Stallion Review - Kadabra
Kadabra
Stats as of the 6th October 2014
BREEDING
Kadabra is by the Meadow Road stallion Primrose Lane from Quillo by Trottin Happy from Arsenals Dynasty by Arsenal from Sherry B Happy by Flower Child.
Primrose Lane is by the Swedish bred Meadow Road (the winner of 23 races and trotting in 1:54.2 with $362,950 in purses) out of the Lindys Pride mare Barbs Pride.
Primrose Lane had 73 starts for 16 wins 14 seconds and 9 thirds for $242,061 in purses with a best time of 1:57.2f.
As a sire Primrose Lane left two millionaires, Kadabra 1:51.3 ($2,190,707) and American Lane 1:53.4f ($1,116,417). He also produced the good trotter Life's A Holiday 1:54 ($729,125). His top seven earners were all colts and geldings.
Primrose Lane - statistics
Eligible to race - 119
Winners - 46
$1,000,000+ - 2
$750,000+ - 2
$500,000+ - 3
$250,000+ - 4
$100,000+ - 10
Sub 1:53 - 1
Average earnings per starter $84,271
Average earnings per eligible horse - $50,988
Total earnings to date $6,067,531
Watch - Kadabra at Tara Hills Stud
Kadabra's dam is the Trottin Happy (by Speedy Somolli) mare Quillo who has produced six winners to date. She has produced the full brothers to Kadabra, Life's A Holiday 1:54, 41 wins ($729,125) and Thunder Road 1:54.3 ($36,960) as well as Money Minded (by Wall Street Banker) 1:57f, $163,067.
Thunder Road has bred 260 mares with 140 foals born since 2006. In 2008 he bred 91 mares. To date he has produced 28 race winners of $1,442,997 including four $100,000 plus winners. They are Thundering Ovation 1:56s ($210,275), Road Sense 1:57f ($151,263), Rainbow Gold 1:56.2f ($129,092) and Pondo Ruba 1:56.2f ($101,214). Thunder Road stood in Ontario from 2006 to 2010 and then moved to Indiana for the 2011 and 2012 seasons.
Kadabra's second dam Arsenals Dynasty ($87,834) produced only the one foal and that was Quillo.
Kadabra's third dam is Sherry Be Happy who took a record in 1980 of 2:08 on a half mile track. Sherry B Happy, by Flower Child 1:59f ($458,341), has produced seven winners to date. Her first foal born in 1985 is the richest at just $89,930.
Sherry B Happy's real significances is through her two daughters by Arsenal, Arsenals Dynasty the dam of Kadabra's mum and Speedy Moriah the dam of seven winners, three with earnings of over $100,000, Valley Speed 1:56.2 ($154,028), Wings Of The Spur 1:57.1 ($176,538) and Moriahs Winner 1:58.1 ($132,685).
Speedy Moriah also produced Colors Of The Wind 1:57 ($93,780) the dam of several very good horses including American Lane 1:53.4f ($1,116,417), Sauce Two K 1:53.3f ($352,749) and Dr McDreamy 1:53.3 ($223,981). She also produced the unraced Super Ben Joe mare Writtenonthewind who left Overt 1:55.4 ($159,078) and Mogo On The Gogogo 1:57.1 ($158,093).
It is interesting to note that the two best race horses produced in the first three dams of Kadabra's pedigree are both by Primrose Lane. Kadabra 1:51.3 ($2,190,707) and American Lane 1:53.4f ($1,116,417).
COMMENT
Kadabra has certainly an unusual pedigree and you could call it a real outcross. It is not what I would call a great pedigree but a solid pedigree. It is very interesting that Primrose Lane nicked with this pedigree and maybe that is what has helped Kadabra become such an exceptional sire.
SOME HISTORY ON KADABRA
In early 2002, R. Peter Heffering made one of his legendary gambles on an Illinois-bred trotting colt named after a Pokemon character. "I did tell him I thought he was nuts," Heffering's son, David, recalled. "And when a friend of mine, Danny Phillips, heard about the deal he called me and said, "Has your dad lost his marbles?"
