Pleasant Tap stallion

[RandomThoughts]

I own a 5yo Pleasant Tap stallion who broke his maiden at 3 in his first start on the grass with an 80 Beyer over 1 1/8 miles. Ran a good second in his next start in an allowance with an 81 Beyer. Developed an ankle shortly thereafter and is now retired.
His only sibling of racing age is Grade 1 placed.
I admit that thus far there doesn't seem to be much domestic interest in the family as sire material, and with the sale of David Junior and Premium Tap we may never know if they are or they aren't.
I'd be curious to know if anyone believes that this might be worth pursuing perhaps in the mid-Atlantic market.

[geowarrior]

It would help more if we knew the stallion's name and in particular his female family.

[RandomThoughts]

Geo: His name is Tap N Jazz and he stands about 16.1 and he looks a great deal like his old man.
His baby sister is Enchanting Star, who was beaten 1 3/4 lengths in the Frizette Stakes after having the lead at the 1/8th pole. Mike Smith apologized after the race for causing her loss. She also ran head and head (against my wishes) with Barroness Thatcher in the Black Eyed Susan for 7 1/2 furlongs costing both of them all chance to win the race.

[jellac]

Here's the link to his pedigree:

http://www.pedigreequery.com/tap+n+jazz


I think he could fit in the right regional market but his career launch would have to be handled smartly/pro-actively. He might deserve a shot at stud, but the justification for that is kind of iffy, requiring a lot of belief in the upside of what his pedigree, top and bottom, and his brief performances only hint at. AND putting him to stud with any chance of success would take a committment of breeding at least few really good/well matched BMs and raising their resulting foals to racing age to get him started/see how he does given the better opportunties. Given the extra time most Pleasant Colony sireline foals take to be race ready that's a minimum four year committment from breeding to debuts. If you can't get that kind of mare and stallion backer support there's really little reason to do it otherwise.

The good points:

Son of Pleasant Colony - a proven source of classic capability, stamina thru himself/his betters sons at stud

Per owner: has the stature desirable in today's stallions and looks much like his well known sire (Sounds like he'd photograph and show well to prospective mares' owners)

Per database: His female family traces tail female to the great race mare/reines de course: Frizette (perhaps that is why almost every top filly under his first three dams were tried in the Frizette stakes?). Has solid but not great performers under each of his first three dams - including Dixie Brass, who was a successful regional sire, under his third dam so some 'sire power' in this pedigree

Did get to the races as a 3YO (typical of the Pleasant Colony's, they take a bit of time to mature into themselves) and showed potential to improve: breaking his maiden with 80 Beyer going 1 1/8 mile on turf at first asking; ran back a good second in allowance company posting an 81 Beyer before career was ended by ankle injury. His half sister is G-1 placed and has earned over $100K racing against class company.

Fallback in this sireline/pedigree - IF proven not successful as a sire of racehorses, he might still be a good outcross sire for warmblood mares, OTTB mares being bred for fox hunting, H/J and show jumping careers (Aside from his ankle injury - is he conformationally correct/impressive from a H/J, show jumper viewpoint?).

The Negatives -

Race Career Interrupted/Full potential Unknown - Doubts as to what his ability would have been can not be answered except via speculation/first foals to race.......

Possible soundness issues? - Another doubt - see above

Lack of widespread interest among mare owners in Pleasant Colony sons? Not enough speed, Not early maturing types ergo: do not typically produce the sort of foals that get top auction prices as yearlings or are ready for stresses of 2YO Sales' speed works so more of a Breed To Race sire propspect....(As you noted other Pleasant Colony stallions haven't stayed long in US market...)

My thoughts are that if he might be attractive in PA, OK or LA. He'd have his best shot in PA, VA or W. Va. as I believe his sireline is well thought of among steeplechase riders, fox hunters and show jumping disciplines where the slowness to mature is considered a given instead of a negative. Another possibility is outside the US - where has the interest in Pleasant Colony sireline stallions come from?

[jellac]

A post-script:

I very much remember watching Julie Krone's historic Belmont Victory ride oboard Pleasant Colony - it was a big horse making a big effort in the end. Pleasant Colony's pedigree is one made for the classic distances, especially the longer races. Personally I really like and admire the Pleasant Colony sireline and wish we had more of his better sons in the gene pool BUT the reality is most/many breeders/breeding operations are looking for a quicker turn around on their investment with earlier financial outs possible, i.e. sales. I just don't know that the Pleasant Colonys will generate a lot of initial interest in that environment, especially for those individuals minus the "Proof" of their pedigree's potential via quality performances on the track - that's why I'm emphasizing the need for a long-term committment of top BM support from the buyer/syndicate of this stallion prospect.

[Georgerz]

Julie Krone did not win the Belmont on Pleasant Colony. You're confusing the sire with the offspring.

[Alywow]

Colonial Affair was Julie Krone's winning Belmont mount.

[jellac]

Thank you for the correction.....you're absolutely right it was Colonial Affair! Sheesh! guess it should be ample warning whenever one starts to say something like: "I very much remember.....(particularly at my advancing age!)....when "I very much remember, NOT!