Pedigree matters in the Derby
With the 2017 Kentucky Derby field all but set, barring any late withdrawals, here’s a brief look at the pedigrees (sire and sire line) of five of this year’s leading contenders.
Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile)
The first thing to keep in mind about Classic Empire is that he’s a great-grandson of Unbridled. Tailmale descendants of the 1990 Derby winner – a grandson of Mr. Prospector through Fappiano – have made their mark since his first 3-year- olds hit the track in 1996. Unbridled-line runners have won the Derby three times (Grindstone, Mine That Bird and American Pharoah) and been runner-up four times (Empire Maker, Eight Belles, Pioneerof the Nile and Bodemeister). The two Unbridled descendants in this year’s field, Classic Empire and Always Dreaming, are among the favorites.
Classic Empire is Pioneerof the Nile’s third Derby starter in four years. American Pharoah is, of course, the best known. The other starter, Vinceremos, fin-
ished 17th as a 49-1 underdog in 2014.
Classic Empire, a winner of the Arkansas Derby in his final prep, has been working well, and appears to have rediscovered the form that carried him to the juvenile championship in 2016.
Always Dreaming (Bodemeister)
Like Classic Empire, Always Dreaming is a greatgrandson of Unbridled. Like Classic Empire, he is also the son of a Kentucky Derby runner-up: Bodemeister, who ran second behind I’ll Have Another in the 2012 Derby and Preakness. Always Dreaming is a member of Bodemeister’s first crop.
The record shows that in recent years, young stallions have had a good deal of success on the first Saturday in May. In fact, more than half of the Derbies run this century (9- of17) have been won by sons of first- or second- crop sires. The four by firstcrop sires were Monarchos (Maria’s Mon), Funny Cide (Distorted Humor), Mine That Bird (Birdstone) and Nyquist (Uncle Mo).
Always Dreaming comes into the Derby off two open-lengths victories at nine furlongs, most recently in the Florida Derby.
Irish War Cry (Curlin)
If the Derby were held today, seven of the 20 starters would represent the Mr. Prospector male line, which has produced the winners of 8- of-17 Derbies since 2000. The seven may well include the top three post-time favorites, with Irish War Cry joining Classic Empire and Always Dreaming.
With two Triple Crown race winners in just four years, Curlin is well on the way to establishing himself as a classic influence. Palace Malice, a member of his initial crop, won the 2013 Belmont by 3¼ lengths. Last year Exaggerator won the Preakness after running second to Nyquist in the Derby.
Irish War Cry will attempt to complete Curlin’s career Triple Crown. The once-beaten New Jerseybred made people forget his puzzling up-the-track finish in the Fountain of Youth with a rousing victory in the Wood Memorial.
McCraken (Ghostzapper)
After a slow start at stud, the versatile Ghostzapper has worked his way into the upper echelon in the ranks of American stallions.
However, with just one starter in seven years – Stately Victor, who finished eighth in 2010 – the Hall of Famer has had little impact on the Ken-
tucky Derby.
McCraken will attempt to become the first horse in seven years to win the Derby exiting a losing race. His non-threatening third in the Blue Grass, the first loss of his career, ended his unbeaten streak at four.
Gormley (Malibu Moon)
It took a few years for the A.P. Indy male line to establish itself as a classic influence. After producing two winners of the Kentucky Derby and three runners-up since 2010, though, the line is mounting a challenge to Mr. Prospector as the primary force in the Triple Crown. A.P. Indy will likely have seven tailmale descendants in the Churchill Downs starting gate on Saturday, the same as Mr. P.
Gormley is only the third Derby starter in 14 years for Malibu Moon, most of whose best runners have been fillies. The other Derby starters were Orb, winner of the 2013 race, and Prospective, who finished 18th in 2012. Gormley is coming off a workmanlike score in the Santa Anita Derby, the third graded stakes win of his career and second Grade 1.