Mission – Connect

Connect is a sire I want to really focus on this year. Let’s hope he is a slightly quicker version of his father Curlin. When I look at the Curlin’s in the FT sale, I see some horses I would really like to own. However, the $175,000 stud is not going to permit me to buy one. So at $15, 000 Connect is the alternative. His female family adds some Holy Bull and Raise a Native to the pedigree page.

The world was better place when Vino Rosso won the BC Classic in 2019. He was the ultimate plodder sire/plodder dam (by Street Cry). No doubt that 2020 was the year of sprinter Into Mischief, but 2019 was a year for the plodders. Vinno Rosso is a son of Curlin, out of an unaccomplished Street Cry mare, but the 2nd dam was a solid runner and produced Commissioner .

Connect himself was from an unraced daughter of Holy Bull, but again the 2nd dam was a solid runner and producer.

I was very temped to buy a son of Connect (Vindy City by Vindication now called Derecho Dandy) from West Point. I also passed on a nice Connect that Ironhorse Partners bought. I could still buy a solid Connect that Victory Racing Partners is offering (1% for $1,750).

Instead let’s look for a Connect with a slightly above average work at a training sale.

1. One to dream about is #60 at FT March. The problem is Machmer Hall RNAed this colt for $285,000 as a yearling in September. From a solid runner/producer by Unbridled’s Song, I think this guy might be too expensive.
2. Another that will most likely be two expensive is FT #104. From a unraced daughter of Unbridled’s Song, the problem here is that the 2nd dam produced a horse called Tiz the Law. Maybe no one will notice, but my guess is the price tag will be too high.
3. My favorite at Ocala is #164 (Lane’s End RNA for $95,000 as a yearling. The dam is unraced daughter of Bernardini, but the second dam was a very good runner/producer. Maybe this guy will also be to expensive.
4. Another solid choice is #503. The dam ran in the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Fillies and the 2nd dam was an above average runner/producer. Becky thomas bought this one for $75,000 as a yearling.
5. Maybe the more realistic buy will be #524. The dam is a unraced daughter of Paynter (a son of Awesome Again). Remember it was Curlin and an Awesome Again mare that produced Keen Ice. Not sold as a yearling.
6. Another that might be in my price range is #404. The dam was unaccomplished, but the second dam was by the great Pleasant Colony. Sold for $35,000 as a yearling.
7. Even the well bred #25 is worth thinking about. The third dam was 24 for 31 lifetime and won the BC Sprint in 1990.
8. There might be more to wait for at Ocala – April