Saturday, May 16, 2015

American Pharoah dominates in the Preakness




Once again we have a horse with a chance at the Triple Crown. It was 51 years ago to the day that his great great great grandsire, Northern Dancer accomplished the same feat. The downpour and sloppy track didn't seem to bother American Pharoah as he stormed to victory by seven lengths. It was longshot Tale Of Verve finishing second and Divining Rod third. All three were great great great grandsons of The Dancer. In the case of Divining Rod, his great great grandmother was the Dancer's Hall of Fame daughter Fanfreluche. She was kidnapped while in foal to Secretariat. You can read about her in this blog.

photo from AP/Mike Stewart

American Pharoah - great great great grandson x2 through Storm Cat/Storm Bird and El Gran Senor
Tale Of Verve - great great great grandson x3 through Storm Cat/Storm Bird and Nijinsky
Divining Rod - great great great grandson x3 through Storm Cat, Nijinsky and daughter Fanfreluche


Link to Fanfreluche in this blog http://northerndancerblog.blogspot.ca/2009/12/chapter-12_2744.html

Saturday, May 2, 2015

American Pharoah wins the 141st running of the Kentucky Derby




It was favourite American Pharoah winning the Kentucky Derby with a tough Firing Line second and stablemate Dortmund finishing third. All three were descendants of The Dancer.

American Pharoah - great great great grandson through Storm Cat/Storm Bird
Firing Line - great great great grandson x2 through Danzig and Storm Bird
Dortmund - (son of Big Brown) great great grandson x3 through Danzig and Nuryev


photo from Peter Casey USA Today

Gleneagles wins first leg of British Triple Crown




While we wait for this year's running of the Kentucky Derby, Gleneagles wins the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket to take the first leg of the British Triple Crown. It was Territories second and Ivawood third, all three are Irish breds and descendants of Northern Dancer.

Gleneagles - great great grandson through Galileo/Sadlers Wells
Territories - great great grandson x2 through Danzig
Ivawood - great great great grandson x2 through Danzig


image from Alan Crowhurst Getty Images