In addition to his bloodstock consulting, Calvin L. Carter also is a writer and blogger. Several of his articles have appeared in HorsePlayer Magazine. His analysis of classic competitors and the young Thoroughbreds on the Kentucky Derby Trail can be found at his Classic Champion Thoroughbreds blog which was created in June 2009.
Knowing as much as possible about the Thoroughbred and what takes to produce a classic champion has been a passion of Calvin who began his research and study of horses in the early 1990s. That research and study led to his creation in 2014 of the Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® which is a breeding, sales and racing analytical tool Calvin uses to measure the graded stakes and classic potential of young Thoroughbreds.
Prior to the creation of the profile, Calvin’s knowledge of pedigrees and the Ancestral Herd has helped him pick the classic champions California Chrome, Orb, I’ll Have Another, Animal Kingdom, Pour Moi, Super Saver, Lookin At Lucky, and Summer Bird. In 2012, Calvin picked in his Derby blog the top five finishers of the Kentucky Derby.
“Of all the horses entered in the Derby, California Chrome is one of the most interesting. Obviously, he’s very talented. He’s won his last four races by a combined win margin of 24 1/4-lengths. He has good speed and finishes his races with a lot of energy. His finish time of 1:47.52 in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) is racehorse time and it makes him very competitive in the Derby.
“Indeed, the way California Chrome won his last four races gives the impression that he has no peers on the racetrack and he’s most likely the winner of Kentucky Derby 140. However, when you look at the past performances of California Chrome it appears that he’s “All or Nothing” when he runs. When he wins, he wins big. When he loses, he completely misses the board.” – 2014 Kentucky Derby, Read More
“As a 3-year-old, Orb is undefeated in three starts including a half-length win in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) and a 2 3/4 -length win in the Florida Derby (G1). Orb’s gritty will to win and his breeding make him competitive in Kentucky Derby 139.” – 2013 Kentucky Derby, Read More
“I’ll Have Another comes into the Derby with a win in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G2) and the Santa Anita Derby (G1).His time of 1:47.88 in the Santa Anita Derby is the second fastest since Point Given’s time of 1:47.77 in 2001 and that’s the kind of time I like to see in a colt I believe may have classic potential.” – 2012 Kentucky Derby, Read More
“Readers who follow my blog know that Animal Kingdom has been my favorite since I wrote about him in my 2011 Kentucky Derby Outlook last December. Animal Kingdom has always reigned supreme on my list. He has the breeding and mental toughness to easily handle the demanding 10-furlongs of the Kentucky Derby.” – 2011 Kentucky Derby, Read More
“The type of breeding pattern in the pedigree of Pour Moi is a powerful influence I look for in the pedigree. Treasure Beach has the same pattern in his pedigree and he’s the only horse that has raced 12-furlongs.” – 2011 Epsom Derby, Read More
“Super Saver, along with Eskendereya and Winslow Homer were three key horses on my watch last January because I really liked their pedigrees. Super Saver has the “will to win” and so does Borel “ that’s a good combination.” – 2010 Kentucky Derby, Read More
“Lookin At Lucky, in my opinion, is all heart and I like the jockey switch to Martin Garcia. Going into the the Kentucky Derby, I thought that Super Saver and Lookin At Lucky were the two best horses and I believe they are the two best in the Preakness field.” – 2010 Preakness, Read More
“Summer Bird was my favorite for the Kentucky Derby. I also backed him in the Belmont and Travers. Every now and then when I’m studying pedigrees I have a “Wow” moment. In 2009 my “Wow” moment occurred in March while studying the pedigree of Summer Bird. I was so impressed with the pedigree of Summer Bird that I thought he had the potential to become a Classic Champion Thoroughbred.” – 2009 Summer Bird blog, Read More