Proud Emma Earns First Graded Stakes Victory In Bayakoa At Los Alamitos

Returning to dirt and getting the waiting ride she prefers, Proud Emma rallied to defeat Message and four others fillies and mares in the Grade 3, $100,0000 Bayakoa Stakes Sunday at Los Alamitos in Cypress, Calif.

Ridden by Juan Hernandez – substituting for the sidelined Hall of Famer Mike Smith – for trainer Peter Miller and owners Gem, Inc. and Tom Kagele, Proud Emma was reserved early off the pace set by Miss Stormy D and Stellar Sound, rallied outside and outfinished Message in the final sixteenth to prevail by a half-length.

The win was the sixth in 16 starts for the daughter of Include and the Proud Citizen mare Debutante Dreamer, who was bred in Kentucky by Brereton C. Jones. Her first success in a graded stakes increased her earnings to $304,658.

The 9-2 fourth choice in the field of six, Proud Emma paid $11.20, $3.80 and $2.40 while completing the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.40. Message returned $4 and $2.40 while finishing six lengths clear of Stellar Sound, who rushed to battle for the lead and opened up two lengths after a half mile despite breaking last. The show price on Stellar Sound, the 13-10 choice, was $2.20. Miss Stormy D, Blue Diva and Donut Girl completed the order of finish.

“She ran great,'' said Kagele. “We've been trying to get a graded stakes with her and she finally did it for us today. She likes to sit off it and it set up very nicely for her. We were confident she would come running. She shows up every time, but this was awesome. We plan to keep her in training in 2021.''

This was Hernandez's first collaboration with Proud Emma, whose most recent win came when she finished in a dead heat with Message in the Tranquility Lake Aug. 28 at Del Mar.

“(Miller) told me to just sit behind the speed and she'd give me a strong run. She relaxed perfectly, then really responded when I asked her to get by (Message).''

Racing resumes Thursday at Los Alamitos. Post time is 1 p.m.

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Taking Stock: Performance vs. Stud Fee for the Small Owner-Breeder

By the time a stallion has established himself at stud, his fee is usually determined by performance, not the hype that surrounds new horses when they first enter stud. There are, of course, many ways to measure performance, including progeny earnings (which determines placement on the General Sires list), percent of black-type winners to named foals, quality of runners, number of Grade l winners, etc.

There are seven thoroughly proven stallions that will stand for $150,000 or more in North America in 2021, and these elite horses–Into Mischief ($225,000), Tapit ($185,000), Uncle Mo ($175,000), Curlin ($175,000), Medaglia d’Oro ($150,000), War Front ($150,000), and Quality Road ($150,000)–more than make the grade whichever way you slice and dice statistics. For instance, this select group sires black-type winners from named foals at rates of between 7% to 12% (see accompanying charts), which is the gold standard nowadays in the era of big books. [Note: Younger stallions will have lower percentages because their 2-year-old crops will be a larger percentage of the whole.]

Each year as the breeding season rolls around, a dwindling number of smaller owner-breeders frequently ask us at Werk Thoroughbred Consultants to recommend the best proven stallions standing for $15,000 or less. These people, who once made up a larger percentage of owners, need sires with track records, because they race what they breed and have no room for error. A shiny new horse at $15,000 is unproven and too much of a gamble for them, whereas that same first-year horse might well be the choice for a commercial breeder shopping in that price range. It just so happens, however, that the types of stallions best suited for small homebreeders are inexpensively priced these days, not because they lack performance but because they tend to be old and are mostly ignored by a large swath of folks who breed primarily to sell. And it’s the young stallions that sell.

Old stallions, like old people, tend to be underappreciated in a climate that rewards youth.

In fact, older proven stallions that aren’t elite are frequently priced lower than they should be if performance itself were the sole criteria for fee determination, but with them it’s not. They are simply not fashionable, even if they once were.

For those of you who breed to race, I’ve listed in another chart 10 favorite older stallions that will stand next year for $15,000 or less, and they were chosen primarily because they satisfy two criteria aside from my preferences for them: they are (or were last year) ranked on TDN‘s General Sires List; and they get a minimum of 5% black-type winners from named foals, which is a rate close enough to rub shoulders with some of the elite sires standing for $150,000 or more, but at a significantly lower fee that makes them both attractive and affordable for homebreeders. This group can get you a horse good enough to play with the big boys. There are a few others I could have included–my apologies–but didn’t for space considerations.

