Joseph O’Brien’s comments in the TDN on Air Force Blue:
Author Archives: sfadmin
Bloodlines: Sunday Silence Speaks Volumes
Much like not seeing the forest for the trees, sometimes we don’t see the horse for the pedigrees.
Seldom has that seemed more significant than with the 1989 Horse of the Year Sunday Silence. The tall, dark, handsome son of leading sire Halo was not on anyone’s list of “must-have” yearlings when he went to the sales at Keeneland in July, 1987.
The future Classic winner had been foaled and raised at Arthur Hancock’s Stone Farm in Bourbon County, Ky. He was a son of the farm’s banner stallion Halo — one of the three best stallion sons of leading sire Hail to Reason.
Trend Wins At Fair Grounds!
TREND raced in the two path on the first turn, was unhurried near the back, came under urging when three then four wide on the far turn, rallied outside in the upper stretch, closed well to make a bid inside the furlong marker and prevailed by a length under the strong handling of Florent Geroux.
Almarmooq Wins the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup
Almarmooq certainly wasn’t destined for this from the start, but the 8-year-old Dynaformer gelding became a stakes winner when he outlasted five others in the $35,000 Pennsylvania Hunt Cup timber stakes Nov. 1.
AIR FORCE BLUE Named Cartier Champion 2YO Colt
Runners campaigned by Coolmore and partners—Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith—took three championships: Legatissimo; Minding, 2-year-old filly; and Air Force Blue, 2-year-old colt; the latter two are trained by Aidan O’Brien.
Air Force Blue Is Yet Another International Star For Breeder Stone Farm and Claiborne Sire War Front
Although one of several US 2-year-old colts will win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and likely be named champion of his division, there is no great uncertainty among the juvenile colts overseas. Air Force Blue (by War Front) is the top of the tree in England and Ireland after three
Early Leads at Keeneland
In other highlights during the early part of the session, agent Cecil Seaman bid $1.3m for ten-year-old Lacadena, by Fasliyev and out of a half-sister to American Broodmare of the Year Better Than Honour, dam of Belmont Stakes winners Rags To Riches and Jazil.
Keeneland November: Lacadena Sells for $1.3 Million
Lacadena, the dam of recent graded stakes winner America, sold for $1.3 million to the Heider Family Stable, becoming the second broodmare to fetch a seven-figure price tag in the opening hours of the Keeneland November breeding stock sale’s second session.
My Breeders’ Cup: No Higher Stakes
There couldn’t have been more on the line for Arthur Hancock III heading into the 1989 Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Bloodlines: Deep Bluegrass Roots For Air Force Blue
Although one of several US 2-year-old colts will win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and likely be named champion of his division, there is no great uncertainty among the juvenile colts overseas. Air Force Blue (by War Front) is the top of the tree in England and Ireland after three consecutive G1 victories, the most recent being the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes on Oct. 10 at Newmarket.