Pedigree Analysis: Mucho to Like

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Frank Stronach has never let a pedigree’s lack of fashion stand in the way of giving a good racehorse a chance at stud. His stallions include grade I winners sired by Spend a Buck, Pleasant Tap, Holy Bull, and E Dubai  , names not usually seen as sires of sires. Nonetheless, Einstein  , Tiago  , Macho Uno  , and Fort Larned   all earned their way into Adena Springs Kentucky’s stallion roster on racing merit, and they are being joined by another top racehorse with an offbeat pedigree: 2013 Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) winner Mucho Macho Man  .

Mucho Macho Man will become the fifth Breeders’ Cup Classic winner on Adena Springs’ Kentucky stallion roster, joining Alphabet Soup   (1996), Awesome Again   (1998), Ghostzapper   (2004), and Fort Larned (2012). Fort Larned (E Dubai—Arlucea, by Broad Brush) stood his first season in 2014, but the other three have been of some interest at stud.

Alphabet Soup (Cozzene—Illiterate, by Arts and Letters) has never been a top sire but has a respectable 47 stakes winners (5.6%) from his 834 foals aged 3 and up. He came back into the public eye last fall when his daughter Egg Drop scored thrilling victories in the Yellow Ribbon Handicap (gr. IIT), Goldikova Stakes (gr. IIT), and Matriarch Stakes (gr. IT). He is also the sire of 2004 UAE highweight older male Our New Recruit, 2003 Canadian champion older male Phantom Light, and grade I winner Alphabet Kisses.

Awesome Again (Deputy Minister–Primal Force, by Blushing Groom) has a pedigree to satisfy almost any critic as he is by a two-time leading sire out of a Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. Not surprisingly, his combination of racing class and bloodlines has translated well to the breeding shed, where he has become Adena Springs’ premier stallion. The 20-year-old has sired 60 stakes winners (6.7% of his 899 foals aged 3 and over) including 2004 Horse of the Year Ghostzapper, 2007 champion older female Ginger Punch, and eight-time grade I winner Game On Dude.

Ghostzapper (Awesome Again—Baby Zip, by Relaunch) did not get off to as quick a start at stud as his half brother, 2000 Hopeful Stakes (gr. I) winner City Zip   (by Carson City). Still, it has been worth the wait. The stallion now has 40 stakes winners (10.9%) from 366 foals aged 3 and older and is represented by eight stakes winners so far this year, including Madison Stakes (gr. I) winner Judy the Beauty.

In regard to pedigree credentials, Mucho Macho Man has more in common with Fort Larned than with the very well-bred Awesome Again and Ghostzapper. His sire, 2000 champion juvenile male .....