Pedigree Query

what do you think about breeding to sky mesa on the bubble this spring for sale as a yearling? stud fee at $30,000. My thought is that he will be successful this year and next with his first crops to race, was told he had a great group of broodmares his first 2 years.

Sky Mesas sold really well in 2006. IMO, breeding to him is a coin toss - if you think his two year olds will do well this year, go for it...and if you think they won't, don't - the commercial market will drop him like a hot potato with so many other young sires around.

Agree with Rokeby 100%. Also, he stands at Three Chimneys and they have not been very selective about their mares that they accept. If you have the stud fee.......

Actually, Three Chimneys are not even close to the worst offender when it comes to mare selection. However, as with most farms, they probably won't turn many away. In this case, Sky Mesa was fairly popular and probably got a good book of mares which fit him, at least to some degree (... he isn't at Ashford after all). If I recall correctly, they were turning a few away.

People are constantly critical of Three Chimneys, but, in my opinion, they are a pretty good group. I have a lot of confidence in Sandy handling the critters and Ann handling the pedigrees. You don't find that expertise at many farms...

Rokeby says it pretty well... if the Sky Mesas run, you'll be in good shape... if not... things may not be so good.

Also... although I am somewhat certain it was true in this case... every farm tells every potential bubble year breeder that the stallion had great first books... I'm not saying they are lying... well, actually, in many cases, I guess I am saying just that.

I'll agree on Sandy.

It's so difficult to breed to commerical sires that get 100+ mares because unless you have a standout yearling, you're just another face in the crowd. If you have a real looker from a sire that's not so booked, you might have a better chance at a better sale...just my humble opinion.

hi guys

For what it's worth...I for one like Sky Mesa's chances for, at the very least, a fair to good measure of success as a racehorse sire.

To my way of thinking he is a grand...powerhouse of an individual, and I would expect him to get (for the most part) sprinters and milers...with maybe a smattering of quality runners beyond two-turns. I would also expect that whatever he gets in the way of quality two-turn horses would likely benefit from an injection of stamina from their dam's side of the equation...despite the fact that Sky Mesa's second dam is by Affirmed and his third dam is by Round Table, and that Sky Mesa himself did win the 1 1/16 mile Breeders' Futurity as a 2-yo.

I like him...but basically I see Sky Mesa as a Pulpit out of a Storm Cat (which he is)...speed over speed.

Thoughts?

Respectfully

He was a John Ward casualty, too....it's hard to say if he was inherently unsound of if the Ward butchershop made him that way.

I think Sandy left Three Chimneys. Went to their own farm.

How recently did Sandy leave? We saw here there in October, I believe. Any thoughts on the circumstances which prompted her to leave?

No, I am pretty positive Sandy is still there.

Braxton Lynch, the co-sales director, left in order to give more attention to her farm, (Royal Oak Farm) and her children. (Plus, I have a feeling she may have felt she was in a no-win situation... with Case being her co-director).

I did notice she and husband, Damian, had a couple in a recent sale, under the Royal Oak banner... and I definitely think they would be a very good choice for consignor, especially for the small breeder.

Thanks, KAL. I would still like to hear from Timber as regards why he/she thinks Sandy has left.

Do you have a feeling, KAL, about how things in general are going at Three Chimneys?

Since we really abandoned the business early last year and my trips to Lexington have been non-existant since, most of my thoughts are based on somewhat dated info or via info derived through third parties. Which is to say... I don't have a strong feeling about how things are going at Three Chimneys... however...

Point Given has found some favor again as a stallion based on his foals success in 2006. Dynaformer, again, proved to be a top sire and Rahy is Rahy.

With the landing of a few quality new stallions, the entry of Yes Its True, and the sales success of Sky Mesa, things should be looking up.

I am sure there is considerable disappointment with Albert and even more with War Chant, and quite a few questions concerning Smarty (of course, with his fee... and his foals just getting to the track, someone should be anxious).

