As we approach the opening of the 2023 breeding season, the TDN staff is once again sitting down with leading breeders to find out what stallions they have chosen for their mares, and why. Today we caught up with JCB Stables' Ezequiel Cesar Valle, who represents the aforementioned American branch of Haras Firmamento, one of the largest farms in Argentina.
MAID OF HONOR (6, Medaglia d´Oro–Lovely Regina, by Deputy Minister), to be bred to Street Sense
We bought five mares at the last Keeneland November Sale, and she was the most expensive at $260,000 carrying her first foal by Twirling Candy. She was originally a $400,000 yearling.
Maid of Honor is a half-sister to MGSW Thiskyhasnolimit (Sky Mesa) and her second dam, Cara Rafaela, literally fills the page. We are sending her to Street Sense because he is one of the best stallions in America; a top sire and sire of sires who will suite her physically, too.
BELLA AURELIA (6, Medaglia d´Oro–My Miss Aurelia, by Smart Strike) to be bred to Hard Spun
Another purchase from Keeneland November. You do not have to explain too much about her; she is the first registered foal out of champion 2-year-old filly My Miss Aurelia. She has a colt by Munnings and now is in foal to Maclean´s Music.
Hard Spun is the real deal. There are not too many proven stallions like him with 15 career Grade I-winners.
BY THE HOUR (5, Tapit–Miss Super Quick, by Rock Hard Ten) to be bred to Twirling Candy
Another Keeneland November purchase, this one carrying her first foal by American Pharoah. We love her pedigree, she is from the immediate family of GI Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver, and many other Grade I stakes winners.
Twirling Candy, one of the best sons of Candy Ride (Arg) at stud, suites her perfectly. Candy Ride numbers with Tapit mares are incredible and he has already shown a remarkable affinity for the A.P. Indy branch
CLEOPATRA'S CHARM (6, Pioneerof The Nile–Careless Jewel, by Tapit), to be bred to Hard Spun
Our first purchase. We bought her at Keeneland November in 2021 in foal to Omaha Beach and we have a very nice and strong colt. Her first foal is a Bernardini filly that we acquired at the last Keeneland September sale for $155,000. She is currently in foal to Blame and I like Hard Spun for her this year because the Hard Spun/Empire Maker cross is proven (Silver State, for example).
Cleopatra's Charm's dam is a Grade I stakes winner and she is a 3/4-sister to Reframe, a very famous filly in Japan who won a Listed race.
BRASSY (6, Medaglia d´Oro-Cheeky Charm, by A.P. Indy), to be bred to Nyquist
Brassy has a lovely pedigree. Her dam is 3/4-sister to Sky Mesa and Velvety, the dam of Maxfield. Her third dam is the influential mare La Affirmed, ancestress of Bernstein, for example. She was our last purchase at Keeneland November, in foal to Hard Spun.
Brassy is booked to Nyquist, one of the best young sires in America and who also crosses well over mares from the Medaglia d´Oro and A.P. Indy lines.
STREET SLAYER (4, Street Sense–Ghostslayer, by Ghostzapper), to be bred to Twirling Candy
Street Slayer is a half-sister to GSW Biddy Duke (Bayern) and descends from the same family as Forte, Folklore, Contrail, and Essential Quality, among other Grade I-winners.
We bought her as a broodmare prospect at Keeneland November and she is now booked to Twirling Candy, too. Twirling Candy is out of a Mr. Prospector line mare and has found success with mares from that line. And as I mentioned before, there are not too many active, proven stallions in Kentucky as good as him for $60,000.
KNOCKOUT KISSES (4, Into MIschief–Transplendid by Elusive Quality), to be bred to Blame
We acquired Knockout Kisses as a broodmare prospect at the Fasig-Tipton July sale last year. She is a young half-sister to GSW Dennis' Moment (Tiznow). She has a lot of Into Mischief and we chose Blame because it's a great physical match as well. We really like Blame, he is a proven stallion and he offers good value even at the increased fee of $25,000.
Interested in sharing your own mating plans? Email garyking@thetdn.com.
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