By Elaine Belval

When Bright Thought won the 1 1/2 mile, G2 San Luis Rey S. in 2:22.72 on March 16th, he achieved a remarkable feat: he toppled the long-standing world record of 2:22 4/5 set by Hawkster in the 1989 G1 Oak Tree Invitational H.

“He broke running, and I was going to go on with him,” said jockey Victor Espinoza. “But I didn’t want to go head-t0-head with every other horse all the way to the wire so I eased back a bit. I gave him a little breather and started to let him run from the three-eighths (pole). It’s a nice feeling to ride these kind of horses. He’s an unbelievable horse, he’s an unbelievable talent.”

Bright Thought is trained by Jorge Gutierrez and is owned by Alex Venneri (who bred the colt along with Postum Farm) and Marjorie Dye.  It was Bright Thought’s third consecutive victory at Santa Anita, and his first in stakes company. He is being tentatively pointed towards the G1 Woodford Reserve on the Kentucky Derby undercard, on May 4th.

Bright Thought is by Hat Trick, a Japanese-bred son of Sunday Silence. Sunday Silence sired over 170 stakes winners, but the majority of them are in Japan. He has three GSWs in North America, six SWs in Europe, and two SWs in Australia. Sons of Sunday Silence have sired over 300 SWs worldwide. But, like Sunday Silence, only a handful are outside of Japan (in NA, the only SWs by sons of Sunday Silence, aside from those sired by Hat Trick, are G1 winner Cesario, by Special Week; and four by Silent Name, most notably G2 winner Silentio).

Hat Trick was a G1 winner in Japan. He won a maiden race at Tokyo in his first start in May of his three-year-old season, when he won four of five starts, finishing only five lengths back in the Japanese G3 Radio Tampa Sho. He won four of eight starts at four, including the Japanese G3 Tokyo Shimbun Hai in January and later the Japanese G1 Mile Championship at Kyoto in 1:32.10. He finished the year with a victory in the G1 Hong Kong Mile, defeating some of the best international milers. Hat Trick continued to run well in graded stakes company in Japan, but victory eluded him in his remaining starts.

Grade 1-winning sons of Sunday Silence are “a dime a dozen” in Japan. With South African bloodstock agent Robin Bruss and Team Valor’s Barry Irwin playing strong parts, Hat Trick was bought by John Jones III in late 2007. Despite not racing since April 2007—and never in the US—and being a son of Sunday Silence who as a sire was an unknown quantity in NA, Hat Trick proved very popular with US breeders, covering over 100 mares in 2008. It can’t have hurt that his dam is US G2 winner Tricky Code, by Lost Code.

Hat Trick sired seven individual two-year-old winners in his freshman crop in 2011, when he was one of the leading freshman sires. Among these winners, in five different countries, was European champion two-year-old Dabirsim.

Three other GSWs have emerged from that crop: King David (winner of the G1 Jamaica H. at Belmont); How Great (G3 Palm Beach S. at Gulfstream); and now Bright Thought. All five of the stallion’s SWs are turf horses.

Gainesway purchased a majority interest in Hat Trick in late 2011, and the 12-year-old now stands at that farm, where his 2013 fee is $15,000.

By Elaine Belval

Midnight Lute had a busy weekend at Santa Anita. On Sunday, his son Shakin It Up won the G3 San Vicente S. at seven furlongs. Earlier on the card, the colt Govenor Charlie won a one-mile maiden race. And on Saturday, his filly Midnight Lucky won a 6.5 furlong maiden race. All three are trained by Bob Baffert, as was Midnight Lute.

Baffert said, “The thing about Midnight Lute was he was a brilliant racehorse. I think all his foals are a little bit slow coming around. We’ve taken our time with them, and they’re really maturing now and showing he looks like he’s going to be a real good sire.”

Shakin It Up is owned by Dennis A. Cardoza and Michael Pegram (also his breeder). His second dam is the Pegram/Baffert champion Silverbulletday and his broodmare sire is another Baffert-trained champion, Vindication.  Jockey David Flores said after the race, “When I asked him to go he accelerated, a tremendous acceleration.”

