Breeders' Cup By The Numbers

Daily Racing Form Publisher Steven Crist recently wrote an excellent post for his blog profiling the Thoroughbreds who have sired the most Breeders’ Cup winners since its inception in 1984.

That’s the kind of reporting that I really appreciate.

For several years now, I have been keeping similar statistics for my own records and I have found them to be valuable in keeping up with historical trends as well as potential handicapping angles.

In order to put the Breeders’ Cup statistics into perspective, an overview of American horseracing is necessary. I don’t, yet, have the exact numbers but a vast majority of thoroughbred champions in the last half of the 20th Century trace back to the sire line of Darley Arabian through his descendents Whalebone, Stockwell, Phalaris, Native Dancer and Nearco.

Modern-day horseracing as we know it would not exist if it was not for Phalaris and his three sons – Sickle, Pharos and Pharamond II. Born in 1913, Phalaris was a champion sprinter in 1917 and 1918 with a career-record 16-2-1 in 24 starts. However, Phalaris' greatest contribution to horse racing was as a sire and he was selected by Timeform as the sire of the 20th Century.

The greatest impact Phalaris and his sire line have had on horseracing has been by his great-great grandson Native Dancer and grandson Nearco.

Native Dancer, an outstanding champion, 21-1-0 in 22 starts, was sired by Polynesian out of the line of Sickle and that line produced Mr. Prospector which is one of the leading sire lines in the industry today.

Nearco, a champion racehorse, undefeated in 14 starts, was sired by Pharos and the line of Nearco has given us most of our modern-day thoroughbred champions. Nearco's greatest contribution comes from his two sons, Nasrullah and Royal Charger, and his two grandsons, Northern Dancer and Bold Ruler.

There are five sire lines descended from Phalaris that have had a major impact on the Breeders' Cup races. Those sire lines are: Mr. Prospector who is a descendent of the Native Dancer line; Nasrullah, Royal Charger, Northern Dancer and Bold Ruler who are descendents of the Nearco sire line.

Since 1984, a total of 194 Breeders Cup races have been run and 160 (82%) of them have been won by horses out of the sire line of Phalaris and his descendents. Of those 194 Breeders’ Cup races, 117 (60%) of them have been won by horses out of the sire line of Phalaris’ grandson Nearco and his descendents: 58 winners are out of the line of Nearco's grandson Northern Dancer; 40 winners are out of the line of his son Nasrullah and 18 of those are out of the line of Nasrullah’s son Bold Ruler; 15 winners are out of the line of Nearco's son Royal Charger and 10 of those winners are out of the sire line of Royal Charger’s grandson Hail To Reason; four winners are out of the line of Nearco’s son Nearctic.

The Mr. Prospector line has produced a total of 41 Breeders’ Cup winners. Of those 41 winners, 10 (24%) are from the line of his son Fappiano and eight (20 %) are from the line of his son Gone West.

This Breeders' Cup statistics chart shows the impact that the bloodline of Phalaris, and his descendents, has had on all of the Breeders' Cup divisional races since 1984. I have also included a second chart that shows the Breeders’ Cup winners produced by the top sire lines of the descendents of Mr. Prospector, Northern Dancer, Royal Charger, Nasrullah and Bold Ruler.

In all of the divisional races, the Northern Dancer sire line has the most winners (refer to chart one) in four divisions: Juvenile Filles (7), Turf (10), Fillies & Mare Turf (8) and Mile (14). The Mr. Prospector sire line has the most winners in the Juvenile (7) and Sprint (8) divisions.

Classic Division

The sire line of Mr. Prospector has produced five winners: Raven’s Pass (2008), Curlin (2007), Volponi (2002), Black Tie Affair (1991) and Unbridled (1990). The sire line of Northern Dancer has also produced five winners: Ghostzapper (2004), Cat Thief (1999), Awesome Again (1998), Cigar (1995) and Ferdinand (1987).

Ladies’ Classic Division

The sire line of Northern Dancer has produced the most winners with a total of six: Ginger Punch (2007), Round Pond (2006), Adoration (2003), Escena (1998), Ajina (1997) and Dance Smartly (1991). The sire line of Mr. Prospector has produced five winners: Zenyatta (2008), Pleasant Home (2005), Azeri (2002), Unbridled Elaine (2001) and Spain (2000). The Bold Ruler line has also produced five winners: Beautiful Pleasure (1999), Bayakoa (1990 and 1989), Sacahuista (1987) and Lady’s Secret (1986).

