publications, is the author of a newly published book, “The American Thoroughbred (Volume I).” Click here to learn more about the book. – Brad Cummings

I WANT REVENGE (Stephen Got Even—Meguial, by Roy)
By all indications, Stephen Got Even was a quality racehorse (G2 winner at 3, G1 winner at 4—on dirt) and has a pretty darn good pedigree (by A.P. Indy from a G1 placed Cox’s Ridge mare, next dam is a G3 winner by Blushing Groom).  But it seems that demand for his services in the breeding shed have waned somewhat in recent years, gauging by his unbelievably low $7,500 stud fee for 2009.  This is somewhat difficult to process, given that we are talking about a horse that had the champion 2YO colt a few years ago (Stevie Wonderboy) and has also sired useful campaigners like Don’t Get Mad (G2, $793,000 in earnings), For All We Know (G2, $292,000), Sweet Vendetta (G2, $224,000), and Steve’s Double (G3, $479,000).

With this kind of capability, it should surprise no one that Stephen Got Even has come up with another tough and genuine racehorse in I Want Revenge, who proved capable of delivering an astonishingly brave effort in winning the Wood Memorial (G1) over the weekend.  I’ve never made a complete list of ways that a horse can get into trouble during the running of a race, but I Want Revenge certainly tested the boundaries of what a horse can overcome and still win.  Mind you, this wasn’t the 3rd race at River Downs we’re talking about (no offense to my friends in Cincinnati), this was the Wood Memorial—one of the most prestigious races on the racing calendar, against quality horses being forced to the limit in an effort to make it into the Kentucky Derby.

While he displayed speed and an explosive bit of acceleration during the stretch run of the Gotham (G3)—his first race on dirt—I Want Revenge was absolutely left at the start of the Wood Memorial.  Only a patient ride by the young but skilled Joe Talamo allowed them to salvage victory from the jaws of defeat and enable the colt to gain valuable traffic experience in the process.  One can guess that what transpired Saturday wasn’t exactly what I Want Revenge’s connections had planned, and a disastrous beginning seldom translates into such a rosy outcome.  Thus, his ability to overcome such adversity bodes well for his chances in the Kentucky Derby (G1), where a troubled trip is not only probable; it is expected.
I have a bit of personal experience to glean from Stephen Got Even and his damsire, Cox’s Ridge.  My family raced Cox’s Ridge, and he was undoubtedly the most sound and consistent racehorse that we have owned during 30+ years of racing.  He was an excellent stallion for us (and others), siring forward extraordinary soundness in his progeny.  I personally raced an allowance winner named Bullion from Stephen Got Even’s first crop of runners, and he was both sound and a genuinely hard-trying racehorse.

I certainly endorse Stephen Got Even, and all that he seems to need to get a really nice campaigner (or even a G1 winner) is the willingness of a breeder to send him a quality mare.  I Want Revenge is certainly a good example of this, given that his dam by Roy placed 2nd in both the Argentine 1000 Guineas (Arg-I) and Argentine Oaks (Arg-I).

It’s not difficult to fall in love with I Want Revenge’s chances of winning a classic race, going by his form line.  He broke his maiden at 2 in California, and then lost a photo to subsequent Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Pioneerof the Nile in the CashCall Futurity (G1).  He certainly has the jump on his competition prepping on synthetic surfaces, as he has logged two impressive victories on dirt and has already displayed the ability to overcome trouble.  What does his pedigree tell us about his chances in the Triple Crown series?

While Stevie Wonderboy did not have the opportunity to run in the classics, he won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) impressively and most of Stephen Got Even’s progeny seem to prosper at a distance.  His sire, A.P. Indy, is most definitely a classic influence, and Stephen Got Even himself won 2 notable races over 9 furlongs (1 1/8 miles).  Cox’s Ridge was capable of racing as far as the classic distance of 1 π miles and sired champions that could win G1 events going as far as 1 ∏ miles.  I Want Revenge’s damsire Roy was primarily a sprinter, being a son of Fappiano from a mare by Never Bend.  Roy has a high concentration of the Frizette family in his pedigree, carrying 6 crosses, including tracing to her directly in tail-female line.  This mixes well with Seattle Slew (sire of A.P.Indy), as he carries Frizette’s daughter Frizeur (dam of Myrtlewood) 2x—neither of these sources being found in the pedigree of Roy.  This Seattle Slew / Roy combination (and Frizette concentration) has already been seen in the pedigree of Great Hunter (G1), and now I Want Revenge makes 2 G1 winners bred that way.

