Pedigree Query

Grade I winner Shakespeare will stand in 2010 at Signature Stallions near Reddick. The 8-year-old son of Theatrical stood his two previous years at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms near Lexington. Shakespeare won $1,293,780 and is out of grade I winner and multiple stakes producer Lady Shirl by That's a Nice.

This is a bit unusual since FL doesn't seem to cotton to turf-proven stallions. Generally they cover two or three modest books of mares and then leave the state before their get have a chance to show what they can do. I don't expect this guy to stick around for very long either, but maybe the advent of synthetic surfaces is starting to make a difference.

Onwership has not changed - they are putting him in a different market to (hopefully) get more mares during his "bubble years".

Grass runners are tough to market as stallions anywhere - but this guy was a tremendous talent!

"...they are putting him in a different market to (hopefully) get more mares during his "bubble years"."

Good luck with getting more mares there. Last year turf specialist and multiple G1-winner Sweet Return stood at Signature and -- according to JC statistics -- attracted a whopping 25 mares while Shakespeare covered 70 mares in Kentucky

Yep it will be tough - I am not agreeing with the strategy, just relaying the reasoning behind the decision.

Florida certainly isn't known for their turf racing and he'll be up against it support-wise, but the Florida stallion ranks have been raided by Kentucky and there's little known quality there at the moment. So his race record might appeal to many Florida breeders who feel underwhelmed with the current offerings.

Speaking of Sweet Return, I can understand why many people have stayed away. He was a serious race horse but I can't remember the last time I saw a G1 winner, let alone a multiple G1 winner, with less family. It's shocking in a way. I think there's one stakes horse (no stakes winners) under the first 5 dams, besides himself.

I hope he hits though. Both of them.

You.re right, ASB. Other than a black-type French steeplechaser under his 4th dam, Sweet Return's bottom line is devoid of stakes horses.

Nevertheless I decided to breed to him. In addition to his excellent race record I liked that his dam is a 3/8's in blood to the dam of Muhtathir, another Elmaamul son and the sire of impressive G1 winners Doctor Dino and Mauralakama. That Muhtathir's bottom line traces to Sparkman foundation mare, Fast Line, is of course also a decided plus for him.

In November a pair of $100,000 8.5 furlong turf races for FL-bred 2yo's are contested. It's a chancy challenge to try to breed for them.

I love every aspect of Sweet Return's pedigree, except for that bottom.

I hope he produces runners because he's carrying some blood that would be really valuable to have in the country. I have not seen him in person, but he appears to be well-made.

Im very interested in him. I have a few decent sort of mares in FL, and think he offers some real talent, turf or not. He also has a full sister who is doing very well right now, so the family looks strong. Interesting....

Dont forget about Showing Up standing in FL as well between he & Shakespeare they are two of the most talented American turf horses of the past few years. Showing Up had G1 talent on the dirt as well. I think either def has a chance to make a good sire.

Speaking of Sweet Return, I've received a pleasantly surprising piece of mail -- a 42 minute DVD of the races of Sweet Return.

It was accompanied with a note which read, "We hope you have as much success with your foal by Sweet Return as we did racing him. Best of Luck! Red Oak Stable"

Nice gesture and classy folks!

That is a nice gesture. He was a hell of a racehorse. That can never be taken away from him.

Nice gesture indeed. I just wish John Brunetti had shown similar class when dealing with Halsey Minor over the future of Hialeah.

I am not sure that Halsey Minor was for real or really understood what restoring Hialeah would require - to restore Hialeah would require buying and restoring/developing the entire square mile surrounding the track as well as the track itself....and securing the area.

I also am not sure that anyone who has dealt directly with Red Oak or Brunetti would ever use classy in their description, but the dvd was nice.