That “tremendous acceleration” marked Midnight Lute’s race career. He won his first start, a maiden special weight at Del Mar at two, but proved a much better horse as he got older. At three, he won the G3 Perryville S. at Keeneland and finish third in the G1 Malibu to Latent Heat (defeating G1 Brother Derek). At four, the year he was awarded the Eclipse as champion sprinter, Midnight Lute won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint by four lengths, defeating such talented sprinters as Idiot Proof and Benny the Bull, immediately after setting a new stakes record in the 7 furlong G1 Forego S. He also finished second twice, by a nose (to Awesome Gem) in the 8.5 furlong G2 San Fernando Breeders’ Cup S. and in the G1 Hill ‘n’ Dale Cigar Mile H. A hock injury kept him to only two starts at five, but his win in the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Sprint was the fastest (at 1:07.08) in the race’s history.

Midnight Lute is one of three G1 SWs by Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Real Quiet. His dam is the unraced mare Candytuft, by Dehere. His female family traces to Italian champion Feria II, dam of the great runner and sire Gyr (a full brother to Midnight Lute’s third dam Berkut).  This is a solid family with world influence. Other G1 winners from this family include French G1 Alydar’s Best and Brazilian G1 Lord Marco.

Midnight Lute proved popular his first year at stud, with almost 100 named foals. He had 11 individual winners in 2012, including the SW Midnight Ballet.  He had another four stakes-placed horses and finished seventh on the freshman sire list. With Shakin It Up’s victory in the San Vicente, he is now ranked second on the second crop sire list, with nine winners already in 2013. As the icing on the cake for the young sire, on the same weekend that Shakin it Up, Govenor Charlie, and Midnight Lucky won their starts in California, Midnight Aria won a nine furlong maiden race at Gulfstream Park.

Midnight Lute stands at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms in Kentucky and his 2013 fee is $15,000.

By Elaine Belval

In this blog, I try to highlight the “lesser known” stallions or regional stallions — stallions that can get overlooked in the big picture. But sometimes it is impossible to ignore the big guns, and this week, after siring the winner of the G1 Malibu S. and the dam of the winner of the G1 La Brea S. at opening day of Santa Anita’s winter/spring meeting, Distorted Humor was just not going to be denied.

Distorted Humor’s son Jimmy Creed won the G1 Malibu for owner Spendthrift Farm, breeder Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, and trainer Richard Mandella. The G1 Malibu was his first stakes victory, but earlier in the year he finished second in the El Cajon S. and third in the G1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship. The soon-to-be four-year-old’s only off-the-board performance in seven starts was a ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.  Incidentally, Jimmy Creed is a son of G1 La Brea SW Hookedonthefeelin, by Citidancer.

With Jimmy Creed’s victory in the Malibu, Distorted Humor now has 14 G1 winners in North America and, including one by his son Any Given Saturday, five unrestricted SWs with Dixieland Band-line mares. Distorted Humor, who has been a top ten N.A. sire in seven of the last eight years, is currently ranked eighth on the General Sire List with over $8 million in progeny earnings.

Book Review, the winner of the G1 La Brea, is by Giant’s Causeway out of Distorted Humor’s daughter Clever Babe. Book Review is owned and bred by Gary and Mary West and trained by Bob Baffert. This was her first G1 victory after a listed stakes win earlier in the season.

Distorted Humor had his first runners in 2000 and first SWs as a broodmare sire in 2008, with U. S. Cavalry and Enjoy the Score. Book Review is the sixth SW in 2012 out of a Distorted Humor mare. Another, G2 winner Reneesgotzip, ran a close second in the La Brea. While Distorted Humor now has 15 SWs as a broodmare sire, Book Review is his first G1 winner.  It is important to remember that Distorted Humor spent the first few years of his stud career at $12,500, covering more modest mares. In 2003, he still stood for a moderate $30,000. His better-bred daughters began to appear in later crops so certainly, the best is yet to come for him in that regard. (As a final note, Book Review’s dam is a foal of  2004 and Reneesgotzip’s dam is a foal of 2000).

