Cross Traffic
Cross Traffic
CHAMPION FRESHMAN SIRE BY UNBRIDLED’S SONG
2009, Grey/Roan, 16.3h | Entered Stud: 2015 | Nominated to: Breeders' Cup, KTDF
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“at this kind of money, a proper, sustained chance is just what he deserves”
—Chris McGrath, who rated Cross Traffic the best value among his peers in 2024
2024 Racing: Led by G1 performer, top sprinter & millionaire HERE MI SONG-G3 ($1,006,443), back-to-back winner of the Jeff Hall Memorial S. at Ellis Park in 1:15.38 for 6 1/2 furlongs [100 Beyer, 6 1/4 Ragozin] and runner-up in the $1,000,000 Churchill Downs S.-G1 on Kentucky Derby day [96 Beyer]; top turf filly & millionaire NEECIE MARIE-G3 ($1,154,688), impressive winner of the Beaugay-G3 at Belmont at the Big A, winner of the $2 million Ladies Marathon S.-G3 at Kentucky Downs & runner-up in the New York-G1 at Saratoga; RICCIO, dominant 9-length winner of the Find S. at Laurel Park, etc.
2023 Racing: Led by top Kentucky Oaks contender DEFINING PURPOSE-G1, winner of Keeneland’s $600,000 Ashland-G1 (9 3/4 Ragozin – fastest KY Oaks prep winner of 2023); HERE MI SONG-G3, winner of Keeneland’s $300,000 Commonwealth-G3; 3yo filly MAPLE LEAF MEL-G3, winner of the Miss Preakness-G3, etc.
2022 Racing: 32 juvenile winners & 13 black type juveniles from his best-bred crop of 2-year-olds, marking the second most in both categories by any sire in North America! Led by undefeated Saratoga SW MAPLE LEAF MEL, dominant winner of the $200,000 Seeking the Ante Stakes (81 Beyer); Saratoga G3-placed & Breeders’ Cup-G1 performer SABRA TUFF, an impressive debut MdSpWt winner at Churchill; etc.
A top 10 Juvenile Sire overall in North America in 2022, with earnings of $1,972,125; 4 black type winners — only a half dozen stallions in all of North America had more 2-year-old stakes winners.
“Cross Traffic actually elevated his yearling average in 2022 to $43,250… his juvenile returns in both 2018 and 2022 show what he can do if given a chance—which is surely just what he deserves at this kind of basement fee.” —Chris McGrath, who rated Cross Traffic as one of the best values among established sires for 2023
Sire of Eclipse Champion 2YO Filly JAYWALK, dominant winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies-G1, Frizette-G1, etc.
No. 1 First-Crop Sire across the board in 2018, including by Earnings, Winners, BTWs, BTHs, GSWs & G1 Winners.
$2,115,603 Earnings in 2018 – Other freshmen on an illustrious list to top $2 million include TAPIT, UNCLE MO, CONSTITUTION, NYQUIST, GUN RUNNER, BOLT D’ORO, GOOD MAGIC & JUSTIFY; 5 BTWs – Only other freshmen last decade with that many were UNCLE MO, SCAT DADDY & CONSTITUTION; 8 BTHs – Only other sires in America with more 2yo BTHs in 2018 were INTO MISCHIEF, FLATTER & SCAT DADDY; World’s No. 1 source of 2YO Black Type on Dirt in 2018 — ahead of Candy Ride (Arg), Into Mischief, Quality Road, etc.
116 Beyer Speed — the second fastest Unbridled’s Song ever, only behind Arrogate.
Brilliant winner of the prestigious Whitney H. (G1) in first ever start around two turns, soundly defeating Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winners Mucho Macho Man & Fort Larned in one of the fastest times in race history — 1:47.89.
His biggest & best-bred crops to date are racing now.
