The Next Five

My next 5 top rated sires are:

1. Tonalist
2. Air Force Blue
3. Blame
4. Gormley
5. Noble Mission

Why do I like Tonalist so much

1. Tonalist is my favorite of the Belmont winning “plodders”. The stud fee is only $15,000
2. The female family is by Pleasant Colony, my favorite distance influence
3. Tonalist ran a 100+ Beyer in the Met Mile, so he has some speed

Why do I like Air Force Blue so much:

1. Here I am listening to a story told by bloodstock agent Randy Bradshaw on the the Steve Byk radio podcast. Bradshaw was the guy who picked out Nadal. He really liked what he saw in the physical appearance of the AFB’s last year. That was reflected in the prices, but with a stud fee of only $15,000 you can afford to pay up.
2. I like what Maria’s Mon contributes on the dam side of the pedigree
3. I liked what I saw from some of the horses I saw at the training sales, but AFB does not have a star 2-year old yet
4. Maybe this is too much of a “feel” pick, but I will allow myself one

Why do I like Blame so much:

1. I found Blame while trying to find something at Timonium. His horses develop late, so the pinhookers stay away
2. Nadal is the model, he was only a $65,000 yearling
3. Obviously as a BC Classic winner he will get distance runners
4. This is Blame’s eighth crop. Sometimes folks just get bored with certain sires. The fee is a pricey $35,000.
5. There are no sons of Blame at stud, maybe I can find one

Why do I like Gormley so much:

1. Gormley is a very inexpensive son of Malibu Moon, grandson of AP Indy, with a stud fee of only $7,500
2. The second dam is by Kingmambo, and the third dam is by Strawberry Road, so there is a stamina element to the pedigree.
3. Gormley only ran in California, so the Kentucky folks are biased against him.
4. I want to try one bargain basement sire. If I owned a cheaper mare, this might be my choice for daddy.
5. This is a slight attempt to get some speed/precocity into my selections

Why do I like Noble Mission so much:

1. How can you go wrong with full brother to Frankel
2. Code of Honor is the only standout so far, but is a great model as he was only a $70,000 yearling.
3. I hope that this crop of mares will produce some better results
4. I have to try one Euro-pedigree, and this is the best available