Distorted Humor stands at WinStar Farm in Kentucky, where his 2013 fee is $100,000.

By Elaine Belval

Reina Cross won the Criterium Aretuseo II in Italy on the first of December. She is by the Italian stallion Reinaldo, who is a graded stakes-placed son of Green Desert. What makes Reina Cross especially interesting is that her dam, Starry Cross, is by Cape Cross, another son of Green Desert. Reina Cross is the second SW inbred to Green Desert, after 2009 GSW Monitor Closely by Oasis Dream, winner of the G2 Great Votigeur S.

British-based Green Desert was pensioned by Nunnery Stud after the 2011 breeding season.  At the age of 28, Green Desert had been a valuable asset to the stud. He sired 12 G1 winners, including Sheikh Albadou, Heat Haze, and most recently, Markab.  In total, he sired over 90 individual SWs, almost all on turf in Europe.

The past few years have been called the rise of the Green Desert branch of Danzig. After being overshadowed by Danehill, Green Desert finally has his place in the spotlight, which should perhaps not be surprising, as nine of his G1 winners were colts.

Green Desert’s first few sons at stud had most success, the best of these being the New Zealand-based Volksraad. Volksraad died in 2011, but he left behind over 30 Graded SWs, including 13 G1 winners. Green Desert also had success with two other Australasian sires in Desert Sun — the deceased sire of the great Sunline — and Magic Ring.

Some of Green Desert’s other top sons at stud are:

~Desert Style: stands at Haras du Hoguenet in France. He has 20 SWs, with six G1 winners including 2012 G1 Manhattan H. winner Desert Blanc.

~Desert Prince: Irish Classic winner stands at Allevamenti Della Berardenga in Italy. He has over 30 SWs, including two G1 winners. In 2012, his daughter Wasimah won the G2 Diana-Trial at Hoppegarten in Germany.

~Cape Cross: stands at Kildangan Stud in Ireland, with his first foals on the racecourse in 2003. He already has over 70 SWs, G1 winners among them. He is best known as the sire of European Horse of the Year Sea the Stars (whose first foals will race in 2013) and Breeders’ Cup winner Ouija Board (from his first crop).

~Invincible Spirit: stands at the Irish National Stud. He had his first runners in 2005. He has over 60 SWs, with eight G1 winners, including two 2012 G1 winners — Mayson (July Cup) and Rosdhu (Cheveley Park S.).

~Oasis Dream: stands at Banstead Manor Stud in England and is a recent addition to the Werk Thoroughbred Consultants’ Quality Chef list. With first runners in 2007, he already has nine G1 winners among his more than 60 SWs.

What’s more, two grandsons of Green Desert have jumped into the spotlight recently. Second-crop sire Lawman (a G1 winner by Invincible Spirit) has eight SWs including G1 winners Most Improved and Law Enforcement. The French stallion Next Desert (a G1 winner by Desert Style) has also sired several group performers including GSWs Enzio and Gereon.

With young sons like Invincible Spirit and Oasis Dream and potential superstars Lawman and Sea the Stars, the legacy of the Green Desert line seems particularly lush.

By Elaine Belval

Last month, Retama Park had two juvenile stakes races at one mile on the turf: the El Joven S. for colts and the La Senorita S. for fillies. Both races were won by offspring of Kitten’s Joy — Admiral Kitten and Kitten’s Dumplings — owned and bred by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, trained by Michael Maker, and riden by Victor Lebron.

Well, if this sounds familiar, it should. In 2007, two offspring (Kera’s Kitten and Lisa’s Kitten) from Kitten’s Joy’s first crop won these same races, once again for owner/breeder Ken and Sarah Ramsey. And in 2009, Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Sisterhood won the La Senorita S.

Quite frankly, at this point, Retama Park should consider renaming the races the Kitten’s Joy Stakes and/or the Ken and Sarah Ramsey Stakes.

