Northern Dancer Herd

At Chester, England, on May 11, 2007, 3YO colts and geldings faced the starter for a purse of over $125,000 in the Aktiv Kapital UK Ltd Dee Stakes, GR-111, at about 1 and 1/4 miles on turf. The winner, Admiralofthefleet, carrying 129 lb was a brown colt by Danehill from Rafina, by Mr. Prospector. Rafina could only place in 4 starts in France at 2YO and 3YO, but what a family she comes from. A brown filly of 1994, she is a daughter of Windfields bred Coup de Folie, a GR-111 SW, GR-1 placed winner, and a daughter of Halo from Raise the Standard, by Hoist the Flag from Northern Dancer's dam, Natalma, by Native Dancer.

Coup de Folie was a 1983 $825,000 Keeneland July yearling purchase. Listing her progeny by Mr. Prospector, Coup de Folie's first foal was Machiavellian, a brown colt, 1987, a champion 2YO colt in France, a GR-1 SW who became a very good sire, notably recently of major GR-1 SW, Street Cry, emerging sire in his own right of 2007 Kentucky Derby winner, Street Sense, from his first crop. In 1991, the combination of Mr. Prospector and Coup de Folie resulted in Coup de Genie, champion 2YO filly in France, and major producer. She has foaled Snake Mountain, GR-111 SW, Loving Kindness, GR-111 SW, Denebola, GR-1 SW and SW Glia. She is also granddam of Bago, GR-1 SW of the Arc among other races.

In 1994 came Rafina, Admiralofthefleet's dam. In 1996 came Houdini's Honey, a chestnut filly who managed only 1 win from 5 starts in England over 2 years. Fortunes rose again in 1997 with Ocean of Wisdom, a bay colt, GR-111 SW from this combination.

It is interesting to note that Rafina traces back to Natalma through the latter's daughter, Raise the Standard, by Hoist the Flag. Admiralofthefleet's sire, Danehill, traces back to Natalma through her son, Northern Dancer, by Nearctic, grandsire of Danehill, and through her daughter, Spring Adieu, by Buckpasser, granddam of Danehill in his female line. Admiralofthefleet could be a major stallion. Let's see if he can perform well in the Epsom Derby.

Sharp Dance continues our survey of 1991 grade/group one winners. Among her performances at that level was a win in the Beldame Stakes, GR-1, a second in the Ruffian Stakes GR-1, and thirds in the Spinster Stakes GR-1 and the Top Flight GR-1 for career earnings of almost $500,000. Her sire was well bred but unraced. Dancing Czar, 1982, a bay horse, was a son of Taylor bred Nijinsky 11 from Mrs. Warren, 1974, by Hail to Reason from Easy Virtue by Native Dancer. Dancing Czar was an example of a Nijinsky 11 stallion siring one big horse in his career, much like Sportin Life and his son, Bet Twice, the excellent Triple Crown runner. Sharp Dance's dam was Sharp Nurse, 1971, a daughter of the obscure Needles stallion, Piercer, from Special Nurse, by the also obscure stallion, New Moon, a son of Discovery. Dancing Czar's numbers are excellent from limited opportunity: 4 crops, 29 foals, 27 runners (93%), 24 winners (83%), 11 2YO winners (38%) and 3 SW (10%), an AEI of 1.88 and a CI of 0.97. In spite of this, his 2 sales yearlings averaged only $2,300.

Suave Dancer was the topweight 3YO colt at 9 and ½ to 10 and ½ furlongs on the International Handicap. His triumphs in the French Derby GR-1 and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe GR-1, added to the status of his female family which traces back to the excellent mare, Little Hut, dam of good sire and runner Habitat, and also producer of Northfields, a SW son of Northern Dancer, found often in the top broodmare sire rankings. Suave Dancer also won the Meadow Meats Irish Champion Stakes, GR-1 and was second in the Budweiser Irish Derby GR-1 and the Prix Lupin GR-1. He was a $45,000 Keeneland fall yearling purchase. Suave Dancer's sire, Green Dancer, was a SW from the first crop of Nijinsky 11, and was no one shot deal as a stallion.

