Rachel Alexandra's 1st Mating One for History

[PJMIII]

Just saw this in Bloodhorse.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/60516/rachel-alexandras-1st-mating-one-for-history

[moonwalker]

Rachel Alexandra and Curlin might be the first mating between two Preakness winners, as far as I can tell from Pedigreequery.com (however accurate or inaccurate it is, of course.) Preakness winning fillies have been bred to Kentucky Derby winners and Belmont winners, but I don't see a foal from a mating to another Preakness winner.

For example, Nellie Morse (1924 Preakness winner) had foals by Reigh Count (KY Derby winner and sire of Count Fleet) and American Flag (one of Man o' War's Belmont winning sons.) The American Flag filly was Nellie Flag, Eddie Arcaro's first KY Derby mount in 1934 and race favorite (she finished 4th.) Nellie Flag appears in tail female in the pedigrees of Bold Forbes (3rd dam) and Forego (4th dam.)

Mary MMM

[GreenasGrass]

That was cool. I thought for sure they tried twice with Busher and Twilight Tear before they retired though.

[ThreeMustangs]

That was cool. I thought for sure they tried twice with Busher and Twilight Tear before they retired though.

Busher raced once in Jan 1947 as a 5yo, finishing 5th. No races as a 4yo. Twilight Tear raced once as a 4yo in Aug and was eased.

[djnorth]

Even though the history is much more recent, won't Z's mating with Indy be the first for 2 BC Classic winners?

[Purcocious]

Even though the history is much more recent, won't Z's mating with Indy be the first for 2 BC Classic winners?

It would have to be because no other filly has won the Classic.

I don't know if I really like the cross of Curlin and Rachel. Don't know why, just doesn't seem like a great combination. I'd like to see her crossed with Street Cry instead.

[moonwalker]

Even though the history is much more recent, won't Z's mating with Indy be the first for 2 BC Classic winners?

It will be, if it happens. Zenyatta is the only female winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Mary MMM

[ThreeMustangs]

It would have to be because no other filly has won the Classic.

I don't know if I really like the cross of Curlin and Rachel. Don't know why, just doesn't seem like a great combination. I'd like to see her crossed with Street Cry instead.

Don't like the match, either. Would like her to go to a proven sire. Street Cry would be a nice choice.

[pokeyman]

I would send Z to Europe and breed her to a European Stallion....yes, Sea The Stars is intriguing but, deep down, I think she should go to a proven stallion instead. I secretly harbor fantasies of Z on the turf so maybe her offspring can fulfill my dreams!! LOL

That's why I don't like the Rachel-Curlin cross. I don't care how good of a racehorse a filly/mare was she should go to a proven stud for her first 3 foals until you see what you have got. Unproven to unproven is not smart. Once she has proven to throw runners, you can try an unproven stud. I use the same reasoning in my own breeding program....but, the caveat is that I breed to race not sell.

[Sheepish]

I still harbor my secret fantasy of Rachel to Street Cry and Zenyatta to Medaglia d'Oro. :becky:

But I've wondered if Rachel will visit Eskendereya sometime down the road. For some reason, I like the thought of that. I just hope Jess doesn't get stuck on just Curlin for Rachel every year.

[horsecrazygal21]

Even though the history is much more recent, won't Z's mating with Indy be the first for 2 BC Classic winners?

Are they sure she's going to AP Indy?

[Joltman]

I still harbor my secret fantasy of Rachel to Street Cry and Zenyatta to Medaglia d'Oro. :becky:

But I've wondered if Rachel will visit Eskendereya sometime down the road. For some reason, I like the thought of that. I just hope Jess doesn't get stuck on just Curlin for Rachel every year.

I'm amazed at this selection. If you run the G1 Goldmine on the match from the Lanes End site it comes up really pretty weak. Granted Curlin himself being new won't contribute anything to that database for a while, but still there should be more from that pedigree.

I would definitely have gone to a proven stallion which made for a better G1 match.

jm

[Purcocious]

She gets pretty strong nicks with Distorted Humor.

Didn't use Goldmine, but she gets an A+ and A++ with Street Cry on two other nicking systems.

[Sheepish]

Well, one MDO mare was bred to Curlin for 2011, so it'll be a preview of coming attractions I suppose. I can't recall off the top of my head which mare it was, though. That's going to drive me nuts until I can check my notes...

Between that and a full sibling to Rachel, I can't wait for foaling season...