There are a couple of other interesting points about these two SWs. Both SWs are out of daughters of Grand Slam; Admiral Kitten is out of the winner Reachinforthestars and Kitten’s Dumplings is out of the winner Granny Franny. Daughters of Grand Slam have produced 10 SWs, including G1 winner Malibu Prayer.

Also, both SWs are closely inbred. Admiral Kitten is inbred 4 x 4 to Roberto — seven of Kitten’s Joy’s 25 SWs are inbred to Roberto, including G1 winner Stephanie’s Kitten and GSWs Holiday for Kitten and Big Blue Kitten.  Kitten’s Dumplings is inbred 3 x 3 to Sadler’s Wells — the first of Kitten’s Joy’s SWs with such inbreeding. Overall, fifteen SWs are inbred to Sadler’s Wells, including G1 winners Kamsin and Parish Hall.

Almost 50% of Kitten’s Joy’s SWs are two-year-old SWs (Kitten’s Joy won two of four starts at two himself), and 70% of his SWs are turf performers. The races at Retama are ready-made for the offspring of Kitten’s Joy and the Ramseys have used that to their advantage very successfully.

Kitten’s Joy stands at Ramsey Farm in Kentucky.

by Elaine Belval

WTC identifies Quality Chefs as those stallions that transmit superior racing class and are dominant influences in pedigrees. We constantly review pedigrees and sires to update the list. Below is a brief introduction to the eight stallions we feel merit Quality Chef status and are now identified by a “Q” in all Werk Thoroughbred Consultants and eNicks pedigrees.

Dansili – He is a Juddmonte Farms homebred and standing at their English branch, Banstead Manor Stud. Dansili is quickly proving to be the best son of Danehill at stud in Europe. Dansili won or placed in 12 of 14 starts, including a victory in the G2 Prix du Muguet, a second in the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas), and a fast-closing third in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Mile. He had his first runners in 2002 and with 10 crops, has over 70 SWs. He has 13 G1 winners including Rail Link (Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe), US G1 winners Price Tag and Provisio and 2012 G1 winners Fallen for You (at Royal Ascot), Fiofra (at Newmarket) and The Fugue (at the Glorious Goodwood meeting). Dansili has sired two sons with SWs already (Strategic Prince, the sire of a G1 winner) and Rail Link (two Group winners), and his daughters have produced three SWs (including Group winner Tell Dad).

Distorted Humor – This son of Forty Niner standing at WinStar Farm in Kentucky is one of the best stallions currently at stud in the US. Distorted Humor won or placed in 16 of 23 starts, with a track record-setting win in the G2 Churchill Downs H. and a placing in the G1 Cigar Mile. His first crop had four two-year-old SWs and included 2003 Champion and Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide. Distorted Humor went on to sire 12 SWs from that first crop (18% SWs to foals), and the SWs have not let up since. Among his 14 G1 winners are Drosselmeyer (G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic), Pathfork (G1 National S. in Ireland), Flower Alley (G1 Travers S.), and Hystericalady (G1 Humana Distaff). His son Flower Alley has sired 2012 Kentucky Derby winner I’ll Have Another, while Distorted Humor’s daughters have already produced 14 SWs.

Elusive Quality – His sire Gone West had a remarkable run as a “sire of sires” and Elusive Quality has staked a claim as one of his best sons standing in the US. Though Elusive Quality stands at Darley Stud in Kentucky, he has sired G1 winners worldwide. Among his nine G1 winners are Champion and Kentucky Derby winner Smarty Jones, English Champion and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Raven’s Pass, and Australian two-year-old champion Sepoy. Elusive Quality also has several sons at stud, including leading French sire Elusive City and 2012 freshman sire Raven’s Pass. His daughters have produced two 2012 SWs (both two-year-olds).

Indian Charlie – Indian Charlie was only 16 when he died of cancer last year in Kentucky. It was a sad blow, as his best-bred progeny are two-year-olds of 2012. He started at a modest $10,000 fee when he retired after four wins from five lifetime starts, and never sired a huge number of foals but in his first crop (numbering 80), his seven SWs included G1 winner Pampered Princess. Indian Charlie sired five G1 winners, including Champions Indian Blessing, Fleet Indian, and Uncle Mo. Daughters of Indian Charlie have produced eight SWs so far, including two in 2012.