Twafeaj, a 2YO filly of 1991, was the image of her grandsire, Northern Dancer, with a bay coat, a blaze, two white hinds and a left white fore. She won the Moyglare Stud Stakes GR-1 in Ireland and ran second in the Princess Margaret Stakes GR-111 in England. Twafeaj was sired by the royally bred and good sire, SW Topsider, by Northern Dancer from champion turf performer, Drumtop, by Round Table from Zonah, by Nasrullah. Twafeaj's dam, Billy Sue's Rib, a grey mare, 1980 and a multiple SW in the USA, was sired by Al Hattab from Romeo's Coquette, by Gallant Romeo. Romeo's Coquette was a half sister to the dam of champion sprinter, My Juliet.

Scan, 1988, after placing in 4 stakes in the first part of 1991, captured the Jerome GR-1 and Pegasus GR-1 Handicaps in September, setting a track record in the latter race. He later finished second in the Meadowlands Cup GR-1. Scan's dam, the winning mare Video, by Windfields bred Nijinsky 11 from Foreseer, by Round Table from Regal Gleam, by Hail to Reason, was a full sister to major winners Caerleon and Vision, and to group winner Merce Cunningham. France's champion 3YO colt in 1983, Caerleon, a bay colt, was England and Ireland's leading sire in 1991. Vision, 1981, a bay colt captured the Secretariat Stakes GR-1T and was second in the Brooklyn H GR-1. He was sent to Ireland in 1984. Merce Cunningham, 1984, a bay colt was a GR-11 SW in France among his stakes exploits and was sent to Argentina in 1989. There was another full sibling to this Nijinsky 11 group, the unraced Prance, 1985, a bay filly. Scan ended up in Japan for stud duties. His sire was the mighty Mr. Prospector.

Seattle Rhyme was no match for Arazi in the Grand Criterium GR-1 in which he finished third. However, he won like the favorite he was in the Racing Post Trophy GR-1, winning by 3 and ½ lengths. Seattle Rhyme had been a $55,000 Keeneland September yearling. His sire, GR-11 SW Seattle Dancer, 1984, by Nijinsky 11 from My Charmer by Poker was a half brother to Seattle Slew and Lomond, and had set a record yearling price at his sale in 1985. Sons of Nijinsky 11 have not established a dynasty at stud that looks like it will be lasting. There have been many single accomplishments, but as far as begetting sons and sons of sons, the stamina that Northern Dancer and Mr. Prospector have shown is just not there. But Royal Academy, a son of Nijinsky 11, has been up to something this year, and, as A.P. Indy has shown, it only takes one strong source to make things blossom. A.P. Indy single-handedly is maintaining and growing the Bold Ruler line.

I can be critical of the Nijinsky 11 line, yet at the same time turn to his son, Shadeed, winner of the 1985 2000 Guineas who gave us the wonderful 1991 performer, Shadayid, a grey filly who won the General Accident 1000 Guineas GR-1 and the Prix Marcel Boussac GR-1, and who ran second in the Coronation Stakes GR-1 and the Sussex Stakes GR-1, and who ran third in the Gold Seal Oaks GR-1, the Ladbroke Sprint Cup GR-1 and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes GR-1. Her career saw 11 starts, 5 wins, 2 seconds and 3 thirds and over $740,000 in earnings. That's with 7 wins or placings in GR-1 stakes. Her dam, Desirable, an Irish bred grey mare, by Lord Gayle from Balidaress, was a GR-1 SW and GR-1 placed herself. Shadayid had been the European champion filly as a 2YO. Sixteen years after this success it is not evident where Shadeed has ended up as a bountiful pedigree influence, except to say he has not.

Silent Pleasure, whom we saw before as a $2,700 yearling purchase with a crooked left foreleg, has won 4 stakes in 2 months, the most recent being his first graded stakes victory in the $300,000 Texas Mile GR-111, April 28, 2007 at Lone Star Park. With his sixth victory in 15 starts, he pushed his earnings to over $395,000. Silent Pleasure is a brown colt, 4YO, by Kentucky Derby winner, Real Quiet, from Wholelotapleasure, by the Windfields bred Vice Regent, a successful sire son of Northern Dancer. Silent Pleasure won this race by a neck over GR-1 SW Bob and John.

