Pedigree

And so, we like the catalog page of Hip #148.  Doubting I have had one better.  Does pedigree matter?  Human sample to make a point.

Those attuned to athletics will recall Glenn (Big Dog) Robinson.  Number one selection in the 1994 NBA draft. Never lived up to it, but, decent player.  Glenn Robinson I:

  Here's Glenn Robinson III:

There's probably more workout in that vid then Glenn I did in his whole career, which will be referred to next post.

Some resemblance between father and son except none in build size and natural strength.  Glenn Robinson was 6' 9".  Big big fellow.  While unknown, I'd be amazed to see the Robinson III ever make it to the NBA.

That's other than to say Robinson I would never duplicate himself..  Happens, and probably more in horses than humans.  Imo the heritable trait that matters in horses geometrically above any other is breathing ability.  All these 4 legged creatures can run but are severely limited in their breathing mechanism and O2 uptake ability.  If the pop won 6 million, he could breathe.  I have a rule to avoid unraced dams at auctions for fear that they're unraced due to a breathing problem.  I find these problems highly heritable.

The other thing that can happen pedigree wise, I am supposing, is that the superior horse athlete as the superior human athletes--mostly Africans--have an extra centimeter or maybe a quarter inch length advantage to arms and legs.  I did notice once, when wrapping the leg of a wide receiver for the Missouri Tigers that the black athlete had a peculiar diamond shape patella to his knee.  He was very fast.  There are some things, obviously, that are passed down.

There are some more traits that we want from inheritance, and this is illustrated to a degree by Hip #148.  What u notice about natural athletes is their physical presence, their explosiveness and grace in their ordinary movements, and their natural energy.  U take a look at these sorts and, u just "see it".  My lazy Rodney was a little fellow in the ring at Fasig Tipton standing there half asleep.  He's proven to be an extraordinarily lazy creature by nature.  Hip #148 was a bundle of energy through his time in the ring.  Difference, possibly.

So, what may we conclude about the role of pedigree.  I can only say it's nice to have it.  It's nice to believe all that time, effort and $$$ u put into ur horse has a better chance of success due to ur shrewd selection as to pedigree.  And yet, what does it really matter in the pinch.   Two statements to ponder:

Noted retired English Trainer Bill O'Gorman:  when they're in the stretch drive it does little good for them to call for help from their ancestors.

And this one has stuck with me through the years.  Jockey Terry McGee after a nice gallop on one of mine at the farm:  That was a good gallop, McGee.  McGee:  "None of that matters."

Fails to matter is what, according to McGee, we may say about pedigree and everything else. It's all irrelevant to getting them out of the starting gate in an actual race.  That's a different world, and if u ever observe it closely in full action of what it is, in truth ancestry has, maybe, a sliver of relevance. Nice to see though that, by accident, my #148 and Sinister Minister have the same broodmare sire.

Sinister Minister

For those with short memories, take a look:

Relevance?  Take a look at pedigree:

http://www.pedigreequery.com/sinister+minister

Sinister Minister and Hip #148 have same broodmare sire.  You always wonder about the irrationality of the buying choices and prices at Keeneland.  Seriously--strictly in terms of a catalog page--can one do a whole lot better than #148 with million dollar mare Antespend and Stick To Beauty the dam of of champion sprinter Gold Beauty herself the dam of champion sprinter Dayjur etc. etc. in the same pedigree along withe Storm Cat etc.?

The story of Stick To Beauty:

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/16667/old-age-claims-foundation-mare-stick-to-beauty

The Prime Minister

Blogger has been ill with flu. Very debilitating over last 2 weeks..  Made mistake stopping at McDonald's on way to LA is probably when it happened. On with Hip #148. 

My colt of which I'll post some vids soon--he's grown from those skinny legs in the LA vid--looks nothing like his sire, Rainmaker pictured last post, and instead bears notable resemblance to his broodmare sire The Prime Minister.

It would take someone that's been around for a while to appreciate The Prime Minister who now stands in Georgia for $1000.00.  Must be in his 20s.  And, wish I could find one of his stallion photos to post.  This was one big beautiful horse by noted sire Deputy Minister out of foundation broodmare Stick to Beauty (see Maplejinsky, Sky Beauty, Gold Beauty--anybody remember Sinister Minister? et. al.).  He won the Goodwood Handicap, which is a Grade I, I think, before they hurt him.  The Prime Minister has been one of those stallions over the years that I take note of.  I've in the old days tried to buy The Prime Minister progeny.