Juvenile Division

The Mr. Prospector sire line leads the Juvenile Division with a total of seven winners: Midshipman (2008), Street Sense (2006), Anees (1999), Unbridled’s Song (1995), Timber Country (1994), Rhythm (1989) and Tasso (1985). The Bold Ruler line produced five winners: Stevie Wonderboy (2005), Vindication (2002), Boston Harbor (1996), Is It True (1988) and Capote (1986). The Northern Dancer line has produced three winners: Wilko (2004), Johannesburg (2001) and Chief’s Crown (1984). The Royal Charger line has also produced three winners: Action This Day (2003), Answer Lively (1998) and Brocco (1993).

Juvenile Fillies Division

The Northern Dancer sire line has the most winners with a total of seven: Sweet Catomine (2004), Storm Flag Flying (2002), Silverbulletday (1998), Countess Diana (1997), Storm Song (1996), Go For Wand (1989) and Open Mind (1988). The Nasrullah line produced four winners: Indian Blessing (2007), Dreaming Of Anna (2006), Eliza (1992) and Brave Raj (1986). The Mr. Prospector line produced three winners: Halfbridled (2003), Cash Run (1999) and Flanders (1994).

Turf Division

The Northern Dancer line leads the Turf Division with a total of 10 winners: Red Rocks (2006), High Chaparral (2003 and 2002), Chief Bearhart (1997), Pilsudski (1996), Northern Spur (1995), Fraise (1992), In The Wings (1990), Theatrical (1987) and Manila (1986). The Nasrullah line produced eight winners: Conduit (2008), Better Talk Now (2004), Fantastic Light (2001), Kalanisi (2000), Daylami (1999), Tikkanen (1994), Kotashaan (1993) and Lashkari (1984).

Filly & Mare Turf Division

The Filly & Mare Turf was inaugurated in 1999 and in the past 10 years, the Northern Dancer has produced eight winners: Forever Together (2008), Lahudood (2007), Ouija Board (2006 and 2004), Intercontinental (2005), Islington (2003), Starine (2002) and Banks Hill (2001). The Royal Charger line produced the two remaining winners: Perfect Sting (2000) and Soaring Softly (1999).

Sprint Division

The Mr. Prospector line leads the Sprint Division with a total of eight winners: Midnight Lute (2008 and 2007), Speightstown (2004), Cajun Beat (2003), Squirtle Squirt (2001), Artax (1999), Gulch (1988) and Eillo (1984). The Northern Dancer line produced five winners: Reraise (1998), Lit de Justice (1996), Desert Stormer (1995), Sheikh Albadou (1991) and Dancing Spee (1989).

Mile Division

The Northern Dancer line has dominated the Mile with 14 winners (56%): Goldikova (2008), Artie Schiller (2005), Val Royal (2001), War Chant (2000), Spinning World (1997), Barathea (1994), Lure (1993 and 1992), Opening Verse (1991), Royal Academy (1990), Miesque (1988 and 1987), Last Tycoon (1986) and Royal Heroine (1984). The Mr. Prospector line has produced five winners: Kip Deville (2007), Miesque’s Approval (2006), Six Perfections (2003) and Da Hoss (1998 and 1996).

In 2007, the Breeders’ Cup committee added the Filly & Mare Sprint, Juvenile Turf and Dirt Mile to the roster of Breeders’ Cup races. In 2008, the Marathon, Juvenile Fillies Turf and Turf Sprint were also added to the roster. Every one of those races, except for the 2007 and 2008 Dirt Mile, has been won by horses descended from the Mr. Prospector sire line.

Here are the statistics (refer to chart two) of the Breeders’ Cup winners produced by the top sire lines of the descendents of Mr. Prospector, Northern Dancer, Royal Charger, Nasrullah and Bold Ruler.

Mr. Prospector

The sire line of Mr. Prospector’s son Fappiano produced 10 winners: Classic – Volponi (2002) and Unbridled (1990); Ladies’ Classic – Unbridled (2001); Juvenile – Midshipman (2008), Anees (1999), Unbridled’s Song (1995) and Tasso (1985); Juvenile Fillies – Halfbridled (2003); Sprint – Midnight Lute (2008 and 2007). Fappiano sired two winners (Unbridled and Tasso) and his son Unbridled sired three winners (see Crist’s blog).

The sire line of Mr. Prospector’s son Gone West produced 8 winners: Classic – Raven’s Pass (2008); Turf – Johar (2003); Sprint – Speightstown (2004), Cajun Beat (2003); Mile – Da Hoss (1998 and 1996); Filly & Mare Sprint – Maryfield (2007); Juvenile Turf – Nownownow (2007). Gone West sired four winners (see Crist’s blog).

