By Frances J. Karon Coolmore Stud’s Kentucky-based Triple Crown winner American Pharoah (by Pioneerof the Nile) was not an early 2yo, despite being champion 2yo (as well as Horse of the Year at three). He didn’t debut until August 9th (when he was fifth over 6 1/2 furlongs on the all-weather at Del Mar), and … Continue reading American Pharoah excelling early…and on turf
By Frances J. Karon It is true that Galileo, Frankel, Dubawi, and co. take up most of the headlines in European racing, but Cheveley Park Stud’s 26-year-old Pivotal still knows how to grab a few headlines of his own. In some direct capacity, Pivotal featured prominently — either as sire, broodmare sire, or sire of … Continue reading Pivotal by name, pivotal by nature
By Frances J. Karon For three years, Seeking the Soul has been a persistent, consistent reminder of what an excellent servant Perfect Soul has been to WTC client Charles “Chuck” Fipke, a man of faith in his stallions, including — or perhaps, especially — Perfect Soul. Perfect Soul, by Sadler’s Wells out of Ball Chairman … Continue reading Seeking Perfection
By Frances J. Karon You’re unlikely to find an active stallion with more crops of racing age than Stormy Atlantic, whose 18th group of 2yos is now on the track while their sire spent the first half of the year conceiving his 21st crop, for the low stud fee of $10,000. (Awesome Again, Distorted Humor, … Continue reading Stormy Atlantic still making waves
By Frances J. Karon On February 2nd, I tweeted this observation: “…Japanese-bred Power Gal, who won the Martha Washington at Oaklawn today, is by Empire Maker out of a mare by High Yield, whose broodmare sire was Forty Niner. Those genes traveled a long way to produce a black-type winner in Arkansas.” The product of an international … Continue reading Empire Maker comes full circle
By Frances J. Karon Flat Out, Spendthrift’s son of Flatter (by A.P. Indy), had two stakes horses over the weekend: 3yo colt Wendell Fong, first in the Gold Fever at Belmont; and 4yo filly Pacific Gale, second in the G3 Vagrancy, also at Belmont. But what is particularly striking here is that Wendell Fong and … Continue reading Flat Out smoking with Forestry
By Frances J. Karon Candy Ride has two significant, Kentucky-based G1-winning sons — Gun Runner and Mastery — with first foals arriving in 2019. Or three significant sons, even, if you consider that Unified was a G1-placed multiple GSW. So you can imagine that the farms that stand these young stallions — Three Chimneys (Gun … Continue reading And what a sweet ride it is
By Frances J. Karon It’s been more than three years since Scat Daddy (Johannesburg) died, unexpectedly and at the far-too-young age of 11, in December of 2015, but, as we were reminded only this weekend, he continues to be greatly missed. That will likely be the story for a long, long time. Never mind his accomplishments … Continue reading Top Daddy