OF course, they have been free of the Slew crew for a couple years, which has to be a relief (although they loved the critter) and they haven't had to try to pump up the disappointing Silver Charm.

Seems pretty much everyone is still involved, which says a lot... especially considering all the movement of people at other farms.

And, their sales division seems to be doing quite well... in fact, they had a full house in November and turned a couple away to other consignors.

BUT.... probably best of all, they are not involved in any highly publicized lawsuits, unlike some of their high profile counterparts... which, in and of itself, would indicate things are going pretty well.

Hi KAL (or anyone else with Three Chimney knowledge). The entire racing world went "UGH!" at Flower Alley last year. I really think $25,000 is pretty high for this stallion based on his 2006. Do you think Three Chimney is going to be able to sell him at that fee?

He really got "good" only for the BC Classic - his Travers win over a crippled Bellamy Road (without Alfeet Alex around any longer) wasn't the greatest race a Travers winner ever ran, and his prep for the BC Classic was compromised by running head and head with his entrymate.

I'm really not sold that he's the "best Distorted Humor" at stud as advertised - I think Sharp Humor had a lot more talent.

Funny Cide, Commentator, Da Stoops, Awesome Humor, Sharp Humor, Flower Alley - - all these Distorted Humors have a way of ending their careers on the downslide, huh?

Okay... for those few of you who know me and know my story about Flower Alley... I guess I cannot resist responding to Rokeby....

I absolutely agree that Flower Alley isn't the best Distorted Humor... he certainly doesn't have the best pedigree and female family... or I would have given George the extra $1500 he wanted for Princess Olivia.

For those who haven't heard this, I was underbidder on Princess Olivia when she was in foal carrying Flower Alley. George Bruncini bid her up, over his reserve of $10,000. When I noticed I was bidding against George, I quit. Out back I offered George's agent, Ron Blake $12,500. Ron called George, George told him $15,000... I told him I would make it $13,500... George initially agreed. As I was making arrangements, George called back and wanted $15,000. I became a little miffed and said no deal. George stuck to $15,000. I left without the mare and without the future Flower Alley.

The story wasn't much different the next year. I had heard good things about the foal. The mare was back in a sale at F-T. I decided to "get" her. I bid her up to somewhere just over $20,000... noticed I was bidding against George, again, and let her go. She RNA'd and George took her home to Bona Terra again.

Last year, I heard he either sold her or was trying to sell her. I heard asking price ranges from $400,000 to $1.4 mil. Yeah, I'm a pretty smart guy, huh?

Of course, I am now convinced that had I given George the extra $1500, then Flower Alley would have never amounted to anything.

Here is why: Had I purchased the mare and had Flower Alley, something probably would have gone wrong before I had a chance to sell him. Even if I did get him in the same sale as George did, and even if he looked as good, got the same placement, etc. I would not have pushed him like George did. George got around $65,000... partially because he pushed. With my poor choices in consignors, and my inability to push, I probably would have gotten $10,000. Then, some cut rate farm would have had him, screwed him up, put him in some regional sale and gotten $20,000 and he would have been destined for $12.5 claimers.

By George pushing, the $65,000 put him in the hands of a better considered farm (I don't remember who) who was able to spin him back the next year for around $150,000. The rest is history.

I guess I could have started this with the heading... "HOW I ALMOST SCREWED-UP A ECLIPSE CONSIDERED CRITTER".

I held a grudge against George for quite a while for his taking back the original deal and denying me the fortune and fame of being Flower Alley's breeder. However, when George died in the Lexington plane crash, I immediately forgave him and became much more philosophical about the situation... now it simply makes for a good story.

By the way, based on race record and conformation, and the current state of affairs with stud fees, perhaps $25,000 is fair. However, given what I know about the mare and how I almost doomed the horse... I personally think the fee high... (Do you think I still might be a little biased?)

Maybe I am not the best person to ask about Flower Alley.