Why Animal Kingdom Needs to Win the Belmont
by TFTribe on Jun 7, 2011 10:16 AM EDT
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PrintMatt: I've added this to the front page because it's a great look a the breeding side of the game heading into the Belmont.
This is simple. It's about diversification of the Thoroughbred as a breed. An overly large number of sires' lineages right now have Mr. Prospector within a few generations. Many have him on both sides. He is a great sire and sire of sires. But there is a definite risk to concentrating on his specific bloodline to the overall variety of the horses out there.
More ATJ.
So these are the Influential sires (roughly, not an exhaustive list) that are sired by Mr. Prospector (MP from now on):
Carson City (http://www.pedigreequery.com/carson+city) - Great Broodmare Sire.
E Dubai (http://www.pedigreequery.com/e+dubai)
Fappiano (http://www.pedigreequery.com/fappiano) - another Great Broodmare Sire
Fusaichi Pegasus (http://www.pedigreequery.com/fusaichi+pegasus) - 2010 #1 Stalllion by Progeny Earnings
Gone West (http://www.pedigreequery.com/gone+west) - Sired sires Mr. Greeley and Elusive Quality
Kingmambo (http://www.pedigreequery.com/kingmambo) - Progeny have earned 95 million
Miner's Mark (http://www.pedigreequery.com/miners+mark)
Seeking the Gold (http://www.pedigreequery.com/seeking+the+gold) - Stood for as much as 325k.
Smart Strike (http://www.pedigreequery.com/smart+strike) - Sired Curlin, enough said.
And the overall list of MP's progeny: http://www.pedigreequery.com/progeny/mr+prospector.
This is basically unreal. His production was out of this world. Absolutely unbelievable. But there is the risk that this HUUUUGE crop of sires (and their own sired sires, which I don't have the time to research and get into) will eventually limit the bloodlines that are truly influential in the thoroughbred community. Animal Kingdom has exactly zero in common with this family of sires.
If Animal Kingdom can make LEROIDESANIMAUX not just a legitimate stallion, but an influential one, that is nothing but good for horse racing. One of the major issues that industry commentators always bring up is that the thoroughbred has been bred so specifically that they are now fragile. Well, focusing on one major lineage certainly cannot help that problem.
If Animal Kingdom can win the Belmont (and I think he can and will) an infusion of (relatively) fresh blood into the overall community is a great thing. Yes, Animal Kingdom is Leroidesanimaux's only really big winner. Yes, who knows if Animal Kingdom will ever produce himself. Yes, it is only one stallion (or two with both of them) when contrasted with dozens that have MP lineage. But any new blood is a good thing for horse racing.
I know there are lots of ifs out there. But every bet you make at the track is a big if. It's no different on the back side.
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Great piece!
Once you dig into Animal Kingdom’s pedigree, it’s simply fascinating in how different it is from what we generally see. Like you wrote, his success (if if continues) demonstrates that we can move in new directions on the breeding front. It probably doesn’t change things overnight (this is, after all, horse racing), but it certainly adds some new elements to the equation.
"A bad day at the track is better than a good day at the office."
And Down The Stretch They Come | @PressThePace
This is one reason I’ve always rooted for Tabasco Cat’s bloodline, but it’s never been able to get off of the ground.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
The intersting thing about Tabasco Cat...
is that so many of his big scoring offspring are direct crosses with other major bloodlines. There’s a Valid Appeal dam, a couple MP dams, a Forty Niner dam, etc. I’d never actually noticed that before.
The chief aspect of AK's pedigree that catches my eye....
is the strong German breeding on the bottom half. When you consider that Germany does not permitted horses that raced on medication to enter stud within the country, it’s unique to see that kind of stamina/soundness profile in a North American horse.
"A bad day at the track is better than a good day at the office."
And Down The Stretch They Come | @PressThePace
Agree 100 Percent....
It will be very good for the game if we can get more owners going the route of outcrossing, rather than the prevalent desire to have double and triple-cross lineage. I like seeing ads in The Bloodhorse for horses like Einstein, and I think Animal Kingdom being a dual-classic winner would certainly open the eyes of some of those in the breeding industry.
Now is the time boys to make a big noise.
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang's all here,
So hail West Virginia, hail.
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