Native Dancer, the first great racehorse in the second half of the 20th century, has turned out to be a pivotal figure in international pedigrees among horses born in that period. Although generally considered a slightly disappointing sire for much of his life, the “Gray Ghost” eventually compiled a highly respectable record as sire of 43 stakes winners (14.1% of foals), including 1963 French and English champion Hula Dancer, ‘66 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Kauai King, and ‘63 highweighted two-year-old Raise a Native.

Raise a Native and Native Dancer’s stakes-placed daughter Natalma primarily redeemed his place in breeding history. Natalma produced Northern Dancer, the best international classic sire of the second half of the century.

Raise a Native (a 1961 foal out of Raise You, by Case Ace) was rated the top North American two-year-old male on the Experimental Free Handicap at 126 pounds even though a bowed tendon forced his retirement after only four races of startling brilliance. (Hurry to Market, the champion in the Daily Racing Form and Thoroughbred Racing Associations polls, was second at 125 pounds, and Northern Dancer weighed in at 123.)

Native Dancer was endowed with the physique of a world’s-strongest-man competitor, but that imposing superstructure was perched on upright pasterns. Moreover, the mating with Raise You added the tied-in tendons of Case Ace’s maternal grandsire, Ultimus, to the conformational mix. Raise a Native’s best offspring were so brilliant, however, that the flaws hardly seemed to matter to breeders.

Three leading sires

Raise a Native is one of only three stallions (Fair Play and Northern Dancer were the other two) to have sired three leading American sires, Alydar, Exclusive Native, and Mr. Prospector, but only Mr. Prospector’s line appears likely to survive very far into the 21st century. Foaled in 1970 from Raise a Native’s sixth crop, Mr. Prospector was the second foal of Gold Digger, one of the best daughters of the great racehorse and influential broodmare sire Nashua.

Top-priced yearling at the 1971 Keeneland July yearling sale on a $220,000 bid from Abraham I. “Butch” Savin, Mr. Prospector somewhat justified his purchase price by winning seven of 14 starts, including two stakes victories, and earning $112,171. That bare race record did not reflect his flashes of brilliance, such as when he set a track record in 1:07 4/5 for six furlongs at Gulfstream Park in 1973 that stood unequaled until his great-grandson Artax matched it (in 1:07.89) in the ‘99 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1).

His career shortened by recurring ankle injuries, Mr. Prospector retired to stud in 1975 at Savin Farm near Ocala and made an immediate impact when his first crop of two-year-olds in 1978 included co-champion two-year-old filly It’s in the Air. His second, third, and fourth crops were of similar quality and, by the time his first classic-winning son, Conquistador Cielo, romped home in the 1982 Belmont Stakes (G1), Mr. Prospector had been relocated to Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky.

With better mares available to him at Claiborne, Mr. Prospector became the dominant North American sire of the 1980s, leading the general sire list in 1987 and ‘88 and the juvenile list in ‘79 and ‘87.

Almost as soon as Mr. Prospector’s early Florida-bred sons began to retire to stud, the son of Raise a Native began to develop a reputation as a sire of sires. Although his first top-caliber son Hello Gorgeous, flopped badly in Europe, less-talented early sons were better sires than their race records would have indicated.

Fappiano

The first son of Mr. Prospector to make a lasting impact on the national stage was 1981 Metropolitan Handicap (G1) winner Fappiano (out of Killaloe, by Dr. Fager). Retired to stud at Tartan Farms in Ocala in 1982, Fappiano emulated his sire by becoming leading freshman sire in ‘85, when his first-crop son Tasso received an Eclipse Award as champion two-year-old male.

Although he died young at age 13 in 1990 after siring just nine crops, Fappiano still is considered Mr. Prospector’s most significant son at stud. His champion Kentucky Derby (G1)-winning son Unbridled has sired three American classic winners in Grindstone (sire of 2004 Belmont Stakes winner Birdstone), Red Bullet, and Empire Maker, and Unbridled’s son Unbridled’s Song has already sired Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) winner Unbridled Elaine. Fappiano’s sons Cryptoclearance and Quiet American have sired American classic winners Victory Gallop and Real Quiet, respectively, both now at stud. Fappiano was a bigger, somewhat leggier horse than most of Mr. Prospector’s offspring, though rather offset in front, and his best descendants have generally been big horses who stay better than most tail-male descendants of Mr. Prospector.

Three other Florida-conceived sons have exerted a highly positive influence on the international stage. Conquistador Cielo, 1982 Horse of the Year, followed Mr. Prospector to Claiborne at a then-record syndication value of $36.4-million in 1983 and established a highly respectable if not sensational record.

Conquistador Cielo was the sire of 71 stakes winners (7.7%), 21 of group or graded stakes quality, and his Grade 1-winning son Marquetry has sired champion sprinters Artax and Squirtle Squirt.

