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A new software tool has been released which uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyze pedigrees and predict the likely success of matings to maximize a mare's potential.

The Pedigrees 360 software is the brainchild of Leo Tsatsaronis, who was the founder of G1 Goldmine, one of the most widely-used pedigree tools around the world.

“It really is a huge step forward in pedigree analysis and will give elite breeders and yearling buyers an extremely powerful tool in helping predict the likely outcome of a mating,” Tsatsaronis said. “Using AI and machine learning, the program has shown a very high degree of accuracy in predicting which pedigree combinations will produce the champions and which will produce the perennial maidens.”

In designing Pedigrees 360, Tsatsaronis included nine generations of pedigrees for thousands of horses, ranging from elite champions, down to the least successful runners, and tasked the software with finding the qualities that separate them.

While it is important to find the breeding combinations that work, Tsatsaronis noted that it's just as important to identify which mating patterns are unsuccessful; especially when those patterns involve fashionable pedigrees. Finding those problem patterns can help buyers avoid costly mistakes at auction, and help breeders avoid producing those horses in the first place.

One of the most exciting aspects of Pedigrees 360 is its ability to identify potential quality horses from matings deemed unfashionable by the commercial marketplace.

Knicks Go, North America's 2021 Horse Of the Year, is an example of what the software can find. Although the horse is the result of a mating involving a low-fee sire, and he sold for a low price at auction, Pedigrees 360 shows the mating had more potential than conventional wisdom might suggest.

The AI modeling analyzed 48 identifiable clusters within nine generations, with clusters being items such as counts of sire duplications, counts of sex-balanced mare duplications at seven, eight, and nine generations, and inbreeding positioning between generation.

It turned out that 40 of the 48 clusters were not significant, but eight clusters showed a clear difference between the “Champions” and the “Slow” sets and those eight clusters form the basis of the cluster chart.

Interestingly, the modeling identified that the eight significant clusters were different for colts and fillies. It is clear there are colt patterns and filly patterns, and that could explain why brothers and sisters often exhibit completely different racing ability.

“Obviously, there are always going to be horses which belie their pedigree,” Tsatsaronis said. “Some which the program suggest are going to be outstanding are actually slow and vice versa but so far these are proving to be a small percentage and maybe the result of some biomechanical factor rather than pedigree.”

“When most breeders and buyers are assessing a prospective mating or yearling, they take a variety of factors into consideration including, pedigree, conformation, x-rays and movement,” he continued. “Our program is just a tool to assist in one of those factors but it is a very powerful tool.”

Pedigrees 360 has already received positive reviews from North American breeders.

Hutton Goodman of Mount Brilliant Farm commented, “It's a very interesting tool that we are really starting to lean on, and the great thing about Leo's software is that you know he is going to keep sharpening it and updating it, making it more useful, like he did with G1 Goldmine. We have already started to see some of the great features he is developing to hopefully add and it is exciting stuff.”

For more information visit www.pedigrees360.com.

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Breeders’ Cup Sprint Winner Aloha West To Stand At Mill Ridge Farm Upon Retirement

Mill Ridge Farm is pleased to announce they have a new stallion prospect for 2023 in last year's Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint winner, Aloha West, owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and trained by Wayne Catalano.

From the Fappiano family, this son of Hard Spun is out of Island Bound, a daughter of Speightstown who won the six furlong Grade 3 Winning Colors at Churchill Downs. Aloha West himself very much resembles this side of his family with the speed of Speightstown and his physical quality and presence. Also, the granddam is a daughter of A.P. Indy, and this provides a wonderful pedigree blend of Danzig through Hard Spun, Gone West through Speightstown, and A.P. Indy. These are three of the most influential sire lines today.

Aloha West was initially owned by Gary West and trained by Bob Baffert, and his early training suggested he might be 'one of his best 2-year-olds'. He was injured prior to his first start and when he resumed training his 3-year-old year, Wayne Catalano was his trainer. With his first start in February of his 4-year-old year a winning one, Aloha West went on to make eight more starts in 2021, including a win in the Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint over Champion Jackie's Warrior. He is looking to defend his title in this year's Breeders' Cup Sprint.

This history of brilliance in training also resembled that of Speightstown who showed promise as a 3-year-old and was injured and missed his entire 4-year-old season before returning as a 6-year-old and winning the Breeders' Cup Sprint. With the speed Aloha West demonstrated winning the Breeders' Cup Sprint, and influence from Speightstown and the Fappiano family, as well as his physical good looks, we expect he will be attractive to commercial breeders.

Mill Ridge waited a long time after champion sires Diesis and Gone West to retire Breeders' Cup winner Johar and Oscar Performance. To stand another Breeders' Cup winner in Aloha West is a great addition to the farm. He will be located in the Gone West's stallion barn and paddock.

