Issue link: http://nytbreeders.epubxp.com/i/127475
CourtesY WiNstar FarM Cat Prowl on the Bluegrass Cat quite a catch for the New York-bred program BY evaN HaMMoNds he New York breeding program took a major step forward last year when Bluegrass Cat came to Vinery New York at Sugar Maple from WinStar Farm in Kentucky. Now in his second season at stud in the Empire State, Bluegrass Cat, a top-line grade I winner with a classic pedigree, quickly found his way toward the top of the sire list and has drawn a crowd of breeders for his services. In his first season in New York, the son of the legendary Storm Cat out of She's a Winner, by A.P. Indy, covered 118 mares, according to The Jockey T 22 Club's Report of Mares Bred. That figure ranked second in the state behind leading sire Freud. Well-built and a powerhouse both on the track and in the breeding shed, Bluegrass Cat stands 16 hands and looks the part. "He has a gorgeous presence about him," said Erin Robinson, who is in charge of season sales at Vinery in Kentucky. "When he first came to New York last year a lot of people in New York hadn't had the opportunity to see him because he had been in Kentucky, but when they saw him in person they were quite impressed. That's a good part of the reason why he got so many mares last year." Bluegrass Cat, bred by WinStar Farm, stood his first five seasons there. In 2011 he also shuttled to Haras Don Alberto in Chile. He was a hit from the beginning. He ranked second on the freshman sire list of 2010 with more than $1.3 million in progeny earnings, topping other heavyweights such as Bernardini, War Front, and Rockport Harbor during that first year. His top earner, Kathmanblu (out of a Devil's Bag mare), landed the Golden Rod Stakes (gr. II) at Churchill Downs after running third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. IIT). Bluegrass Cat also ranked second, this time to Bernardini, on the second-crop list the following year, with his big earner coming in the form of Sabercat, winner of the rich Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes (gr. III). Sabercat would go on to place in the 2012 Arkansas Derby (gr. I). Also in that second crop was the exciting Teeth of the Dog. Third in last year's Resorts World Casino New York City Wood Memorial Stakes (gr. I), Teeth of the Dog (out of the Deputy Minister mare Deputy Reality) would rise up to win both the Dwyer Stakes (gr. II) and Easy Goer Stakes later that summer at Belmont Park. The sire of 11 stakes winners, Bluegrass Cat has a pair of added-money winners this year: Michael With Us and Laurie's Rocket. "It's important for the state to have a horse like Bluegrass Cat not just because of his racing quality but of his production as well," Robinson said. "He's well-bred but at the same time he's also had these great runners that can compete at the highest level, so he is an important horse for New York going forward." Classic Lines Bluegrass Cat's pedigree needs little introduction. On the top line is Storm Cat, leading sire of 180 stakes winners and the most influential sire New York Breeder ❙ nytbreeders.org ❙ May 2013