Ascertain, a chestnut gelding, 6YO, by Intikhab from Self Assured, by Ahonoora, won the $200,000 Fifth Third Elkhorn Stakes GR-111T at Keeneland on April 27, 2007 for 4YO and up at 12 furlongs. Intikhab, 1994, is part of the family of the champion European 2YO filly of 1991, Culture Vulture, whom we recently looked at. Culture Vulture's second dam, Bold Example, was the granddam of Zilzal, an English 3YO champion by Nureyev, and of Polish Precedent, a French champion 3YO. Polish Precedent was out of Bold Example's daughter, Past Example, by Buckpasser. Zienelle, 1983, an unraced full sister, by Danzig, to Polish Precedent was dam of Crafty Example, 1987, by Crafty Prospector, who became the dam of Intikhab. His sire was Red Ransom, by Roberto, who traces back to Windfields bred Christmas Wind, a daughter of Nearctic, whom we saw before. Intikhab was champion older male in England with 8 career wins from 14 starts. Ascertain has now won over $370,000 with this his first stakes win.

Duveen, whom we saw take the March 24, 2007 Palm Beach Stakes GR-111T for his first stakes win, has now taken the Crown Royal American Turf Stakes GR-111T at Churchill Downs on May 4, 2007, pushing his earnings to over $200,000. A brown 3YO son of Horse Chestnut, he was out of Casanova Storm, by Storm Cat from Casanova Junction, by Pleasant Colony from Intentional Move, by Tentam from Lunar Dancer, by Northern Dancer.

There is a new successful member of the Intentional Move/Lunar Dancer family. Rated Fiesty, a 2YO grey filly by the young Danzig stallion, GR-11 SW Exchange Rate, won the $100,000 Kentucky Breeders Cup Stakes GR-111, May 3, 2007, at Churchill Downs at 5 furlongs by 4 and ½ lengths in the mud over colts. Rated Fiesty is the first foal of her SW dam, Fiesty Countess, 1997, a multiple stakes winning (including GR-111) and placing daughter of Count the Time. Fiesty Countess, a $5,200 2YO sale purchase, won over $380,000 with 9 wins from 23 starts. She is a daughter of Poqito Polly, 1993, an unraced daughter of Ogygian from Intentional Move, by Tentam from Lunar Dancer. This is the Duveen family. The family is on the move.

Carnivalay, 1981, a royally bred son of Northern Dancer from the Cyane mare, Obeah, with a big white patch of a blaze, sired Mixed Up, an 8YO bay gelding who won the $150,000 Royal Chase for the Sport of Kings Hurdle Stakes (NSA-1) on April 20, 2007 at Keeneland for 4YO and up at about 20 furlongs. Oh Nonsense, dam of Mixed Up, was by Oh Say from Ba Bish, by King's Bishop. Last year, Mixed Up won the New York Turf Writers Cup Steeplechase H (NSA-1). To 2007, Mixed Up has won over $485,000 with 6 stakes wins and 5 stakes placings in hurdle stakes.

Carnivalay won one race from 4 starts. He died of a heart attack this past winter after having been retired from stud. From 17 crops, he sired 593 foals, 492 runners (83%), 396 winners (67%) and 38 SW (6%) with an AEI of 1.42 and a CI of 1.39. It seems that if you wanted a runner sound enough to race and be a winner, Carnivalay was the guy to see. His SW include Valay Maid (GR-11), Radu Cool (GR-11) and Aggadan (GR-111, over $860,000 in earnings).

On April 1, 1972, Obeah produced Black Powder, a bay gelding by Northern Dancer who was stakes placed at 2YO and a SW at 3YO. He ended up with 8 wins and over $70,000 in earnings. In 1973 came the talented Dance Spell, from the same breeding combination. Like many Northern Dancers, Dance Spell had a blaze, and a reputation for being a bit of a rogue at the track. He won or placed in 20 of 25 starts, earning over $325,000, with wins in the Saranac, Jerome and Jamaica Mile, placings in the Champagne, Remsen, Rockaway, Jim Dandy and Woodward, and shows in the Laurel Futurity, Dwyer and Travers Stakes. At stud in Kentucky, Dance Spell was spooked by a flock of birds, suffered a severe injury and was put down on June 4, 1979. From 67 foals, he sired 6 SW with an AEI of 2.04. He will live on through his daughter, Broom Dance, 1979, dam of End Sweep, by Forty Niner, a SW and productive siire who has spent time in Japan. End Sweep's son, Trippi, a GR-1 SW has had a good start at stud. A son of Jealous Appeal, by Valid Appeal, Trippi's second year by racing year at stud produced over $2.5 million in earnings.

