Is Benchmark Alydar's Best Son to Stand at Stud?

[horsenuts]

Alydar, while a great sire was/is generally regarded as a poor sire of sires. Easy Goer had some nice ones and has been a good broodmare sire in his brief stud career. But Benchmark is no slouch and certainly improves most of his mare with an AEI of 1:61 and a CI of 1:08 at last glance. Brother Derek has some real class and quality to him along with a good amount of durability especially in this day and age.

If I had mares on the west coast I'd certainly be trying to breed some of them to Benchmark. He is very reasonably priced at $7,500 and I suspect will be very busy this year and the years to follow. I have always hoped/looked for a good Alydar sire and believe Benchmark has filled that void.

[Heidilady]

After looking at him, I'd bet either a bigger CA farm will buy him or he'll get moved to KY at some point, esp. if Brother Derek does well. He's too nice (and this is not a slam to California) to leave in CA with that pedigree and a 'big horse' if Brother Derek fits that description. If he turns out to be as high profile as the buzz indicates, might wanna breed to Benchmark now or you might not get the chance next year. Either way he looks nice to me even if he stays put.

[louis finochio]

Benchmark would consistently produce those superior runners if his book was filled with those quality Ky. mares.

Benchmark has out bred his C mares by a country mile.
Do the mares make the sire or does the sire make the mares?

[Sysonby]

Benchmark is owned by Marty Wygod and has been heavily supported by Wygod's own mares at his farm River Edge. While Brother Derek was certainly impressive yesterday, he was still a $275,000 purchase so hardly run of the mill as far as Benchmarks went. I can't see any out of state farm wanting him unless he went on to sire a Derby winner. Even then....did you see Cee's Tizzy move?

[horsenuts]

Benchmark is owned by Marty Wygod and has been heavily supported by Wygod's own mares at his farm River Edge. While Brother Derek was certainly impressive yesterday, he was still a $275,000 purchase so hardly run of the mill as far as Benchmarks went. I can't see any out of state farm wanting him unless he went on to sire a Derby winner. Even then....did you see Cee's Tizzy move?

Considering Benchmark is now 15 I'd be very surprised if he ever left California. Still, I rate him as an excellent sire and at $7,500 perhaps the best value currently standing for under $10,000 in America. There are stallions standing for 2-3-4 times that amount that given the choice I would still opt for Benchmark. He's a very nice sire and seems to instill a fair amount of soundness as well as class.

[zinn21]

Benchmark won't be leaving Calif. anytime soon. He's owned by arguably the biggest player in California who supports his stallions at his farm with a large supply of mares. He definately is a nice regional sire sporting an 8% stakes horses from starters and a 1.50 AEI from mares with a 1.08 CI.

[horsenuts]

Speaking of Benchmark and being a nice sire I see he is also the sire of Proposed who won the Grade II El Encino on Sunday at Santa Anita. Barry Bonds never had a better weekend.

[louis finochio]

If Marty Wygod wont consider selling Benchmark, MW should breed some quality mares to Benchmark as Benchmark will have sons and daughters that will carry on his sire line.

[Sysonby]

If Marty Wygod wont consider selling Benchmark, MW should breed some quality mares to Benchmark as Benchmark will have sons and daughters that will carry on his sire line.

But he does Louis. Wygod is the one who bred Proposed and Silent Sighs and maybe half the Benchmarks out there. I wouldn't be surprised if he's spent millions overall making this stallion and now he's starting to see the benefit. He's Wygod's version of General Meeting.

[louis finochio]

It's about time Wygod see's the light as he wasted good too much time with those BMS Man From Eldorado and Vernon Castle.

Benchmark deserves the best of mares, I would love to breed Toussaud to Benchmark.

[horsenuts]

If Marty Wygod wont consider selling Benchmark, MW should breed some quality mares to Benchmark as Benchmark will have sons and daughters that will carry on his sire line.

But he does Louis. Wygod is the one who bred Proposed and Silent Sighs and maybe half the Benchmarks out there. I wouldn't be surprised if he's spent millions overall making this stallion and now he's starting to see the benefit. He's Wygod's version of General Meeting.

Last I looked the mares bred to Benchmark carried a CI of 1:08. You will find very, very few studs in Kentucky with a CI that low. Benchmark CLEARLY improves a mare with his AEI around 1:60 whereas in Kentucky that is not always the case, in fact far from it in many/most instances.

Sad to see quality and value go by the wayside in favor of hype and promotion.. but that's been the trend since commercial breeding has become the dominant theme in the Bluegrass State. Not hard to see why the breed has deteriorated based on that alone.

[louis finochio]

This AEI stat clearly separates the wheat from the chaff.

The AEI top stallion lifetime is Bold Ruler 7.73

Alydar is the 2nd. stallion lifetime with an AEI of 5.21

Benchmark has inherited his class from Alydar and its shining brighter as he will attract a better class of mares.

[horsenuts]

This AEI stat clearly separates the wheat from the chaff.

The AEI top stallion lifetime is Bold Ruler 7.73

Alydar is the 2nd. stallion lifetime with an AEI of 5.21

Benchmark has inherited his class from Alydar and its shining brighter as he will attract a better class of mares.

Benchmark CLEARLY impoves his mares which is the "Benchmark" any breeder SHOULD look for. Add to that the number of graded stakes winners/placers and he's had and he's one of the best values in the industry.