Saturday, January 22, 2011

The Importance Of Dam Lines

Pedigree authority Lauren Stich at Grade One Racing has written a couple of nice profiles about two horses I like - Brethren and her Kentucky Derby favorite To Honor And Serve (See my December 23 blog).

You will need to register with Grade One Racing to read Stich’s columns but access to them is free for registered users.

Not only does To Honor And Serve have excellent breeding on his sire line with Bernardini, A.P. Indy and Seattle Slew, but the dam line which descends from Golden Trail, the 5th dam of To Honor And Serve, is also very powerful.

Stich noted that Golden Trail is the ancestral dam of multiple graded stakes winners Brian’s Time, Sunshine Forever and Memories of Silver. Golden Trail is also the fifth dam of 2001 Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos and she is the third dam of Dynaformer.

I’m keenly aware of the importance of sire lines but dam lines are also important when it comes to producing a Classic Champion Thoroughbred.

Golden Trail is an important broodmare that Edward L. Bowen wrote about in his book Matriarchs Volume II: More Great Mares of Modern Times.

Golden Trail is also ranked 34th on Roger Lyons of Pedigree Matters Top 40 Dam Lines of SW’s, 1995 to Present. Another important appealing aspect of Golden Trail is that when she is found in the pedigree there are three generations of strong female influence. Sunny Vale, the dam of Golden Trail, is ranked 32nd on Lyons' list and her dam, Sun Mixa, is ranked 21st.

To Honor And Serve is a descendant of Family Number 4-r which traces back to Cub Mare. Family 4 descends from the Foundation Mare Layton Barb Mare and has produced the most Kentucky Derby winners with 17 in the winners circle. Family 4-r produced the Derby winners Monarchos (2001), Black Gold (1924), Donau (1910), Manuel (1899) and Halma (1895).

Brethren is a descendant of Family 1 Foundation Mare Tregonwell’s Natural Barb Mare. Family 1 ranks second with 14 Kentucky Derby winners.

Brethren’s dam line is descended from the legendary La Troienne (Family 1-x) and she tops Lyons’ Top 40 Dam Line list at number one. When La Troienne is found in the pedigree there are four generations of strong female influence with Striking, Baby League, La Troienne and Helene de Troie.

Striking is the seventh dam of Brethren and she is ranked 9th on Lyons list. Baby League is ranked 14th. La Troienne is number one and Helene de Troie is ranked 6th. Striking, Baby League and La Troienne are Reines-de-Course (Queen of the Turf) mares. Glamour in the 6th generation, Intriguing in the 5th and Numbered Account in the 4th generation are all Reines-de-Course mares. Six generations of Reines-de-Course mares in the pedigree is an extremely powerful influence and in addition to the dam line, Brethren has three more strains of La Troienne in his pedigree.

Brethren’s dam, Supercharger, is the dam of Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver and his second dam, Get Lucky, is also the second dam of Bluegrass Cat.

To Honor and Serve has three strains of La Troienne in his pedigree and I believe that he and Brethren will do well on the Derby trail. In addition to La Troienne, the pedigree of To Honor And Serve and Brethren are both rich with the influence of several other outstanding female lines which are so important in the development of a Classic Champion Thoroughbred.

Here’s a look at the Kentucky Derby winners and their female family:

T = Triple Crown winner

Family 1: Tregonwell’s Natural Barb Mare – 1-x = Super Saver (2010). 1-x = Smarty Jones (2004). 1-c = Grindstone (1996). 1-x = Go For Gin (1994). 1-x = Sea Hero (1993). 1-r = Unbridled (1990). 1-s = Spend A Buck (1985). 1-n = Swale (1984).1-n = Genuine Risk (1980). 1-k = Riva Ridge (1972). 1-t = Proud Clarion (1967). 1-n = Tomy Lee (1959). 1-p = Pensive (1944). 1-o = Morvich (1922). (14).

Family 2: Burton’s Barb Mare – 2-d = Giacomo (2005). 2-d = Spectacular Bid (1979). 2-d = Cannonade (1974). 2-s = Secretariat-T (1973). 2-d = Northern Dancer (1964). 2-e = Reigh Count (1928). 2-c = Buchanan (1884). (7).

