I offer my expertise as a bloodstock agent, sales consultant, and pedigree analyst to assist in breeding or purchasing superior thoroughbred racehorses through sound pedigree principles, horsemanship, and consistent implementation of well-designed plans. Check out the resources I offer below and sign up for my newsletter!
Why “Good-Looking” Horses Keep Losing: The Cost of Ignoring Pedigree Structure
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Hello! Every sale, the same mistake repeats. A flashy colt enters the ring. Clean throat. Big walk. Everyone’s watching. “He just looks like a runner,” someone whispers. But a year later? They’re wondering what went wrong. Here’s the truth: looks don’t tell you the whole story. That’s why we don’t start with appearance. We start with pedigree structure, then conformation and then price. And that approach just delivered again last week. Twice. Bosun, a recent Fair Grounds winner, was a sales purchase selected through our OPTIMAL Matings system. Full 7-generation analysis. Balanced duplication. Reinforced female family. His catalog page wasn't obvious—but the pedigree structure backed him. Great physical, too! Read more: Bosun Dominates Turf Debut with Powerful Fair Grounds Win!​ Three day later, St. Armand’s Key picked up his second win of the meet at Fair Grounds, only 2/5 of a second off the course record. He isn't an OPTIMAL Mating—but he was selected using our strict physical evaluation standards. No shortcuts. No surface-level guesses. Just the right type for the right program. Read more: St. Armands Key Shines Again with Gritty Fair Grounds Win​ Different sources. Same result: disciplined selection. No hype. No surprises. If you’ve ever spent six figures on a horse that didn’t deliver, this article is for you: 👉 Pedigree Over Pretty: What Really Makes a Winner​ Inside, you’ll learn:
This isn’t about luck. It’s about removing guesswork—before the hammer drops. Clark Shepherd |
Hi! I'm Clark Shepherd.
I offer my expertise as a bloodstock agent, sales consultant, and pedigree analyst to assist in breeding or purchasing superior thoroughbred racehorses through sound pedigree principles, horsemanship, and consistent implementation of well-designed plans. Check out the resources I offer below and sign up for my newsletter!
Hello! Most breeders feel it: the pull to make matings that “sell.” But what sells today often underperforms tomorrow. You don’t get many shots. One foal per mare, per year. Why waste it following someone else’s formula? In this article, you’ll learn why sale-driven decisions often backfire and how top breeders stay focused on what actually works. Read the article here → How Breeders Can Get Results Without Giving in to Sale Ring Influence Want proof it pays off? Fly Strong was identified as...
Hey!Most breeders want the same thing: Foals with the class, soundness and scope to compete. But year after year, the results fall short. Why? Because most breeding plans start in the wrong place: with stallion ads, sales averages or a nick rating that looks good on paper. That approach leads to overcrowded outcomes: average foals in a saturated market. If you want to breed better racehorses, you need a smarter starting point. Start with your mare. She’s not just part of the equation, she...
Buying a yearling shouldn't feel like a shot in the dark. You’ve done the work. You’ve studied catalogs. But picking the right horse still feels like guessing. It doesn’t have to. I’ve just released my OPTIMAL Mating Sales Selections for the Fasig-Tipton July Sale. These picks are based on full seven-generation pedigree analysis using proven, practical strategies that have helped produce multiple graded stakes winners, including a Kentucky Derby champion. Here’s what you get: • Pedigree-based...