So, having quite by accident now stumbled on to one now by The Prime Minister, this is right up my ally.  And-take note I latched onto the horse before even looking at his catalog page.  That he has The Prime Minister, Storm Cat, Antespend, Spend A Buck and Pleasant Colony through Cherokee Colony at the bottom all in one pedigree--some of my favorite stallions from the early years, good grief, I am thrilled. I'd tried to latch on to a The Prime Minister in the early '90s.  Who'd have thunk it would take to 2012 to get one in the barn, and stakes placed $50,000 win broodmare to boot.
 I did violate one of my precepts.  And, it worries me.  The colt has significant white stockings on two of his legs.  I always consider white legs as weak, and I always eliminate them from my catalog.  Here I bit and bought one with white legs.  He's got everything else.  Will see.  Here's the pedigree again:

Hip 148

 Rainmaker, the sire above stands 17 hands. Rainmaker is the last son of the great filly Antespend by Spend A Buck. Died in foaling him.  By the Blood Horse Stallion photo, what a horse! Except he was unraced  By Storm Cat.  Here's the pedigree of #148. Left click to enlarge.

I like Hip #17. I am estatic about Hip #148.  Try to get some vids up soon that show the athleticism of this big fellow who stands 16.1.5 hands at age 16 months..  Legs are a little on the thin side and we always worry is there enough leg there to hold up the horse?  In person look shows them perfect in conformation and very strong looking. 

I went into the sale wanting a horse just to gain some access to a race track, never mind the KY Derby Prospect stuff.  This horse by looks, however, u'd have to say is a prospect.  Looks nothing like the perfectly conformed Rainmaker, however, which is other than bad in this instance--next post.

It Begins

Blogger in get 'em to the track quick mode. Breaking starts today.

 Probably more than anyone wanted to know about Hip #17.  I like to know what I have. The young fellow has exact same coloration as his pop. Possibly favors Eugene's Third Son more than the dam side. I am now completely taken that the youngster has both a Grade I winning dam and also one that was elected a Champion. I was somewhat tuned into that when I first saw the catalog page.  Now owning the horse, status of the dam as a black type mare gains hugely in significance. Some quality top and bottom. All together corresponds to the appearance of the horse. Left click to enlarge.

Looks more like he's trying to become an Indian Charlie instead of Norther Dancer type horse. Will see. Has legs, perfect conformation, perfect pastern angles and pastern length, balanced, nice rear leg conformation.  I"d guess he's about 15'3", maybe a tad taller.  Some concern that Hip #17 as sort that will fail to grow another half centimeter.  At 16' 1' though , look out, if we could get him there. Here they are in the pasture area where they will train:

Hip #17 La Signora

The interesting story of dam, La Signora and dams sire Robin Des Pins below.

http://www.racingandsports.com.au/breeding/rsNewsArt.asp?NID=166401&id=FP

Hip #17 The Tangled Webs

Eugene's Third Son on the outside above finishing second in the Lane's End Stakes at Turfway.  I always say a trainer that will put so much equipment on a horse that it can't see is a blithering idiot. Blinkers and a giant shadow roll will do that to a horse.  Put another way, would we like our horse to see where it is putting it's feet at 40 mph?.  Caveat--I used to think a tongue tie was a dumb piece of equipment.  Sometimes we discover there's reasons for what they do. I have yet to figure the shadow roll, obviously.

Enter the fellow in the sun glasses, the trainer of Eugene's Third Son, a fellow named Patrick Byrne.  Trained Awesome Again to the 1998 BC Classic.  Undefeated or close.  And 2 yr. old Champ Favorite Trick and a few others.  Been in decline according to an April 2012 Paulick Report post.  One may guess why.  1998 was the epitome of the soft training era.  Byrne would have beat others just like himself.  An indicator of his actual ability is that Eugene's Third Son broke his leg and was retired finishing second in the Arkansas Derby in 2003.  As I noted from the equipment, a probable training idiot, except to note that's purely by circumstantial evidence--unknown really.  Just a suspicion.

And, whoooops.  More evidence.  Take Charge Indy.  This very blog noted before 2012 Florida Derby that due to it's pitiful training Take Charge Indy would likely be injured in the race.  Was retired after the race.  Trainer:  Patrick Byrne, and the prosecution may almost rest.