Ten years later, Kadabra is being honoured for his prowess on the track and in the breeding shed. His induction comes five months after Peter Heffering died at age 80 and just two years after Heffering was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame as a breeder.
A decade earlier, astute Bloodstock Agent Ernie Martinez looked at Kadabra after he won the Matron Stakes as a two-year-old and could not believe how well conformed, the horse was. He says he was just an outstanding individual and he recommended to Peter Heffering that he should buy the horse for the asking price of $1 million. Heffering offered $800,000, ignored all the sceptics and forged ahead with the purchase, gathering Irving Storfer's Banjo Farms, Lee and Linda DeVisser's L and L DeVisser LLC, Irving Liverman and David McDuffee under the Abra Kadabra Stable umbrella.
The group was convinced of the merits of the deal based on Kadabra's freshman record - 12 wins and two seconds in 14 starts with a record of 1:56.2 - and his outstanding conformation. Although his sire Primrose Lane (Meadow Road - Barbs Pride) and dam Quillo (Trottin Happy - Arsenals Dynasty) were not household names, they were from solid families and Quillo had already produced two Illinois stakes winners, Money Minded and Life's A Holiday.
Although Connie and Homer Hochstetler were reluctant to part with their gifted homebred, Connie's father, Doug Ackerman, offered some advice that helped them make the decision to accept Heffering's $800,000 offer - then the highest price ever paid for an Illinois-bred.
"We talked to my dad when we got the offer and he said, 'You've got the factory, sell the product," recalls Connie Hochstetler. "But my son (Jay) was not very happy when we sold him." Named after a favourite Pokemon character of then nine-year-old Jay's, Kadabra kicked off his sophomore career in June 2002 and quickly turned any remaining doubters into ardent fans as he reeled off wins in the elimination and final of the Stanley Dancer at the Meadowlands.
Forced to sit on the side lines while Chip Chip Hooray took home the Hambletonian trophy - the Hochstetler's had not kept their trotter eligible - Kadabra returned to action with wins in the Review Stake and the American-National, missed out on the World Trotting Derby title, but then swept the class in his last six starts, capturing eliminations and finals of the Canadian Trotting Classic, Breeders Crown and Matron Stake.
Kadabra added four more wins at four and a speed tab of 1:51.3 to his resume before a suspensory ligament injury in his right hind leg brought his racing career to a halt in August 2003. Subsequently, the decision was made to stand the horse at the Hefferings' Tara Hills Stud.
Kadabra has produced 738 foals, seen 385 of his offspring win, and watched those youngsters earn over $48 million. 129 horses sired by Kadabra have earned over $100,000, including 15 with over $500,000 to their credit and also three millionaires.
RACE RECORD
Kadabra had 36 starts for 25 wins 4 seconds and 2 thirds with a record taken as a four-year-old of 1:51.3. His total earnings were $2,190,707.
Kadabra won the HTA Nova Award, the O'Brien Award, the USHWA Dan Patch Award, the WEG Award and the USHWA Dan Patch "Trotter Of The Year Award" for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings in 2002.
As a two-year-old Kadabra was trained by Homer Hochstetler and had 14 starts for 12 wins and two seconds, a record of 1:57.2 and $341,683 in purses. He eventually lost the wins in the Matron stakes as a result of a foreign substance been applied to a wound after going through a fence the week prior to the race. His final record on paper as a two-year-old is 10 wins 2 seconds from 14 starts with the same money $341,683.
Kadabra's two-year-old wins included the $130,000 American National in 1:57.4 starting from post 10 at the gate, the $193,000 Matron stakes and the $126,000 Lincoln Land Stakes. He was second in the $30,000 Hanover Stakes to Andover Hall ($875,047). Third in that race was Chip Chip Hooray ($1,149,626).
As a three-year-old Kadabra became a monster with just the 14 starts for 11 wins 2 seconds (both by a nose) and a fourth for $1,599,424 in purses with a best time of 1:52.4s when winning the $1,144,500 Canadian Trotting Classic.