Maria’s Mon – Champion two-year-old Maria’s Mon did his best to revive the Majestic Prince branch of Raise a Native. Unfortunately, like Indian Charlie, Maria’s Mon died prematurely, at 14 at Pin Oak Stud in Kentucky. And again like Indian Charlie, his loss came just as his best-bred crops were coming to the races. That didn’t stop Maria’s Mon from siring a Kentucky Derby winner early, in his first crop (one of nine SWs from that breeding season). He also got the Champion turf female Wait a While among his eight G1 winners. Maria’s Mon has several sons at stud, including Monarchos – the sire of Champion and Breeders’ Cup winner Informed Decision. Daughters of Maria’s Mon have produced almost 20 SWs, including GSW Caracortado.

Night Shift – Night Shift is not considered one of Northern Dancer’s best racing sons, being a modest winner of one race in seven starts. But, as a full brother to Champion Fanfreluche and SW Barachois, he was one of his better bred sons. Despite his modest race record, Night Shift was a solid and consistent sire for Coolmore Stud before being pensioned at 28 in 2008. Night Shift sired nine G1 winners and almost 100 SWs in his lifetime. His best runners include Champion Azamour and the US Grade 1 winners Listening and Creaking Board. Night Shift has several descendants at stud, including Azamour (sire of 2012 G1 winner Valyra) and grandson Turtle Bowl, the sire of G1 winners French Fifteen and 2012 French Poule d’Essai des Poulains (2000 Guineas) winner Lucayan. Daughters of Night Shift have produced almost 100 SWs, including G1 winners Daryakana and Beaded.

Oasis Dream – Oasis Dream is the  youngest sire in this group. Like Dansili, he is a Juddmonte Farms homebred and stands at their English base Banstead Manor Stud. Champion sprinter, Oasis Dream won or placed in seven of nine starts. He had his first runners in 2005 and already has over 60 SWs including nine G1 winners (six-time G1 winner Midday and 2012 Irish 2012 Guineas winner Power among them), siring a lot of class from relatively few crops of racing age.

Street Cry – Street Cry is one of the few sons of the high-class Mr. Prospector sire Machiavellian to race in the US. Street Cry did his sire proud, as he won or placed in all 12 of his starts, including victories in the G1 Dubai World Cup and the G1 Stephen Foster. Like other sires on this list, Street Cry produced a Champion as a freshman sire in the form of Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense. He had 16 SWs from that first crop of 85 foals (19% SWs). Of course, by the time Street Sense retired, his sire’s best runner, future Horse of the Year Zenyatta, was making her first start. Street Cry has 13 G1 winners (which is almost 20% of his total of stakes winners). Along with Street Sense and Zenyatta, Street Cry sired two Champions in Australia. His daughters have produced two 2012 SWs. Street Sense has his first crop of three-year-olds racing in 2012, and Street Cry’s leading sprinter son Street Boss is one of the leading freshman sires of 2012.

By Elaine Belval

About three months ago, I wrote about Coolmore Stud’s Peintre Celebre, and I mentioned it must be tough to be “second-string” to a stallion like Galileo, who also stands alongside him at the Irish nursery. And certainly, in the past five weeks, Galileo has had over 20 SWs, including another G1 win by superstar Frankel. But another stallion at Coolmore has been consistently siring SWs, with two new SWs since September 1st, and that sire is Holy Roman Emperor.

Holy Roman Emperor is from the last crop of the great Danehill. His dam, L’On Vite, is an unraced daughter of the Secretariat. His second dam is Champion Fanfreluche. This is the family of leading Australian sires Flying Spur (also by Danehill) and Encosta de Lago. L’On Vite was already the dam of GSW and G1-placed Milanova by Danehill.

