With the 2023 season upon us, the TDN staff is once again sitting down with leading breeders to find out what stallions they have chosen for their mares, and why. Dana and Jim Bernhard purchased Pin Oak Stud just outside of Versailles, Kentucky late last year, inaugurating a new chapter in its storied history. Here is what Farm Manager Jeff Danford had to say about their broodmare band for 2023.
BROADWAY LADY (m, 6, Constitution–Livi Makenzie) booked to Munnings
This mare, purchased late last year, is a very attractive daughter of Constitution who happens to be a half-sister to MGSW Tawny Port (Pioneerof the Nile). She is from the family of Surf Cat, and the mare will visit Munnings this year. This mating has an interesting breeding connection to Holy Bull.
COMPETITVE SPEED (m, 5, Competitive Edge–Shopped Out) booked to Justify
A MGSP daughter of Competitive Edge, who was third in the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks and GII Davona Dale S. with earnings of $190,000. She just foaled a nice colt by the exciting young stallion Maxfield and will visit Justify this year.
CORE VALUES (m, 5, Honor Code–Sweet Awakening) booked to Curlin
This young daughter of Honor Code has all the breeding in the world to be a quality broodmare sire. She's a half-sister to MGSW Are You Kidding Me (Run Away and Hide), and was a SW under trainer Vicki Oliver with earnings of $222,000. We plan to have her visit Curlin this year, and this is a cross that has already produced MGISW Malathaat and MGISW Nest.
DIAMOND SPARKLES (m, 6, War Front–Diamondsandrubies) booked to Uncle Mo
A very attractive daughter of War Front from a deep family that has produced the likes of G1SW Quarter Moon (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) and her full-sister, G1SW Yesterday (Ire), is out of Diamondsandrubies. She who won the G1 Sea The Stars Pretty Polly S. at The Curragh, and is currently in foal to Quality Road. Our plan is to have her visit Uncle Mo this year.
GLITTER AND GOLD (m, 8, Bodemeister–Expo Gold) booked to Essential Quality
A winning daughter of Expo Gold, who produced the Eclipse Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Swiss Skydiver. We currently have a nice yearling filly called Cajun Curls (Curlin). Glitter and Gold is in foal to Tapit and will visit the exciting young stallion Essential Quality here in 2023.
MIND OUT (m, 6, Tapit–Kid Majic) booked to Curlin
A big and strong daughter of Tapit from the family of GISW J P's Gusto and MGISW Letruska. She is half-sister to GSW Miss Mischief, who won the Sovereign Award in 2015 for Champion Female Sprinter. The mare is currently in foal to Into Mischief, and we know that are a pair of GSW underneath the first dam by him. So, it is safe to say that this family has an affinity for Spendthrift's number one. The mare will visit Curlin this year.
QUERELLE (m, 7, Violence–Orbital Affair) booked to Tapit
A stunning GSP daughter of Violence, hails from the family of the phenomenal Seattle Meteor. Currently in foal to Constitution, she will go back to Tapit this year.
SWEET SAMI D (m, 7, First Samurai–Treaty of Kadesh) booked to Flightline
This strapping daughter of First Samurai was GSP with earnings of over $250,000. She is currently in foal to the stallion of the moment, Gun Runner. On a very similar mating that has produced some of his best runners from in-breeding to Storm Cat, you cannot argue with the success of MGISW Echo Zulu and GISW Gunite. She will visit newly-minted Horse of the Year Flightline this coming season. It's very exciting to be a part of his first book. And, you can only imagine what that is going to look like.
Interested in sharing your own mating plans? Email garyking@thetdn.com.
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