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Tomorrow, 8/9! Two huge Trios Matches plus TNT Champion @KyleFletcherPro defending his newly won title against The Conglomeration's Tomohiro Ishii highlight a night of #AEWCollision action! Watch LIVE at 8pm ET/7pm CT on @TNTDrama + @SportsOnMAX!
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![‡ Brant – Fast, Expensive, and Worrying In a recent 2yo MSW race at Santa Anita, Brant, a $3m OBS March sales purchase, made a winning debut for his high-profile connections. Sent off at odds of 4/5, he tracked the pace before taking command on the turn, and drew off to win by 5 1/4 lengths. He recorded a very fast raw time, and a 101 Beyer figure. His high auction price was due largely to his having breezed an eighth of a mile in :09 3/5 at OBS. In the wake of the bidding, Amr Zedan, who purchased the colt on the recommendation of his trainer, Bob Baffert, and bloodstock agent Donato Lanni, was quoted in TDN as saying: "These horses are difficult to come by. He ticked all the boxes. He was a very precocious Gun Runner with a great pedigree. And more importantly, if you have someone like Mr. [Bob] Baffert in your corner, that gives you the courage and the guts to just go after quality. And you'll know they are in the best hands to turn them into champions. This one is for the team: Donato and obviously Bob and his ability to turn them into champions. So if you have the great team, the great training, the rest is easy. Was he pricey? Yes. But quality dictates price. So I never hesitated.” The hyperbole, and boilerplate optimism, are understandable, as even owners with very deep pockets prefer not to dwell on their inevitably long lists of expensive failures. But Zedan and their team have also enjoyed a number of high-profile successes, including Taiba, another Gun Runner colt, which won the Santa Anita Derby and the Malibu, both Grade I, before being retired to stud. Lanni, who has signed for at least some of Zedan's other good horses, was quoted as saying: "This is what the boss [Baffert] wanted and what Amr wanted. Gun Runner is a tremendous stallion and he worked really good and galloped out good. He did everything you want one to do.” Again, boilerplate, and if one were to take the reactions of the owner and agent at face value, it would be easy to arrive at the conclusion that the horse had no faults. But that would be naïve. So, let's first take a look at Brant's pedigree. Gun Runner is a "top" sire, and well-capable of getting high-class runners. It's a bit too early to fully judge him as a source of durability, but excluding his current crop of 2yos, his runners are only averaging 10 career starts. That number will rise, but likely not enough to reach, let alone exceed the contemporary industry average of ~15. In other words, though he himself raced 19 times, and won his swan song (the Pegasus World Cup) at five, there is no evidence to suggest that he is likely to eventually prove to be a particular source of durability. Brant's dam, Tynan, raced 13 times, and he is her first registered foal. His second dam, Pappascat, has produced at least five foals to have raced, and while only one has reached 20 starts, four of the five raced at least 12 times, which by today's degraded standards, isn't so bad. The fact that the coat color inherited by Brant, and his dam, can be traced to a notably unsound influence, Unbridled's Song, may or may not be meaningful. But I wouldn't ignore it as a potentially worrying connection. Brant's dam-sire, Liam’s Map, was lightly raced himself, and both his sire (US) and dam have poor records in terms of durability. As a sire, he has thus far produced numbers similar to Gun Runner. So while Brant's first two dams promise more than many that I have come across in similar assessments, and his sire displayed durability on the track, his overall pedigree suggests average durability at best. And what about the word that Mr. Zedan used twice in the above quote – "quality"? Well, Curlin is a quality sire, but in terms of bottom-line production, it leaves a lot to be desired. That's not to say that there are no good runners to be found, in fact the closely related Pappacap, under Brant's second-dam, was a Gr. III winner, and twice Grade I placed. However, through Brant's first six dams at least, I believe there to be just a single Grade I winner, Al Qasr, a Champion stayer in Peru, which appears under his fourth-dam. That is not, by any reasonable definition, a strong bottom-line, although it is fair to say that Brant's first dam is unproven. *** What might be learned from Brant's debut race? Everyone can see that he ran fast, and was much the best of that field, but I would say that there were some nuanced aspects of his performance that were both interesting, and worrying. Those nuances relate to his action, as viewed both through the pan shot, and head-on. Watching the basic (pan) view, Brant appears to display some "knee action". It isn't extreme, but also isn't the type of action that ideally suits dirt runners, and I wouldn't say that the colt appears totally comfortable. Here's a brief, related post on knee action, for reference: Then, we have the (embedded) head-on view, in which Brant displays seriously distorted action in his near-fore (left front leg; right when viewed head-on). It's a fairly extreme example of what is called "winging", and for a number of reasons, does not bode well for durability. Such action is never desirable, and is typically related to certain foreleg conformation flaws, which may include an offset knee, and/or toeing in or out, etc. Note also that under typical American racing conditions (i.e. tightly turning, left-handed tracks), the left front leg is subjected to the greatest torque, which amplifies the