Family 3: Dam of Two True Blues – 3-l = Silver Charm (1997). 3-e = Sunday Silence (1989). 3-j = Dust Commander (1970). 3-d = Lucky Debonair (1965). 3-n = Dark Star (1953). 3-l = Citation-T (1948). (6).

Family 4: Layton Barb Mare – 4-r = Monarchos (2001). 4-d = Real Quiet (1998). 4-m = Sunny’s Halo (1983). 4-n = Canonero (1971). 4-d = Majestic Prince (1969). 4-m = Venetian Way (1960). 4-m = Middleground (1950). 4-c = Assault-T (1946). 4-e = Gallahadion (1940). 4-m = Lawrin (1938). 4-n = Gallant Fox-T (1930). 4-r = Black Gold (1924). 4-r = Donau (1910). 4 = Wintergreen (1909). 4-r = Manuel (1899). 4-r = Halma (1895). 4-m = Day Star (1878). (17).

Family 5: The Massey Mare – 5-h = Big Brown (2008). 5-a = Pleasant Colony (1981). 5-e = Needles (1956). 5-j = Determine (1954). 5-i = Flying Ebony (1925). 5-g = Sir Huon (1906). 5-g = Elwood (1904). (7).

Family 6: Old Bald Peg – 6-d = Funny Cide (2003). 6-a = Count Fleet-T (1943). 6-a = Bold Venture (1936). 6-a = Old Rosebud (1914). 6-a = Worth (1912). (5).

Family 7: Lord Darcy’s Blacklegs – No Winners.

Family 8: Bustler Mare – 8-c = Fusaichi Pegasus (2000). 8-h = Whirlaway-T (1941). 8-h = Bubbling Over (1926). (3).

Family 9: Vinter Mare – 9-f = Bold Forbes (1976). 9-c = Forward Pass (1968). 9 = Hoop Jr. (1945). 9-g = Sir Barton-T (1919). 9-h = Omar Khayyam (1917). 9-a = Spokane (1889). (6).

Family 10: Oysterfoot Mare (Fair Helen Family) – 10-a = Charismatic (1999). 10-d = George Smith (1916). (2).

Family 11: Sedbury Royal Mare – 11-d = Thunder Gulch (1995). 11-c = Hill Gail (1952). 11-g = War Admiral-T (1937). 11 = Ben Ali (1886). (4).

Family 12: Royal Mare – 12-g = Cavalcade (1934). 12-c = Broker’s Tip (1933). 12 = His Eminence (1901). 12 = Joe Cotton (1885). 12-b = Leonatus (1883). 12-b = Baden-Baden (1877). (6).

Family 13: Sedbury Royal Mare – 13-c = Ferdinand (1986). 13-c = Seattle Slew-T (1977). 13-c = Jet Pilot (1947). (3).

Family 14: Oldfield Mare – 14b-Foolish Pleasure (1975). (1).

Family 15: Royal Mare – No Winners.

Family 16: Sister to Stripling – 16-h = Barbaro (2006). 16-c = Strike The Gold (1991). 16-h = Chateaugay (1963). 16-g = Shut Out (1942). (4).

Family 17: Byerly Turk Mare – 17-b = Decidedly (1962). Johnstown (1939). Omaha-T (1935). (3).

Family 18: Old Woodcock Mare – No Winners.

Family 19: Davill’s Woodcock Mare – No Winners.

Family 20: Daffodil’s Dam – 20-b = War Emblem (2002). 20 = Alysheba (1987). Meridian (1911). (3).

Family 21: Moonah Barb Mare – 21-a = Whiskery (1927). 21 = Stone Street (1908). 21-a = Plaudit (1898). (3).

Family 22: Belgrade Turk Mare – 22-b = Street Sense (2007). 22-b = Count Turf (1951). (2).

