The blog at Werk Thoroughbred Consultants
By Frances J. Karon If Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) was the “father of modern astronomy,†the “father of modern physics,†and the “father of modern science,†his equine namesake Galileo (1998-2021) would have to be the all-encompassing “father of modern horseracing.†But some people just called him the GOAT. There were 16 known horses registered as Galileo … Continue reading Galileo the great
By Frances J. Karon Whether you believe in nicks or not, it’s impossible to look at a cross that has produced 18% black type winners to foals and say that there’s not something going on that particular formula, and Navratilova, winner of the Tepin Stakes – the final race of Churchill’s spring meet, which ended on Saturday – is bred … Continue reading Navratilova serves up an ace for Humphrey and Arnold
By Frances J. Karon If the popularity of any stallion in recent memory has run the gamut more than Runhappy, I can’t think who it could be. Early on in his racing days he was a “feel good story,†from his 8 1/2-length maiden win at Turfway Park just after Christmas in his only start … Continue reading Faith in Runhappy is paying off
By Frances J. Karon The Derby walkover began at 6:14 PM. O Besos, a chestnut son of 2013 Kentucky Derby winner Orb, was the first to leave the chute, accompanied by his connections. Somewhere in that group leading the way was the colt’s breeder, co-owner L. Barrett Bernard, who had tucked a memento, given to … Continue reading A Derby postcard
By Frances J. Karon Saturday’s Apple Blossom at Oaklawn had been widely seen as a showdown between reigning champions Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) and Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil), with 10 G1 wins between them. Instead, it was the third champion, Letruska (Super Saver), in the six-horse field who prevailed by a nose over Monomoy Girl, with Swiss … Continue reading Letruska a memorable first for Mexico
By Frances J. Karon On a significant Saturday of stakes racing in the U.S., the sires of most of the Graded winners were not surprising: Bernardini, Candy Ride, Curlin (sire of a GSW on Friday, too), Distorted Humor, Into Mischief (also with a GSW on Friday), Speightstown and son Munnings, Tapit (two GSWs), Uncle Mo … Continue reading Factor of two
By Frances J. Karon It’s always a success story when a horse retires to stud at his birthplace, particularly when that farm is Claiborne. Ironicus, bred by longtime client Stuart Janney III, is the second stallion in his immediate family born at Claiborne who went to stud there. Flatter (A.P. Indy) is the other, and they … Continue reading Helium proves Ironicus is not full of hot air
By Sid Fernando Super Strong, a US-bred son of Super Saver, and Japanese-bred Pink Kamehameha, by the Japanese sire Leontes, are two outsiders on the G1 Kentucky Derby trail, literally and figuratively. They are also examples of the peculiarities of black type. A $127,000 Keeneland September yearling and a $77,000 OBS 2-year-old, Super Strong won … Continue reading Super Strong, Pink Kamehameha, and black type