[Sun King]

I know they're not really brother and sister but the whole Rachel and Curlin thing still freaks me out a little. They'll get in there and look at each other and go "Hey! I know you!"

[Miss Woodford]

Four other 3-year-old fillies have been acknowledged as U.S. Horse of the Year, either by consensus of racing historians or in the polls existing prior to the inauguration of the Eclipse Awards in 1973: Beldame (1904), Regret (1915), Twilight Tear (1944), and Busher (1945). (Rachel Alexandra is the first 3-year-old filly to be named overall champion in Eclipse Award polling.) All four continued racing after age 3, but none recaptured the brilliance they had shown earlier, and Twilight Tear and Busher each made only a single start after 3 before retiring. Only Beldame and Regret managed to win stakes after their 3-year-old seasons, and only Regret won another championship, being acclaimed the best older female of 1917.

Read more: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/60516/rachel-alexandras-1st-mating-one-for-history#ixzz19cjaf1Cp


*AHEM*

[Hermes]

Jess and his wife probably don't plan to sell the foal, and if he wants to support his stallion that he is heavily invested in, Curlin, and give him every chance to succeed, it makes sense to send one of the most prolific race fillies to come off the track to him, no?

Isn't this what a traditional breeder would do, and did do before the commercial angle became so dominant?

I think nicks are overrated, and that physical match ups are not given the consideration that they deserve.

But bottom line is he always planned to breed her to Curlin from the moment he bought her.

And FWIW, SK, you know that Curlin and Rachel have never been closer to each other than both being stabled at CD in the early summer and then briefly in the fall of 2008, in separate trainer's barns, right?

[Flanders]

I know they're not really brother and sister but the whole Rachel and Curlin thing still freaks me out a little. They'll get in there and look at each other and go "Hey! I know you!"
Curlin was retired and at Lane's End before Jess bought Rachel.

[Starine]

How does everyone think they match up physically? Do they suit each other in that regard?

[Native Diver]

Curlin (to me) is of a heavier build and bone than Rachel; even outside the male/female natural difference. He seems stockier from photos (or maybe he photos that way) with a deep chest. This sounds crazy but he's always reminded me of a greyhound I used to have; he was a purebred greyhound, but he had a wide chest and stocky build. I've seen a million greyhounds in my time but he was the only stocky one I ever saw. Curlin (to me) always seemed wider and heavier than a racehorse of his stature usually is.

Nothing jumps out at me about them as far as conformation flaws, both have raced sound (that we know of) through their careers. I wonder did they both mature and begin training/racing on about the same timeline/age. JJ will be either the most brilliant breeder ever, or possibly the most unrealistic as far as this match goes. But there's something to be said about loyalty to your stock I guess. Wished we knew more about what the Big Curl is going to throw. I bet Rachel's loving retirement.

[CoronadosQuest]

*AHEM*

Are you aheming because Bloodhorse failed to make notice that Rachel won a graded stakes as a 4yo? Because I saw that too

[Miss Woodford]

Are you aheming because Bloodhorse failed to make notice that Rachel won a graded stakes as a 4yo? Because I saw that too
They failed to mention a certain 19th century wonderhorse (guess who?) in that list of historian-declared 3yo filly HOTYs. And of course she was acclaimed HOY at 4 and champion older mare at 5 and 6, too, so they screwed that up. She even popped out a stakes winner when bred to another HOTY!

[seahawkgal]

I know they're not really brother and sister but the whole Rachel and Curlin thing still freaks me out a little. They'll get in there and look at each other and go "Hey! I know you!"
Uh...Wouldn't that be more the case with Rags To Riches/Curlin? When did Rachel and Curlin ever meet(other than on the farm)?

I really, really like Rachel with either Bernardini or Bluegrass Cat. She needs Secretariat blood. :becky:

[Sun King]

Uh...Wouldn't that be more the case with Rags To Riches/Curlin? When did Rachel and Curlin ever meet(other than on the farm)?

I really, really like Rachel with either Bernardini or Bluegrass Cat. She needs Secretariat blood. :becky:

Yeah, that's true. Was just having some fun. I guess Rachel and Curlin never really "met"

[moonwalker]

I used to want Rags to Riches and Curlin to be bred together after I saw their Belmont, until I found out they had the same damsire, Deputy Minister. It's a little too close for modern breeders. :-)

But they are gorgeous "cousins."

Mary MMM