potential for injury. It should go without saying that there are occasional anomalies, horses with poor action that remain sound despite such flaws. But they are the exceptions, and it is not uncommon to find abbreviated careers associated with such action. For further reference, here is a link to a closely related post that I wrote after a filly named Amor Fati broke her maiden in eye-catching style in February of 2024. She has made just one further start, and hasn't recorded a work over the past 15 months. What's interesting about Brant is that there are two separate issues relating to his action, and that the some obvious mitigating steps that could have been, or should be taken, in efforts to keep him sound, were not, and are unlikely to ever be taken. First, with regard to his knee action, keep in mind that it is a characteristic that is more typically associated with turf horses. And guess what? Brant's dam was a turf horse. His second-dam was also at her best on turf, and was Gr. II placed on that surface. Also, in some respects, he physically resembles that female line more than his sire. Of course no one who spends millions on a horse that breezed exceptionally fast at a 2yo sale would be thinking "turf", given that the commercial market, and stakes schedules greatly favor dirt runners. But at the same time, it would be a mistake to assume that a fast breeze at OBS necessarily indicates that a given horse will be best suited to dirt. I say that partly because the OBS track features an all-weather surface called "Safetrack", which is far from being identical to dirt racing surfaces. While countless horses have gone through those sales and excelled on dirt, it should never been taken for granted that it will be a preference. And to further flesh out the point, take a look at Brant's breeze video through this link (his pedigree page can also be seen): Despite being rushed to cover a furlong much faster than he ever will again, I would say that he looks smoother, and displays slightly less knee action than in his recent debut race. Why? Could it be, perhaps, because he would prove more comfortable on turf and/or synthetic tracks, than dirt surfaces? Given how he ran first out, this is purely an academic point, as there is virtually no chance that his connections would consider switching surfaces, unless his form on dirt were to deteriorate badly. The second, more important point, relates to Brant's distorted action. I can't find a head-on conformation photo of the colt, but would be very surprised if he does not display flaws in his near-fore. Even in the very unlikely event that the leg were to appear correct, such distorted action would have been on display at the sale, as well as in pre-training at Eddie Woods' farm. And it defies belief that experienced horsemen who were prepared to purchase an extremely expensive horse for an important client would not have covered that base. Which in turn begs two important questions. First, why recommend the purchase of a very expensive horse, no matter how fast, that has yet to race, and displays such distorted action? Secondly, why choose to give such a horse to a trainer whose style and history suggest that injury risk would likely be amplified, rather than mitigated? The answers to those questions help to illuminate why the breed-to-sell paradigm is so insidious. As long as breeders and stud farms are willing to overpay for stallion prospects, and turn blind eyes to conformation defects, distorted action, lack of durability, and modest female families, the connections of horses like Brant need only hope that they hold together long enough to win one or two big races, enabling them cash in. These are the number of career starts made by Zedan's previous best (and expensive) male runners: 9 Arabian Lion 6 Arabian Knight 9 Muth 10 Medina Spirit 11 Hejazi And as long as the AGSC (American Graded Stakes Committee) continues to enable the paradigm through its dishonest KY Derby "prep" Grade I designations, the ultimately damaging feedback loop will likely continue. The answer to the second question is closely entwined, and should be obvious. For all of his faults as a trainer, Baffert has long produced results in stakes races that lead to valuable stud careers, so owners who wish to play the breed-to-sell game consider him to be a logical choice. Of course Baffert and Zedan are hardly alone in supporting the dubious paradigm. But that a horse like Brant could bring millions at a sale, and be given to a trainer who trains very hard, and has compiled a very poor safety record, underscores the extreme degree to which the value of durability has been marginalized by the industry. One final note, and it's a genuine qualification that I always make when producing this type of post, I hope that Brant will enjoy a long, injury-free career. But if I were a betting man...](https://image.24vids.com/tw-1949810344609665305/amplify_video_thumb/1949807748373262336/img/UxdtjUDx3PoP2gwC.jpg)
