Daehling Ranch Thoroughbreds

AFFORDABLE STALLIONS INCLUDING THE $ 2,000,000 HORSE
What’s affordable about a $ 2,000,000 horse? I’ve been a big fan of horse racing some the 1990s. One aspect that intrigues me is not only the racing, but also the breeding in the thoroughbred industry. As a horse racing gambler I like to use pedigree of a horse as an insight especially big race such as the Kentucky Derby. Not this year but the last two years I bet the correct winner of the Kentucky Derby. What’s cool about pedigree also is that when I handicap a horse sometimes I notice that I either bet on that horse’s father or mother in the past.
This is my second thoroughbred farm I visited in California, but my first in Northern California. I came here three Fridays ago to see three stallions, 2 of them have local ties to Golden Gate Fields Racetrack or Bay Meadows Racetrack. The third is the $ 2,000,000 horse, which I’ll get back to later.
When I arrived I was greeted by Jim Daehling the owner of this farm. He took me to a tour of the farm. Besides the horse farm this property inhabits a nursery and winery, which the farm sells grapes to Gallo Winery, to compensate for the horse farm. That’s an ingenious approach to make money. As I surveyed the property I was impressed with large yet green pastures. I found out that despite the drought this farm is located near the Consumes River. The underground water from that river makes the land fertile.
The main attraction for me was the stallions. This farm has 6 stallions, but I came to see 3. The stallion Peppered Cat ran at Golden Gate Fields where he won his second race, which ended up as his last win in his career. A little history note his father Tabasco Cat won the El Camino Real Derby, a Kentucky Derby prep race when that race was run at Bay Meadows Racetrack but now is run at Golden Gate Fields. He would end up winning two Triple Crown races — Preakness and Belmont Stakes. The stallion Under Caution never ran at either Golden Gate Field or Bay Meadows Racetrack, but his father AP Indy, who was sold at a public auction in Kentucky for $ 2,900,000, won his second race at Bay Meadows. He would end up winning a Triple Crown race, the Belmont Stakes, and be named Horse of the Year. (The two years that I bet the consecutive winners of the Kentucky Derby was because AP Indy was their grandfather.) The other stallion Gotham City is main reason why I came to visit this farm. Several years ago he was sold at a public auction for $ 2,000,000 as a racing prospect. His potential was never fully realized as he only ran on two races due to injury.
I have visited numerous farms in Kentucky, which is considered the thoroughbred breeding capital in the world due to its million dollar, blue-​blooded horses. Some of the stallions I visited in Kentucky are in the pedigrees of the three stallions I came to see at Daehling Ranch. However I didn’t know what to expect from these stallions’ disposition as I encountered some of relatives. Regarding Peppered Cat I visited his great-​grandfather Storm Bird in Kentucky. He was known for his volatile temper and wore a muzzle. I was not allowed to pet him. In fact Peppered Cat’s father Tabasco Cat almost killed his trainer when he ran him over. However Peppered Cat was mild manner when I saw him in his stall. With respect to Gotham City I visited his grandfather Halo in Kentucky. He even had a more psychotic temper because he would deliberately try to hurt humans. He definitely was one stallion that I was not allowed to pet though I was able to get close to him. Gotham City’s appearance resembles that of Halo. Did Gotham City inherit his grandfather’s infamous temper? Surprisingly he did not. I was allowed to pet him. How often do you get to pet a $ 2,000,000 horse? With Under Caution I visited his father AP Indy when I was in Kentucky. However he’s one of the nicest stallions I ever met as likes people however he has a reputation of producing sons who tend to be temperamental. I wouldn’t say Under Caution is temperamental but of the three stallions he was the most aggressive as I’ve seen dents on his fence. The farm’s website has pictures of the stallions that reside. Based on the website I didn’t think Peppered Cat looked impressive but when I met him he was the best looking of the three stallions I visited. Gotham City, though mild manner, has the most intimidating appearance because he’s almost black with that white blaze on his face.
The three stallions I visited have blue-​blooded pedigrees with a stud fee that is reasonable cheap in the thoroughbred breeding industry. In Kentucky the breeding fees of highly selective stallions can range from $ 50,000 to $ 300,000. The breeding fees of the stallion at Daehling Ranch are less than $ 2,000. If you want to breed your mare to a blue-​blooded stallion without «breaking the bank» by paying an expensive breeding fee this is one farm you might want to consider as its motto is «Affordable to the Small Breeder!»