Pedigree Query

In just brainstorming possiable type mares for Pico Central I keep coming back to a More Than Ready mare. Of course it would take the individual but I'm just thinking of possiable paper matings. PC was a brilliant racehorse & if he had a little better sellable pedigree I would rate him right up there with Ghostzapper. I'n not sure he can make a ton of noise in being by Spend a Buck & from a rather modest SA female family but as far as breeding to the individual its very hard to find a horse with more ability than him. More Than Ready was by far and away the best early 2 year old of his generation & came back to make a top class 3 year old & G1 winning sprinter. His colts so far have been just as versitile in winning sprints, routes, dirt or turf. A cross of PC & MTR creates a nice balanced inbreeding to Buckpasser & blends many different strains of La Troienne. Those that know me know I tend to look more & have to have ability & overall fit in the first couple gens more than anything but I do always look more into pedigrees as well. It does not mean anything much but I think its interesting to blend a couple of ok to so so American sires but very good SA sires in Spend A Buck & Southern Halo. This is just an idea but one worth trying with the right MTR mare I believe. I am just scratching the surface & would appericate others thoughts?

hi Tom Fool

In my book, Pico Central should have been awarded the 2004 sprint eclipse over Speightstown.

Pico Central won (in 2004) the G1-Carter...the G1-Metropolitan...and the G1-Vosburgh (a race in which he toyed with and CRUSHED Speightstown by 4 lengths). That was the only time the two horses ever met.

Speightstown did win the BC Sprint (a race which Pico was NOT nominated to and did not run in) and Pletcher and Melnyk (in interviews post BC Sprint) grabbed the opportunity to use the bully-pulpit on BC day and speak (both uninterrupted and unchallenged) to a national and international television audience...and all but nearly beg and plead (using what sounded to a large degree like scripted dissertations) as to why Speightstown should be the champion, because Pico did not show up in the sprint. Never mentioning, of course, Pico's 3 G1 wins that year and the fact that the only time the two horses ever met that Pico toyed with, CRUSHED and TROUNCED their beloved Speightstown's butt, etc.

Seemed to me that the eclipse award came down to a popularity contest, as Speightstown (by Gone West and out of a Storm Cat) and his team (Pletcher/Melnyk/Taylor Made/WinStar) were apparently more appealing to eclipse voters than Pico Central, arguably an off-bred colt (by Spend a Buck) from Brazil, who was trained and owned by arguably a less than recognizable and/or popular duo. I just felt that if it was about the merits of the two horses, and nothing else, Pico wins hands down.

Regardless, it's all old news now, but I wanted to make a point of how good I believed Pico was.

Fast forward...and now looking at Pico as a possible stallion choice for a mare or two of yours...I strongly suggest that you might take a close look at him in the flesh, before making any final decisions. The way I see him, Pico is back at the knee and club-footed and/or contracted in both front feet. The good news is he is well proportioned, pretty, nicely balanced and an excellent walker...but I believe one must be extremely cautious in the mare selection process if he is a stallion that you are bent on breeding to.

Pico Central was one heckuva top-class sprinter and miler...and in my opinion should have been awarded the sprint eclipse over Speightstown...but I strongly recommend...beware of and take into account his shortcomings (conformationally) before signing on the dotted line, and sending mare(s) to him.

Respectfully

I will let the freshman sires sort themselves out before I try to determine which one will be a hit or miss.

It is better to let the stallions tell us who is for real, and who is the paper tiger.

Hi Tom Fool,

Pico Central was a top class sprinter but not a great horse like Ghostzapper and I'd not compare them in the belief or hope that they might be the same. There are still gaping holes in the wind that Ghostzapper left, perhaps never to be closed, he was one for the ages.

You're thinking well in considering the South American context of More Than Ready through his sire Southern Halo in a possible mating to Pico Central. That said I would be very concerned by the lack of success that South American expatriated stallions have had with the exception of Lord At War.

I think you'd be wise to consider FOS' conformation appraisal of Pico Central.

I wouldn't use Pico Central myself but if I did, a daughter of More Than Ready is a good choice as long as the rest of her pedigree fits and her conformational flaws don't duplicate his. Good luck.

Regards,

Pete

Hi Louis,

Your approach is conservative and I understand it but some of the best ways to make money in thoroughbreds is in the proper evaluation and projection of stallion potential.

Regards,

Pete

I'd go for MTR usually...unless you want an outcross - then PC.. for me

Hi Tomfool,

Southern Halo and Buckpasser have teamed up in the pedigree of Halo Homewrecker (second dam by Buckaroo) and also very successfully in Argentino with 7 stakes winners bred on a Southern Halo/Logical (by Buckpasser) nick.

Daraabah