We also see the Blushing Groom / Fappiano combination in I Want Revenge’s lineage, which can also be found in the pedigrees of top performers like Awesome Gem (millionaire), Candy Ride (G1, undefeated), First Samurai (G1), Heatseeker (G1), Intangaroo (G1), Lady Joanne (Alabama), 2009 Lane’s End (G2) winner Hold Me Back, 2009 G3 winner The Pamplemousse, and Broken Vow (G2, sire of G1 winners).

Beyond American-bred Roy, the dam side of I Want Revenge’s pedigree has a very South American influence.  Fitzcarraldo, the sire of his 2nd dam, was bred in Argentina and raced there, winning a G2 event and finishing among the top 4 in all 3 races that comprise the Triple Crown events in that country.  Vervain, the sire of his 3rd dam, was 1st or 2nd in 7 of 8 starts in Europe, and was exported to Argentina to stand at stud.

In attempting to gauge the quality of the Fitzcarraldo / Vervain portion of I Want Revenge’s pedigree, it is interesting to compare it to the family tree of Horse of the Year Invasor.  In crossing these 2 pedigrees, we see a daughter of the stallion Cipayo in Invasor’s pedigree, while Fitzcarraldo is a son of Cipayo.  A mare named Twins is the 4th dam of Invasor, while a full-sister to Twins named Sigma Septima produced the stallion Stallwood, damsire of Fitzcarraldo.  Needless to say, Invasor is closely related to Fitzcarraldo.

The European stamina influence Wild Risk sired the dam of Blushing Groom (grandsire of Invasor), while Wild Risk appears prominently in the pedigree of Vervain.  Thus, the 2nd dam of I Want Revenge (a mare named Starry Night) has a pedigree that is very similar to that of Invasor.  And given that Invasor was an entirely legitimate racehorse going 1 π miles (Breeders’ Cup Classic, Suburban, Dubai World Cup), this would seem to bode well for I Want Revenge’s chances of getting the Derby distance and possibly winning a classic.  At the very least, one has to admire the horse’s toughness.  Personally, I hope that breeders will take note of Stephen Got Even’s admirable habit of siring sound campaigners.  The industry needs more good mares to visit stallions like him.

–Edwin Anthony

Edwin Anthony was the staff pedigree consultant at Three Chimneys Farm for six years and has penned dozens of articles on pedigree research.  He recently published a reference book, The American Thoroughbred (Volume I), which can be ordered via the banner ad link on this this web page.

Following is the third in a series of articles written by Edwin Anthony examining the pedigrees of leading contenders for this year’s Kentucky Derby. Previously, he looked at Louisiana Derby winner Friesan Fire and Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth winner Quality Road (who runs in this Saturday’s Florida Derby).

This week, Anthony examines the bloodlines of West Coast-based Pioneerof the Nile, who has won his last three starts, most recently the San Felipe at Santa Anita. Anthony, who spent six years as the staff pedigree consultant for Three Chimneys Farm and has contributed to numerous publications, is the author of a newly published book, “The American Thoroughbred (Volume I).” Click here to learn more about the book. – Ray Paulick

Between now and the Kentucky Derby, pedigree expert Edwin Anthony will be providing Paulick Report readers with insightful commentaries on many of the leading contenders for the race that most breeders and owners dream of winning. Ed comes from the racing family that bred and owned such classic winners as Temperence Hill and Prairie Bayou (a mating he recommended) under the Loblolly Stable banner, and he’s written for many publications, including Racing Update, where he learned pedigree research from bloodstock journalist pioneer Bill Oppenheim.

Ed has written an important new book, “The American Thoroughbred (Volume 1),” that should be in the library of anyone with an interest in Thoroughbred pedigrees, from serious racing fans, to newcomers to this fascinating world of breeding, to experienced matings planners seeking a fresh perspective. He is knowledgeable, creative in his thought process, authoritative and opinionated, and that’s a pretty good combination. – Ray Paulick

By Edwin Anthony
Thoroughbred racing and breeding is a global enterprise. This has certainly been brought to the fore in recent decades with the racing dominance of 3 princely brothers from Dubai (and other Arab interests like Juddmonte Farm and The Thoroughbred Corporation), as well as the Irish-based stallion conglomerate and breeding empire known simply as Coolmore. Coolmore pioneered the concept of the “dual hemisphere” stallion, in which studs are shuttled back and forth between Europe or the United States and Australia, where they can service mares on Southern Hemisphere time. This has ushered in an era of stallions being bred to enormous books of mares, as well as a confusing slate of statistics, as breeding farms have rushed to emulate and compete with the trendsetters of the industry.

