2/26 (GP): Fountain of Youth S., Mac Diamida S. (G2's)

[VOL JACK]

I have always thought the top sires like Storm Cat and Smart Strike provide the class, while the dam side provides surface and distance preference.

I remember JCGC day at Belmont in 2007.
Smart Strike's off spring won the 3 biggest races that day.

Vosbugh 6f on dirt: Fabulous Strike (Lost Code mare)

Joe Hirsch 10f on turf: English Channel (Theatrical mare)

Jockey Club GC 10f on Dirt: Curlin (Deputy Minister mare)

[GenuineRisk]

I believe the thinking now is that terrific horses than can get a distance have larger than average hearts, and that, it's believed, is a genetic trait that is carried on the X chromosome, so male horses can only inherit the larger heart via their mothers. Ergo looking to the dam's side, rather than the sire's for distance indications.

Of course, lots of things go into whether a horse can run a distance, but a large heart is a good advantage to have, and it can only be passed via the X chromosome.

I remember reading somewhere that in female horses, both X chromosomes must carry the gene for the larger heart for the filly to be born with one, so while Lady's Secret likely received the gene from her dad, her mother must also have carried it.

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by VOL JACK

I have always thought the top sires like Storm Cat and Smart Strike provide the class, while the dam side provides surface and distance preference.

Not to be a pain in the ass...

But...there are a lot of sires who provide surface and distance preferences to their offspring.

The "class" is provided by the horse itself. You could breed the same sire to the same dam and get one top horse, one useful horse, one ok horse, one cheap and slow horse, and one horse who can't outrun a goat.

However, at all realms of ability...the offspring are likely to have leanings and preferences in regard to surface, distance, and development.

[VOL JACK]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

Not to be a pain in the ass...

But...there are a lot of sires who provide surface and distance preferences to their offspring.

The "class" is provided by the horse itself. You could breed the same sire to the same dam and get one top horse, one useful horse, one ok horse, one cheap and slow horse, and one horse who can't outrun a goat.

However, at all realms of ability...the offspring are likely to have leanings and preferences in regard to surface, distance, and development.

The Sire is important for surface, for sure.

I was just providing an example of a versatile Sire that throws high class horses but, because of their Dam side were different types of horses.

[VOL JACK]

The Dam Oatsee would be an example of the dam providing the distance.

She is the dam of Lady Joanne, winner of the 2007 Alabama, who is by a sprinty Sire in Orientate.
She is also the dam of Shackleford, 2011 Preakness winner, who is by another sprinty type sire in Forestry.