BREEDING ANNE PETERS [email protected] Pedigree Analysis Dunkirk Picks Up Unbridled’s Song’s Torch s the calendar flips over to it (Banshee Breeze), and Quiet Aa new year, it’s always edu- American did well with it (Real cational to look at the top fresh- Quiet). Unbridled’s Song sired man sires—those with their first four grade I winners with In Real- crop of 2-year-olds—and see how ity in their dams (Political Force, this crop is unfolding. To date Splendid Blended, Unrivaled the leader is Dunkirk, by a mar- Belle, and Unbridled Elaine). gin of almost $400,000 ahead of Dunkirk’s other graded stakes Pioneerof the Nile. Colonel John, winner, Dunkin Bend, is out of a Diabolical, and Kodiak Kowboy mare by Vindication, which makes round out the top five. him inbred 4x3 to Seattle Slew, the Dunkirk has 14 juvenile win- sire of both A.P. Indy and Vindi- ASUNCION PINEYRUA ners, tied with other freshmen Di- cation. This inbreeding to Seattle Dunkirk abolical and Kodiak Kowboy, but Slew along the “inside” of a pedi- Dunkirk’s winners include a pair gree, through broodmare sires, is a tional, a more accomplished offspring of Unbridled’s of graded stakes winners, Havana successful pattern and has worked Song, topped this sire class when he entered stud the and Dunkin Bend. Havana won well with other stallions carrying same year at a fee of $25,000. Another, the grade II the Foxwoods Champagne Stakes Seattle Slew in their dam’s sire in- winner Old Fashioned, retired that season and stood (gr. I) at Belmont and was second cluding Tiznow, Stormy Atlantic, for $12,500. in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. and the late Dixie Union. At that point Unbridled’s Song was in limbo as a I) behind New Year’s Day at Santa Dunkirk’s position as a top ju- sire of sires. Songandaprayer was doing well and Even Anita Park, making him a serious venile sire is a little surprising in the Score had some good ones, but Buddha and Eu- Eclipse Award contender. Dunkin one regard as he was unraced at rosilver had flopped and there were more unproven Bend won the Sapling Stakes (gr. 2, but his sire, Unbridled’s Song, ones with foals in the pipeline, including Rockport III) at Monmouth. Dunkirk also is a potent source for early speed. Harbor, Political Force, and First Defence. has the stakes-placed runners In an interesting twist, Dunkirk In time, Rockport Harbor disappointed in Ken- Conniption Fit, Blacksilkstock- was one of the best colts of his tucky and moved to Pennsylvania where he died in ings, Silver Screen Lady, and Bad crop without winning a single 2013, only to have his 2011 crop pop up with four River Belle. stakes. A brilliant winner of his stakes winners including Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fil- Dunkirk is yet another good one first two races at 3 at Gulfstream, lies (gr. I) winner Ria Antonia. Political Force never by Unbridled’s Song, and his dam he was second to Quality Road in fired and went to Saudi Arabia in 2012. First Defence is the 2000 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) the Florida Derby (gr. I), but was has a pair of good ones from his first crop including winner Secret Status by A.P. Indy unplaced in Mine That Bird’s Ken- the grade I-winning filly Close Hatches and English (by Seattle Slew), so he’s bred on a tucky Derby Presented by Yum! group III winner Dundonnell. similar cross as Midshipman (dam Brands (gr. I). He rebounded to The three Unbridled’s Songs who retired in Ken- by Avenue of Flags, by Seattle run second in the Belmont Stakes tucky in 2010, Zensational, Old Fashioned, and Slew) and First Defence (dam by (gr. I) behind Summer Bird, beat- Dunkirk, all have first-crop stakes winners, so per- Seattle Slew). A well-made horse ing Mine That Bird for the place. haps the page has turned for Unbridled’s Song as a at 16.1 hands, Dunkirk is not as After the Belmont, Dunkirk sire of sires. tall as many of his sire’s progeny, underwent surgery for a condy- This is good news for breeders who have also which should be to his advantage, lar fracture in his left hind and gambled on champion 2-year-old Midshipman, who and having started out at $10,000, was retired to stud at Ashford for entered stud in 2011, and Graydar, retiring for 2014, he’s been bred to mares from di- 2010, ending his career of just five not to mention Eclipse Award contender Will Take verse genetic backgrounds. starts with two wins. At this point Charge. These are all top-class sons of Unbridled’s Havana is out of a mare by Kyle’s he might have been written off as Song whose stallion stocks should be rising as a result Our Man, whose sire In Reality just another fast but fragile Un- of the freshman sire success of Dunkirk and his kin. B has been a grade I cross with this bridled’s Song who retired prema- male line for generations. Fappi- turely, and there were more than For additional breeding news and analysis, ano did well with it (Serape, Un- a few of those so he was priced at sign up for our weekly Pedigree Newsletter at bridled), Unbridled did well with a conservative $10,000. Zensa- BloodHorse.com/Enewsletters 26 / BloodHorse.com / JANUARY 4, 2014 Copyright©2014, The Blood-Horse. Reprinted with permission of copyright owner. Breeding_Jan4.indd 26 12/26/13 9:33 AM BLACK YELLOWMAGENTACYAN BH1-26.pgs 12.26.2013 09:34 TheBloodHorse .