Ha ha with my guy it was definitely love at first sight 
Great examples of “evaluate the horse in front of you,” not the pedigree.
With that said, your Catniro mare sounds exactly how I would expect her to be. Fappiano and Broad Brush tend to put some rock solid brains on horses, especially over fences; the double dose of Storm Cat would likely bring a good bit of sensitivity and jump. I would expect a conformation crap shoot with those lines, but Storm Cat lines can be stocky (not always), and Rubiano often threw surprisingly stout, so to hear she’s QH-like is not shocking.
The Macho Uno mare’s paper suggests a lot of athleticism and ability for sport, but clearly it was a case of nature v. nurture and all that jazz. For whatever reason, she inherited or expressed a less than average work ethic. (Disappointing for a Macho Uno/Lear Fan horse)
I drove almost 1,000 miles to see and fall in love with an unbroke coming 6yr old TB based solely on his pedigree and adorable face. He is a grandson of Alydar, a horse I have adored since I watched him lose every race to Affirmed way back when. Rudy’s conformation isn’t the best; he has a ewe neck set high on massive withers, and extremely short back but he is straight-legged and has perfect feet. Saddle fitting for dressage was a nightmare and I have yet to find a jump saddle that actually fits right, but I wouldn’t trade him for anything. Since he was only halter broke, I had his owner lunge him so I could see his gaits and his attitude towards doing something new. After 2 hrs we made a deal pending a vet check and Coggins. He is my 5th TB, some were OT, some never raced.
So what do I look for in a TB? I do look at the pedigree, but I also want a kind eye and a willing attitude. Straight legs are a must for me, as are good feet. As far as gaits go, I put most of my emphasis on the walk and canter; if he lifts into a nice trot, so much the better.
I’ve bought two horses that when I first saw them my heart went pitter patter. Not so scientific but when the other boxes got ticked I bought them. Both were great purchases. Mostly gut instinct for my particular ‘eye’.
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disclaimer - I don’t compete anymore
I hope my 19 yo current Ottb, whom I bought at the track when she was 4, will be with me a long time, but when I was looking, I wanted 1) a smallish mare 2) good temperament 3) sound 4) ok conformation / movement.
The pedigree didn’t really matter to me, although my 2nd Ottb had Alydar, Secretariat and Buckpasser. She was the better horse for sure - better conformation and movement - but since I only had time for one horse, I kept the mare whose personality and quirks still make me laugh to this day. Never a dull moment with that one 
If I had to look now, I’d probably want something quieter, since I am now getting older and creakier and I tend to go SPLAT rather than bouncing back up when falling off.
Easy: cooperative and sound. Sure, I’ll look at the pedigree and dredge up every shred of info I can find about the horse, but that’s just for fun. The bottom line is that I’ve got to be able to sit on it and feel like I can work with it and have fun in the process. With a good attitude and work ethic (cooperative), pretty much any TB has the talent to go P if he likes the job, and at the level of training I’m buying (when I shop - hahaha - not planning that anytime soon!), you’re not going to know that.
Lest you think I’m completely rational, I also won’t buy anything coarse or gray. 
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Would this be a good time to share your “test ride” videos on the king of your world currently???
I have the link ready!!!
Em
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@bornfreenowexpensive - Thanks for the analysis. If yours is a border collie, mine is definitely a labrador retriever, haha.
@Texarkana - Yes, you nailed my Catniro mare. She has zero spook - the most she’ll do is flick an ear - and is much braver than me. The Macho Uno mare broke my heart - so frustrating to have all the pieces except the willingness and kindness to do the job.
Oh, another thing I look for me personally: I’ve ridden as small as 11h and as large as 17.2h, but I really prefer the 15.2h - 16h range since I’m petite. I’d rather zoom around in a sports car than roll around in an Escalade.
HAHAHAHA - NO!!! Like anyone can ride her way out of a paper bag when she’s just been nursing for a year! But you didn’t think I wouldn’t participate, did you?
But it’s not just this guy - my username comes from the first horse I bought straight off the track and his rider described him as “very cooperative.” She hit the nail on the head: he was that from the first second, and always. It was instantly my standard and has served well ever since.
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LOL…and not everyone can love a Border Collie! Sometimes too smart…and they really keep you on your toes. Always trying to anticipate what he “thinks” you want. And he is NOT always right He is not bad at all…but out thinking him (or really just staying ahead of him) keeps a rider on their toes…and riding! He does express his own opinion but often the opinion is what he thinks you want. An over achiever. Him…you turned left twice after that jump so you are just wrong asking me to turn right now…we are turning left!!!..what…not what you wanted??? head shake and grunt as we spin back to the right. Me…sigh…just his overachieving working brain.
