Kentucky Derby Pedigree Profile - Govenor Charlie

 

GOVENOR CHARLIE (Midnight Lute - Silverbulletway, by Storm Cat) was bred and owned by Mike Pegram. The dark bay colt was second in his six furlong debut in January. A month later he got into a fight on the front end and prevailed by a head at a mile. His dynamic victory in the Sunland Derby earned him 50 points towards a start in the Kentucky Derby. Govenor Charlie has compiled a 3-2-1-0 ($444,800) race record.

Midnight Lute is a huge 17 hands high dark brown (almost black) stallion. Despite his huge size, the son of “almost” triple crown winner Real Quiet won his debut in July as a two year old. Due to throat issues, Midnight Lute was away from the races for a year. The same issues kept him from running longer distances, yet there was no denying Midnight Lute's talent. He racked up wins in the Forego Stakes (G-1) and is the only two-time winner of the Breeders' Cup Sprint. Additionally, he owns the stakes record for the prestigious Sprint (1:07.08).

Midnight Lute is the leading second crop sire in terms of earnings and is tied for first with number of stakes winners (3). Despite making his name as a sprinter, Midnight Lute doesn't have the typical precocious speed pedigree or conformation associated with shorter distances. Had the huge stallion not been plagued with throat issues which affected his wind, he may have well won at classic distances. Midnight Lute's progeny have won over all surfaces, although the majority are having success over dirt. For the most part, they are large, leggy horses who greatly resemble their sire. Expect them to develop their talent with age. Govenor Charlie is Midnight Lute's first winner at 1 1/8 miles. The stallion has also sired Govenor Charlie's stablemates Midnight Lucky (who set a new track record in the Sunland Oaks) and San Vicente(G-2) winner Shaken' It Up. He's also produced multiple stakes placed My Lute.

MIDNIGHT LUTE (Real Quiet - Candytuft, by Dehere)

Race record: 13-6-3-1 ($2,690,600)

2nd – Cigar Mile (G-1)

 

Govenor Charlie's dam Silverbulletway was unraced, however the young mare's first foal Crisis of Spirit (by Vindication) won a the Anoakia Stakes at six furlongs as a juvenile and placed in the 1 mile turf Le Cle Stakes at three. Silverbulletway's four year old Roman Ruler colt Caveman Keno is currently in training with Bob Baffert. Govenor Charlie has a two year old full sister named Pachangera, a Lookin' At Lucky yearling half brother and Silverbulletway is in foal to Lookin' At Lucky.

Silverbulletway is an unraced daughter of Hall of Fame entrant Silverbulletday (by Silver Deputy). The fabulous mare was the best of her generation, earning Eclipse Awards at ages two and three. Among her accomplishments, Silverbulletday captured the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G-1), Kentucky Oaks (G-1), Ashland and Alabama Stakes, both Grade 1 contests. The mare won from 5 ½ furlongs to 1 ¼ miles.

As a broodmare, Silverbulletday bore many daughters, none of whom have earned blacktype. However, her only son Tice (by A.P. Indy) is stakes placed. Silverbulletday's talent is clearly skipping a generation. Her three daughters to produce foals, Silverbulletway (by Storm Cat), Silver Bullet Moon and Silverbulletfolly (both by Vindication) have bore stakes winners. The later is the dam of Shaken' It Up, a son of Midnight Lute.

 

The internationally recognized stallion Storm Cat is Govenor Charlie's broodmare sire. Storm Cat is a chameleon of sorts. Bred to mares with stamina oriented pedigrees, he would get two turn runners, and those mares who were sprint oriented would produce sprinter/miler types. This was the key to his remarkable success in the breeding shed.

Storm Cat is excelling as a broodmare sire as well. For the last two years, Storm Cat has been the leading broodmare sire by both earnings, winners and graded stakes winners. He was second in the 2011 standings by number of winners. In 2010, he was third by earnings and winners. His daughters' offspring win at all distances over all surfaces. Their notable offspring include Last year's Kentucky Derby/Preakness runner-up Bodemeister, Florida Derby winner Dialed In, and dual Grade 1 turf routing mare Harmonious.

Govenor Charlie appears to be average in height. He has the powerful two-turn body of his sire. He has an efficient, ground-covering stride with slightly high knee action. Govenor Charlie bore out slightly around both turns in the Sunland Derby, however, the turns are likely tighter than he is used to. He also bore out slightly in the stretch, possibly a reaction to the whip. He showed a high cruising speed in the Sunland Derby and galloped out strongly past the finish line.

 

 

 

 

Govenor Charlie is undoubtedly a talented quickly maturing colt and could have a very promising future. I'd keep him on my Derby list for exotics, but he'll have to be extremely special to win the roses with no races at age two and only three lifetime races. The sensational Curlin entered the Kentucky Derby with three lifetimes starts and finished a good third in the Kentucky Derby so there's hope that Govenor Charlie will follow in the hoofprints of these outstanding horses.