“We are so excited to announce Aloha West as our next Mill Ridge stallion. With his will to win, pedigree blend and outstanding physical presence, we believe breeders will be drawn to him. We think he has an opportunity to contribute to our breed,” said Price Bell, Mill Ridge general manager.

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Darby Dan Farm Announces 2023 Stallion Roster, Fees

Darby Dan Farm has set 2023 stud fees for its roster of 14 stallions that will stand the upcoming breeding season, led by Dialed In who will stand for $15,000 S&N, the same fee as a year ago.

The roster also features Tapiture, Higher Power, and Modernist who will each stand for $10,000 S&N, as well as Mutasaabeq, who is new for 2023 and will stand his initial season at stud for $7,500 S&N.

“We are excited to announce the Darby Dan stud fees for the upcoming breeding season,” said Stuart Fitzgibbon, stallion director at Darby Dan. “Our goal is to provide breeders with a good value roster of stallions representing commercial and successful sire lines. We are delighted with the initial response to Mutasaabeq new for 2023. By Into Mischief out of a Scat Daddy mare, he has all the commercial attributes for the market. Grade 1-producing sire Dialed In continues to fly the flag for Darby Dan, and our younger stallions like Flameaway, Modernist, and Higher Power have been exceptionally well-received and should ensure memorable moments for the farm going forward.”

Dialed In, champion freshman sire of 2016 and a perennial leading sire of his crop ever since, is the sire of six stakes winners and 14 black-type horses in 2023, topped by Defunded, winner of the $300,000 Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes and runner-up in the $400,000 G1 Hollywood Gold Cup. He is also represented this year by stakes winners Mr. Wireless, Erase, and Gambling Girl, as well as Grade 1-placed Get Her Number. Dialed In is the sire of a new Grade 1 winner each of the last three years: Get Her Number won the 2020 G1 American Pharoah Stakes, Super Stock captured the G1 Arkansas Derby in 2021, and Defunded this year.

Tapiture continues to rank among the leading sires once again this season. He is the No. 3-ranked sire by winners in 2022 with 136; only Into Mischief and Munnings have more. Numbered among his five stakes winners and 16 stakes horses this season are stakes winners Li'l Tootsie, Grand David, and Remain Anonymous, and graded stakes-placed Repo Rocks, Valiancer, and Life Is Great.

Higher Power, a Grade 1-winning millionaire by Medaglia d'Oro from a deep Pin Oak family, welcomed first foals this season. He was a dominant winner of the 2019 G1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar and posted three triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures in an outstanding career, including a 107 in the Pacific Classic. Stakes-placed on dirt and turf, Higher Power also placed in the Breeders' Cup Classic, G1 Hollywood Gold Cup, and the G1 Awesome Again Stakes en route to banking more than $1.5 million.

Modernist will stand his second season in 2023. He is a multiple graded stakes winner by Uncle Mo out of the Bernardini mare Symbolic Gesture, a half-sister to both Sweet Catomine, champion 2-year-old filly and winner of the 2004 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, and Life Is Sweet, winner of the 2009 Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic. Victorious in the 2020 G2 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds and the G3 Excelsior Stakes at Aqueduct the following year, Modernist banked $576,300 in his racing career.

Mutasaabeq, a versatile Grade 2-winning juvenile by perennial leading sire Into Mischief, will stand his first season at stud in 2023. A $425,000 weanling purchase by Shadwell Stable at the 2018 Keeneland November Sale, Mutasaabeq broke his maiden in scintillating fashion in his career debut, taking a Saratoga maiden special weight by a dominating 4 ½ lengths and earning a TDN Rising Star designation.

He finished third to future champion Jackie's Warrior in the G1 Hopeful Stakes and won the $200,000 G2 Bourbon Stakes on the turf at Keeneland in his first route try. He added the $100,000 Mucho Macho Man Stakes at one mile on the main track the following year and retired having hit the board in four of six lifetime starts. He hails from the family of this year's G1 Florida Derby winner White Abarrio, and graded stakes winners Sam Who and Cool Cowboy.

Darby Dan will once again be offering various incentive programs in 2023 to provide value to breeders, including Profit Protection, Share the Upside, Black-Type Bonanza, and Goldmine 20/20 Match Program. The 2023 Darby Dan roster is as follows:

Stallion	S&N Fee
Alternation	$7,500
Bee Jersey	$5,000
Copper Bullet	$7,500
Country House	$7,500
Dialed In	$15,000
Dolphus	Private
Flameaway	$7,500
Higher Power	$10,000
Leofric	$7,500
Modernist	$10,000
Mutasaabeq-NEW	$7,500
Tale of Ekati	$5,000
Tale of Verve	$2,000
Tapiture	$10,000

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