The blog at Werk Thoroughbred Consultants
By Elaine Belval I am pushing 40 and there are moments when something happens and I think, “Boy, I am getting old.” The recent article in the Blood Horse describing “Generation Y” attributes definitely had me depressed. A recent editorial in the Daily Racing Form had me thinking about my Derby memories. Now, I am … Continue reading Stroll down Derby lane ends with Jack
By Elaine Belval It’s hard to argue that Oasis Dream had a career week. Tuscan Evening wrapped it up with her fourth victory at the Santa Anita winter meeting, taking the G2 Santa Barbara H. The week started with Keredari winning the Loughbroun Stakes at the Curragh in Ireland (defeating another son of Oasis Dream … Continue reading Oasis has dream week
By Sid Fernando The late WTC founder Jack Werk spent a lot of time making pedigree analysis accessible and understandable. He, along with Roger Lyons, developed the Werk nick rating as a simple guide for users to gauge the effectiveness of sire line crosses, and he was actually quite adamant in insisting that a “nick” … Continue reading A simple nick
By Elaine Belval When Rahy was pensioned by Three Chimneys Farm in the summer of 2009 it felt a great personal blow. Was there ever a stallion more greatly missed in recent American breeding? Not by me. Rahy had been one of the most solid, and perhaps most under-appreciated sires, in recent memory. He sired … Continue reading Remembering Rahy
By Sid Fernando With Eskendereya firmly entrenched as favorite for the Kentucky Derby with the major Derby preps out of the way, his sire, the Ashford Stud-based Giant’s Causeway, is enjoying the spotlight that goes to those that can get live classic contenders. The son of Storm Cat was the leading sire in the US … Continue reading Giant’s Causeway as a broodmare sire
By Sid Fernando Ghostzapper was a freak, according to his late trainer, Bobby Frankel. A homebred for Frank Stronach, Ghostzapper was indeed freakishly fast and had a freak’s record of 9 wins from 11 starts, $3,446,120 in earnings, including wins in the G1 Vosburgh at 3, the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic and Woodward at 4, … Continue reading Ghostzapper finally off the mark
By Elaine Belval When Wild Again was pensioned at Three Chimneys Farm in the fall of 2004 it seemed the end of the line for the Icecapade branch of Nearctic. Clever Trick had died that summer and Phone Trick would die the next year. A few scattered sons and grandsons remained, but there did not … Continue reading Dr. Zic another good 3yo filly for Milwaukee Brew
By Elaine Belval It’s that time of year again. It’s the time when the precocious 2yos start appearing. The future. On Friday, Keeneland’s opening day for its Spring 2010 meeting, the 2yo 4.5f maiden race was won by Wetzel, a son of Successful Appeal. Successful Appeal was from one of the last crops of the … Continue reading Successful Appeal has the right numbers