The Legacy of Not For Love

Since 1994 there have only been three years where the leading sire in Maryland was not a son of Mr. Prospector, and during that period Not For Love held the top spot the longest.

Northview Stallion Station, which stood Not For Love his entire career, said goodbye to its champion sire May 29, when the 26-year-old Maryland mainstay was euthanized due to complications from colic.

Not For Love was the leading Maryland sire for nine consecutive years from 2003 through 2011. He returned to the top spot in 2014 and 2015 and through May 31 is Maryland's leading sire by both number of winners (27) and earnings ($790,175).

Richard L. Golden, owner of Northview, bought Not For Love as a 5-year-old from breeder Ogden Mills Phipps. A stakes-placed full brother to champion 2-year-old male Rhythm, he descends from a tremendous stallion-producing family established by La Troienne. His second dam was champion 2-year-old filly Numbered Account.

Not For Love's pedigree was a collage of influences from the state's leading sires that preceded him with Mr. Prospector being the most common denominator. Swaps, Mahmoud, and Nasrullah are a few other ancestors who Not For Love shared with other top Maryland sires. Dance Number, the dam of Not For Love, traces back in her female line to Swaps, who is the broodmare sire of her second dam, Intriguing. Allen's Prospect, a dominant regional sire before Not For Love's rise, was a son of Mr. Prospector out of the Swaps mare Change Water. Allen's Prospect was Maryland's leading sire six times, including a four-year stretch from 1999 through 2002.

Also on Not For Love's dam's side can be found Mahmoud, sire of Northern Dancer's second dam Almahmoud; and Nasrullah, the broodmare sire of his fourth dam, Glamour. The influences of Mahmoud and Nasrullah can be found in the pedigree of Heavenly Cause, the dam of Two Punch, who was another son of Mr. Prospector and Maryland's leading sire in 1994. Mahmoud comes through Heavenly Cause's sire, Grey Dawn, as the broodmare sire of Grey Dawn's dam, Polamia. Nasrullah comes through Heavenly Cause's dam, Lady Dulcinea, as the sire of her sire, Nantallah.

One possible reason for the success of Mr. Prospector's sons in Maryland might be the influence of Northern Dancer, who stood at Windfields Farm there. Not For Love was one of a plethora of successful racehorses bred on the cross of these dominant American sires.

Just as mares with Northern Dancer influence set the stage for Mr. Prospector sons in Maryland, it appears Not For Love could be setting the stage for sons and grandsons of A.P. Indy. Look no further than California Chrome to see the potential—his sire Lucky Pulpit is a grandson of A.P. Indy crossed with a daughter of Not For Love.

A.P. Indy sons in Maryland and Pennsylvania include Friesan Fire (County Life Farm); Scipion (Murmur Farm) and Rock Slide (Shamrock Farm); and Jump Start (Northview Pennsylvania division). Grandsons include Corinthian (by Pulpit, at Pin Oak Lane in Pennsylvania), El Padrino (by Pulpit, at Northview Pennsylvania division) and great-grandson Bandbox (by Tapit, at Northview Maryland division).