It's a sad day for the Thoroughbred breed, with the news that stallion Pioneerof the Nile has passed away at the age of 13. In my latest at Past the Wire, I take a look at his career, particularly the highlights of his stallion career.
the golden bloodline of N. C. Goldust
N. C. Goldust (Gold Stage - Arraign, by Judger) was aptly named. Her name did not fit her in the same sense that current Chicago-circuit mainstay Dustem Carolina's does: after all, she was bred in Ontario and not North Carolina. However, the latter part of her name fits, as her bloodline has been golden. N.... Continue Reading →
Curlin babies having babies: Part 3
This year, there are horses of racing age out of Curlin mares, and the first two parts of this series (Part 1, Part 2) looked at those horses. However, there is another aspect of Curlin babies having babies that is truly new for 2016: sons of Curlin in the stud barn. Between the fact that... Continue Reading →
Curlin babies having babies: Part 2
Last week, Blinkers Off looked at five of the racing-age horses who can claim Curlin as their damsire. That included a single three-year-old in Panama, Westward Star (Stephen Got Even - Thwindwhispersmary), as well as four of the two-year-olds. This week we continue this series with a look at the rest of the Curlin mares... Continue Reading →
Curlin babies having babies: Part 1
Thanks to Palace Malice's racing career, Blinkers Off has long focused on Curlin's progeny. Curlin, himself, has found his stride as a stallion. He had a breakout year last year. He had his first Champion, Stellar Wind. She, Curalina, and Keen Ice all joined Palace Malice as Grade I winners. He has Exaggerator on the... Continue Reading →
Illinois sires: Greytap
Every so often, someone googles Blinkers Off with interesting enough search terms that a post ensues. Within the last week, someone found this corner of the Internet with the search terms Greytap horse pedigree. I have mentioned Greytap a few times here at Blinkers Off, but only in the context of handicapping a race in... Continue Reading →
Illinois sires: Forest Attack
Based on the 2015 Illinois Department of Agriculture foal report, there were 173 Illinois Conceived and Foaled Thoroughbreds last year, and another 177 Illinois Foaled Thoroughbreds, meaning there were 350 foals born last year who were, in some capacity, bred in the state. By number of foals sired, Forest Attack (Forestry - Joy Valley, by... Continue Reading →
Chicago Railbird: 11.10.15
This week at Chicago Railbird, I take a look at the stallion who currently occupies the top of the Illinois sire list. For the first time in years, it's not Cherokee Rap -- it's Road Ruler, a well-bred grey son of Unbridled's Song. Of course, in addition to profiling Road Ruler and his offspring, I... Continue Reading →
Illinois-breds at Keeneland September: Book 6
Book 6 of Keeneland September runs on Friday and Saturday of this week, and marks the end of the sale. This book also contains the last four Illinois-bred yearlings in the sale. Buried here in Book 6 is another one of the five yearlings highlighted here among 2014's Illinois-bred foals to watch out for: the... Continue Reading →
Illinois-breds at Keeneland September: Book 5
Last night, Blinkers Off began to tackle the Illinois-breds in the later books of Keeneland September, with a look at Book 4. Today, attention turns to the six Illinois-breds who remain in Book 5 of Keeneland September. There were eight originally entered, but two have been declared out. Hip 3442, a Fort Prado colt out... Continue Reading →
Illinois-breds at Keeneland September: Book 4
Throughout this week we delve deeper into the books of the Keeneland September sale. For followers of Illinois breeding and racing, this is where it gets fun. Though the three Illinois-bred yearlings in Book 1 were bred well, none of them came from families deeply entrenched in Illinois. For most of the yearlings in the... Continue Reading →
Illinois-breds at Keeneland September: Book 1
This year's catalogue at Keeneland September features 21 Illinois-bred yearlings, only one of whom has been declared out so far. Out of those, three are assigned to Book 1, tantamount to the select portion of the sale. Previews of the other Illinois-breds in books four, five, and six are forthcoming. The yearlings in those books... Continue Reading →
Curlin babies at Keeneland September
Last night, Blinkers Off took a look at the broadest pattern among Curlin's progeny at Keeneland September: Curlin babies out of A.P. Indy mares. Today, attention turns instead to the more immediate question: who are the Curlin babies who will walk through the sales ring this month? Fourteen yearlings by Curlin were originally entered in... Continue Reading →
Curlin babies out of A. P. Indy mares
Keeneland September gets underway on Monday, and with it comes another early glimpse at Curlin’s fifth crop. Fourteen yearlings by Curlin were originally entered in the sale. As of today, only one has been declared out: Hip 2669, a colt out of Seattle Society (A.P. Indy). Even with this hip out of the sale, A.P.... Continue Reading →
about Atreides…
Earlier today, it was announced that four-year-old colt Atreides was being retired. He is packing off to Kentucky, and will be standing at Hill 'N Dale effective immediately. If Atreides is in no condition to run again, or to run against the level of horse which his talent suggests he can take, Stonestreet is absolutely... Continue Reading →
