Generation to generation, side by side, the two dynasties have been entwined since 1951. But every arborist knows that trees only maintain healthy growth with judicious pruning and coppicing, and that you must keep adapting to changes in environment and climate.Which is why the scion of one family tree has resolved, however reluctantly, to make the latest bloom on the other available for grafting elsewhere.Walker Hancock understands that the bloodstock world bears little resemblance to the one where his grandfather bought a mare from the King of England 75 years ago; that it is no longer even what it was when he took over Claiborne in 2014. But the whole point of his promotion, when only 25, was a mutual transfusion of their different strengths between the old farm and its young president. As a result, the decision to offer a young mare as precious as Admit (Blame) at the Keeneland November Sale has been made by a relatively seasoned head on what remain vigorous shoulders.That doesn't mean Hancock particularly likes the idea. “But frankly we've done a terrible job of cashing in these opportunities in the past,” he acknowledges wryly. “It's been a tough decision. But it's a very different world than 20, 30 years ago. A generation ago, this opportunity would never have arisen. Maybe not even 10 years ago.“I'm always careful of understanding and staying true to our reputation; the heritage of what has been built here, through the generations. But unfortunately it's just the way the market is. To continue to flourish, I feel like we have to keep up with the times. I mean, I hate to be that way because we've been so reluctant to do so, thus far. But we have to, now, to hopefully retain our strength in this industry.”In other words, the inherent value of Admit, as a graded stakes winner by Blame, is compounded by a priceless symbolism. Winner of the GII Valley View Stakes at Keeneland last year, the 4-year-old is carrying a first foal by Life Is Good. But the clincher is that her dam Profess (War Front) is half-sister to Pulpit himself, being the last foal of Yarn's sister Preach (Mr. Prospector). The fourth dam of those two matriarchs is Knight's Daughter (GB), purchased by Bull Hancock for 2,500gns at Tattersalls in 1951. She only delivered two foals by Kentucky covers, both by Princequillo (Ire): a colt who became Round Table, Horse of the Year and important sire; and a filly, Monarchy, subsequently foundation stone of this family. Walker Hancock (right), Charlie Oliver and Kevin Lay with Blame | Sara GordonEvery name behind Admit's dam drips with farm history: Preach, Narrate, State, Monarchy. But great breeders have always tapped into each other's work, as though engaged in a communal exercise.“I liken it to an heirloom,” Hancock says. “This is a family we've cultivated through seven generations, something that came from King George VI, that's been passed down from my grandfather to my father and now to me. Like I said, it's not very often we put something so shiny onto the market. Thankfully we still have plenty of the blood, which makes the decision a little easier. [The farm retains Admit's yearling half-sister by Cairo Prince.] But we're offering a unique opportunity for someone else to help this great family expand.“She certainly has all the credentials to be a phenomenal broodmare: by Blame, whose daughters are producing so many top-quality horses, and in-foal to an exciting young stallion with a Grade I winner from his first crop. And she's a beautiful young mare, really everything you want: size, bone, shape. Still looks like she could run. And she has that great Blame head on her, with a really kind eye. I think when people come down to the barn, and see her walk out, they're going to be wowed by her presence. I would hope she'll be sought after by multiple continents.”“Admit” is aptly a word of dual connotation. On the one hand, it implies the concession of a point. And that fits, for sure, Hancock acknowledging a commercial gesture to the times we live in. But it is the other sense of the word, denoting access or admission, that unquestionably feels most vital to this transaction.For Hancock and his team–which embraces the experienced counsel of his father Seth, and the go-getter gusto of his stallion seasons and bloodstock manager Jacob West–are making this offer from a position of strength. This farm, remember, has just raised its 11th Kentucky Derby winner. And if Golden Tempo (Curlin) is the first on Hancock's watch, fifth dam Blitey (Riva Ridge) is buried in the farm cemetery. A classic example, in other words, of the blend of continuity and relevance Hancock strives to represent.“I guess he's the first [Derby winner] that I've had a little bit of a hand in,” he says gratefully. “And to do it for Daisy [Phipps Pulito] and her family, and obviously Vinnie [Viola of St. Elias Stable] and his family, was very special. Our relationship with the Phipps family goes back so many years. My grandfather helped her grandfather purchase Blitey's dam [Lady Pitt (Sword Dancer)]. So for us to do this together is very cool.”It feels a long time since Hancock spent a first summer working with the yearlings in 2007. There were two Arch colts in the barn: one was much flashier, but it was the quietly obliging one that turned out to be Blame. The way he stood up for himself–when it was Blame against Zenyatta, Blame against the world–secured him a lasting place in the teenaged Hancock's affections.To some of us, Blame remains strangely underrated entering the evening of his career, relative to his freakish precocity as a distaff influence. Hancock notes that his daughters are statistically exceptional runners, too, even before moving onto a second career.