Grindstone as a sire.

miraja2 · #1 07-09-2006, 12:56 PM

I was glad to see Kid Grindstone win that 9f stakes race at Arlington on Saturday, for the second stakes win of his 4yo campaign. I sort of think that Grindstone has a somewhat undeserved reputation of being a huge disappointment at stud. Everyone thinks he produces nothing but unsound claimers, with the lone exception of Birdstone, who people also like to disrespect.
Now certainly nobody is going to confuse Grindstone with AP Indy, but Miss Grindstone was winning graded stakes races at age 5. Colita is still hitting the board in graded stakes races at age 6. Organ Grinder was a nice graded stakes winning colt, and Kid Grindstone appears to be hitting his best stride at age 4. And although people LOVE to talk about how lucky Birdstone got in the Belmont, he still won the race AND the Travers (not to mention a very good 2yo campaign).
Grindstone has a wonderful pedigree, was a very good horse on the track, and I think he deserves a little more respect as a stallion.

Thunder Gulch · #2 07-09-2006, 12:58 PM

Birdstone was a top notch racehorse. He won the Champagne at 2 and Belmont/Travers double hasn't been accomplished very often. Throw out that disastrous Lanes End with the sealed track, and he really didn't ever run poorly.

#3 07-09-2006, 01:05 PM

Grindstone also is one of the best looking horses you could ever lay your eyes on...close to perfect, but he has relatively been a failure at stud...

#4 07-09-2006, 01:24 PM

Grindstone has had six crops which are 3YO&UP ... and Birdstone is his only significant offspring.

He's had about five or six decent others ... but as the quality of the mares going to him declines ... so will the number his good horses.

Sadly ... five years from now ... Grindstone will be remembered only for his Kentucky Derby win ... and Birdstone ... and little else.

miraja2 · #5 07-09-2006, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bold Brooklynite

Grindstone has had six crops which are 3YO&UP ... and Birdstone is his only significant offspring.

He's had about five or six decent others ... but as the quality of the mares going to him declines ... so will the number his good horses.

Sadly ... five years from now ... Grindstone will be remembered only for his Kentucky Derby win ... and Birdstone ... and little else.

Maybe you are right and the quality of mares going to him will decline, but I hope not. I mean how many horses are there like Grindstone who are Derby winners, by another Derby winner and out of a G1 winning mare? You can't get much better bred than that.
I look at it like this. His sire was a TC race winner, he was a TC race winner, and he has already sired a TC race winner. That looks good to me. If I owned a nice mare I would definiely consider Grindstone.
The fact that he has sired several horses that have won graded stakes races in their 4yo and 5yo campaigns makes me think that the soundness questions that are always raised with his offspring may be somewhat exagerated.

westcoastinvader · #6 07-10-2006, 03:30 AM

Interesting to see the Grindstone thread here.....

I had "Stone Rain" nicely in the Whiting Stakes out here yesterday.

He's gone wire to wire in his last four, or perhaps five.

#7 07-10-2006, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miraja2

... how many horses are there like Grindstone who are Derby winners, by another Derby winner and out of a G1 winning mare? You can't get much better bred than that.
I look at it like this. His sire was a TC race winner, he was a TC race winner, and he has already sired a TC race winner. That looks good to me. If I owned a nice mare I would definiely consider Grindstone.

What you say is true ... but is also meaningless to breeders.

What they want is a stallion whose children are in demand in the auction ring ... who will bring a big sales price.

The stallion's racing history and family history mean little once his children start racing ... and if they don't perform ... he's toast. And that ... I'm afraid ... is Grindstone's inevitable fate.

#8 07-10-2006, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by westcoastinvader

Interesting to see the Grindstone thread here.....

Yes ... let's have a big round of applause for Miraja ...

CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP .......

sumitas · #9 07-10-2006, 11:36 AM

His son Ommadon stands in NY. The Fappiano line is a popular line and will always sell. Grindstone will keep getting his mares.

#10 07-10-2006, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sumitas

His son Ommadon stands in NY. The Fappiano line is a popular line and will always sell. Grindstone will keep getting his mares.

But his stud fee has dropped to $5,000 ... and will continue to drop ... as will the quality of his children's racing ability.

Five or ten years from now ... Grindstone will sadly be a non-factor in discussions of contemporary racing and breeding.

sumitas · #11 07-10-2006, 04:03 PM

He bred 27 mares last year, according to the Jockey Club. Who knows, maybe he'll be moved to God knows where.

#12 07-10-2006, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sumitas

He bred 27 mares last year, according to the Jockey Club. Who knows, maybe he'll be moved to God knows where.

That's what usually happens.

I remember how sad I felt when Spectacular Bid was moved from Kentucky ... to Unadilla, New York.

He was well cared-for ... but what a shame that a legend like The Bid wound up in backwater grape fields ... instead of the heart of bluegrass country.