by Les Brinsfield ©

The Domino Principle Illustrated

Came Home came east and won the 2001 edition of the Hopeful at Saratoga in rapid time. He established himself as a player on the coming three-year-old scene, but I, for one, doubt his classic potential.

He is not the first, and sadly will not be the last, who would appreciate the existence of an Eclipse Award for best miler. A campaign toward that end would make more sense than backing off to pure sprints or stretching out to the classics. Neither option is rational when there is a body of high class competitors in the middle.

He is yet another on the list of recent and current good ones featuring the Domino scenario (see more in-depth article on Domino) replete with Discovery, Frizette, and the sisters Mannie Himyar and champion Correction, who won 38 times. The Clever Trick / Full Out cross in Nice Assay brings Discovery, and one each of the sisters through Haste and Wise Counsellor from Clever Trick, and Correction only through a second cross of Haste from Full Out.

Both Clever Trick and Full Out have Djeddah, whose double Frizette brings Lady Reel via Hamburg - twice, for a total of four lines of the 5/8 sister to Domino. Full Out  is tail female to Galopade through daughter Cotillion, same as Discovery while Domino comes via Fandango. [Yes It's True also features a double Djeddah with Clever Trick and other sisters to Domino.]

Now comes Reel, yet another daughter of Galopade, dam of the 3/4 brothers War Dance and LeCompte, sire and damsire respectively of Lizzie G., she the second dam of Domino. Reel is a key key in Domino and returns from elsewhere are dynamite in any pedigree. As Reel is basic to Domino and his sisters and Lady Reel, she is seldom lacking in a pedigree. But Came Home is also crossed on Tim Tam and Best Turn who descend from sisters Two Lea and Miz Clementine out of Two Bob from Reel. Two Bob features Pink Domino and Lady Reel as well as very important female lines of Broomstick and Himyar.

[We offer a link to a portrait essay on Reel from affiliate site, Thoroughbred Heritage, a source of countless treasures. Seldom has any rendition of a horse [or anything else] touched my soul as much as this portrait. I include it in hopes others may enjoy it as well.]

Gone West brings Correction and Frizette from the dam Mr. Prospector, along with Discovery from Bold Ruler and Native Dancer. His get appreciate these returns in general and son Mr. Greeley's dam is intensely tripled to Discovery via Bold Ruler, Hasty Road and Native Dancer, for instance.

I look forward to this one in good mile races and to the day when milers get their just reward - as in Eclipse.