Abel Tasman

5th-AQU, $85K, Msw, 2yo, 1m, 2:10 p.m. ET. OTTINHO (Quality Road) is out of Quiet Giant (Giant's Causeway), who is famously known for producing one of the top sires of this age in Gun Runner (by Candy Ride {Arg}). The first-time starter and Three Chimneys homebred--sent to trainer Chad Brown--counts among his extended female family GISW Funtastic (More Than Ready) and MGSW Lull (War Front). A stablemate of Ottinho, Up Yonder (Curlin) heads to the post for owner Jeff Drown. The $500,000 Keeneland September grad is out of a winning...

1st-Churchill Downs, $118,575, Msw, 5-24, 3yo/up, f/m, 1m, 1:35.89, ft, nose. SWEET SERAPHINE (f, 3, Quality Road--Venetian Sonata, by Bernardini) debuted as a 2-year-old at Ellis Park last August, finishing a respectable third just 1 1/2 lengths behind a pair of classy fillies in last weekend's GIII Miss Preakness Stakes winner Echo Sound (Echo Town) and Evanescence (Munnings), who ran third in the GII Eight Belles Stakes on Kentucky Oaks day to start the month. Not seen since that effort and now coming off the nine-month layoff, the 2-1 favorite...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wedneday's Observations features a son of six-time American Grade I winner Abel Tasman (Quality Road) at Dundalk 15.30 Dundalk, €15,000, Mdn, 2yo, 7f (AWT) Aidan O'Brien trainee HALLOWED (Galileo {Ire}) is a son of six-time Grade I heroine Abel Tasman (Quality Road), who was knocked down for a sale-topping...

8th-Pimlico, $62,700, Alw (NW1X)/Opt. Clm ($50,000-$62,500), 5-19, 3yo, 6f, 1:09.94, ft, 1 3/4 lengths. FORT WARREN (c, 3, Curlin--La Appassionata {SW & GSP, $162,920}, by Bernardini) became a 'TDN Rising Star' when debuted in gate-to-wire fashion for then-trainer Bob Baffert at Santa Anita Oct. 30. A far-beaten third next time out in the GII San Vincente S. Jan. 29, he went to the sidelines for much of the spring, changing barns to return on the east coast for Brittany Russell. Bet down to even money and with Lasix in his...

Abel Tasman (Quality Road), Beholder (Henny Hughes), Stephanie's Kitten (Kitten's Joy), Plum Pretty (Medaglia d'Oro), Stellar Wind (Curlin) and Flower Alley (Distorted Humor). These names are recognizable champions, classic winners, and high-profile Grade I winners. Another common thread they all share is they were bred during their respective sires' third season, on stud fees ranging from $12,500 to $40,000. It took their breeders' confidence, gumption, and desire to not just go with the status quo and avoid young sires that were in their "bubble years." Breeding Thoroughbreds is a long-term...