Obeah produced one more Northern Dancer foal, Discorama, 1978, a bay filly who was a good runner, becoming a GR-11 SW. But Obeah will always be known as the dam of ill-fated champion, Go for Wand, a daughter of Northern Dancer's grandson, champion Deputy Minister. Go for Wand, 1987, was a champion 2YO and 3YO filly who came to a dismal end on Breeders Cup day, 1990. They run their hearts out for us, and a twist of fate, a twist of a leg, can make things go wrong at any moment.

Possessive Dancer, unbeaten in her first 5 races, had been bred by a jockey, Walter Swinburn. She raced in the name of her breeder's mother until she was sold shortly before winning the Italian Oaks GR-1, 1991, under Swinburn. Steve Cauthen then took over as jockey and guided Possessive Dancer to a half length victory over favorite Jet Ski Lady in the third fastest Irish Oaks GR-1 in history. In that race, Possessive Dancer won over the same course and at the same distance that her sire, Windfields bred Shareef Dancer, a son of Northern Dancer, had his greatest triumph, in the 1983 Irish Derby GR-1. That victory led to a record sire syndication price for Shareef Dancer. He never quite lived up to the hype in the sire department, although after his first 5 crops, by 1991 he had sired 21 SW (11% ) from 186 foals which is a good percentage.

Priolo, 1987, a bay colt by the stakes placed Northern Dancer stallion, Sovereign Dancer, was one of his sire's best. Among his group/grade one performances as 3YO champion and older male champion in France, Priolo won the Emirates Prix du Moulin de Longchamp, the Prix Jean Prat and the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-Le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois. He ran second in the GR-1 Grand Prix de Paris Louis Vuitton and the Prix d'Ispahan, and ran third in the Breeders Cup Mile, the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp and the Sussex Stakes. All of these were group or grade one. Priolo, a compact colt, had a star and half a blaze on his face. His sire Sovereign Dancer's dam was Bold Princess, 1960, a daughter of Bold Ruler from the amazing Grey Flight, by Mahmoud, a dam of 9 SW from 15 foals. Priolo's great granddam, Pleasant Flight, 1969, was also a daughter of Bold Ruler from Grey Flight.

Rodrigo de Triano, 1989, was a chestnut colt by Windfields bred GR-1 SW El Gran Senor, a Northern Dancer stallion. The dam here was Hot Princess, by Hot Spark from Aspara, by Crimson Satan. He was owned by Robert Sangster and was undefeated in 5 starts as a 2YO in 1991. El Gran Senor, a champion runner, had fertility problems. After 4 crops, 98 foals, 74 runners, 49 winners, he had out 14 SW (14%), an AEI of 3.60 and a CI of 3.60. Quality, not quantity, here. Rodrigo de Triano's GR-1 win was in the Newgate Stud Middle Park Stakes in England. With a small star on his forehead, Rodrigo de Triano was second only to Arazi on International Classifications as a 2YO of 1991. A Kentucky bred, he would have a good 3YO season coming up, which we shall detail in time.