Kadabra started his three-year-old season with new trainer Jimmy Takter and he was beaten a nose at his first start in 1:54.4 and then won his next five races straight, the elimination and final of the $400,000 Stanley Dancer Memorial, beating the likes of Like A Prayer ($1,313,242), Chip Chip Hooray ($1,149,626), Taurus Dream ($552,391) and Ens Snapshot ($520,337), the $60,000 Review Stakes in 1:53.4 and the $180,000 American National in 1:53.4. He beat Andover Hall ($875,047) and Like A Prayer ($1,313,242) in the American National.
Kadabra was beaten at his next two starts in the elimination (by a nose) and final (fourth) of the $550,000 World Trotting Derby.
Kadabra then went on another unbeaten run of six straight stake races. The elimination and final of the $1,144,500 Canadian Trotting Classic at Mohawk Raceway, the elimination and final of the $861,111 Breeders Crown at Woodbine Raceway and the elimination and final of the $226,764 Matron Stakes at Dover Downs.
Watch - 2002 Canadian Trotting Classic
Watch - 2002 Breeders Crown
Kadabra beat all the great horses of his era as a three-year-old including Rotation ($1,478,290), Civil Action ($1,201,601), Like A Prayer ($1,313,242), Chip Chip Hooray ($1,149,626), Andover Hall ($875,047), Taurus Dream ($552,391), Ens Snapshot ($520,337) and Malabar Maple ($509,151)
As a four-year-old Kadabra had just the eight starts for four wins and two thirds for $249,600 in purses. He had two thirds to start the season with before winning the $200,000 Cutler Memorial at the Meadowlands beating a very good field of trotters including the New Zealand Champion Lyell Creek 1:52.2 ($2,961,137 and 56 lifetime wins). He also beat Plesac ($2,575,926), Elegant Man ($910,610), Will Sikes ($775,455), Diamond Gold ($621,915) and Bubba Dunn ($612,856) in that race.
Kadabra made a break for the first time in a race at his very next start at the three-quarter mark in a $40,000 Open race at the Meadowlands before winning the $200,000 Titan Cup at the same track. In the Titan Cup Kadabra beat another great group of Free-For-All horses including Fools Gold ($3,462,761), Magician ($3,614,801), Plesac ($2,575,962), H P Paque ($1,596,653) and Monte Hall ($914,286).
Kadabra took his lifetime mark at his next start in a $40,000 Open race at the Meadowlands in 1:51.3. He then won another $40,000 Open at the Meadowlands trotting home in a very fast last quarter of 26.1. This race was to be his second to last start. His last start was in the $450,000 Nat Ray won by Rotation ($1,478,290) with Kadabra finishing way down the track. A suspensory ligament injury in his right hind leg brought his racing career to a halt in August 2003
COMMENT
What a great race horse Kadabra turned out to be. A true superstar with a heart to carry his great conformation and gait at exceptional speed a long way. Kadabra beat all comers of his era and beat them fair and square. Peter Heffering was one of the world's best Holstein breeders and that was a key factor in his judgment when it came to conformation of an animal and in this case a horse. He put the money up for Kadabra who appeared way over priced at the time of purchase because he had the faith in what he saw. An outstanding individual that had the look of a champion and Peter Heffering proved Kadabra was.
NORTH AMERICAN STALLION RECORD
A syndicated stallion Kadabra has stood at Tara Hills Stud in Ontario from the time he was retired from the track in 2003. He stands for a fee of US$15,000. He has had big books of mares every year. Kadabra has averaged 178 mares bred for each of the ten years he has been at stud.
Kadabra currently ranks second on the 2014 North American All-Aged Sires list to Cantab Hall, with $5,573,599 in total purses. He is well clear on the Canadian list of stallions by money won with at least a million dollars ahead of his nearest rival Angus Hall. In 2013 he headed the Canadian stallion list for money won by over $2.3 million. Once again Angus Hall was second.
NORTH AMERICAN STATISTICS OVERALL
Eligible to race - 738
Winners - 385
$1,000,000+ - 3
$750,000+ - 9
$500,000+ - 15
$250,000+ - 37
$100,000+ - 129
Sub 1:53 - 15
Average earnings per starter $95,694
Average earnings per eligible horse - $65,741
Total earnings to date $48,516,639
Kadabra's richest is the great mare Bee A Magician 1:51 ($2,549,141) with 30 wins from 41 starts to date and she is only a four-year-old at the time of writing this review. In 2012 Bee A Magician won the O'Brien Award for "Two-Year-Old Trotting Filly Of The Year" and she won it again in 2013 for "Three-Year-Old Trotting Filly Of The Year". In 2013 Bee A Magician won the USHWA Dan Patch Award for "Horse Of The Year" and "Three-Year-Old Of The Year" a rare achievement for a filly.
