Cigar Mile winner Daaher

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Breeding a thoroughbred race horse is risky business. The saying goes “breed the best to the best; and hope for the best.” Just like handicapping, breeding is an inexact science. New sires hit the scene every year and bargains are there for those interested in trying to breed the next champion. Let’s take a look some of the best value sires for 2012.

Concord Point (Tapit x Harve de Grace by Boston Harbor) Tapit is proving to be one of the best sires in America and his fee has jumped to $125k for 2012. How can you not like his best son at $7.5k? Concord Point was very fast at 2 and 3 and blew the competition away to win the West Virginia and Iowa Derby. His first race was a monster run in which he earned a 95 Beyer Speed Figure. Plenty of value with the Hill N’ Dale sire.

Thunder Gulch (Gulch x Line of Thunder by Storm Bird) Kentucky Derby winner has proved to be a very useful stallion. Among his progeny are 7 millionaires including Point Given, Spain and Circular Quay. That’s incredible for a sire that commands only $10k. 2011 was a relatively quiet year for his progeny, but his daughter Shotgun Gulch won the Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland. He stands at Ashford Stud.

Majesticperfection (Harlan’s Holiday x Act So Noble by Wavering Monarch) Trainer Steve Asmussen said this is the fastest horse he has ever trained. That’s saying something! The freaky fast runner made future Breeders Cup Sprint winner Big Drama look like a cream puff when he beat him in the 2010 Vanderbilt Stakes. His broodmare sire produced Maria’s Mon who in turn produced Kentucky Derby winners Monarchos and Super Saver. Visit him for $10k at Airdrie Stud (2012 fee unannounced at this time).

First Dude (Stephen Got Even x Run Sarah Run by Smart Strike) Imposing colt was is quite the physical specimen. He hit the scene with a doggedly tough second place finish to Lookin At Lucky in Preakness Stakes. It took him a while to finally get on track after many second place finishes in big races, but he went on to win the Alysheba and Hollywood Gold Cup. He is from a very underrated sire who produced monsters like Stevie Wonderboy, I Want Revenge and the Japanese racer Cosmo Phantom. It’s hard not to like him for $7.5k at Donald Dizney’s Double Diamond Farm in Ocala, FL.

Daaher (Awesome Again x Irish Cherry by Irish Open) I liked this one as a race horse. He was a tremendous miler and he scored his best win in the Cigar Mile where he turned back Breeders Cup champ Midnight Lute. His first crop wasn’t awe inspiring, but I’m willing to wait for him to come around and fully believe he will. Daaher is wonderfully bred as a half to Grade 1 winner Spun Sugar. Check him out at Shadwell Farm for $7.5k.

You may notice that all but one of the sires I’ve chosen are very young. These types of sires are high risk, but also high reward.  Naturally, a very accomplished sire comes with a hefty price tag. It is better to find a young and unproven stallion with lots of potential for a much lower price tag.  Other variables exist, but for the money these are the five sires I’d look to first when breeding a thoroughbred race horse.