And so--there's some background on Eugene' Third Son, the sire of Hip#17, formerly a colt, but as of 1:30 p.m. today, a gelding--the deed is done.  Would think it fairly impressive to finish second in two of the major KY Derby Preps, Lanes End and Ark. Derby with a broken leg.  He's by Indian Charlie out of an Afleet Mare--and now stands in the Philippines for 50,000 pesos.  Oh well.

Here he is: ETS in first 15 sec.--left click to full screen and pause at the conformation photo. Hip #17 is a bit of a spitting image of his pop.

The Trip

The horses are in KC from Opelousas, La.  Short time instead of long time for Murphy's Law to kick back in.

Hip #17

#17 at Red River Farms as a weanling.

Notice on catalog page(left click and adjust to readable size) a "6" at upper left..  On a scale of 10 this Colt rated a 6. Lots of 8s and 9s in this Catalog, and 6 is below average. By my pre-sale strategy this Colt should, if he was to be bought, go cheap, which he did.

Catalog page analysis.  Why rate this Colt down?  Obviously the unknown sire Eugene's Third Son is the reason even with the Indian Charlie/Afleet pedigree. Yet, Eugene was other than a backyard race horse.  Take a look--the horse finished second in the Arkansas Derby. He also won $300 grand before they injured him.  I am other than one to shy away from sires such as this if everything fits.  Further analysis, it does..

Strength here is in the dam.  Despite that it's Uruguay, this is a Champ filly.  +, looking down at second dam Salt Marsh, take a look under POTRI FLASH and see the Champ Older Horse in Uruguay, twice.  Two Champs, same pedigree. How often do we see that?

Yet, this was a good sale. Lots of good horses to come through, and that was even obvious watching the first 16 come through.  Eugene as a totally unknown sire.  Had to rate that down compared to what else was in the catalog.

Shortly after arriving I also formed a favorable impression of the Red River Farms bunch all in their red hats and red tea shirts.  I saw a couple of their well cared for horses.

Then came #17, and he was both flashy and a total handful for his 6'2" big boy handler. I later asked the fellow--that #17 was tough?  Response:  "Ya, first horse I took over there had to be the toughest one".  Keep in mind heat and humidity. It was 101 degrees, 101% humid, and the Cajuns were all sweating like pigs, and this big horse was leaning and jumping on this young fellow for about 25 minutes during the walking.

#17s photos show he's got legs--reminded me of Rodney, stout--and he was a bit flashy, intelligent big eyes, and I like his high energy level. He was best looker through the ring to that point by far, and indeed all the "likes"--catalog page, horse appearance, energy level, tracks absolutely straight with a look of power--came together.

Decision to buy:  My method at the sale was going to be to watch 30 or 40 horses come through to get my bearings.  Then, #17 and immediately -- an exception to the rule.  What about all those 10 win mares, etc.?  I've been around long enough to trust my instincts.  Nothing to dislike and the horse looks like a racehorse.  I decided to bid up to $4000.00.  Higher than $4000?  Well, there were plenty of good horses to come.

It was a lot more hectic and frantic than that especially with their 200 decibel loudspeaker, the weather, the early sale buzz, etc. U were unable to hear urself think.  I was fairly calm though, my only qualm -- bidding this early in the sale.  I figured I'd get the horse due to the Eugene factor.    Somebody bid $1000 after a delay.  Probably Red River trying to start the bids. I paused as long as I could--nobody else was bidding, and I was thinking--lol--horse I like and the idiots are sitting on their hands.  I bid $2000 because I would be embarrassed to take that horse for any less, and figured upping a thousand might shut out any of the $200 bidders.  Did indeed, and the hammer fell.  Was I the idiot, or they? Next post

Double Trouble

Liveblogging The Sale

6:00 p.m.On the way to Opelousas, La. Hope spelled correctly.  Currently on side of road waiting for trooper to give me ticket for 85mph.  Guilty as charged.  Was beginning to worry whether there are any troopers. here he comes

10:00 p.m.  Rudy, Arkansas.  Just snaked the way (literally) through NW Arkansas, and historic  Bentonville, home of the first Walmart.  Highway becomes decent S of Fayetteville. Almost to Ft. Smith.  Same rt. that we traveled once upon a time on every weekend on way to La Downs or Blueribbon. Had to stop  as the Avis  car rental Kia is belching all sorts of noise at speed.  Seems  to be ok.  Stocked up at Shell station since about to leave  civilization. 300 mi down. 440 to go. Sale starts at 10 a.m. Nice 1st horse.

