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Originally Posted by somerfrost
John Henry was bought for what? He turned his career around rather nicely didn't he?
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Yes. But, John Henry didn't win his first Grade 1 race until he was a 5-year-old. He didn't exactly go from struggling at the bottom, to the best around, over night.
And, If you assume that only the best horses were being bred to each other (they weren't) back when the foal crops were so small---than there is no way John Henry would have existed.
Spectacular Bid's 2nd dam was a very mediocre horse, and his dam raced on the Northern California fair circuits. He's another that wouldn't have existed.
Secretariat's dam never won a race, but she came from a very good family. Affirmed's dam wasn't much horse, and she had eight siblings, none of which earned black type. Cigar's dam ran 7 times and never won.
Seattle Slew was sold for like 16K or something at auction.