Alphie's Bet

[philcski]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

Didn't Alphie's Bet win the race by open lengths? Isn't his style completely reliant on getting a setup? I think you were listening to too much Simon Bray there after they hit the wire. The horse's lifetime top Beyer is 86.

As for the Malibu, can you give us a rundown of what top stallions the race has produced? Dixie Union won the race 10 years ago, but beyond him I'm at a loss.

Since 2000
M One Rifle (still in training)
Bob Black Jack (just retired)
Johnny Eves (gelding)
Latent Heat (sire)
Proud Tower Too (??)
Rock Hard Ten (sire)
Southern Image (sire)
Debonair Joe (gelding)
Mizzen Mast (sire)
Dixie Union (sire)

Every horse that is "eligible" to be a sire that's won it stands for at least $5k (except Proud Tower Too, not sure what he's doing because they had that wacky return to training) so I'd agree with Tom that it qualifies as a stallion-making race.

I disagree with his assessment of the race, though.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by philcski

Since 2000
M One Rifle (still in training)
Bob Black Jack (just retired)
Johnny Eves (gelding)
Latent Heat (sire)
Proud Tower Too (??)
Rock Hard Ten (sire)
Southern Image (sire)
Debonair Joe (gelding)
Mizzen Mast (sire)
Dixie Union (sire)

Every horse that is "eligible" to be a sire that's won it stands for at least $5k (except Proud Tower Too, not sure what he's doing because they had that wacky return to training) so I'd agree with Tom that it qualifies as a stallion-making race.

I disagree with his assessment of the race, though.

What happens when we do a rundown of any grade 1 or grade 2 race open to intact horses?

I presumed by "stallion making", we meant big time stallions (or at least productive ones).

[philcski]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

What happens when we do a rundown of any grade 1 or grade 2 race open to intact horses?

I presumed by "stallion making", we meant big time stallions (or at least productive ones).

Dixie Union, Mizzen Mast, and Rock Hard Ten aren't productive at all?

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by philcski

Dixie Union, Mizzen Mast, and Rock Hard Ten aren't productive at all?

I admitted Dixie Union makes the grade and perhaps Mizzen Mast does too, though he's predominantly turf/synthetics which may not bode well in the long run. Otherwise its a long drink between top stallions. Next in line is Pleasant Tap, who is hardly consistent. Further back still, it is a pretty "dry" race as far as its winners go. Furthermore, is it the Malibu win that gets the breeders' pulse racing?

That aside, I think the label "stallion making race" is a bit overused, and virtually pointless, particularly if the qualifications are the ones you put forth (stands at stud for $5k or more). As I said, you can take any Grade 1 or Grade 2 for males and make that claim.