Stallion Service Agreement-Strategic Mission

[Keith]

I have been approved a breeding to Strategic Mission for Lady Wrong Song. What are ones thoughts and is he worth the $3500 to breed to just because he has had one good horse in Showing Up? Anyone know about his foals?

Keith

[Pete]

Hi Keith,

You didn't mention if you're breeding to race or sell nor did you mention what Lady Wrong Song looks like.

I saw Strategic Mission in his stall about 2 years ago when he came to NY. He appeared to be somewhat short, a bit fine boned, not heavily fleshed, long backed and plain headed. Sounds worse than he is because there's something about him that gives the impression that he's comfortable in his own skin but it's also that he carries characteristics of his sire and sons like Crafty Prospector (of course SM has a better head).

Even though he never placed on the dirt I felt that if he had success it might well be on that surface and Showing Up seems to support that supposition.

The bottom line is that he's a son of Mr. Prospector and he has a license to sire some good ones. I'd make my decision based on conformational issues more than anything else. On paper it's an acceptable pedigree.

Good luck,

Regards,

Pete

[Keith]

Pete,

I am breeding to race and I am worried about my mare not having a good race record and being unproven. Eventhough my mare is by El Prado I have two things going against me if I am trying to sell because of her dams poor produce record and my mares poor race record. Lady Wrong Song is a nice looking mare with good bone. She has fairly short pasterns, good sloping shoulder. She is not a big mare as far as height because she is only 15' 3 hands. She is balanced overall with nice conformation. It is ironic because her filly by Tri Line has longer pasterns. She has good size feet and she is sound. She is not a halter mare by no means but she is a nice looking mare. She has a nice disposition and somewhat of a lazy mare. I notice Strategic Mission has only won good horse in Showing Up and he does have a graded stakes winner in Panama but is that any better than being a state bred stakes winner in a regional program. A horse I notice in New York that is throwing nice runners overall is Prime Timber who is by Sultry Song. He has no overall outstanding horse but he is getting winners. There is an unproven stallion not far from me who is by Seattle Song and out of Beau Cougar by Cougar II. He is a gorgeous stallion as far as conformation but he is huge. He won 3 out of 7 starts and is out of a nice producing mare but I have not seen that Seattle Song has done anything with El Prado as far as crosses go. I think he may be a good fit for my Siphon mare. I have also thought about Sundance Ridge in Massachussetts. He has been bred to very mediocre mares and thrown runners on a regional level. I do not have alot of money to spend. Thanks for the info on Strategic Mission and I know one good horse does not make a stallion. He may go on to be a very good stallion and he needs more than one good one. A horse who has really taken off is Sweetsouthernsaint in Florida. The dam of my Siphon mare was for sale for $5,000 in foal to Sweetsouthernsaint and she is due to foal anytime. This was just last month. Thanks for the help. I may breed her to Strategic Mission but I definitely have to think about it
and get back with them quickly with my decision.

Thanks Pete,

Keith

[Pete]

Hi Keith,

I think Sweetsouthernsaint's about to get his ticket punched to Kentucky. Don't regret missing the dam of your mare i/f to SSS because there will always be other opportunities. Daddy Saint is booked full as you'd expect him to be.

I looked at Lady Wrong Song when you first mentioned her on the forum (1-2 years ago?) and felt that she'd been badly handled at the track. All dirt sprints save 1 route and never tried on the turf. By her earnings and race record she profiles to having raced at least some times in respectable company so I must assume that her connections never put her where she might win nor figured her out at all.

Strategic Mission is currently siring > 5% graded SWs from foals with 2 crops of racing age. Of course that's based on 18 foals in crop #1 and a single foal in his second crop. His graded winner, Showing Up, may be a nice one and the rest of his first crop have yet to make their mark.

I like the (apparent) surface flexible blood in a mating between Strategic Mission and Lady Wrong Song because there's little evidence to support aptiutude on any surface and I believe it might leverage some of El Prado's qualities. Neither is a big horse but when breeding to race that's not really an issue.

I can't comment on the Siphon mare without knowing her name and having a physical description. Sundance Ridge is an interesting stallion but I'd consider his success in light of how well you could duplicate it. The future of Suffolk Downs is in jeopardy and most of his stakes horses are out of 2 mares where the breeder's may have been able to control the foals environment.

Regards,

Pete

[caladon]

Hi Keith:

I think SM is a good bet if you are breeding to race. As Pete said, Mr. P gives him a license to sire some good ones. I have seen him within the last 4 months and agree with Pete's analysis on confirmation. A horse headed to the Derby out of a crop of 18 foals isn't too shabby and three or four others have begun to appear on the track. I am breeding a Proud Birdie mare to him myself this year (as soon as she drops her Gold Token), and have heard that he is being strongly supported by the owners of some regally bred NY resident mares based on the performance of Showing Up so... At any rate, best of luck to you!!

[Pete]

Hi Caladon et al,

For those unaware, Gold Token died and A. P. Jet was critically injured yesterday in a terrible farm mishap. There's coverage at Bloodhorse, Thoroughbred Times and DRF.

I saw Gold Token in the Meadowlands Cup (he finished 4th) just before he entered stud and have seen him many times since at (first) Questroyal.

I'm most saddened by his loss and now hope that A. P. Jet recovers. My condolences to Mr. Schwartz, Barry Ostrager and Chris Bernhardt.

Gold Token had become a reliable sire of winners and he had finally gained a measure of respect. Best of luck with your Gold Token Chaladon and goodbye buddy.

Regards,

Pete

[caladon]

Thank you Pete, I didn't have time to post that sad news from Sunday. I spoke with Chris B. just today, as we have a Gold Token colt on the ground from a Spend A Buck mare and are, as I said, waiting for another. The entire staff at Sugar Maple are leading the prayers and good wishes ( as we all are in NYBreeders) for A P Jet to hang on. From what I am hearing it does not look good. Thanks for your good wishes and the same back to you for a healthy and happy racing year.