Hot new sires of 2013 - Colonel John

Photo: WinStar

 

Precocious doesn't come to mind when one thinks of Colonel John's offspring. Yet they've started to make their appearance on the track. Within the last couple of weeks, two of his sons have entered the winner's circle. The WinStar Farm home-bred Cash Conversion galloped to a 2 ¾ length victory over the Presque Isle Downs oval to kick off the month of June. A week later, Here's Johnny subdued his rivals by 2 ½ lengths at Churchill.
COLONEL JOHN (Tiznow - Sweet Damsel, by Turkoman)
 
Career:
Colonel John is a large bodied horse reminiscent of his sire Tiznow. He was a late-season two year old, yet showed obvious talent demolishing a group of maidens by over four lengths. The WinStar homebred won the Real Quiet Stakes before checking in a late-running second to Into Mischief in the Cash Call Futurity (G-1), to finish out his two year old season.
Receiving only two preps before the Kentucky Derby, Colonel John was victorious in the Sham (G-3) and Santa Anita Derby. When the big day arrived, Colonel John went off the second favorite in the Kentucky Derby. He steadied early, then made his move six wide from tenth place and finished evenly in sixth behind Big Brown. Skiping the rest of the Triple Crown, Colonel John came back in July with a prep in the Swaps Stakes (G-2) . In a thrilling edition of the Travers, Colonel John broke in the air, but was closer to the pace than usual, tracking the Belmont Stakes winner Da'Tara from fourth. Colonel John ran down Da'Tara in the stretch, to prevail by a nose over the fast closing Mambo in Seattle. It was over five lengths back to the Travers favorite, Pyro. After his huge win in the Mid-Summer Derby, Colonel John visited the winner's circle once more, this time as a four year old, winning the Wickerr Stakes at a mile over the turf. Colonel John was retired to stud after placing fifth in the 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic (G-1). 
Career Highlights:
Race record: 15-6-3-1 ($1,779,012)
1st – Travers Stakes (G-1) 1 ¼ miles
1st - Santa Anita Derby (G-1) 1 1/8 miles
1st – Sham Stakes (G-3) 1 1/8 miles
1st - Wickerr Stakes 1 mile (T)
1st – Real Quiet Stakes 1 1/6 miles
2nd – Goodwood Stakes (G-1) 1 1/8 miles
2nd – CashCall Futurity 1 1/16 miles
3rd - Swaps Stakes (G-2) 1 1/8 miles
Pedigree:
Colonel John has a stamina oriented pedigree. His sire, two-time Horse of the Year Champ Tiznow, is a young stallion whose only son at stud with babies on the track is Tiz Wonderful (by Hennessy). Tiz Wonderful's first crop are now three year olds. He wound up at #8 on the Freshman Sire List last year and is currently #7 on the Second Crop Sire list.
Colonel John is the most accomplished of his dam's offspring. Proving that breeding is still a genetic roll of the dice, Colonel John's full brother Mr. Hot Stuff placed in the Sham and Santa Anita Derby, but found his calling as a steeplechase horse. Their full sister Kayce Ace is stakes placed. Another half sister, Caroline's Gold is Grade 3 stakes placed.
 
Overall, Colonel John's distaff family is light on blacktype. His dam owns no stakes earnings, but she was a solid race mare, earning a 33-5-5-4 ($66,469) record at the allowance level. Sweet Damsel was a miler who won over dirt and turf. Colonel John's second dam Grande Dame won a restricted race and his third dam Fia placed in the CCA Oaks (G-1) and three other graded stakes.
Colonel John's damsire Turkoman was Champion Older Male in 1986. He's an excellent broodmare sire and claims over 30 stakes winners as a damsire, including King's Bishop (G-1) winner and sire Hard Spun.
 

How to bet his offspring:
Surfaces:
So, what can we expect from Colonel John's progeny? S Colonel John was adept over dirt, turf and Cushion Track. He placed on Polytrack, but that wasn't his best surface. So far, Colonel John is represented by winners over Tapeta and turf. His babies should also handle mud. Some may be capable over Polytrack, but may not be able to offer a top level performance over the surface.
25 of Colonel John's two year olds went through the sales ring. 17 sold between $19K - $300K, eight were RNA.
Tiznow's offspring look remarkably like their sire and Colonel John is no exception. He is a large, muscular horse who covers a distance of ground. Typically, he was a mid/late season two year old. Like many with his physical build and pedigree, he improved with age and racing. The majority of his progeny will make their debuts from mid-season (late July, early August) onward and improve greatly as three year olds. Some may be quick enough to win at six furlongs, however, seven furlongs through 1 1/4 miles will be more suitable. They should be proficient over every surface, although bet his offspring on Polytrack with caution.

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