TX bred 2yo Canigotoo with 96 BSF in debut..

[Merlinsky]

Yeah I heard about this horse. Not completely out of nowhere despite the sire (although I suppose the Danzig blood ain't for nothing). His dam is half to Captain Bodgit. She's not a blue blood by any means (a bit of an understatement), but that part got my attention. The rest of the family though, eh. Kind of telling is this quote from an article about Captain Bodgit and Free House's breeding during the 1997 TC trail. http://articles.baltimoresun.com/199...ptain-bodgit/2

CB's breeder: "You know the old saying: Breed the best to the best and hope for the best?" Wiest said.

"What it really is, is breed the best to the best that you can afford -- and hope for the best."

I'm gonna guess he still owns CB's half-sister, Canigotoo's dam Bella Selene. Menhal's a private fee Texas stallion, and I don't suppose a very costly one, so it would fit into the plan.