Kadabra's second richest is the stallion Daylon Magician 1:51.1s ($1,718,797) who had a stint at stud but had fertility problems. He is now back racing. He was the 2011 O'Brien Award winner for "Three-Year-Old Trotting Colts and Geldings". His biggest win was in the elimination and final of the $1,000,000 Canadian Trotting Classic where he beat an outstanding group of great horses including Dejarmbro ($1,135,123), Chapter Seven ($1,952,853), Manofmanymissions ($1,213,603) and Broad Bahn ($1,553,211).
Kadabra's third richest is another mare called Poof She's Gone 1:53.1 ($1,359,679). She was the winner of the 2009 O'Brien Award for "Two-Year-Old Trotting Fillies" and the 2009 USHWA Dan Patch Award for "Two-Year-Old Trotting Filly Of The Year".
Kadabra produced another good race horse that is now at stud and his name is Windsong Espoir 1:55.3s (as a two-year-old) and $765,386 in purses. Windsong Espoir was a very very good two-year-old winning nine of ten starts and $708,004 in purses. He went to stud in Ontario in 2010 and has served four good crops of mares and is making some impact as a stallion with just two crops racing to date.
Kadabra's first crop were born in 2005
He produced 114 foals, 53 colts and 61 fillies from 205 mares bred. Ten were exported from this crop, five of them unraced at the time of export.
This crop was headed by the very good two-year-old Windsong Espoir a promising stallion detailed above. Four of Kadabra's richest five foals born in this crop are mares. They are Bella Dolce 1:54.2s ($753,133), Kadealia 1:55.1s ($607,177), Countess Stormont 1:55.2f ($385,704) and Torch 1:57.1f ($357,537). Kadabra also produced from this crop I Know Magic 1:55.1 ($325,637), Mc Kelvie 1:55.1s ($285,594) and Super Fast Stuart 1:54.1 ($279,347) who is now at stud in New Zealand and bred 50 mares in his first season.
North American statistics for his foals produced in 2005
Eligible to race - 113
Winners - 69
$1,000,000+ - 0
$750,000+ - 2
$500,000+ - 3
$250,000+ - 8
$100,000+ - 28
Sub 1:53 - 0
Average earnings per starter $101,432
Average earnings per eligible horse - $73,605
Total earnings to date $8,317,396
Kadabra's second crop were born in 2006
Kadabra produced 76 foals, 47 colts and 29 fillies from 155 mares bred. There are just 7 exported of which 5 were unraced
This crop is headed by the fast gelding Equity 1:52.1s ($813,460) as well as the hard hitting race horses Celebrity Hercules 1:53.1 ($484,065), Ill Wait For You 1:55.4s ($398,603), Illusionsndreams 1:53.4s ($345,490), Good Friend 1:54.4f ($323,145), Now You See Him 1:54s ($300,831), Mandabra 1:53.2f ($281,385), Smokin Dabra 1:53.4s ($237,922), P L Conjure 1:53.4f ($235,852) and Play Right 1:56.1 ($205,445). Eleven of this crop of foals have had over 100 starts each.
North American statistics for his foals produced in 2006
Eligible to race - 74
Winners - 49
$1,000,000+ - 0
$750,000+ - 1
$500,000+ - 1
$250,000+ - 7
$100,000+ - 24
Sub 1:53 - 2
Average earnings per starter $121,337
Average earnings per eligible horse - $93,462
Total earnings to date $6,916,220
Kadabra's third crop were born in 2007
Kadabra produced 71 foals, 39 colts and 32 fillies from 119 mares bred. There is just 2 exported from this crop, the extra good three-year-old Text Me 1:54.3s ($931,853) and an unraced yearling colt.
