In an ordinary year, Mr. Big News' upset win in the Oaklawn Stakes might have given him an outside shot at starting in the Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) but might equally well have signaled a developing colt best reserved for the Haskell Invitational Stakes (USA-G1) or the Travers Stakes (USA-G1). In topsy-turvy 2020, the question now facing his connections is whether to wheel him back around in the Arkansas Derby (USA-G1) in three weeks to try to guarantee a Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (USA-G1) slot on September 5 or hope that some more points races will be designated between now and then that might fit the colt's schedule better.
Nonetheless, it's a nice problem to have, particularly with a colt whose pedigree would make him pure gold as a stallion prospect if he can come up with one or more Grade 1 wins. A son of three-time American champion sire Giant's Causeway, he is a great-grandson of Ballade, whose family has already come up with several good stallions as well as some high-class racehorses.
The Canadian Broodmare of the Year for 1992, Ballade was sired by French Classic winner and champion Herbager---a strong stamina influence---from Miss Swapco, who took after her speedy sire Cohoes. This fish-and-fowl mating failed to produce a top racehorse, though Ballade was consistent at her level and was said to have shown considerable speed. Where Ballade's genetics came through was in the paddocks, where she produced three high-class runners: 1980 Canadian Horse of the Year Glorious Song, 1983 American champion juvenile male Devil's Bag, and 1992 Arlington Classic Stakes (USA-G2) winner Saint Ballado, all by two-time American champion sire Halo.
Although he was the sire of 46 stakes winners, Devil's Bag was somewhat disappointing as a sire, but Saint Ballado came through to become the American champion sire of 2005. Unfortunately, he was already dead by then, and his best son, 2005 American Horse of the Year Saint Liam, was also tragically short-lived; a paddock accident cut short a stud career that turned out good results (not least American Horse of the Year Havre de Grace) from the single crop that Saint Liam lived to sire. Glorious Song, who was also the American and Canadian champion older female of 1980 and repeated as Canadian champion older female in 1981, produced two very good sire sons in the In the Wings colt Singspiel (the American champion turf male of 1996) and Grade 2 winner Rahy (by Blushing Groom), as well as South African Group 2 winner Rakeen (by Northern Dancer).
Angelic Song, Ballade's 1988 daughter by Halo, never made it to the track to try to emulate the feats of her full siblings. Nonetheless, she produced four stakes winners including 2002 Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (USA-G1) winner Sligo Bay (by Sadler's Wells) and is the second dam of Japanese Group 2 winner Danon Ballade. Mr. Big News' dam Unappeased is by Sadler's Wells' champion son Galileo and so is closely related to Sligo Bay, whose 13 stakes winners include 2014 Canadian Horse of the Year Lexie Lou and two other champions.
Mr. Big News finished in the Oaklawn Stakes like a colt who will definitely appreciate more distance, but the question is whether he simply took advantage of a fast pace up front and perhaps the sloppy surface as well or whether he is a colt who has finally figured out what he is supposed to do. His closing style and apparent lack of tactical speed are disadvantages if he does not get help from a favorable pace scenario, but the really good ones make their own luck regardless of running style. If he matures into that level of ability, that would be more sweet music for the family of a grand mare who has already provided several high notes in the history of Thoroughbred racing and breeding.
Nonetheless, it's a nice problem to have, particularly with a colt whose pedigree would make him pure gold as a stallion prospect if he can come up with one or more Grade 1 wins. A son of three-time American champion sire Giant's Causeway, he is a great-grandson of Ballade, whose family has already come up with several good stallions as well as some high-class racehorses.
The Canadian Broodmare of the Year for 1992, Ballade was sired by French Classic winner and champion Herbager---a strong stamina influence---from Miss Swapco, who took after her speedy sire Cohoes. This fish-and-fowl mating failed to produce a top racehorse, though Ballade was consistent at her level and was said to have shown considerable speed. Where Ballade's genetics came through was in the paddocks, where she produced three high-class runners: 1980 Canadian Horse of the Year Glorious Song, 1983 American champion juvenile male Devil's Bag, and 1992 Arlington Classic Stakes (USA-G2) winner Saint Ballado, all by two-time American champion sire Halo.
Although he was the sire of 46 stakes winners, Devil's Bag was somewhat disappointing as a sire, but Saint Ballado came through to become the American champion sire of 2005. Unfortunately, he was already dead by then, and his best son, 2005 American Horse of the Year Saint Liam, was also tragically short-lived; a paddock accident cut short a stud career that turned out good results (not least American Horse of the Year Havre de Grace) from the single crop that Saint Liam lived to sire. Glorious Song, who was also the American and Canadian champion older female of 1980 and repeated as Canadian champion older female in 1981, produced two very good sire sons in the In the Wings colt Singspiel (the American champion turf male of 1996) and Grade 2 winner Rahy (by Blushing Groom), as well as South African Group 2 winner Rakeen (by Northern Dancer).
Angelic Song, Ballade's 1988 daughter by Halo, never made it to the track to try to emulate the feats of her full siblings. Nonetheless, she produced four stakes winners including 2002 Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (USA-G1) winner Sligo Bay (by Sadler's Wells) and is the second dam of Japanese Group 2 winner Danon Ballade. Mr. Big News' dam Unappeased is by Sadler's Wells' champion son Galileo and so is closely related to Sligo Bay, whose 13 stakes winners include 2014 Canadian Horse of the Year Lexie Lou and two other champions.
Mr. Big News finished in the Oaklawn Stakes like a colt who will definitely appreciate more distance, but the question is whether he simply took advantage of a fast pace up front and perhaps the sloppy surface as well or whether he is a colt who has finally figured out what he is supposed to do. His closing style and apparent lack of tactical speed are disadvantages if he does not get help from a favorable pace scenario, but the really good ones make their own luck regardless of running style. If he matures into that level of ability, that would be more sweet music for the family of a grand mare who has already provided several high notes in the history of Thoroughbred racing and breeding.
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