Breed or race Dixieland Band mare?

[Blue feather]

I'm curious to have a few opinions on whether to breed or race a 5 yo Dixieland Band in 2011. Here are a few of the deciding factors:
- She is sound
- She has gone through all of her allowance conditions and has earned over 100k. Races appear to be far and few between at this level.
- She struggled in stakes company mainly because of some bad racing luck and seemed to go off form due to a long campaign. I believe she can compete at stakes level if she is in top form.
- She is a Kentucky bred so she is not elgible for state(PA) bonuses, obviously her progeny would be.
She is currently taking the winter off.
My thoughts are that she and her progenys value would increase greatly with some blacktype. On the other hand, I breed to race so having her PA bred foals on the ground ASAP is attractive.

[Joltman]

You might try a different circuit where there are some lower level stakes races and she can get the black type. Has she run on all the different types of surfaces and distances and track type (maybe a bull ring)? Some (I think of Cigar) really show up on a different surface. The freshening might really help too. I can remember one trainer who used to lay his horses off so that when the majority of the horses were worn out for their campaigns at a local meet, he could come in with a fresh one and do very well.

In short, unless she has a deep catalogue page I don't think being an allowance horse does much for her without a little black type somewhere. But being a Dixieland Band does help. If you're breeding to race, it doesn't matter. If the horse is making you money, I would keep racing her, but by all means preserve that soundness.

jm

[wilf]

Blue, if you breed to race why are you worried about black-type? Just give her a well earned rest and she may put some nice change in your pocket next year. You never mentioned what surfaces she prefers as your options are limitless in the spring assuming your stock train close to home ,ie Penn,Philly, Delaware, Laurel and even Presque Isle and Mountaineer. I like to race horses often and then give them a good spell around this time of year when conditions are awful and cancellations are frequent and frustrating. Most runners will reward you for your patience ,good luck!

[TomFool]

If you do decide to breed her Indian Charlie has had limited but very promising results so far with Dixieland Band mares. Notional may also make a lot of sense as a much cheaper alt.