This crop is an outstanding group headed by the top millionaire filly Poof Shes Gone 1:53.1 ($1,359,679), fully detailed above, the super good and now exported colt Text Me 1:54.3s ($931,853), Windsong Geant 1:52s ($626,946), the mare Wilsonator 1:56s ($496,045), Hava Kadabra 1:52.4f ($470,200) and Windsun Galaxie 1:52.4f ($391,970). Eight of this crop have had over 100 lifetime starts to show once again that the Kadabras are not only high stakes young horses but can continue racing for a long time. Versatile, sound, hard hitting and fast is the known Kadabra trade mark.
North American statistics for his foals produced in 2007
Eligible to race - 68
Winners - 39
$1,000,000+ - 1
$750,000+ - 2
$500,000+ - 3
$250,000+ - 7
$100,000+ - 18
Sub 1:53 - 4
Average earnings per starter $168,127
Average earnings per eligible horse - $108,788
Total earnings to date $7,397,601
Kadabra's fourth crop were born in 2008
Kadabra produced 76 foals, 38 colts and 38 fillies from 151 mares bred. There is just 4 exported of which 1 was unraced.
Another very good crop headed by the top stallion Daylon Magician 1:51.1s ($1,718,797) fully detailed above. Once again four of his richest foals born in this crop are fillies or mares headed by China Pearls 1:53s ($673,315), Magic Wheel 1:53.3f ($560,057) and Eagle Canada 1:57.3s ($339,904). Five of this crop of foals have had at least 100 starts each.
Watch - Daylon Magician - 2011 Canadian Trotting Classic
North American statistics for his foals produced in 2008
Eligible to race - 74
Winners - 37
$1,000,000+ - 1
$750,000+ - 1
$500,000+ - 3
$250,000+ - 4
$100,000+ - 12
Sub 1:53 - 2
Average earnings per starter $121,710
Average earnings per eligible horse - $75,657
Total earnings to date $5,598,645
Kadabra's fifth crop were born in 2009
Kadabra produced 108 foals, 60 colts and 48 fillies from 186 mares bred. Only two of this crop of foals have been exported, one unraced.
This is Kadabra's best and richest crop of foals and they are headed by Prestidigitator 1:52.2s ($870,153), Miss Paris 1:54.2f ($869,923), Knows Nothing 1:51.4s ($729,356), The Game Plan 1:55 ($495,300) and Smarty Pants 1:54.2s ($452,571). This current crop of five-year-olds have already a 70% winners to foals born ratio which is incredible. They have amassed over $10,000,000 in purses to date and are averaging $97,297 in purses per foal born. Remember that is without a single million dollar earner in the crop and they are only five-year-olds in 2014.
North American statistics for his foals produced in 2009
Eligible to race - 109
Winners - 76
$1,000,000+ - 0
$750,000+ - 2
$500,000+ - 3
$250,000+ - 9
$100,000+ - 29
Sub 1:53 - 4
Average earnings per starter $121,900
Average earnings per eligible horse - $97,297
Total earnings to date $10,605,337
Kadabra's sixth crop were born in 2010
Kadabra produced 82 foals, 36 colts and 46 fillies from 165 mares bred. Only one unraced foal has been exported.
This crop is headed by the great mare Bee A Magician 1:51 ($2,549,141) with 30 wins from 41 starts to date and she is only a four-year-old at the time of writing this review. (Full details at the beginning of this article.) The next best foal produced in this crop is the horse Flanagan Memory 1:52.4s ($572,582) followed by Toocool Forschool 1:53.4s ($245,326), Crosbys Clam Bake 1:53f ($197,169) and Choir Robe 1:55.3s ($184,230). Outside of Bee A Magician this crop lacks the depth of Kadabras first five crops in my opinion, but with Bee A Magician in the mix the crop still has averaged $100,000 per starter.
Watch - Bee A Magician - World Record - Del Miller Memorial
North American statistics for his foals produced in 2010
Eligible to race - 81
Winners - 50
$1,000,000+ - 1
$750,000+ - 1
$500,000+ - 2
$250,000+ - 2
$100,000+ - 11
Sub 1:53 - 3
Average earnings per starter $100,063
Average earnings per eligible horse - $76,592
Total earnings to date $6,203.934
Kadabra's seventh crop of foals were born in 2011 and are three-year-olds in 2014.