Family 23: Piping Peg’s Dam – 23-b = Mine That Bird (2009). 23-b = Lil E. Tee (1992). 23-b = Winning Colors (1988). 23-b = Affirmed-T (1978). 23-b = Tim Tim (1958). 23 = Ponder (1949). 23-a = Burgoo King (1932). 23-b = Zev (1923). 23-b = Kingman (1891). (9).

Family 24: Helmsley Turk Mare – 24 = Carry Back (1961). 24 = Paul Jones (1920). 24 = Agile (1905). 24 = Hindoo (1881). 24 = Fonso (1880). (5).

10 comments:

  1. Really well put together and most informative piece. I enjoyed reading it, thanks Calvin.

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  2. Matt,

    I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for reading the blog.

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  3. Very nice to have these all in one place. I'll bookmark the page. A question: I don't see Exterminator (1918 KD) among these female families and wondered why?

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  4. Sherpa,

    I’m glad you liked the post and thanks for reading the blog. I thought someone might question why some horses are missing from the list.

    Traditionally when one thinks of family numbers one thinks of Bruce Lowe and English Foundation Mares and the Kentucky Derby winners on the list are descendants from those mares.

    However, 25 descendants of American Foundation Mares have won the Derby and Exterminator is a descendant of Family A1 Janus Mare No. 1.

    Here’s the list of Derby winners descended from American Foundation Mares:

    Family A1: Janus mare No. 1 [Ella Crump] – Gato Del Sol (1982). Exterminator (1918). Regret (1915). Ben Brush (1896). Azra (1892). Riley (1890).

    Family A3: Medley mare No. 1 [Hart's Maria] – Pink Star (1907). Chant (1894).

    Family A4: Medley mare No. 2 [Fanny Maria] – Kauai King (1966). Iron Liege (1957). Swaps (1955). Clyde Van Dusen (1929).

    Family A9: Fearnought Mare [Spot] – Aristides (1875).

    Family A10: Harrison of Brandon Mare [Chanticleer Mare] – Lord Murphy (1879).

    Family A13: Meade Celer Mare [Lady Robin] – Lieut. Gibson (1900). Lookout (1893). Vagrant (1876).

    Family A15: Miss Bell [Bedford Mare] – Apollo (1882).

    Family A16: Bellair Mare [Sally Kirby] – Alan-A-Dale (1902).

    Family A18: Tryall Mare [Piccadilla] – Typhoon (1897).

    Family A22: Buie Mare [Black Sophia] – Donerail (1913).

    Family A23: Old Comet Mare [Lavinia] – Montrose (1887).

    Family A24: Vampire Mare [Saltram Mare] – MacBeth (1888).

    Family A27: Tippoo Saib Mare [Ellen Swigert] – Behave Yourself (1921).

    Family A36: Medley mare No. 3 [Lucretia] – Judge Himes (1903).

    Here is the link for Thoroughbred Heritage page of American Foundation Mares:

    http://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricDams/AmFoundationMares.html

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  5. Thank you! It is so true that Lowe's list is best-known (rightly so) and has been the source of most of my information regarding female families. Oddly enough, I was just looking at the American Foundation Mares list last night (same site, iirc) and wondering what happened to their descendants. They've had very few standout representatives since mid-20th Century, apparently. Or it may just be that I haven't recognized their names on the charts.

    I appreciate your taking time to give me this very thorough answer, Mr. Carter. I'm fascinated with TB pedigrees but, obviously, very much a novice.

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  6. Sherpa,

    You're welcome. Thank you for reading the blog. If I can be of further assistance, please let me know.

    Good luck in your research and study of the magnificent Thoroughbred!

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  8. What does 4-r mean, I just named a Paynter filly and it says she is a 4-r.

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    1. Anonymous,

      The 4 indicates that your filly is a descendant of the tail-female family four which descends from the foundation mare Layton Barb Mare. the r is a branch of family 4 and that descends from Cub Mare.

      Here are a couple of links that can give you more information and you might interesting:

      http://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricDams/EngFoundationMares/Family4/Family4.html

      http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Families/TaprootsEnglish.htm

      Thank you for following my blog.

      Calvin

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