A.P. Indy catching up to Pine Bluff in the 1992 Belmont. (Jason Moran)
In the 11/17 print issue of Bloodhorse is the first of an excellent new series entitled (you guessed it) Training Offspring of Sires.
In the first installment 10 trainers are asked how they work with progeny of a prominent stallion, in this case A.P. Indy.
As someone who’s hasn’t been around the handicapping block just yet (i.e., didn’t actually watch the racing career of any of the current crop of stallions), I found this to be fantastic. I’m just now starting to make a concerted effort to learn what traits can be ascribed to certain sires. While more seasoned handicappers probably wouldn’t find any surprises I would imagine trainer insights are always helpful.
The general take aways were: Be patient/they get better with age and while not sprinters, they’re very versatile but do their best at longer distances.
There were also plenty of interesting one offs:
I’ve had all different types but one thing they all have in common is they all seem to benefit from a race; they’ve all improved with a race under their belt, which I found interesting.
Even Bernardini, who trained really well and looked like a horse who would win his first start, he went out there and didn’t run as well as I thought he would first out. But he came back after that one and the rest is history.
– Tom Albertrani