Crafty Prospector

Crafty Prospector never won a stakes, but his seven wins in ten starts and a close second in the 1983 Gulfstream Park Handicap (G1) in his final start clearly indicated that he was graded-stakes caliber. His racing record earned him a place at stud in Florida, and he made the most of it, soon following his sire to Kentucky.

Crafty Prospector developed into one of Mr. Prospector’s most consistent sons at stud, siring 8.5% stakes winners. Though Crafty Prospector sired 1.9% group or graded stakes winners, only one of them, Devious Course, managed a Grade 1 win in America. A rather plain chestnut with a right front foot that turns out like his sire’s, Crafty Prospector passed on relative soundness and toughness, as exemplified by his 86.1% starters and 68.8% winners, both well above the norm for sons of Mr. Prospector.

Miswaki, perhaps Mr. Prospector’s best-bred Florida son other than Fappiano, was a brilliant two-year-old in France before winning a sprint stakes in the United States at three. A small, muscular, sprinting type, Miswaki was out of Hopespringseternal, by Buckpasser, and sired good winners at all distances and on all surfaces, including 1991 Horse of the Year Black Tie Affair (Ire), ‘93 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) winner Urban Sea, and ‘90 top Australian two-year-old Umatilla, who became a successful sire.

Buckpasser mares

With the highest-quality broodmares of Claiborne and its clients at his disposal, Mr. Prospector inevitably sired Kentucky-bred sons who surpassed those conceived in Florida. Seeking the Gold and Woodman, who like Miswaki were out of Buckpasser mares, sired runners of the highest class on both turf and dirt. Seeking the Gold, bred by Ogden Phipps and out of Con Game, by Buckpasser, more closely resembled Mr. Prospector than most of his sons and became his natural successor at Claiborne. Winner of the 1988 Super Derby (G1) and second to Alysheba in that year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), Seeking the Gold sired 1994 champion three-year-old filly Heavenly Prize in his first crop and champion juvenile filly Flanders in his second. More recently, dominating performances of the late Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) winner Dubai Millennium and a victory by Jazil in the 2006 Belmont Stakes obliterated early perceptions that Seeking the Gold was primarily a “filly sire,” and his son Petionville has established a solid stud record.

Woodman (out of champion Numbered Account’s full sister Playmate, by Buckpasser) kicked off his stud career in spectacular fashion with 1990 European highweight two-year-old Hector Protector, ‘91 Preakness (G1) and Belmont winner Hansel, and ‘90 English champion two-year-old Mujtahid in his first crop.

That early success attracted much better-and many more-mares to his court, and the ultra-fertile Woodman became one of the first to serve the much larger books that became the norm for popular stallions.

Woodman’s percentages never have been as high as most stallions capable of getting truly top-class runners, but he sired American classic winner Timber Country; 1996 European champion and ‘96 and ‘97 English highweight Bosra Sham, a full sister to Hector Protector; and 2002 English and Irish highweight Hawk Wing.

In 2007, Woodman replaced Mr. Prospector atop the broodmare sire standings, ending his sire’s ten-year run.

Forty Niner

Seeking the Gold’s contemporary, 1987 champion two-year-old male Forty Niner (a Claiborne-bred out of File, by Tom Rolfe), was marginally the better of the two on the racetrack, defeating Seeking the Gold twice by a nose in the Travers (G1) and Haskell Invitational (G1) Stakes. Retired to Claiborne one year earlier than Seeking the Gold, Forty Niner was leading freshman sire in 1992 and was third-leading sire by U.S. earnings in ‘96.

By that time, though, the exigencies of the modern breeding industry had led to his export to Japan in 1995. Forty Niner never sired anything quite so good as Seeking the Gold’s best, but his son End Sweep garnered leading freshman sire honors in 1998. Other sons of Forty Niner, especially Distorted Humor, added to Forty Niner’s reputation as a sire of sires.

In the U.S., Forty Niner’s progeny developed a reputation for temperament, notably the inconsistent 1996 Belmont winner Editor’s Note and the brilliant Coronado’s Quest, winner of the ‘98 Haskell and Travers. A smallish, correct horse with a lot of Tom Rolfe about him, Forty Niner has assured that his line will continue for at least one more generation.

Champion sprinter Gulch (out of graded stakes winner Jameela, by Rambunctious) sired 1995 Kentucky Derby and Belmont winner Thunder Gulch and ‘95 English classic winner Harayir. Gulch’s percentages are not as high as the best of the Mr. Prospectors, but his best son, Thunder Gulch, sired 2001 champion three-year-old male and Horse of the Year Point Given.

The 1987 Dwyer Stakes winner, Gone West (Secrettame, by Secretariat), produced high percentages of stakes winners and graded stakes winners at the very highest level. Zafonic made a very fast start to his stud career, with champion Xaar in his first crop. The recent successes of 2004 leading sire Elusive Quality, Grand Slam, and Mr. Greeley added to Gone West’s popularity as a sire of sires.