“He's my all-time favorite horse for many reasons,” he enthuses. “But yes, his early successes as a broodmare sire has been nothing short of phenomenal. It's rare for an established and distinguished broodmare sire to still be in production when people realize how good they actually are. Yes, he's 20. But his fertility is great and hopefully he still has a few more years in the breeding shed. He's damsire of a serious stallion in Australia (G1SW Switzerland {Aus}, by Snitzel {Aus}), certainly quite a few here in America, and I'm sure it's just a matter of time before he adds something in Europe. So he helps this mare appeal to a really international audience. Blame can certainly can get you a turf horse, but dirt, long, short, it doesn't really matter. He covers all bases.”The other element in the Admit equation represents another gamble that Claiborne might not have taken in times past. But starting a mare with the unproven Life Is Good has paid off big time.“I guess I went out on a limb a little bit,” Hancock accepts. “I'd heard good things about his 2-year-olds in Ocala, and knew Todd Pletcher was always very high on him. I didn't know if we'd be selling or not. But I thought, 'Well, if you're right, you'll be really right; and if you're wrong, it'll be okay, we'll keep the first foal.' But at this point it looks like she's in foal to a very exciting young stallion.”Mind you, there are one or two of those on his own roster. In another sign of the times, Mindframe (Constitution)'s debut book of 187 was a Claiborne record. Even so, many mares were evidently turned down. Mindframe at Claiborne | Sara Gordon“He was very highly sought after,” Hancock says. “Jacob sold his last few seasons for $75,000, markedly higher than his advertised fee. He's a truly great-looking horse with a great book of mares behind him, and he has a huge shot.”Another young gun to watch is Annapolis (War Front), whose first yearlings impressed at the sales. “Ramona and Perry [Bass] have been great supporters of the horse, which has been extremely helpful,” Hancock says. “We were a little worried after his weanling sales, last November, but he rebounded very, very well. They may just take a little time but they really rounded into shape for September and have been very well received.”However startled others may have been, his father plainly knew what he was about when fast-tracking Hancock. After all, he had made his own accession when even younger, in far more traumatic circumstances. With each stage of the transition, Hancock has unmistakably grown into the role. Selling this mare itself condenses the equilibrium he has achieved: between his own innate modesty, and his quiet authority in embracing challenge; between his respect for tradition, and his willingness to adapt.“Well, I'm learning a little more every year; every day, even,” he says. “But yes, hopefully getting a little more comfortable in understanding what the market wants us to do. It's been a great year. We sold three $1-million yearlings, which we've never done before in one season. We had our highest-grossing September Sale, that I could find anyway. So yes, I feel like momentum's picking up. Trying to play this commercial market is tricky, but we're trying to make the right moves.”None of us ever has the game finally cracked, after all. If War of Will had come up with U. S. S. Valor in his first season, he would still be here with vans lined up the drive. Timing, as Hancock remarks to that observation, counts for plenty in this business. But he believes that selling this mare will prove a win-win, for Claiborne and purchaser alike. Because culling isn't always about dumping dead wood; it's about making things viable, funding the next experiment. Nobody can put a price on the chance to get into this family–but that's exactly what we are all now invited to do.“In today's world, this market being as strong as it is, unfortunately we have to be commercial breeders at some point,” Hancock says. “This is an opportunity for us to do that. It's one we thought long and hard about. But the economics of this industry are kind of forcing our hand. I don't suspect we'll do this very often, but hopefully that will make her even more appealing.“I guess maybe as I get older, I realize how important this role actually is. Not that I ever took anything for granted, was ever ungrateful. But I have a large load to carry, with everything my father and grandfather did in front of me. I'm just trying to do the best I can, and hopefully stay relevant. So we'll keep trying to put our best foot forward.”The post Keeneland Breeder Spotlight: Market Forces Admitted To Claiborne appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.