Holy Roman Emperor won four of seven starts at two, including the G1 Phoenix S. at the Curragh and the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp. When George Washington proved sterile, Holy Roman Emperor was whisked off to stud before his three-year-old season, so his promising racing career was cut short.

Holy Roman Emperor had his first foals in 2008. He had five SWs in his that crop, led by the ultra-consistent GSW and G1-placed Banimpire (winner of the prestigious G2 Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot). His second crop includes 1000 Guineas winner Homecoming Queen. He already has four SWs from this third crop, two-year-olds of this year.

Since the first of September, Holy Roman Emperor has sired Leitir Mor, winner of the G3 Round Tower S. at the Curragh; and Sunday Times, winner of the G3 Sceptre S. at Doncaster. In 2012, Holy Roman Emperor has over 100 individual winners and almost £2,000,000 in progeny earnings (ranked in the top 10 on the European sire list) and eight individual SWs, led by Homecoming Queen. Four of his SWs are two-year-olds. Lifetime, nine of his 17 SWs (18 counting Smashing, winner of the Indian Oaks and several other non-black-type races in that country) are two-year-old SWs, with a total of eight GSWs. He is ranked second on the European two-year-0ld sires list with 27 individual winners.

Holy Roman Emperor may have been rushed to stud, but he is proving a regular bargain for breeders. He stood the 2012 season at Coolmore for €12,500.

by Elaine Belval

Frankel’s victory in the G1 Juddmonte International at York was sensational and Galileo’s ten SWs over the week—six on August 25th alone—are eye-popping. But with Frankel’s victories, perhaps it’s time to remember the great Sea-Bird, who was rated by Timeform at 145—the highest rating ever until it was surpassed by the unbeaten Frankel in his brilliant G1 Queen Anne S.

Sea-Bird’s best son at stud was Arctic Tern, a G1 winner in France and G1-placed in England. He, in turn, sired G1 winner Bering (winner of the French Derby and second in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe to the brilliant Dancing Brave). Bering was a leading sire in France for many years until his death in 2011.

For many years it seemed the Sea-Bird branch of Native Dancer would fail to thrive. Bering had several sons, including G1 2000 Guineas winner Pennekamp, at stud, with none that seemed to break out of the “modest” category. But as the saying goes, “Better late than never.” One of Bering’s best colts, American Post, was foaled in 2001, from his 14th crop of foals.

American Post was bred by Khalid Abdullah (owner/breeder of Frankel). He is out of the unraced Sadler’s Wells mare Wells Fargo, a half-sister to SW and G1-placed High and Low (second in the G1 St. Leger S. and the G1 Yorkshire Oaks). Trained by longtime leading French trainer Criquette Head-Maarek, American Post won six of nine starts. At two, he won the G1 Prix Jean Luc Lagardere at Longchamp. He added the G1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster to that victory to end his season. At three, he won his two prep races before a victory in the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas).

Retired to stud in France, American Post had his first runners in 2006. He had a two-year-old SW in France (Queen America) and one in Germany (Novita) among five SWs—including Ma Preference, who won a G3 at four—from that crop. American Post sired a total of 13 SWs from his first four seasons at stud and now has one from his fifth crop, foals of 2010, after Meneas took the Listed Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l’Elevage at Deauville on August 21st. Undefeated in three starts, Meneas was bred by Janus Bloodstock Inc. and Stilvi Compania Financiera SA, and he is owned by Leonidas Marinopoulos and trained by Carlos Laffon-Parias. He will be pointed to a Group race at Longchamp at the end of October.

Meneas is one of three SWs American Post has in 2012.

American Post is a very versatile stallion. Seven of his 14 SWs are two-year-old SWs. However, he has SWs from six furlongs (Chica Loca) to 13 furlongs (Ma Preference). So far, Ma Preference (winner of the Prix Fille de l’Air) is his only Group winner, but with his continued success at stud, more such victories by his progeny cannot be far behind. Hopefully, thanks to American Post, the influence of Sea-Bird will continue to be with us for the near future.

American Post stands at Haras d’Etreham, where his 2012 fee was €5,000.