7:00 a.m. 9/5 Somewhere quite a bit S. of Shreveport.  Trip takes a little starch out of the traveler.  Forgot the utter nightmare of driving through Arkansas. They can shout God Bless America at  Dem. Convention.  Seeing  little God blessed down this way.

9:30 a.m. Arrival. Last  60 miles in to Opelousas Interstate at 75 mph with beautiful La vegetation.  Take back last paragraph.  One  little nice spot.  Evangeline  Parish, La.  Gold Mercedes E320 parked just in front of me. The competition.  Forgot to bring the phone cable.  So much for live blogging. I'm interested in the 4 Richter Scale  Colts and every horse out  of  a dam with more than 5 wins. $9000.00 on board.  Thought--what hell will i do with horse once I buy him.  That is just a 760 mile brutal  trip.  May bid only  if able to make arrangements for horse in advance.  First Colt in a nice  grandson of Storm Cat out of  a 200,000 win siphon mare. Should be interesting.

9:20 p.m. 9/5  Live blogging went by the wayside on a 1:01 degree day with 200% humidity and a speaker system at the auction so loud u were unable to hear urself think.  Lot's  of  interesting  thoughts about auctions that blogger is too beat to deal with except to note they have an identifiable dynamic.  Id thought these astute La horse people would have a plan.  Bidding was as inexplicable as Lexington.

Out of an abundance of over enthusiasm or in another sense loosing my mind I  wound up with two.
Long discussion for later.  They're both big and athletic and comparatively in the sale looked in the top 20.  One is out of a champion filly in Uruguay and, before snickering, she's by Robin Des Pins, on of the better sires down there.  The top is Indian Charlie and Afleet.  The Colt has as nice a head structure for racing as we'll see and is  irrepressible in terms of his energy level.  The other is a tall leggy highly athletic colt with several of my favourite horses--On top Storm Cat and Spend A  Buck through daughter Antespend, and on bottom a favorite of mine in conformation--The Prime Minister and the Pleasant Colony horse Cherokee Colony. U'd have to be around a while to know significance of those. The colt has a great breeding combo and is a looker.  The dam won 50000 and was stakes placed.  So, i followed one of my rules and bought horses out of racing dams, in this case, black  type no  less.

Louisiana Sale

 Sept. 5 is the Equine Sales of Louisiana Inaugural Sale. Almost overlooked and just spotted this one.

Spanking new sales pavilion two miles from Evangeline Downs with the nice manageable number of 280 horses in this sale.  I'd overlooked this sale and just spotted it. It's this Wed,. good grief, and would much prefer to avoid the sudden rush of a mid week two day 1500 mile round trip which by itself creates pressure to buy.  This many decent horses(by the catalog pages) you tend to be kid in candy store more than cautious buyer.  Plus the check clears on Fri. two days after the sale.  I'd have to get credit from them to go over $2500.00.  And a few minor problems such as getting a horse from Opelousas La. (two miles from Evangeline downs) the 776 miles to Kansas City?

The Catalog is interesting.  Slots are good to La. racing, and this is where all those nice 5-8 win regional mares sell their foals.  I counted 24 mares(colts only) with more than 5 wins.  Several in there with 8 to 12 wins.  Little different story however when u look at the foals in this sale.  Is there something wrong with my eyes or is almost everyone of Joe Adcock's foals inferior or rough in their legs? The first horse by Square Eddie e.g. pasterns a little amiss possibly--a tick long and slopey for the leg structure??? Scroll down looking at legs only to see the point..

http://www.adcocksredriverfarm.com/horsesforsale.htm

There's one very nice filly at the top of page 3.  Hip #5 in the Catalog:

http://www.equinesalesofla.com/ESL_Inaugural_Yearling_Hips_1-282.pdf

She's one of the few that pass the eye test here.  A little pizazz shows and very nice conformation. Dam as it turned out by Forty Niner.

And the Gold Tribute on page 4 with the white legs looks like a piece of work although for me white legs are a throw out.  How many winners do you see with 4 white legs?

Other than that Joe Adcock's consignment is pretty much a throw out for me.  Maybe three or four others I rate as marginal.  Dampens the enthusiasm a bit except for one thing--most of the multiple win mares are in other consignments.

Pondering going down there at the moment and whether its worth the two day trip.