Here they are by descending stud fee; statistics are for the Northern Hemisphere:

Midnight Lute ($15,000) – This son of Real Quiet at Hill ‘n’ Dale is ranked #12 on the General Sires List, which puts him ahead of both War Front and Quality Road this year, and note also that he’s one of the younger horses in this group with nine crops of racing age. He gets 5% black-type winners from named foals and has demonstrated the ability to sire runners of the highest class, such as Eclipse Award winner Midnight Bisou, one of the best fillies of her generation. Altogether, he’s sired 33 black-type winners and four Grade l winners, including 2020 Gamely S. winner Keeper Ofthe Stars.

Lemon Drop Kid ($15,000) – Through 17 crops of racing age, this well-bred son of Kingmambo has sired 7% black-type winners from foals, the same as his mate Quality Road at Lane’s End. Lifetime, he has 96 black-type winners, including nine Grade l winners, and he’s ranked #44 on the General Sires List this year with such horses as Canadian classic winner Belichick, Glll Ontario Derby winner Field Pass, and 7-year-old French Group 2 winner Red Verdon. In Japan, he’s represented by Godolphin-owned 2-year-old Lemon Pop, who won a non-black-type Kentucky Derby points race on Nov. 28 at Tokyo after winning his debut before that. Though he gets top-level turf and all-weather runners, his daughter Lemons Forever won the Grade l Kentucky Oaks on dirt and has since become a Kentucky Broodmare of the Year.

Mineshaft ($15,000) – A sire of 51 black-type winners through 14 crops–six at Grade l level, including $3.3 million earner Effinex and successful Darby Dan sire Dialed In–he stands at Lane’s End alongside Lemon Drop Kid and is a son of A.P. Indy. He’s at #55 on the General Sires List and is represented this year by Glll Canadian Derby winner Real Grace in what for him is a slow year. He gets 5% black-type winners from foals.

Sky Mesa ($12,500) – This son of Pulpit has sired 73 black-type winners and four Grade l winners through 14 crops, and it’s notable that he’s also the sire of three Canadian champions that aren’t on his list of Grade l winners. Last year, his 2-year-old daughter Perfect Alibi won the Gl Spinaway S., and this year he’s represented by two 3-year-old black-type winners, both of them graded placed. He gets 7% black-type winners from foals, is ranked #66 on the General Sires List, and stands at Three Chimneys.

Stormy Atlantic ($10,000) – The elder statesman of this group, he’s a son of Storm Cat at Hill ‘n’ Dale with 19 crops of racing age. Throughout his career, he’s maintained a 7% rate of black-type winners to foals and altogether has so far sired 103 black-type winners and seven Grade l winners (eight, if you count one in Argentina). His gelded son Stormy Liberal won the Gl Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint twice and was an Eclipse Award-winning turf male, while in Canada he’s had three champion juveniles and Horse of the Year Up With the Birds, also a Grade l winner in the U.S. Among his top performers this year are Grade ll winner Big Runnuer, a 5-year-old; Grade lll winner Neptune’s Storm, a 4-year-old who won a Grade ll race last year; and 7-year-old Stormy Antarctic, a previous Group 2 winner who was second in the G1 Prix d’Ispahan in France in July. Though he’s unranked on the General Sires List in 2020 (he was ranked last year), he consistently gets sound and durable runners with a high degree of class.

Midshipman ($7,500) – This son of Unbridled’s Song at Darley is the youngest horse here with only seven crops of racing age – the same as Quality Road. He’s #47 on the General Sires List and to date is represented by 28 black-type winners in the Northern Hemisphere, a rate of 6% to foals. Though he doesn’t have a NH Grade l winner yet, he has three in Brazil, one of which, Royal Ship (Brz), is Grade ll-placed in California this year. His leading earner to date is Grade lll winner and Grade l-placed Lady Shipman ($902,387), whose son Golden Pal won the Gll Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint this year.

Mizzen Mast ($7,500) – Based at Juddmonte, this son of Cozzene has eight Grade l winners to his credit (nine, if you include another in Peru) from 60 black-type winners, for a rate of 6% black-type winners from foals. One, Flotilla, is a Gl Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner and a French classic winner, taking the G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches at three. Another, Full Mast, is a Group 1 winner at two in France, while Sea Defence (also known as Giant Treasure) won a Group 1 at five in Hong Kong. His best-known runner, the mare Mizdirection, twice won the Gl Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, and in California he’s had the winners of such races as the Gl Hollywood Derby at 10 furlongs on turf; the Gl Charles Whittingham Memorial at 10 furlongs on turf; and the Gl Hollywood Gold Cup at 10 furlongs on all-weather, among other prestigious races. Yes, he’s a turf sire with his best runners, but note that his daughter Sailor’s Valentine won the Gl Ashland S. at Keeneland on dirt. He’s #74 on the General Sires List.

