Hoofbeats fading from racing
Several stallion lines in danger of dying out
With the American breeding industry increasingly focused on stallions from three sire lines (Northern Dancer, Mr. Prospector and A.P. Indy), the number of lines in danger of dying out continues to grow. Here are six lines with only one or two graded-stakes winners in 2017.
Sunday Silence
When Cesario won the American Oaks in 2005, she became the first son or daughter of Sunday Silence to win a graded race in the U.S. At that time, it was still hoped that Sunday Silence, who was famously (or infamously) sold to Japanese breeders in 1990, would eventually establish a male line in North America.
Unfortunately, this hasn’t happened. Two sons, Hat Trick and Silent Name, have had modest success here, but in 12 years since Cesario’s triumph, descendants of Sunday Silence have won only 19 additional graded races. There have been two this year: Yoshida, a Japanese-bred son of Heart’s Cry (Hill Prince Stakes); and Tricky Escape, a daughter of Hat Trick (Violet Stakes).
Alydar
It’s hard to imagine now, but for a brief period in the late 1980s it looked like Alydar, not Mr. Prospector, might determine the direction of the Raise a Native male line. Alydar, of course, died under mysterious circumstances in 1990, and Easy Goer – his best son – died in 1994.
Alydar’s male line has averaged fewer than one graded win per year over the past decade. Benchmark, his most successful sire son, died earlier this year. His sons Idiot Proof and Grazen likely represent the line’s last
hopes. The lone Alydarline horse to win a graded race in 2017 was Enola Gray, a daughter of Grazen who prevailed in the Wilshire Stakes.