Season to Sky Classic--I've decided which mare (update)

henthorn · Postby **henthorn** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 7:37 am

I just got a discounted season to Sky Classic through the Texas Thoroughbred Association website auction. Several of my mares are reasonable candidates for matches, and he is a great breed-to-race sire who attracts little attention at sale.

I have a call in to Pin Oak for their opinions on choice of mare, but I'd like your ideas, too. My available mares:

1. Shake On It '96, due Vicar foal in early March in OK; has 4 foals, one racing, stakes-placed, by With Approval. The remainder will be raced by myself. 3yo by Alphabet Soup, 2yo by Geri, 1yo by Sligo Bay. Because she's got lots of foals on the ground, I plan to send to a commercial stud in KY. Broodmare sire is Affirmed, catalog has upside potential.

2. Hop to It '97, due Vicar foal in May in OK or KY, has two late-bloomers on the ground, one winner; 3yo by Talk Is Money, 2yo by Hollycombe, nice weanling by Petionville. She was a closer in racing style, dirt and turf, router. Earner of $99+K, and half-bro multiple G3 stakes winner by Broad Brush. Broodmare sire is Bien Bien.

3. Spanish Guitar '98, due Prime Timber foal in May in NY, likely to go to Rock Slide in MD for another NY-bred foal. Sprinter-miler, stakes winner. Dam is SW, multiple stakes producer. Unraced 2yo Festival of Light, 1yo Silver Ghost. I don't feel the need to bring her to KY for a late breeding opportunity. Broodmare sire is Birdonthewire.

4. Vivid Dreams '99, open; has one 3yo nonwinner, retired, by Western Trader. Nice weanling by Millennium Wind. Sprint family, unraced mare and dam. Prominent second dam, upside potential in catalog. Puts out pretty, tough foals and family sells well. Broodmare sire is Housebuster.

5. Reigning Glory '01: open, has nice weanling by Authenticate. Nonwinner, strong catalog page at second dam and beyond, and a few well-bred newer relatives. Not commercial yet. Good broodmare sire in Southern Halo.

My thought is to send RG to Sky Classic, a proven sire, since she is an unproven dam. Hop is another option, but both she and Sky were closers, might end up with a plodder. Foal would be breed-to-race, most likely, and my trainer uses tracks with grass and dirt. Vivid could go, but I was hoping for a commercial sire. However, a proven sire would be nice, and add stamina to speed.

Help me mull this over. I'm thrilled to go to Sky Classic with one of my girls.

jacksontyger · Postby **jacksontyger** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 6:02 pm

I really like Sky Classic as a breed to race sire. It is a shame that so many breeding selections have to be made with a commercial angle. I went to see him about a month ago and really liked him. I did notice he had very underrun heels and would recommend a good footed horse. I would pick my best turf mare with some speed and go with that. The Affirmed mare would be tempting.

madelyn · Postby **madelyn** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 4:54 am

I actually like the pedigree matchup of Shake On It best with Sky Classic. Reigning Glory has the NO-NO of Northern Dancer inbreeding through a daughter. 'Course you could ALWAYS throw her along on the trailer and send her up here for Rocking Trick for a good tough sound breed to race.

henthorn · Postby **henthorn** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 5:24 am

Thanks for the insight, jacksontyger and madelyn! I appreciate your time and effort.

FiftyYearsPlus · Postby **FiftyYearsPlus** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 7:51 pm

Rocking H:
I have a weanling on the ground in Ky. by Sky Classic who is a lovely, rangy colt. He is out of a Raise A Native granddaughter (I'ma HellRaiser) who's damside directly produced Bed O'Roses and Challedon. Her family is also very good with Nodouble.
Sky Classic is very strong with many Raise A Native family mares (e.g. Sky Conquerer) and I think it is important to ensure that the mare possesses some significant speed attributes to produce an optimal foal for North American racing.
Unlike many, I nick on both sides of the pedigrees in order to avoid clear "arguements" and have had very good success. My other mare, by Rubiano, has given me a 2yo filly "Enchanting Star" who I'll be running in the Frizette on Saturday.
Good luck to you.

BargainBlueblood · Postby **BargainBlueblood** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 7:06 pm

WOW! HUGE effort today by Enchanting Star! What's the plan for her? Breeders' Cup-bound, perhaps? Congrats!

FiftyYearsPlus · Postby **FiftyYearsPlus** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 4:46 pm

BargainBlueBlood:
Thank you. We are delighted, but, believe it or not, not surprized. The first time she ever worked 5/8s was at Delaware Park, I caught her in 34 2/5 and 1:00 1/5, all on her own. I had hints before, but at that time I knew she was something special.
She came out of the race bright and sound. No plans for the Breeders Cup, particularly since I didn't nominate her. However, I'm glad that I'm not tempted either.
I want a little "grow" time for her over the winter, and then we will start preparing for the Oaks and the filly series at Belmont.
Thanks for your interest.

zinn21 · Postby **zinn21** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 10:24 pm

Fifty, I like the winter strategy for your filly. Good luck with her.

henthorn · Postby **henthorn** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 7:25 pm

I had about given up on receiving any opinion on mare selection from the folks at Pin Oak, but it arrived today. Here's the transcript sent by Nancy Stephens of Pin Oak. I think I'll probably send Vivid Dreams, since she's already in KY. I like her sprint family, her stocky build, and his soundness history.

"Just wanted to get back to you after our farm manager Clifford had a look at the mares you'd mentioned in your last e-mail as possibles for SKY CLASSIC.
Thank you again for supporting him at the Texas Thoroughbred Association auction.

His true first pick would be the mare SPANISH GUITAR, but I indicated to him (per you) that she probably won't make the trip to KY as she is foaling in NY and slightly late.

His first pick of the mares likely to come to KY would be REIGNING GLORY. He would like the mare VIVID DREAMS next, but you'd mentioned you were interested to breed her more commercially and if so, SKY CLASSIC might not be the best choice there. His last choices were SHAKE ON IT and HOP TO IT."

Old Goat · Postby **Old Goat** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 8:48 pm

I agree with them on Reigning Glory and since she is open, you can send her early get her in foal and back home and your boarding fee would be less since there is no foal at side.

henthorn · Postby **henthorn** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 8:01 am

Thanks, Old Goat. I'm still thinking it over. It's going to be either Vivid, Glory, or perhaps both. No hurry to decide.

henthorn · Postby **henthorn** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 8:29 am

I was just about to decide to send Spanish Guitar to Sky Classic and Reigning Glory to Texas stallion Holzmeister, when I decided maybe the body build of Holzmeister might not be complementary to that of Glory. He's a bulky sprinter, and Glory is compact and solid. I love the build of Sky Classic with her, lots of air under him, and well-balanced. So I sent a confirmation to Pin Oak today that RG will visit Sky Classic. It's also a beautiful pedigree match, and one of the top choices of the Pin Oak stallion management team. I'm relieved; one down and four to go.

I'm still working on other ladies and their suitors, will update you when I decide anything for sure.

Bedouwia · Postby **Bedouwia** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 5:31 am

What a wonderful list of choices you have to work with. The first decision sounds like a sound one. I hope you will keep us informed about the rest of them. Best of luck in 2007!

Bedouwia

henthorn · Postby **henthorn** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 6:44 am

I'm in Lexington this week, and will visit Pin Oak when I can. I'm looking forward to it.