Bellamy Road Retired

[Sam]

10k seems pretty reasonable to me.

It's reasonable in that it's not totally unfathomable. He should get a decent book. I just think he'd get a better one for $7,500 in Florida.

New farm, new stallion, Blue-collar bloodlines. His brilliance is only going to allow him so much slack... those babies better hit the ground letter perfect and come out running or he won't be at that $10k for long.

[FOS]

hi Pete...hi Sam...hi all

Splints and suspensory are not elements of a 'natural born' cripple.

Maybe so...but I couldn't count how many times I've heard thoroughbred breeders etc refer to horses (especially young ones) with splints as being soft boned? Whether right or wrong...real or perceived, arguably splints on racehorses (particularly younger ones) seem to often raise questions, and arguably some doubts, in the minds of some.

I think he'll have some appeal even with his less than commercial pedigree...

Agreed...in my opinion he was a VERY talented colt...and, for what it's worth, I am told he is also VERY well made.

Step back from him for a minute and look at his credentials:G3 winner at 2, G1 winner and classic placed at 3 in only 7 races. Having been the favorite in the Derby doesn't hurt either.

Agreed again.

...although I feel that being at a new farm that's trying to build a clientele won't help.

Maybe so, but consider the following...

Unless he was a classic winner (or maybe a Breeders' Cup winner), I sense that his pedigree would not pass muster in the eyes of most (if not all) of the big-boys. Examples...Lane's End...nah. Three Chimney's...nah. Claiborne...nah. Coolmore...double nah. Hill n Dale...nah. WinStar...nah. Adena Springs...nah...etc etc etc.

I expect that the Boss (Bellamy Road owner George Steinbrenner) thought this thing out and considered his options. He might have asked (rhetorically of course), how would sending a big strapping handsome New York-G1 winning son of Concerto to Ocala Stud work? The answer was probably...it would work Great. Problem is though, Ocala Stud is where Bellamy Road's sire Concerto (who is also owned by Steinbrenner's Kinsman Farm) stands; and, the addition of Steinbrenner-owned Bellamy Road to the roster there (or even if he stood at another quality stallion facility in Ocala) would probably draw mares away from Concerto. Or vice versa, maybe Concerto would draw mares away from Bellamy Road.

I expect that after All things were considered, a deal was made to stand him at Hurricane Hall (in Kentucky), an upstart stallion facility that George Steinbrenner feels confident will Focus ALL Efforts and Energy on the success of his Bellamy Road. I expect that the fact that Hurricane Hall is an enterprise under the direction of former Vinery stallions guru Ben Walden Jr was VERY important; and, might have been the factor that ultimately tipped the scales when making the final decision.

I expect that Steinbrenner will support his colt well, that an advertising campaign of consequence will be implemented...and that Bellamy Road will receive a very good opportunity after Ben Walden Jr gives his rolodex a workout.

Even though I believe that standing Bellamy Road for $7,500 or $8,500 at a quality stallion facility in Florida would have been a better play at the outset, it is understandable (considering that both Bellamy Road and his sire Concerto are both Steinbrenner-owned and that both will probably stand for approximately [if not exactly] the same stud fees) why the decision was made to stand Bellamy Road in Kentucky while Concerto is standing in Florida.

That said...I sense that Walden Jr's Hurricane Hall is a good move, and I expect that Ben Jr will take the bull by the horns and use this opportunity to prove that he can still get the job done. An impressive effort by Ben Walden Jr (coupled with results of course) should attract others to Hurricane Hall.

Why not?

Respectfully

[zinn21]

He does have a soft female family, but his Wood Memorial and the Walden's should be enough to ensure a full book of Ky. mares.

No doubt there is a strong argument against breeding to him for $10,000.

[CA Michael]

Maybe I'm just plain stupid, but I do not understand the disconnect in people who bemoan unsound stallions then turn around and breed to them. This is NOT directed at anyone here--just a general observation.

My view is that BREEDERS have the primary responsibility to create sound racehorses. Lord knows these horses will be ultimately be stressed by owners, trainers, racetracks, 2yo sales, etc., so we cannot rely on these factors to improve the soundness of the breed. That's why horses like Bellamy Road (7 starts in 2 years) should be avoided, IMO, despite their obvious brilliance.

[Sam]

Maybe I'm just plain stupid, but I do not understand the disconnect in people who bemoan unsound stallions then turn around and breed to them. This is NOT directed at anyone here--just a general observation.

It's the overuse of the undefined term "Unsound" that causes the confusion. I wouldn't consider it unless I KNOW why the horse only made 7 starts. If it was conformational issues, that's one thing... this horse was overstressed. Suspensory injuries are not genetic issues (for the most part)... it's mismanagement and overtraining.

I'd feel more comfortable breeding to a horse like Bellamy Road than a horse like Tiger Ridge.

[CA Michael]

"Suspensory injuries are not genetic issues"

You're kidding me.

Infirmities--from suspensory problems, to bleeding, to bad feet, to impaired breathing--are unsoundnesses which are transmittable from generation to generation.

Whether stressed or not, seven starts in two years strongly indicates physical unsoundness. If a stallion prospect cannot stand up to the pressures of extended racing, you cannot expect his foals to do otherwise.

[Sam]

"Suspensory injuries are not genetic issues"

Nice snipping job. Please note I did say "For the most part".

Infirmities--from suspensory problems, to bleeding, to bad feet, to impaired breathing--are unsoundnesses which are transmittable from generation to generation.

As a broad generalized statement, you're correct, but it's unwise to MAKE broad generalized statements and breeders are best served by looking at the individual and the training regime he was under.

Whether stressed or not, seven starts in two years strongly indicates physical unsoundness. If a stallion prospect cannot stand up to the pressures of extended racing, you cannot expect his foals to do otherwise.

For the most part, I agree with you and I think you know that. I'm not a strong advocate of breeding any horse that CAN'T make 15 or more starts in its life. However, there is a difference between CAN'T and DIDN'T. As with the Phalaris discussion, you have to take the current economic environment into consideration and this environment is not conducive to running the elite more times than absolutely necessary to establish a record in order to generate an acceptable stud fee.

I would be more critical of a nickle claimer who only makes 7 starts than I would be about a G1 winner.

[FOS]

hi Sam

I would be more critical of a nickle claimer who only makes 7 starts than I would be about a G1 winner.

I second that !!!

Respectfully