Okay, so this is a little silly, but while we were making dinner last night, my wife and I were discussing just what would happen if Rags to Riches were to win the Belmont stakes. The astronomical value of a filly that won a Grade I race against males...at a mile and a half... and is a triple crown leg winner...
So we tried to come up with some dream-team breeding matches for Rags to Riches, should she win the Belmont Stakes. Remember, with an 11 month gestation period for horses, there are only so many times she can breed in her lifetime, so we had to choose our matches wisely.
So here are my 1o picks for Rags to Riches' dance card, using as many farms as possible, but having to stay away from her sire A.P. Indy, and his progeny (Mineshaft). It's not that often a triple crown winner gets to breed with another triple crown winner...and we've got several options out there. And I didn't even look to Europe yet.
Ashford Stud
Fusaichi Pegasus $75,000 See comment for Jones, Smarty.Thunder Gulch $30,000 Should have used Giants Causeway as suggested by a reader. His price is "private."
DarleyBernardini $100,000Since we can't use Bernardini who is also by A.P. Indy (thanks Alan), who do you use from Darley/Jonabell? Street Cry ($50,000)? It doesn't much matter since Coolmore and Darley don't mix and match too often (if ever).
Gainsway
Afleet Alex $40,000 -- Belmont winner to Belmont winner, what's to lose?
Lane's End
Rock Hard Ten $50,000 -- not a lot of choices at Lane's End, since we couldn't use A.P. Indy or Mineshaft, but matching with Rock Hard Ten who has both Mr. Prospector and Roberto in his line. Probably won't use any at this farm.
Taylor Made
Forestry $125,000 -- not a big Forestry fan, but the way he's kicking out multi-million dollar foals who can work a furlong in nothing flat -- it's worth a shot.
Unbridled's Song $200,000
Three Chimney's
Smarty Jones $100,000 Derby winner to Belmont winner, how often does that happen?
Dynaformer $150,000 the sire of Barbaro, Film Maker, etc.
WinStar
Distorted Humor $225,000
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Rags to Riches: Cart Before the Horse
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10 comments:
Great list, but Bernardini is by A.P.Indy too.
It's Giant's Causeway, and it's not even close.
Actually, in addition to Giant's Causeway, I think Empire Maker would be interesting... that horse could probably win the Melbourne Cup!
Giant's Causeway is listed as "private," which is why I omitted him. He's an Ashford sire though, so you could bet she'd probably see him.
Was going to comment about Bernardini, but got beat to it.
With her stamina, I'd like to get some grass into her ... maybe Lemon Drop Kid? (I know, he's not uber-fashionable, but I'm liking what I see when they run on grass)
A Rags to Riches foal by Lemon Drop Kid would be inbred 3x3 to Seattle Slew.
If you go to breeding.bloodhorse.com/sirelists, you can click on the sire's names and most breeders provide free Hypothetical Matings via equiline.com. Empire Maker and Dynaformer look very good, as does Albert the Great, Distorted Humor, Point Given, and Smart Strike.
Most of the breeding farm websites offer the same Hypothetical Matings features.
I think it is safe to say that, barring death or pensioning, Rags to Riches will be bred to Storm Cat for her initial season (or three). The Coolomre boys purchased several lifetime breeding rights in him several years ago, and they would probably wet themselves over the thought of a colt from that union. Better than Honour also had a filly by Storm Cat, Teeming, who was injured early in her career but who had the reputation of being every bit as classy (if not moreso) than her classic winning half siblings.
The reason I didn't use Storm Cat is because her breeding (and career) screams distance and if I remember correctly Storm Cat only has 3 Grade I winners over a mile...
Doesn't make sense to me to send her if that's the case.
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