Sharp Azteca

By Alan Porter

“Sharp Azteca is a spectacular grade one winning miler. From the Storm Cat line, Sharp Azteca is by Freud, a sprinting brother to three-time Leading Sire Giant’s Causeway, and himself sire of six grade one winners. Out of a daughter of Horse of the Year Saint Liam, from a very live family, Sharp Azteca traces through ‘blue hen’ Square Angel to mares to a three-quarters sister to Northern Dancer’s sire, Nearctic.”

Giant’s Causeway has been exceptional with Mr. Prospector line mares, and Freud has also had his share of success out with mares from this line. The Fappiano branch particularly appeals here, Freud has stakes winning grade one performer Quick Little Miss out of a daughter of Unbridled, and Giant’s Causeway has enjoyed success when crossed back over Fappiano through Quiet American (who is also in Sharp Azteca, and who can be found through Midnight Lute), Defensive Play, Cryptoclearance and his son, Ride the Rails (sire of Candy Ride), Rubiano (sire of Too Much Bling) and Unbridled’s Song – broodmare sire of Freud stakes winner Bavaro. Unbridled and his son Unbridled’s Song can be also introduced via Broken Vow (who is interesting for being out of a mare by Nijinsky II, a genetic relative to Storm Bird, the grandsire of Freud), Empire Maker, Eurosilver (who also brings in Nijinsky II), Grindstone (sire of Birdstone, who gives inbreeding to Storm Bird), Red Bullet, Even the Score, Rockport Harbor, First Defence, Graydar, Songandaprayer, Midshipman, Old Fashioned, Zensational, Dunkirk and Buddha and Half Ours (both out of mares by Storm Cat, giving a double of that horse). 

Freud has a trio of stakes winners out of mares from the Forty Niner branch of Mr. Prospector, including from daughters of Editor’s Note. This strain can be brought in through Distorted Humor (broodmare sire of two grade one winners by Giant’s Causeway, and sire of Flower Alley, Drosselmeyer, Jimmy Creed and Mclean’s Music), Coronado’s Quest, Roar, Gold Case, and Gold Fever. From a mare by Lemon Drop Kid, Freud has multiple stakes winner Lovely Syn, and he also has a stakes winner out of a mare by Kingmambo. Out of mares from other branches of the Mr. Prospector line Freud also has stakes winners out of mares by Good and Tough and Flying Chevron (both by Carson City, also sire of City Zip, Lord Carson, Five Star Day, Cuvee and Pollard’s Vision), Silver Ghost, Distinctive Pro, Double Negative and Rodeo (by Gone West, who has also done well under Giant’s Causeway, and can also be introduced through Grand Slam, Elusive Quality, Speightstown – giving a well-placed inbreeding to Storm Cat –  Mr. Greeley and Proud Citizen). Freud has multiple stakes winner Therapist out of a mare by Smart Strike (sire of Curlin, Lookin At Lucky and English Channel); and stakes winners out of mares by Mutakddim and his sire Seeking the Gold (also sire of Petionville, and Cape Town), Miswaki (sire of Black Tie Affair), Machiavellian (sire of Street Cry; grandsire of Street Sense and Street Boss), Crafty Prospector, Distinctive Pro, Lycius, Jade Hunter, Gulch and his sons Thunder Gulch (sire of Point Given) and Torrential, Hansel and Mujtahid (both by Woodman) and Silver Ghost. 

Sharp Azteca is out of a mare by Saint Liam, who is by Saint Ballado (a brother to Champion Glorious Song, the dam of Freud’s broodmare sire, Rahy). Freud has a graded winner out of a mare by Twilight Agenda, a son of Devil’s Bag – the brother to Saint Ballado and Glorious Song. Devil’s Bag is also sire of Devil His Due, Abaginone and Diablo. It could also be worth crossing Sharp Azteca back over mares other sons of Saint Ballado, who include Captain Bodgit, Sweetsouthernsaint, Yankee Victor, Straight Man and Flame Thrower. Halo could also be introduced through More Than Ready. Halo is a son of Hail to Reason, and Freud has graded stakes winning millionaire Lubush out of mare by Cure the Blues (sire of American Chance), from the Stop the Music branch of Hail to Reason. From the Roberto branch of Hail to Reason, Freud has stakes winners out of mares by You and I and Prized (both by Kris S., who is also broodmare sire of a Freud stakes winner, and who is also sire of Arch, Rock Hard Ten and Kissin Kris; and grandsire of Blame). This would also encourage trying mares from the Dynaformer, Red Ransom and Silver Hawk branches of Roberto.

From the Northern Dancer line, Freud is sire of grade one winner Giant Ryan out of a mare by Dayjur and multiple stakes winner Dreamsgonewild, by Strolling Along, both sons of Danzig (sire of Belong to Me, Exchange Rate, Boundary, War Chant, Langfuhr, Lost Solider, Hard Spun and War Front), and graded winner Key Dance, out of a mare by Orpen (a grandson of Danzig out of a mare by Devil’s Bag). From other branches of Northern Dancer, he also has near $900,000 earner Hessonite from a daughter of Manila (by Lyphard) and multiple stakes winner Merriweather Jessica from a mare by Northern Jove. Giant’s Causeway has also sired a grade one winner out of a mare by Dixieland Band, the sire of Dixie Union (broodmare sire of a Freud stakes winner), Dixie Brass (broodmare sire of a Freud stakes winner) and Hook and Ladder.  Out of mares from the Deputy Minister line, Freud has multiple stakes winner Freudie Anne from a daughter of Toccet (by Awesome Again, also sire of Ghostzapper) and stake winner P J’s Superego out of a mare by The Prime Minister, encouraging daughters of Dehere, Silver Deputy, Touch Gold, French Deputy and Forest Camp. Freud’s grade two winner Orange Nugget is out of a mare by Louis Quartoze (sire of Repent).

From his own broodmare sire line, that of Blushing Groom, Freud has stakes winners out of mares by Cherokee Run (by Runaway Groom, and himself sire of Kafwain and Yonaguska) and Orientate and Housebuster (both by  Mt. Livermore, also sire of Peaks and Valleys). 

From the A.P. Indy line, Freud has a stakes winner out of a mare by A.P. Indy himself; grade one winner Summer Love out of a mare by Pulpit, and a stakes winner out of a mare by Friends Lake. Pulpit is sire of Tapit (himself sire of Trappe Shot, Tapizar and Concord Point), and A.P. Indy is also sire of Malibu Moon, Mineshaft (sire of Discreetly Mine and Dialed In, who gives well-placed inbreeding to Storm Cat), Stephen Got Even, Golden Missile, Jump Start, Old Trieste, Apitude, Congrats and Flatter).

Freud has two stakes winners out of mares by Honour and Glory (sire of Put It Back), a son of Relaunch (also available through Tiznow and Officer). From mares by D’Accord, a reverse Secretariat/Northern cross to Storm Cat, Freud has sired grade one winner Franny Freud and grade two winner Fourstar Crook. D’Accord is a brother to Medaille d’Or, the sire of Tour d’Or. Freud also has stakes winners out of mares by Notebook, Wild Again, Lord At War and Go For Gin (by Cormorant).