“Cross Traffic had as much brilliance as you’ll find in a horse. It takes a special talent to do some of the things he did.” —Todd Pletcher
| Age | Starts | 1st (SW) | 2nd (SP) | 3rd (SP) | Earned |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 6 | 3 ( 1 ) | 2 ( 2 ) | 0 | $687,967 |
| Totals | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | $687,967 |
Racing Highlights
Won at 4- Whitney H. at Saratoga (G1, 9f in 1:47.89, wire-to-wire, defeating Successful Dan, Mucho Macho Man, Ron the Greek, Fort Larned, Alpha, Csaba, Fast Falcon). 108 Beyer
- Allowance race at Gulfstream Park (8f in 1:35.17, by 7 1/2 lengths, defeating Fast Falcon, Wickersheim, Ender Knievel, Street Thug, etc.). 105 Beyer
- Maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park (6.5f in 1:15.79, career debut, by 1 3/4, defeating Wickersheim, Successful Runner, Macho Spaces, Common Bond, Chilean Boy).
- Metropolitan H. (G1, 8f in 1:34, by nose to Sahara Sky, defeating Flat Out, Mark Valeski, Fed Biz, Fort Loudon, Swagger Jack, Handsome Mike, Discreet Dancer). 110 Beyer
- Westchester S. at Aqueduct (G3, 8f in 1:32.99, by a head to Flat Out, defeating Rattlesnake Bridge, Big Screen, Norman Asbjomson). 116 Beyer
Pedigree
Alan Porter’s 2024 Breeding Analysis for Cross Traffic
Cross Traffic is a brilliant grade one-winning miler by Unbridled’s Song out grade one-winning sprinter Stop Traffic. He made a stellar start to his stud career as Leading Freshman Sire, with a first crop that included Champion Two-Year-Old Filly Jaywalk and was a grade one sire again in 2023.
Jaywalk is out of a mare by Orientate, whose sire Mt. Livermore has worked well under Unbridled’s Song and his sire, Unbridled, and who is also sire of Orientate, Peaks and Valleys and Lucky Lionel (broodmare sire of Cross Traffic stakes winners Dame Plata and Rush Hour Traffic). Mt. Livermore is by Blushing Groom, and Unbridled and Unbridled’s Song have also worked over Blushing Groom through Rahy and through Runaway Groom and his son, Cherokee Run (sire of Kafwain and Yonaguska).
The cross of Unbridled’s Song with mares from the Deputy Minister line has done well, and Cross Traffic has produced graded stakes winner Here Mi Song out of a mare by Dehere (a brother to Defrere) and the stakes winning and grade one placed NY Traffic out of a mare by Dehere’s son Graeme Hall. Cross Traffic has stakes winner Pat’s No Fool out of a mare by Touch Gold. From other branches of Deputy Minister, this sire line has stakes winners from daughters of Awesome Again (sire of Ghostzapper, Paynter, Oxbow, Toccet and Daaher), Salt Lake, FrenchDeputy, Silver Deputy (sire of Posse, Spring At Last and Badge of Silver), Service Stripe, Forest Camp and Deputy Commander.
Deputy Minister is a Northern Dancer lined stallion and one of the most prolific crosses for Unbridled’s Song and his sons has been with mares from the Storm Cat branch of Northern Dancer, which has provided more than 80 stakes winners, including Cross Traffic’s brilliant but daughter Maple Leaf Mel out of a mare by City Place; stakes winner Montauk Traffic out of a mare by Menifee (by Harlan, also the sire of Harlan’s Holiday, and grandsire of Into Mischief – the broodmare of sire of Cross Traffic stakes winner Ethical Lady – Majesticperfection and Shanghai Bobby). In addition to Storm Cat himself, Unbridled’s Song and his sons have sired stakes winners out of mares by Tale of the Cat (and his son Lion Heart, with Tale of the Cat also appearing as sire of Tale of Ekati, and grandsire of Kantharos and Uncaptured), Forestry (sire of Discreet Cat and Shackleford), Forest Wildcat (sire of WildcatHeir), Tabasco Cat, Hennessy (sire of Johannesburg and Cactus Ridge – both broodmare sires of Unbridled’s Song stakes winners – and Henny Hughes, with Hennessy as the grandsire of Scat Daddy), Catienus, Giant’s Causeway (a brother to Freud, and sire of Not This Time, First Samurai, Eskendereya and Creative Cause), Stormy Atlanticand Storm Creek. The Storm Cat strain might also be brought in through Stormin Fever, Bernstein, Pure Prize, Storm Boot and Yankee Gentleman.
