Creating a Super Horse

It’s official: Rachel Alexandra is in foal to Curlin. Considering her sire Medaglia d’Oro, I’m thinking Golden Curls or Golden Curlin—too bad Golden Child isn’t available. I do see according to the Jockey Club Registry that someone has reserved Curlin’s Alexandra—god, I hope that’s not the name they choose. Another route to go: Mydadlosttoagirl.

Breeding female Horse of the Year winners to male Horse of the Year winners isn’t a new occurrence, but it’s also not exactly proven to be terribly successful either. For example, Azeri (2002) produced an AP Indy (1992) colt named Take Control who won his one and only start, and an as-yet unraced Ghostzapper (2004) filly named Wine Princess. Lady’s Secret (1986) produced two Skip Away (1998) foals—Bear Witness and Secret Stranger—that between them, in 28 starts, hit the board only once, a maiden special weight win by Secret Stranger at age 5. Her three Seattle Slew (1977) progeny weren’t much better: in addition to the unraced filly Sleepinginseattle, there was the Japanese-raced filly Agnes Liner who won only once, while the gelding Vigor didn’t win in three attempts and was euthanized after a workout breakdown at age 4. Then again, Lady’s Secret didn’t produce much of anything as a broodmare. Neither did Regret (1915) whose two daughters by Johren (1918)—Nemesis and Stigma—both failed to win.

On the other hand, Moccasin (1965) was a decent producer, including the dual Golden Rod/Pocahontas winner Flippers. By Damascus (1967), she produced the unraced filly Sandal and Irish Group 3 winner Belted Earl who, at age 4, was champion older horse and sprinter in Ireland. By Round Table (1958), she produced three colts, all stakes winners, including Irish Group 3 Railway winner Brahms and English Group 1 winner Apalachee, the latter who was champion juvenile in England and Ireland in 1973 (not to mention a terrific sire).

Going back even farther, Twilight Tear (1944) produced stakeswinners Bardstown and A Gleam by non-Horse of the Year stallions, but her mating with Count Fleet (1943) produced an unraced (but stakes winner producing) mare Diamond Tear. Both of her Whirlaway (1941-42) colts—Foremost and Coiner—were winners, the latter a stakeswinner who finished in the money 47 times in 109 starts.