Kadabra produced 118 foals, 54 colts and 64 fillies from 185 mares bred. Four unraced foals has been exported.
There are no stars in this crop to date. In fact it is light on quality with his richest performer the filly Mayberry only having $194,346 on her resume with just two lifetime wins and a time of 1:55.2s. Kadabra's next best performer in this crop is another filly called Miss Autsville 1:57.4s ($161,565) but overall this has been a very disappointing crop for Kadabra.
North American statistics for his foals produced in 2011
Eligible to race - 118
Winners - 49
$1,000,000+ - 0
$750,000+ - 0
$500,000+ - 0
$250,000+ - 0
$100,000+ - 5
Sub 1:53 - 0
Average earnings per starter $32,091
Average earnings per eligible horse - $22,029
Total earnings to date $2,599,405
Kadabra's eighth crop of foals were born in 2012 and are two-year-olds in 2014.
Kadabra produced 103 foals, 48 colts and 55 fillies from 186 mares bred. None have been exported to date.
Interesting to note that Kadabra has already produced a two-year-old filly, Juanitas Fury, that has won $227,042 and trotted in 1:57.1s to date as well as a colt called A Little More Love that has won $122,900 from this crop. With two winners of $100,000 plus already to his credit Kadabra is looking like this crop will be a dramatic improvement on his last years average crop.
Kadabra's yearlings made a huge impact at the recent Lexington Select Sale averaging $67,737 for 19 lots sold. One of his yearlings Bene Bene sold for the top price of $400,000.
Bene Bene a $400,000 yearling by Kadabra sold at this weeks Lexington Select Yearling sale
COMMENT
Kadabra has become a champion sire in North America especially in Canada where he rules way above all other stallions. A service fee of US$15,000 tells the real story. Breeders flock to him every year and he keeps producing hard hitting high class stake horses as well as tough and durable race horses. He can produce a champion filly or mare and he can leave a top colt. He has only been at stud for ten years now and has already produced several sons that are at stud.
AUSTRALIAN STALLION STATISTICS
In Australia Kadabra has bred a total of 16 live foals over five breeding seasons all by frozen semen. He has a very good record in Australia with 15 foals old enough to race for 13 starters with 8 winners to date with total earnings of $294,485. This includes the decent two-year-old filly Val Gardena who won three races, was second four times, third twice from just the eleven starts for the season. Kadabra's best horse produced in Australia to date is Amelia Darling ($74,703), followed by Kyvalley Rap ($57,301), Illawong Magic ($57,296) and Fortheloveofmoney ($29,330).
EUROPE
We have no statistical data on progeny bred in Europe for this review.
POSITIVES
Kadabra's real positive is that his progeny keep racing, are durable and sound with great gait. He can leave champion fillies and mares and he can leave champion colts and geldings. He has an overall high percentage of around 53% of winners to live foals over a long period with big crops of foals produced.
NEGATIVES
The only negative that I can see for Kadabra is the fact that he has stood in Canada for his entire career to date. That is not knocking Canada it is just a fact that it has always been difficult for Canadian horses to compete with the US breeding farms. But in this case Kadabra has still produced great horses that compete throughout North America and the fact that he stood in Canada all those years, one wonders if Kadabra could have done an even better job of producing world class progeny if he had stood in the US.
His service fee of $15,000 is high and a negative too in my view but Kadabra is a syndicated horse therefore he has a group of owners and breeders that support him each year and they probably do not pay the service fee. The few breeders that are left wanting a breeding pay the price and that keeps the service fee high.
OVERVIEW
This is an easy overview as Kadabra has achieved it all as a race horse and as a stallion at stud. There has never been any doubt about his ability as a race horse, he was a great horse that won just over $2 million so what do we need to say? Kadabra has progeny earnings of over $48 million so once again what do we need to say? He had a yearling that made $400,000 just days ago at the Lexington Select Sale in Kentucky so the progeny are well sort after. A $67,737 average for 19 lots sold at this sale show the value of breeding to Kadabra.
Overall rating - 8.5/10
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