From the Danzig branch of Northern Dancer, Cross Traffic has stakes winner Blind Spot out of a mare by Boundary (sire of Big Brown) and Chief’s Crown (sire of Concerto; grandsire of Bellamy Road), Polish Numbers, Belong to Me, Langfuhr, and Pine Bluff all appear as broodmare sires of Unbridled’s Song line stakes winners, which suggests also trying daughters of War Front (who is particularly appealing here and is sire of The Factor, Declaration of War, Summer Front, Hit it a Bomb and Air Force Blue), Exchange Rate and Hard Spun. From the Dixieland Band line there are stakes winners out of mares Citidancer and his son Disco Rico, and Dixieland Band is also sire of Dixie Union (sire of Union Rags). There are also six Unbridled’s Song line stakes winners out of mares descending from Northern Dancer in male line via Sadler’s Wells, two out of mares Medaglia d’Oro (sire of Warrior’s Reward and Violence), himself a son of El Prado, also sire of Kitten’s Joy and Artie Schiller. Other sources of Sadler’s Wells would include Noble Mission, Cape Blanco, Magician, Powerscourt and Horse Chestnut.
Unbridled’s Song and his sons have also begun to find success when bred back over mares from their own Mr. Prospector sire line. Cross Traffic has stakes winner Dancin Shoes out of mare by Gone West and Grade one winner Defining Purpose out of a mare by Strong Hope, a son of the Gone West horse Grand Slam (also sire of Limehouse). Unbridled’s Song and sons have also found success over Gone West through Mr. Greeley – broodmare sire of an Unbridled’s Song line grade one winner – and his son El Corredor, Smarty Jones (by Elusive Quality, also sire of Quality Road), Came Home and Proud Citizen with other sources including Speightstown (sire of Munnings andCentral Banker). Other branches of Mr. Prospector that have produced Unbridled’s Song line stakes winners include Forty Niner through Distorted Humor (the broodmare sire of Unbridled’s Song’s world-champion, Arrogate, and who can be found through Maclean’s Music, Jimmy Creed, Flower Alley, Any Given Saturday and Sharp Humor) and Trippi (broodmare sire of an Unbridled’s Song grade one winner); Lemon Drop Kid (broodmare sire of two Unbridled’s Song grade one winners); Smart Strike (broodmare sire of a grade one winner by a son of Unbridled’s Song, and himself sire of Curlin – also broodmare sire of an Unbridled’s Song line stakes winner – Lookin At Luckyand English Channel); Machiavellian (sire of Street Cry and grandsire of Street Sense and Street Boss); Seeking the Gold (including a stakes winner out of a mare by Mutakddim, and also available through Petionville and Cape Town); and Fusaichi Pegasus.
Given that he is a grandson of Fappiano, the success of Unbridled’s Song and his sons with mares carrying In Reality (giving a double of the influential sire, Rough’ n Tumble, who is duplicated in Cross Traffic through Dr. Fager) was no surprise. From this line, Cross Traffic has stakes winner Capocostello out of a mare by Successful Appeal (sire of Closing Argument). That horse is by Valid Appeal, and Unbridled’s Song has grade one winners out of mares by Valid Appeal (also sire of Valid Expectations and Valid Wager) and Taylor’s Falls; a graded stakes winner out of a mare by In Reality himself; a graded stakes winner out a mare by Known Fact. Out of mares descending from In Reality through Relaunch, there is an Unbridled’s Song line graded stakes winner out of a mare by Colonel John and another out of a mare by his sire, Tiznow (also sire of Gemologist, Tizway and Tiz Wonderful), as well as a grade one winner out of a mare by Bertrando (sire of Officer) and a graded winner out of a mare by Put It Back. Unbridled’s Song’s grade one winner, Political Force is out of a mare by Glitterman, and is inbred to In Reality, once through a sister to Relaunch.
Unbridled enjoyed a strong affinity with mares by Caro, Unbridled’s Song being an example of that cross. This suggests crossing back over this line, particularly with mares from the branch of In Excess, who can be found through Indian Charlie (who is responsible for a stakes winning half-sister to Cross Traffic, and sire of Uncle Mo, Adios Charlie, Bwana Charlie, Liaison and Cinco Charlie), Bring the Heat, Notional and Rocky Bar.