Northern Dancer

Of all the descendents of Northern Dancer, the sire line of his son Danzig has produced the most Breeders’ Cup winners with a total of 16: Ladies’ Classic – Adoration (2004), Dance Smartly (1991); Juvenile – Chief’s Crown (1984); Juvenile Fillies – Countess Diana (1997); Turf – Chief Bearhart (1997), Pilsudski (1996); Filly & Mare Turf – Forever Together (2008), Ouija Board (2006 and 2004), Intercontinental (2005), Banks Hill (2001); Sprint – Sheikh Albadou (1991); Mile – Goldikova (2008), War Chant (2000), Lure (1993 and 1992). Danzig sired five winners (see Crist’s blog).

The Sadler’s Wells sire line produced 9 winners: Turf – Red Rocks (2006), High Chaparral (2003 and 2002), Northern Spur (1995), In The Wings (1990); Fillies & Mare Turf – Lahudood (2007), Islington (2003); Mile – Artie Schiller (2005), Barathea (1994). Sadler’s Wells sired six winners (see Crist’s blog).

The Deputy Minister sire line produced 8 winners: Classic – Ghostzapper (2004), Awesome Again (1998), Ladies’ Classic – Ginger Punch (2007), Round Pond (2006); Juvenile – Wilko (2004); Juvenile Fillies – Silverbulletday (1998), Go For Wand (1989), Open Mind (1988). Three winners were sired by Deputy Minister and four were sired by his son Awesome Again (see Crist’s blog).

The Nijinsky sire line produced 7 winners: Classic – Ferdinand (1987), Ladies’ Classic – Escena (1998), Ajina (1997); Turf – Fraise (1992); Sprint – Dancing Spree (1989); Mile – Val Royal (2001), Royal Academy (1990). Nijinsky sired three winners and his grandson Strawberry Road sired three winners (see Crist’s blog).

Royal Charger

The sire line of his grandson Hail To Reason produced 10 winners: Classic – St. Liam (2005), Sunday Silence (1989); Ladies’ Classic – Ashado (2004), Hollywood Wildcat (1993); Juvenile – Action This Day (2003), Answer Lively (1998), Brocco (1993); Turf – Prized (1989); Filly & Mare Turf – Perfect Sting (2000), Soaring Softly (1989). Royal Charger’s second-great grandson Kris S. sired five winners (see Crist’s blog).

Nasrullah

The sire line of his grandson Blushing Groom produced 8 winners: Classic – Invasor (2006); Juvenile – War Pass (2007); Juvenile Fillies – Dreaming of Anna (2006), Eliza (1992); Turf – Fantastic Light (2001); Sprint – Orientate (2002), Cherokee Run (1994); Mile – Silic (1999). Blushing Groom’s son Rahy sired two winners (Dreaming Of Anna and Fantastic Light). Blushing Groom’s Son Mt. Livermore sired two winners (Eliza and Orientate).

Bold Ruler

The sire line of his great-grandson Seattle Slew produced 9 winners: Classic – A. P. Indy (1992); Juvenile – Stevie Wonderboy (2005), Vindication (2002), Boston Harbor (1996), Capote (1986); Juvenile Fillies – Stardom Bound (2008), Tempera (2001); Sprint – Silver Train (2005), Thirty Slews (1992). Seattle Slew sired three winners (see Crist’s blog).

Some statistics that really stand out for me:

The sire line of Phalaris and, most significantly, his grandson Nearco have produced the most Breeders’ Cup winners (117).

Despite the fact that the sire line of Mr. Prospector has dominated the American Classics (that’s the subject of another post), Nearco’s grandson Northern Dancer has been dominant with 58 winners – especially in the Mile (14) and Turf (10) divisions.

While compiling these statistics, the biggest surprise was that of all the descendents of Northern Dancer, the Danzig sire line has been the most productive with a total of 16 winners.

The Fappiano line has been the most productive Mr. Prospector sire line with 10 winners. The sire line of Nearco’s great-grandson Hail To Reason has also produced 10 winners.

This statistic was another surprise: If you include 18 winners from the Bold Ruler line, the sire line of Nasrullah has produced 40 Breeders’ Cup winners compared to Mr. Prospector’s 41.

Nine of the 18 Bold Ruler sire line winners are descended from the sire line of Bold Ruler’s great-grandson Seattle Slew.

The Filly & Mare Turf Division was inaugurated in 1999 and in the past 10 years, five of those winners have been produced by the sire line of Danzig.

Half of the Deputy Minister sire line winners were sired by his son Awesome Again.

Sixty-Seven percent of the Sadler’s Wells sire line winners were sired by Sadler’s Wells.

As you can see, despite having raced only a few years, the Breeders’ Cup has a rich history of superb horseracing and, next to the American Classic races, it’s my favorite two days of racing.

Good luck with your selections!