Opening Verse, 1986, had set a course record while defeating 1990 turf champion, Itsallgreektome, in the 1991 Early Times Turf Classic GR-111T at Churchill Downs. Opening Verse did not win in 5 further races before taking the Breeders Cup Mile GR-1T at the Louisville track. He finished second in Eclipse Award balloting for older turf male. He was one of his sire, Windfields bred The Minstrel's best runners, earning over $1.6 million with 10 wins, 7 seconds and 2 thirds in 30 races. His dam, Shy Dawn, 1971, by Grey Dawn from Shy Dancer, by Bolero, was a tried and true GR-111 performer with 95 starts, 19 wins (8 stakes) and over $500,000 in earnings. Shy Dancer, granddam of Opening Verse, was a stakes placed winning roan mare who produced 16 runners from 16 foals with 14 winners and 4 SW. The wealthiest of these was her daughter, SW Petite Rouge, 1961, a pretty roan daughter of Ballydam. Petite Rouge was a personal favorite of mine as a youngster because of her color and her performances, with 12 wins from 76 starts. She produced Princess Arjumand, a GR-111 SW in France. Then there was Petite Rouge's half brother, Champagne Charlie, 1970, by Northern Dancer, a dual GR-111 SW who chased the great Secretariat home in second place in the Gotham Stakes which Big Red won in track record equaling time. Champagne Charlie was sent to Japan in 1978.

Champagne Charlie had a full sister, Wedel, from Northern Dancer's second crop, first named Weidel, a chestnut who won 4 races in France after being unplaced 7 times as a 2YO in the USA. Shy Dancer's other SW was Lady Dulcinea, 1963, a roan filly by Nantallah. She became the dam of GR-1 SW Heavenly Cause, GR-11 SW Quixotic Lady and SW Jacques Who. Shy Dancer was a daughter of Shy Bim, who was by the mighty Bimelech from Bashful, by Man O' War from Mock Modesty. Solid stakes horses in this family were the norm.

Passing Sale, unplaced in 3 starts as a 2YO racing in France during 1989, had been a multiple SW in each of the last 2 years. In 1991, the French bred colt achieved success both in France and in Italy where he won the Gran Premio del Jockey Club e Coppa d'Ora GR-1. He ran second in the Prix Ganay GR-1, and third in the Grand Prix de Saint Cloud GR-1, among other stakes wins and placings. Passing Sale had earned over $1 million. He was by the SW No Pass No Sale, 1982, an interesting stallion for his promising stud career, which, by 1991, showed 2 crops, 63 foals, 59 runners (94%), 41 winners (65%), 21 2YO winners (33%) and 6 SW (10%) with 2.18 AEI and 1.57 CI. No Pass No Sale was by the Northern Dancer stallion, SW Northfields, who would land in South Africa. Passing Sale was out of unraced Reachout and Touch, 1980, by Youth from the grey SW Everything Nice, by Sovereign Path.

Distaffer Magic Night, a group one winner in France in 1991, ran competitively against top male horses. The 3YO filly finished second to Golden Pheasant in the Japan Cup GR-1 at Tokyo Racecourse. In her native France, she won 2 group races, including the Prix Vermeille GR-1, and she finished second in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe GR-1 and the Prix de Diane Hermes GR-1. For her efforts Magic Night completed her 3YO campaign with career earnings of over $1.3 million. She was a daughter of the relatively obscure stallion, Le Nain Jaune, 1979, a chestnut son of GR-1 SW Pharly, 1974, a useful chestnut stallion son (with 34 SW as of 1991) of the excellent Northern Dancer stallion, Lyphard. Magic Night was out of Pin Up Babe, 1972, a bay daughter of SW Prominer from Mini Skirt, by Kythnos.

Marling, 1989, a bay filly by Lomond from multiple GR-1 SW Marwell, 1978, a bay mare by Habitat from SW Lady Seymour, by Tudor Melody, won the Tattersalls Cheveley Park Stakes GR-1 in England and two other stakes to be undefeated in 4 races as a 2YO in 1991. She was assigned topweight on the International Handicap published jointly by the Jockey Clubs of England, Ireland, France, Germany and Italy. Her sire, Lomond, 1980, won the 2000 Guineas in 1983, another classic winner for his sire, Northern Dancer. Lomond was a half brother to the magnificent Seattle Slew, and to the high priced GR-11 SW, Seattle Dancer, a son of Nijinsky 11. Marling's older half brother, Caerwent, 1985, by Caerleon, won the G.P.A. National Stakes GR-1, and ran second in the Ciga Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp GR-1 and the Airlie/Coolmore Irish 2000 Guineas GR-1. He also was third in the St. James Palace Stakes GR-1 and the Vernons Sprint Cup GR-1.