This bit of background information is necessary, as it explains the circumstances that led American champion 2-year-old colt Dehere to Australia, where he sired the Grade 1-winning filly Bollinger, the dam of Friesan Fire (click here <http://www.pedigreequery.com/friesan+fire>  to view his pedigree). Bollinger was a high-class sprinter/miler, winning 3 graded or “group” events in the seven-furlong range, including the aptly named Coolmore Classic (Aust-GI). The dam of Bollinger was the Australian champion 2-year-old filly of her year, Bint Marscay, a winner of the important six-furlong Golden Slipper Stakes (Aust-G1) over colts.

There’s certainly no substitute for a classic prospect by the great stallion A.P. Indy with a first and second dam that were not only very fast, but Grade 1-caliber as well. And you can’t easily dismiss Friesan Fire on the grounds of lacking stamina, if only because A.P. Indy’s greatest successes at stud have involved crossing him with mares that possessed high-quality speed, as in the cases of performers like Mineshaft (Horse of the Year), Bernardini (champion), and Tomisue’s Delight (Grade 1 winner).
 
As a Belmont (G1)/Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner, A.P. Indy has more than enough class and stamina in his genetic bank to balance with the speed genes in the mares bred to him. This comes not only from the Triple Crown winners Seattle Slew and Secretariat so prominent in his pedigree, but also from the fact that his dam, Weekend Surprise, is closely inbred (2 x 4) to Secretariat’s dam, Somethingroyal, who was sired by the stout stamina influence Princequillo. As A.P. Indy’s second dam was sired by the classic influence Buckpasser, who is found in so many important pedigrees, you can see why A.P. Indy has little trouble passing on classic-distance performance in his progeny. We also find the notable stallion My Babu at the base of A.P. Indy’s family tree, he being a very close relative of Turn-to, an important stud who appears twice in A.P. Indy’s lineage.

Much of this genetic class found in A.P. Indy’s lineage is mirrored in the dam side of Friesan Fire’s pedigree. A.P. Indy carries three crosses of the important foundation mare La Troienne, while Bollinger’s sire, Dehere, brings in two crosses of La Troienne’s champion son, Bimelech.

Dehere was produced by a Secretariat mare (another cross of Somethingroyal), with a second dam by classic winner Damascus (out of a mare by My Babu—linking with Turn-to and My Babu in A.P. Indy’s pedigree).

Marscay, the sire of Friesan Fire’s second dam, was a high-class sprinter, winning the Golden Slipper (Aust-G1) at 2, and leading the Australian sire list twice. Although he is from the Star Kingdom line (distinctly Australian), his dam is very American, with his first three dams being sired by To Market (see pedigree of Spectacular Bid), Beau Max, and his half-brother Better Self (a son of Bimelech—more La Troienne). Thus, Marscay’s 2nd dam is intensely inbred (2 x 3) to the important broodmare Bee Mac, a daughter of Triple Crown winner War Admiral.
 
Friesan Fire’s third dam was sired by the tremendous stallion Sir Tristram, who dominated the sire lists in Australasia from his base in New Zealand. Although he only managed to win 2 of 19 starts on the track, Sir Tristram possessed an outstanding pedigree, being from the important Selene family, and carrying both Sir Gaylord (more Turn-to AND Somethingroyal), and My Babu (that’s 3 crosses, in addition to the fact that he’s closely related to Turn-to) prominently in his pedigree. Sir Tristram also possesses 4 x 3 inbreeding to the stamina influence Princequillo through a son and a daughter, as he was produced from a mare by the exceptionally sound racehorse Round Table.

Doubters of Friesan Fire’s potential classic stamina may take note of the fact that he is bred on the same A.P. Indy/Deputy Minister combination that is found in the pedigree of the champion filly Rags to Riches.  She, of course, defeated subsequent two-time Horse of the Year Curlin in a stirring rendition of the classic, 12-furlong Belmont Stakes (G1). That kind of classic form is difficult to dispute, as there is no sterner test of racing class and stamina on the American racing calendar.

Edwin Anthony was the staff pedigree consultant at Three Chimneys Farm for six years and has penned dozens of articles on pedigree research. He recently published the reference book, The American Thoroughbred (Volume I). Click here to learn more and order your today.