![john wick seedance text to video prompt： [STYLE / CINEMATIC SETUP] A 10.5-second, 16:9 photorealistic AAA action-game cinematic rendered at real-time speed with no slow motion. The setting is a cramped, cluttered late-night Asian restaurant connected to a rain-soaked street. Cyan-green fluorescent light, red neon and warm practical lamps create a high-contrast mixed-light environment, with reflections across wet floors and pavement. Shoot with a 35mm spherical lens, shallow-to-moderate depth of field and cinematic motion blur appropriate to the actual speed of movement. Use close shoulder-mounted and handheld coverage, connecting seven short close-combat shots with fast hard cuts. The camera instinctively pans, retreats or drops with each block, takedown and collision while keeping the action and contact points readable. No dialogue, no subtitles and no BGM. Generate only synchronized rain, appliance hum, urgent footsteps, fabric movement, body impacts, gunshots, metal contact and breaking glass. [IMAGE REFERENCES] No external still-image reference. Follow the written character and environment descriptions consistently. If the platform supports reference video, use the supplied video only as a reference for editing rhythm, camera distance, action direction and lighting atmosphere, not for copying a specific actor’s identity. The protagonist remains the same lean, agile man in his early forties throughout the sequence: neck-length black hair swept back, a short beard, a tired but focused face, a slightly wrinkled black suit, white shirt and narrow black tie, all carrying faint rain and wear marks. Preserve his face, hairstyle, body proportions, clothing and screen direction across all seven shots. Keep every opponent visually distinct: a man in a blue work uniform, a bald man in a navy jacket, a heavy man in a black jacket, a bald counter attacker, a red-headband attacker, a red-jacketed armed attacker and a heavy man in a dark green coat outside. [TIMELINE SECOND BY SECOND] 0–1.9s: [Shoulder-height medium close-up, tight lateral handheld tracking, real-time speed] The protagonist stands on screen left, pinning the blue-uniformed attacker against a glass refrigerator with his left forearm and palm. He delivers two compact, weighted elbow and palm-heel strikes. Each impact drives the attacker’s head into the refrigerator door, loosening his white headband and leaving a small blood trace on the glass; the attacker finishes sliding down the door while the protagonist remains standing. 1.9–4.3s: [Medium shot transitioning into a high-angle overhead, shoulder-mounted drop, real-time speed] Hard cut near the restaurant’s rear entrance. The bald attacker in a navy jacket locks the protagonist from behind. The protagonist lowers his center of gravity, traps the attacker’s arm and rotates his hips, throwing him heavily over the shoulder onto the wet floor. The camera drops with them into an overhead view. Kneeling across the attacker’s torso, the protagonist draws a compact black pistol and fires one downward shot; recoil travels through his wrist and the attacker jolts once before becoming still. 4.3–5.9s: [Tight medium shot, lateral handheld follow, real-time speed] Hard cut with both men already upright. A heavy attacker in a black jacket swings from screen right. The protagonist slips outside the punch, allowing it to pass close to his face, circles behind the attacker and locks his shoulder and neck off balance. He presses the pistol close to the side of the attacker’s head and fires. The muzzle flash briefly illuminates both faces; the attacker’s head and shoulders snap backward and his body begins to collapse. 5.9–7.9s: [Counter-height medium close-up, subtle handheld push-in, real-time speed] Hard cut to the restaurant counter. Another bald attacker bends forward and clamps around the protagonist’s waist. The protagonist pins the attacker’s head and neck under his left arm while grabbing a short, rigid pointed utensil from the counter. He drives two compact downward thrusts into the upper shoulder and side of the neck. Each contact bends the attacker’s knees further; a restrained amount of blood marks the shirt and counter edge before the attacker hangs helplessly beneath the protagonist’s controlling arm. 7.9–9.0s: [Two-person medium close-up, fast pan with a short retreat, real-time speed] Hard cut as the red-headband attacker rushes into close range. He throws a wide hook from screen right. The protagonist raises his forearm to block, catches the wrist and pulls it outward, then drives a palm heel and forearm into the attacker’s face. The camera retreats with the impact as the attacker loses his balance and staggers toward the rear right of the frame. 9.0–9.9s: [Low-angle wide shot, slight arc around the action, real-time speed] Hard cut to a wider section of the restaurant. The red-jacketed armed attacker advances from screen left. Holding a long black firearm with both hands, the protagonist uses it as a blunt weapon and swings horizontally from right to left. The weapon strikes the attacker’s upper chest and shoulder, rotating his torso, crossing his feet and sending him off balance toward screen left. 9.9–10.5s: [Exterior rainy-street medium shot, fast parallel tracking, real-time speed] Hard cut outside the restaurant. The protagonist already controls a heavy attacker in a dark green coat and uses his forward momentum to drive the man’s head and upper body into the side window of a parked black station wagon. The glass bursts inward at the contact point, scattering both large and fine fragments. The attacker folds through the broken window while the protagonist regains stable footing beside the car, ending with glass fragments still falling. [STYLE & QUALITY BOOSTERS] Maintain the protagonist’s face, black suit, white shirt, tie, hairstyle and body proportions through every hard cut. The pistol, pointed utensil, injuries and blood marks must appear only in their designated shots and must never morph or change ownership. Throws, recoil, strike reactions, loss of balance and window breakage must show believable weight, inertia and precise contact. Apply motion blur only to rapidly moving arms, weapons, glass fragments and camera-relative backgrounds. No sudden face or costume changes; no extra fingers, fused limbs or inverted joints; no morphing weapons, utensils or vehicles; no foot sliding or rubber-like collision reactions; no blood, bullet damage or glass fragments appearing before physical contact.](https://image.24vids.com/tw-2086349180948345309/amplify_video_thumb/2086348909522378752/img/Rj8L9yLglxtuCEcl.jpg)