Mystiko, 1988, a striking looking roan colt with a big stripe and 4 white feet, won the General Accident 2000 Guineas in England in 1991. That victory was easily the highpoint of his career. He had cost $150,000 as a Keeneland summer yearling. He was a son of Windfields bred Secreto, winner of the 1984 Epsom Derby, who was a son of Northern Dancer from a Secretariat mare. Mystiko was out of Caracciola, 1978, a grey daughter of SW Zeddaan from Cendres Bleues, 1968, an Italian group SW who was the dam of 2 group SW, Pasakos, 1985, a colt by Nureyev, and Calderina, 1975, a bay filly from the second crop of Lyphard. Secreto, Mystikos sire, had sired 11 SW from 4 crops, for an AEI of 1.83 and a C.I. of 3.19. He would not make a lasting impression as a stallion much beyond his classic winning son here.

Curlin, March 25, 2004, recovered from a stumble at the start and wore down Street Sense at the wire to take the 2007 Preakness Stakes GR-1. He is a son of the Samson Farm Canadian bred SW, Smart Strike, a Mr. Prospector half brother to the wonderful Samson Farm bred champion, Dance Smartly. Curlin is out of Sherriff's Deputy, 1994, an unraced daughter of champion Deputy Minister, who is by the Windfields bred Northern Dancer stallion, Vice Regent. Smart Strike has done well with Northern Dancer line mares. Let's take a look.

His son Soaring Free, 1999, was out of a Danzig mare. Soaring Free was Canada's Horse of the Year, champion turf male and sprinter, and a winner of over $2.1 million. His daughter, Eye of the Sphynx, 2001, champion 3YO filly in Canada, was out of a Vice Regent mare. His son, Portcullis, 1999, a champion turf male in Canada, was from a Gate Dancer mare, Gate Dancer being a son of the Dancer stallion, Sovereign Dancer. Gold Strike, 2002, Smart Strike's champion 3YO filly in Canada, was from a Dixieland Brass mare, Dixieland Brass being a son of the Dancer stallion, Dixieland Band. Dr. Arbatach, 1999, champion sprinter and older male in Puerto Rico, was from a Nureyev mare. English Channel, 2002, a multiple GR-1 SW on turf, winner of over $2.6 million, was from a Theatrical mare, Theatrical being a son of Nureyev.

Smart Strike's son, Fleetstreet Dancer, 1993, winner of $1.7 million including the Japan Cup Dirt GR-1, was from a Nijinsky 11 mare. His daughter, Shadow Cast, 2001, a GR-1 SW was from a Dayjur mare, Dayjur being by Danzig. His son, Tenpins, a colt, winner of over $1.1 million was from a Deputy Minister mare, foreshadowing Curlin's pedigree. His son, Shoal Water, 2000, a gelding was from a Pleasant Colony mare, who is from a Danzig mare. He was a Canadian graded SW of over $800,000. His son, Tungsten Strike, 2001, was a GR-11 SW in England and was from a Generous mare, Generous being a son of the Nijinsky 11 stallion, Caerleon.

His daughter, Bel Air Beauty, 2004, was a GR-11 SW from a Boundary mare, Boundary being a son of Danzig. His son, High Strike Zone, 2000, a gelding, was a GR-SW of over $500,000, from a Danzig mare. His daughter, Smart n Classy, a graded SWT, was from a Regal Classic mare, Regal Classic being a son of Vice Regent. His son, Fly Smartly, 1998, a gelding from a Grey Dawn 11 mare from a Vice Regent mare, was a Canadian GR-111T SW. His son, Until Sundown, 1998, a colt from a Northern Baby mare, Northern Baby being a son of the Dancer, was a GR-111 SW. His daughter, Midnight Cry, 2000, a filly from a Sovereign Dancer mare was a GR-111 SW. His daughter, Saranac Lake, 1999, a filly from a Kings Lake (who is by Nijinky 11) mare, was an Irish GR-111 SW. His son, Deputy Strike, 1998, was a SW gelding from a Deputy Minister mare. Caught Out, 1998, a SW daughter was from a Nijinsky 11 mare. His daughter, Strike Softly, 2003, a filly from a Wild Again mare, from a Vice Regent mare, was a Canadian SW. Don't Strike Out 2000 was a SW gelding from a Regal Classic mare. Finally, Noble Strike, 1998, was a filly from a Green Dancer mare, Green Dancer being a son of Nijinsky 11, and she was a Canadian SW.