Gone West was one of Mr. Prospector’s most handsome sons, with a hip more closely resembling his broodmare sire, Secretariat.

Like Miswaki, Seeking the Gold, and Woodman, 1987 Canadian Horse of the Year Afleet (Polite Lady, by Venetian Jester) was out of a granddaughter of Tom Fool, and he developed a highly respectable record during his brief stay in Kentucky. And, like Crafty Prospector, Afleet did not sire anything of the highest class but compiled a consistent record as a sire of graded stakes performers before his sale to Japan in 1994. Afleet’s son Northern Afleet, a multiple Grade 2 winner, sired 2005 Preakness and Belmont winner Afleet Alex.

Young guns

Among Mr. Prospector’s younger sons, English-based Machiavellian (out of Coup de Folie, by Halo) and Lane’s End stallions Kingmambo and Smart Strike have achieved the highest profiles. Machiavellian, a smallish, muscular, round-barrelled horse, was a brilliant two-year-old but was not as dominating over longer distances at three. At stud, he produced top-class winners at all distances from five furlongs to 2 1/2 miles, and his Grade-1 winning son Street Cry (Ire) sired 2006 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and ‘07 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands winner Street Sense in his first crop.

Street Cry’s first crop also produced 2008 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (G1) winner Zenyatta. Undefeated in nine starts, Zenyatta was a candidate for 2008 Horse of the Year.

Kingmambo, a handsome, balanced, workmanlike horse out of the great racemare Miesque, by Nureyev, won three Group 1 races at one mile in Europe and thus earned a top-class opportunity at stud. Kingmambo proved in no uncertain terms his ability to get top-level horses, with French champion and Japanese Horse of the Year El Condor Pasa in his first crop, American classic winner and 2000 champion older horse Lemon Drop Kid in his second. His brillant filly Divine Proportions won five Group 1 stakes and was a two-time European champion.

Smart Strike sired 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin and champion turf male English Channel while earning leading sire honors of ‘07.

Overbrook Farm’s homebred Carson City (out of Blushing Promise, by Blushing Groom [Fr]) was strictly a sprinter, and the vast majority of his offspring show the same tendency. Still, he sired a Grade 1 winner at 1 1/8 miles in his first crop (Flying Chevron) and built a consistent career similar to that of Crafty Prospector. A smallish, very compact, muscular horse, Carson City is very well made and passes on his physique to many of his offspring.

Mr. Prospector’s son Fusaichi Pegasus, winner of the 2000 Kentucky Derby, made a good start at stud, siring Grade 1 winners Bandini and Roman Ruler in his first crop.

Overseas representatives

Other than Machiavellian, Mr. Prospector’s sons in Europe have not been quite as successful as might have been expected. One reason is that few high-class sons have escaped the grasp of the Northern Hemisphere’s top stud farms, leaving well-bred but generally less accomplished stallions for the Southern Hemisphere. Mr. Prospector’s most successful son in Australasia has been Straight Strike, a minor stakes-placed runner out of Bend Not, by Never Bend.

Standing most of his career at Ra Ora Stud in New Zealand, Straight Strike built a remarkable stud career with relatively little help from his mates, siring 41 stakes winners, including 17 group winners, headed by Hulastrike.

Mr. Prospector’s English classic-placed son Bellotto (Shelf Talker, by *Tatan) and the well-bred Geiger Counter (Thong, by Nantallah) both had some success in Australia. Lode (Grand Luxe, by Sir Ivor) achieved the most success in South America with 68 stakes winners, and Fast Gold (Flack Attack, by Ack Ack) gained prominence in Brazil. Similarly, Placerville (Classy Cathy, by Private Account) has sired top horses in India, while Golden Voyager (La Voyageuse, by Tentam) and Hussonet (sacahuista, by Raja Baba) have found success in Chile.

Several branches of the Mr. Prospector line appear to be well positioned to carry on into the 21st century. Fappiano has established his own distinct line with a strong classic bent, while Miswaki, Gone West, Gulch, Conquistador Cielo, Woodman, Machiavellian, Seeking the Gold, and Forty Niner appear to have handed on the torch for at least one more generation.

With such top-class sons as Smart Strike and Street Cry in the breeding shed, it is possible that more distinct branches will emerge in the future.

Although unsoundness prevented Mr. Prospector from being anything but a sprinter, lines descending from his sons display much more stamina. And, although primarily a sire of milers, Mr. Prospector was capable of siring runners of such transcendent class that all distances were within the abilities of his best.

That is a characteristic worth preserving in the 21st century.

John P. Sparkman is bloodstock editor of Thoroughbred Times. Sales editor Pete Denk contributed to this article.