Cross Traffic has a stakes winner out of a mare by Tapit (sire of Frosted, Trappe Shot, Tapizar, Tapiture and Constitution). Tapit is by Pulpit (also sire of Sky Mesa and Stroll), a son of A.P. Indy. That indicates considering mares by Mineshaft (sire of Dialed In), Malibu Moon, Congrats and Flatter, who are all bred on a very similar cross to Pulpit. Mares by Bernardini or his sons, Stay Thirsty or To Honor and Serve, might also work well. Cross Traffic also has 2023 stakes winner out of a mare by A.P. Warrior.
Alan Porter’s 2024 Breeding Analysis for Cross Traffic
Cross Traffic is a brilliant grade one-winning miler by Unbridled’s Song out grade one-winning sprinter Stop Traffic. He made a stellar start to his stud career as Leading Freshman Sire, with a first crop that included Champion Two-Year-Old Filly Jaywalk and was a grade one sire again in 2023.
Jaywalk is out of a mare by Orientate, whose sire Mt. Livermore has worked well under Unbridled’s Song and his sire, Unbridled, and who is also sire of Orientate, Peaks and Valleys and Lucky Lionel (broodmare sire of Cross Traffic stakes winners Dame Plata and Rush Hour Traffic). Mt. Livermore is by Blushing Groom, and Unbridled and Unbridled’s Song have also worked over Blushing Groom through Rahy and through Runaway Groom and his son, Cherokee Run (sire of Kafwain and Yonaguska).
The cross of Unbridled’s Song with mares from the Deputy Minister line has done well, and Cross Traffic has produced graded stakes winner Here Mi Song out of a mare by Dehere (a brother to Defrere) and the stakes winning and grade one placed NY Traffic out of a mare by Dehere’s son Graeme Hall. Cross Traffic has stakes winner Pat’s No Fool out of a mare by Touch Gold. From other branches of Deputy Minister, this sire line has stakes winners from daughters of Awesome Again (sire of Ghostzapper, Paynter, Oxbow, Toccet and Daaher), Salt Lake, FrenchDeputy, Silver Deputy (sire of Posse, Spring At Last and Badge of Silver), Service Stripe, Forest Camp and Deputy Commander.
Deputy Minister is a Northern Dancer lined stallion and one of the most prolific crosses for Unbridled’s Song and his sons has been with mares from the Storm Cat branch of Northern Dancer, which has provided more than 80 stakes winners, including Cross Traffic’s brilliant but daughter Maple Leaf Mel out of a mare by City Place; stakes winner Montauk Traffic out of a mare by Menifee (by Harlan, also the sire of Harlan’s Holiday, and grandsire of Into Mischief – the broodmare of sire of Cross Traffic stakes winner Ethical Lady – Majesticperfection and Shanghai Bobby). In addition to Storm Cat himself, Unbridled’s Song and his sons have sired stakes winners out of mares by Tale of the Cat (and his son Lion Heart, with Tale of the Cat also appearing as sire of Tale of Ekati, and grandsire of Kantharos and Uncaptured), Forestry (sire of Discreet Cat and Shackleford), Forest Wildcat (sire of WildcatHeir), Tabasco Cat, Hennessy (sire of Johannesburg and Cactus Ridge – both broodmare sires of Unbridled’s Song stakes winners – and Henny Hughes, with Hennessy as the grandsire of Scat Daddy), Catienus, Giant’s Causeway (a brother to Freud, and sire of Not This Time, First Samurai, Eskendereya and Creative Cause), Stormy Atlanticand Storm Creek. The Storm Cat strain might also be brought in through Stormin Fever, Bernstein, Pure Prize, Storm Boot and Yankee Gentleman.
From the Danzig branch of Northern Dancer, Cross Traffic has stakes winner Blind Spot out of a mare by Boundary (sire of Big Brown) and Chief’s Crown (sire of Concerto; grandsire of Bellamy Road), Polish Numbers, Belong to Me, Langfuhr, and Pine Bluff all appear as broodmare sires of Unbridled’s Song line stakes winners, which suggests also trying daughters of War Front (who is particularly appealing here and is sire of The Factor, Declaration of War, Summer Front, Hit it a Bomb and Air Force Blue), Exchange Rate and Hard Spun. From the Dixieland Band line there are stakes winners out of mares Citidancer and his son Disco Rico, and Dixieland Band is also sire of Dixie Union (sire of Union Rags). There are also six Unbridled’s Song line stakes winners out of mares descending from Northern Dancer in male line via Sadler’s Wells, two out of mares Medaglia d’Oro (sire of Warrior’s Reward and Violence), himself a son of El Prado, also sire of Kitten’s Joy and Artie Schiller. Other sources of Sadler’s Wells would include Noble Mission, Cape Blanco, Magician, Powerscourt and Horse Chestnut.