The list is overwhelming and impressive, and the formula well established, Mr. Prospector on Northern Dancer. Perhaps with Curlin showing signs of being a possible champion, Smart Strike will get the recognition he has earned.

Although Kostroma's biggest 1991 win came in the Yellow Ribbon Stakes GR-1T she had the racing world buzzing with her performance in the Las Palmas H GR-111T. Kostroma won the 9 furlong race at Santa Anita in world record time of 1:43 and 4/5 after running the first mile in 1:31 and 3/5 (a fractional time which would have eclipsed the world record for that distance). Irish bred Kostroma, 1986, a brown mare by Caerleon from Katie May, by Busted from Cawston's Pride, by Con Brio won the Yellow Ribbon From Flawlessly in her next race, with 1991 European champion Fire the Groom third. Kostroma's second dam, Cawston's Pride, produced 1978 English champion sprinter Solinus, who won 8 of 10 starts. Caerleon, sire of Kostroma, was one of Windfields Farm bred stallion, Nijinsky 11's two best sons at stud, the other being Royal Academy. Caerleon had a great year in 1991, with Epsom Derby/Irish Sweeps Derby winner Generous, and Caerlina, winner of the French Oaks among his offspring.

Lomitas, a German bred, 1988, was a chestnut colt by Niniski from La Colorada, by Surumu. At 2YO Lomitas won both his starts and was a SW. As a 3YO Lomitas won 5 of 6, including 3 German GR-1's and ran second in the German Derby GR-1. His sire, Niniski, 1976, was a bay by Nijinsky 11 from Virginia Hills, by Tom Rolfe and was a GR-1 SW. Niniski raced 3 years in England, Ireland and France, with 6 wins from 14 starts and over $300,000 in earnings. Lomitas's earnings stood at over $775,000 at the end of 1991.

Gils Magic, 1983, a brown mare by the Windfields bred Northern Dancer stallion, SW Magesterial, had all her first 3 foals turn into SW. She herself was unplaced from 1 start at the track. Gils Magic was out of Display Copy, by Iron Ruler. Her first foal, Magical Ride, 1987, was a brown colt by J.O.Tobin who became a GR-11 SW and set a NTR. Her second, Magic Sister, 1988, was by Mr. Redoy and also won added money. Her third, Magical Maiden, 1989, was a brown filly by Lord Avie who won the Hollywood Starlet, GR-1 in 1991. Gils Magic's fourth foal, 1990, was a chestnut filly by Miswaki who would be called Magical Flash. She was a winner and has foaled herself 3 SW from 10 foals, 9 winners. She also produced 2 other stakes placed winners. The stakes winners were Bright Magic, 1996, a bay filly by Prized, Hot War, 1999, a bay colt by In Excess, and Take the Ribbon, 2003, a bay filly by Chester House, a well bred GR-1SW by Mr. Prospector who died young. As a 3YO in 2006 Take the Ribbon was a SW and ran second in the Garden City Breeders Cup S GR-1T. As a 4YO, on the undercard of the Kentucky Derby, May 5, 2007, Take the Ribbon won the $150,000 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S GR-111T.

Getting back to Magical Maiden, she would go on to win over $900,000 with an additional GR-1 win in the Las Virgenes, a second place in the Santa Anita Oaks GR-1 and a third in the Breeders Cup Distaff GR-1, among many stakes placings. She would produce GR-1 SW Miss Houdini, a daughter of the Danzig stallion, Belong to Me, a foal of 2000. Magic Sister, Magical Maiden's half sister would become the dam of SW Lady Grace and stakes placed Don't Holler. Gils Magic, the foundation mare in question, would end up, as of 2007, with 14 foals, 11 runners, 10 winners and the originally described 3 SW. Take the Ribbon's dam, Magical Flash, was well represented in Derby week, 2007.Her 3YO Tiznow filly, Inside Passage, broke her maiden several races before Take the Ribbon's victory and her 2YO Forest Camp colt, named Zakouma, broke his maiden May 2, 2007.