Silent Name (Jpn) (C$7,500) – This son of Sunday Silence stands in Canada at Adena Springs and is represented by 27 black-type winners, or 7% from foals, and he’s #83 on the General Sires List. He doesn’t have a Grade l winner yet in the Northern Hemisphere (he has one in Brazil), but his graded winners include several who have placed at the highest level, including Grade ll winners Silentio and Fanticola, plus listed winner Mr. Online. His current runners are headed by Grade ll winner Silent Poet, a 5-year-old.

Freud ($6,500) – A Storm Cat brother to Giant’s Causeway, he’s a New York-based sire at Sequel with enough proven form nationally to take him out of the regional ranks, though he’s a must-use sire for the lucrative restricted program in New York. The sire of 55 black-type winners and four Grade l winners (plus an additional three in Argentina) through 16 crops, he gets 6% black-type winners from foals. His best include Gl Cigar Mile H. winner Sharp Azteca, now at stud at Three Chimneys. Freud isn’t ranked on the General Sires List this year, but he was last year.

Include ($5,000) – This son of Broad Brush at Airdrie is responsible for 45 black-type winners through 15 crops, including five Grade l winners (plus another five bred in Argentina), and he’s ranked #98 on the General Sires List. He gets 6% black-type winners to foals and has a notable bias for fillies: all five of his top-level winners are fillies, headed by millionaire Panty Raid. If you included his five Group 1 winners from Argentina, nine of the 10 are fillies. His top current runner, 3-year-old Grade ll winner Sconsin, also is a filly, but he does have champion Canadian juvenile colt Riker and Grade lll winner and Grade l-placed All Included among a smaller group of accomplished males.

Sid Fernando is president and CEO of Werk Thoroughbred Consultants, Inc., originator of the Werk Nick Rating and eNicks.

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Foley: Filly & Mare Sprint ‘Right Time’ To Try Sconsin Against Older Rivals

Lloyd Madison Farms' $250,000 Eight Belles (Grade 2) winner Sconsin will be in search of season-ending glory in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) on Nov. 7 at Keeneland, but will have to face older rivals for the first time in her eight-race career.

“We had thought about running in the Raven Run after the Eight Belles to stay with 3-year-olds,” trainer Greg Foley said. “We got together with the owners and they said, 'What about the big one?' She was impressive coming from behind in the Eight Belles and I think will fit right with this group of horses coming from off the pace. I think we are taking a shot at the right time with her. Anytime you run a 3-year-old against older horses for the first time, you don't necessarily know what to expect. Since this is the end of the season, from here on out she'll be running against older horses.”

Sconsin is part of Lloyd Madison Farms' impressive homebred operation. She is by Include out of the former Foley-trained Sconnie. Prior to Sconsin's Eight Belles score, she finished third behind Mundaye Call in the $100,000 Audubon Oaks at Ellis Park and was the runner-up to Four Graces in the $100,000 Beaumont (G3) at Keeneland.

“We're just hoping for a honest pace and a fair track in the Breeders' Cup,” Foley said. “She's a beautiful filly and has all the right looks of a great horse. She was beautiful as a weanling, yearling and now a 3-year-old.”

Sconsin was one of 10 horses pre entered in the Filly & Mare Sprint. Post positions will be drawn on Monday.

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Airdrie Stud Secures Breeding Rights To Complexity; Announces 2021 Fees

Klaravich Stables, Inc's Complexity, the Daily Racing Form's morning line favorite for both the upcoming Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint and Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, will stand stud at Brereton and Elizabeth Jones's Airdrie Stud upon his retirement from racing.