Unbridled’s Song and his sons have also begun to find success when bred back over mares from their own Mr. Prospector sire line. Cross Traffic has stakes winner Dancin Shoes out of mare by Gone West and Grade one winner Defining Purpose out of a mare by Strong Hope, a son of the Gone West horse Grand Slam (also sire of Limehouse). Unbridled’s Song and sons have also found success over Gone West through Mr. Greeley – broodmare sire of an Unbridled’s Song line grade one winner – and his son El Corredor, Smarty Jones (by Elusive Quality, also sire of Quality Road), Came Home and Proud Citizen with other sources including Speightstown (sire of Munnings andCentral Banker). Other branches of Mr. Prospector that have produced Unbridled’s Song line stakes winners include Forty Niner through Distorted Humor (the broodmare sire of Unbridled’s Song’s world-champion, Arrogate, and who can be found through Maclean’s Music, Jimmy Creed, Flower Alley, Any Given Saturday and Sharp Humor) and Trippi (broodmare sire of an Unbridled’s Song grade one winner); Lemon Drop Kid (broodmare sire of two Unbridled’s Song grade one winners); Smart Strike (broodmare sire of a grade one winner by a son of Unbridled’s Song, and himself sire of Curlin – also broodmare sire of an Unbridled’s Song line stakes winner – Lookin At Luckyand English Channel); Machiavellian (sire of Street Cry and grandsire of Street Sense and Street Boss); Seeking the Gold (including a stakes winner out of a mare by Mutakddim, and also available through Petionville and Cape Town); and Fusaichi Pegasus.
Given that he is a grandson of Fappiano, the success of Unbridled’s Song and his sons with mares carrying In Reality (giving a double of the influential sire, Rough’ n Tumble, who is duplicated in Cross Traffic through Dr. Fager) was no surprise. From this line, Cross Traffic has stakes winner Capocostello out of a mare by Successful Appeal (sire of Closing Argument). That horse is by Valid Appeal, and Unbridled’s Song has grade one winners out of mares by Valid Appeal (also sire of Valid Expectations and Valid Wager) and Taylor’s Falls; a graded stakes winner out of a mare by In Reality himself; a graded stakes winner out a mare by Known Fact. Out of mares descending from In Reality through Relaunch, there is an Unbridled’s Song line graded stakes winner out of a mare by Colonel John and another out of a mare by his sire, Tiznow (also sire of Gemologist, Tizway and Tiz Wonderful), as well as a grade one winner out of a mare by Bertrando (sire of Officer) and a graded winner out of a mare by Put It Back. Unbridled’s Song’s grade one winner, Political Force is out of a mare by Glitterman, and is inbred to In Reality, once through a sister to Relaunch.
Unbridled enjoyed a strong affinity with mares by Caro, Unbridled’s Song being an example of that cross. This suggests crossing back over this line, particularly with mares from the branch of In Excess, who can be found through Indian Charlie (who is responsible for a stakes winning half-sister to Cross Traffic, and sire of Uncle Mo, Adios Charlie, Bwana Charlie, Liaison and Cinco Charlie), Bring the Heat, Notional and Rocky Bar.
Cross Traffic has a stakes winner out of a mare by Tapit (sire of Frosted, Trappe Shot, Tapizar, Tapiture and Constitution). Tapit is by Pulpit (also sire of Sky Mesa and Stroll), a son of A.P. Indy. That indicates considering mares by Mineshaft (sire of Dialed In), Malibu Moon, Congrats and Flatter, who are all bred on a very similar cross to Pulpit. Mares by Bernardini or his sons, Stay Thirsty or To Honor and Serve, might also work well. Cross Traffic also has 2023 stakes winner out of a mare by A.P. Warrior.
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