Pedigree Query

Okay, I'm going to keep some of my mares regional next year (since I magically grew 6 new ones ) and I was wondering who some of my fellow Southwesterners favorite stallions were, so I can kind of narrow the field down. Defining the Southwest as OK, TX, AR, NM, and LA.

A few that have caught my eye so far:
Dove Hunt
Erlton
Gold Legend
Ide
K One King
Marked Tree
New Trieste
Ocean Terrace
Saratoga Six
Seattle Sleet
Storm Day
Zarbeyev (Is he still alive?)

I also am still holding out some hope on Burbank. Also does anyone know the status of Belek and Bayou Hebert?

I'm looking for honest opinions on the stallions above as well as maybe some insights on stallions I missed. Hopefully we can get a good discussion (or argument ) going.

Tricky Creek

I love Saratoga Six. Since he's older, I'd probably check on his fertility, but I'd definitely keep him on my short list.

Since you're including LA in your geographical area, you might want to look at Leestown. He's a stallion that I think is under-rated.

Devon Lane
Major Henry
Ide (how tall is he?)
Secret Odds
Rare Brick (fertility?)
Leestown
Zarbeyv
Afternoon Deelites

My short list for our area includes:
Erlton
Touch Tone
Early Flyer
Wildcat Shoes
Storm Day
Silky Sweep
For those of you turf-minded:
Garbu
Special Rate
Worldly Ways
Ile De Jinsky(he may be dead by now?)

I may be wrong but it seems like I either read or heard about Zarbyev being retired of stud duty but that may be wrong but he is getting on up there in age. He has been a very solid & one of the best if not the best La stud over the past 10 years or so.

I am not sure what mares or if you are breeding for sale, to race, or whatever. However, I would absolutely add Tinner's Way to any list. His sire is Secretariat and his dam Devon Diva (The Minstrel). He proved himself at the track, winning over $ 1 million. On top of that, he has proven that he can produce. These are better credentials than most regional sires.

Bedouwia

Foxwood Plantation, LA has Zarbyev's 2006 fee as $3,500. So I would guess he is still at stud.

Don't forget Favorite Trick

Okay Belek and Bayou Hebert were active as of last year, however, Belek is off of Clear Creek's site. Bayou Hebert failed to produce any live foals in 2005, but only covered 3 mares in 2004 and covered 13 last year. Zarbeyev was also active last year with 32 mares bred and his fertility is okay given his advancing age.

Favorite Trick and Tricky Creek were two I overlooked. I think Favorite Trick can be useful regionally if bred to the right kind of mare. Leestown and Devon Lane were two others I overlooked.

Afternoon Deelites is not breeding this year due to a bad reaction to the strangles vaccine, but his fertility wasn't so hot prior to that little mishap.

I like Concern, but his fertility is awful

austique,

I would be interested in knowing what you considered the right kind of mare for Favorite Trick.

gowestyoungman,

I'm not a pedigree expert and having not given him a huge amount of though at this point, here goes. I'd probably go with a Mr. P line (or RAN) or a turf type line and a mare that's physically sturdy (but not massive). I would want a pretty solid female family too, because his foals haven't shown oodles of class (1 graded stakes placed horse in the US out of 353 foals ). He's not the type of sire that's going to make a silk purse out of a sows ear, but he gets them to track at a good clip and for a regional sire his production's pretty good.

I was sad to see Ocean Terrace move to OK. If given a chance I believe he may surprise some people. His Saint Ballado breeding should be a welcome addition to the speed lines in the SW brood mare population.

We also have a yearling from Erlton out of a Crafty Prospector mare (Double Chip). He really looks great. Have no clue if he can run but he sure looks it. Erlton was very precocious so I would look for that in his foals. When you start looking around, there are several nice stallion options in the region.

Besides the obvious, Tinners Way, which a previous poster mentioned, he is producing very well his only knock is not the big horse. His fillies are sought after.

The other stallions that i would be inclinded to use are Sand Ridge, who's first foals have just arrived and i have been told are excellent. He was a sprinter who could carry the speed to 1 1/16. Fastest horse standing in Texas.

Special Rate is the other one. Pulpit- Viviana by Nureyev. He was a stakes winner on the grass, but also won on the dirt and is a half to Tates Creek and Sightseek. Again, spoke to the farm and they have already bred 30 mares to him this year, so if they are the right mares he may get a good chance.

two refernces to tinners way producing......any examples. I am looking at him on paper.