Trained throughout his career by leading conditioner Chad Brown, Complexity earned TDN Rising Star status in his six-furlong 2-year-old debut at Saratoga when drawing off to win by 4 1/4 lengths in 1:09 3/5. Made the favorite for the historic Grade 1 Champagne Stakes in his second start, Complexity led every step of the way through fractions of 22 2/5, 45 1/5 and 1:09 2/5 en route to a dominant three-length victory. His final time of 1:34 3/5 trails only Uncle Mo – by .12 seconds – in the last 35 runnings of the stallion-making race, that also counts Jackie's Warrior, Tiz the Law, Scat Daddy, Daredevil, Union Rags, Maria's Mon, First Samurai, Dehere, Easy Goer and Forty Niner amongst its more recent winners.

While a quarter crack partially derailed his sophomore campaign, Complexity still managed to run one of the fastest Ragozin numbers of his three-year-old crop when earning a 3 in a dominant 7 1/4 length win against older horses at Aqueduct.

As a 4-year-old in 2020, Complexity has once again returned to top form. Following an impressive allowance victory over the talented Win Win Win at Belmont, Complexity set blistering fractions of 44 3/5 and 1:08 4/5 amidst a blinding rainstorm in Saratoga's G1 Forego Stakes. While he put away his rival pacesetters, it was Win Win Win that caught him in the final jumps after coming from last in the field.

In his most recent start, Complexity stamped himself as a Breeders' Cup favorite with a sensational two-length win over multiple Grade 1 winner Code of Honor in the G2 Kelso Handicap. His time of 1:33 4/5 was good for a 110 Beyer Speed Figure, marking the highest number earned by any horse at a mile or longer in 2020.

Bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, LLC, Complexity is sired by the hot young stallion Maclean's Music. His dam, Goldfield, counts three black-type horses from five to race including Valadorna, winner of the G3 Doubledogdare Stakes and a narrow second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. A $375,000 September yearling purchase by leading buyer Mike Ryan, Complexity was the most expensive yearling from any of the early crops of Maclean's Music.

Said his trainer Chad Brown: “Complexity is a very rare horse that has been number-one at every stage of his life. He was the most expensive yearling by his sire, the most highly regarded two-year-old at Stonestreet and, by far, our stable's best colt of his crop. He's an exceptional talent.”

Added Airdrie's Bret Jones: “We are extremely grateful to Seth Klarman and Chad Brown for the opportunity to stand Complexity. His resume is that of a sensational stallion prospect. He was a brilliantly precocious Champagne winner that has trained on to run the highest speed figure of any horse in America at a mile or more. He's by a truly ascendant sire that looks to have every chance to be important, he's from a top class Stonestreet female family, he was purchased by one of the all-time great judges in Mike Ryan and his talents are revered by one of the all-time great trainers in Chad Brown. Our hope is that he will be Mr. Klarman's next Breeders' Cup winner and we are committed to giving him tremendous mare support in working to make him a great Airdrie stallion.”

Complexity will stand for $12,500 S&N for any contract signed and returned before this year's Breeders' Cup.

Airdrie also announced the entirety of its 2021 fees.

“In keeping with what should always be the goal of any stallion farm, we feel we have priced our stallions where breeders have the opportunity to profit in the sales ring and help their mare produce Saturday horses,” Jones said. “We are extremely proud of our young roster that includes Cairo Prince, the leading third-crop sire by stakes winners, stakes horses, graded stakes winners and graded stakes horses; Upstart, who is currently the #1 first-crop sire in America by winners and is equaled only by Maclean's Music with his four 80+ Beyer performances by his 2-year-olds amongst all stallions; and Summer Front, who is outpaced only by American Pharoah and Constitution with three graded stakes winners from his first crop of 3-year-olds. All three of these leading young stallions began their stallion careers at a fee of $10,000 and we feel demonstrate the success that comes from the tremendous support they receive from Airdrie and our incredible, loyal breeders.

Our Grade 1 sires Creative Cause and Include have come from similarly humble beginnings to become successful, proven stallions and we could not be more bullish on our young roster that includes Collected, Preservationist, McCraken, American Freedom, Divisidero and, of course, our new stallion, Complexity,” Jones continued. “As always, we look forward to the upcoming season and helping the wonderful breeders that make our sport happen in any way we can.”

2021 Roster and Fees (all fees on Stands & Nurses terms*)

American Freedom – $6,000
Cairo Prince – $15,000
Collected – $17,500
Complexity** – $12,500
Creative Cause – $7,500
Divisidero – $5,000
Include – $5,000
McCraken – $6,000
Preservationist – $10,000
Summer Front – $10,000
Upstart – $10,000

*As in prior years, 5% discount applies for payment by Nov 1 of year bred, on LF terms

**New for 2021

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