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Sounds like my guy! “That oxer was 2 feet 2 1/4 inches wide the last three times we went through this gymnastic, now it’s 2 feet 6 inches wide! Are you trying to trick me?!”
When I first saw…Blame it on Bush…aka Porter he was trotting thru weeds chest high smack face first into 6ft high chicken wire fence…he as 100%unfazed unhurt and had a jaw dropping big athletic trot…where that has gone now I don t know, but his huge loft step as all I saw…when I got him home he had a super jump and keep the mind…bonus was he had a very sound past…Yes I liked his over all symmetry and balance…certainly knew were his feet are…cat like good reflexs good sel preservation instincts…
Aside from the obvious – liquid eye, soundness, comfort conformation, good movement, etc. — if I’m looking at horses at the racetrack, I like those who take their time – don’t need a pony – walk calmly to and from and like to stand on the track and watch the goings on without getting fractious = good mind = been there, done that attitude. If they yawn on the way, even better!
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How does that translate under saddle to the Ammy? Reading thru this as I’m looking for the ‘next’, probably end up being another OTTB, but green… So I am looking for a quieter type, but forward thinker, but quiet should not equal barely walking. Ya know? And since I’ve never trialed one so quickly from the track (in this case, 6 mos off and about 30 days back under tack) I am trying to get a handle on what’s okay/normal and what is not.
Smart, keen expression is my first go-to. An overall well-put together build with neither too little nor too much bone, and the “attitude for aptitude.” Matching angles, decent hoof horn. Gotta have something that is willing to work and learn. All of them will test and say “no, thank you” every once in a while, but I think that those are the smart, honest ones. Big walk, efficient gallop, and a nice, get-you-where-you-need-to-go canter.
I was lucky enough to have my 3yo handpicked for me by a best friend and very reputable horseperson; he’s by High Cotton (Dixie Union-Happy Tune, by A.P. Indy), out of a Deputy Minister mare. Came off sound with only two starts, but we know his whole history. He’s a dream, and a big boy! High Cotton produces some gorgeous foals.
I think having good, honest connections is a big plus. I know that that’s not always attainable, but it has saved me (and will save me in the future) a lot of worry and second thoughts.
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One thing I wished we had looked for (hindsight) is a horse that covers the ground lightly at the canter or gallop - such that if you are listening but not looking, you don’t hear the horse approaching until he is pretty darn close.
When I was shopping for my OTTB I was absolutely looking for something that could easily be resold down the road if we weren’t a “match” - so I didn’t look at many mares (although I LOVE a good mare) and I was looking at something on the bigger side being as that is how the market is going - I’m also 5’9 and all leg so I need something that’s going to take up my leg regardless. I wanted something fancy, good conformation, good mover but most importantly I wanted something with a good brain. I could take a small conformation flaw or not the “best” trot if the horse had a good brain and a good work ethic. You can have all the movement in the world but without a good head on their shoulders you’re just going to be pulling your hair out (at least I would). I also wanted something brave, but it’s not always easy to tell what’s going to be brave from the start.
And to remember that not all horses tick all the boxes. There have to be some boxes that cannot be ticked as there is no perfect horse. Pick the most important ones, like an honest character.
Actually, there was an article on Toytown in H&H - Zara Tindall bought him from the girl who had been bucked off him more times than she could count. Until she learned that she could not not outmuscle him, but had to be his friend.
Another thing Zara said about her stable management was never to be doing nothing. She likes everything clean and tidy and does not wait for a bucket to fill…bit like a properly trained waitress who never makes a trip without something i her hands. … but I digress.
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I am in the process of shopping for a new horse. After bringing a young horse along only to have him try and kill himself a million times, I decided I wanted something that was under 10 but doing a job. Could not find anything with decent flatwork basics. So I went and looked at a 5yr old OTTB with 3 mths of work that I had little hope for. Best little thing ever. Great trot, great canter. Polite and intelligent. Barefoot and sound on rocky footing. Solid walls even though he was a little over due for a trim. Owner said I gave him the best ride of anyone of the people trying him. Coming to my barn in a couple of days…super excited to help him find his way. So thankful to the person that encouraged me to go look…even though he was too small. My priorities. Temperament, soundness, way of going. Not too fussy about confirmation as long as they are mostly correct.
