2014 Kentucky Derby Watch - Strong Mandate Pedigree Profile

 

There was a strong finale to Saratoga's 2013 juvenile season in the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes. Strong Mandate now has the authority to act like a Breeders' Cup Juvenile contender, and I dare say – a possible early Triple Crown hopeful.

Strong Mandate snorkeled his way to a 9 ¾ length victory over a very sloppy Saratoga track. Sitting three wide in the early stages, he splashed along about a length behind the pace setter, Saratoga Special hero Corfu. True to his sprinter's nature, that one set swift fractions of :22.47 and :45.15. A blip past the half mile pole, however, Strong Mandate took over while the rest faded into obscurity. After a few taps of the whip from jockey Jose Ortiz at the top of the stretch, Strong Mandate drifted out, yet widened his lead effortlessly. Geared down near the wire by his already celebrating jock, Strong Mandate galloped under the wire in 1:23.55 for the seven furlongs. The last colt to win the Hopeful on a sloppy track recorded an almost identical time – 1:23.58. That colt was the Champion Afleet Alex.

STRONG MANDATE (Tiznow - Clear Mandate, by Deputy Minister) was a $200,000 Keeneland September Yearling purchase by Robert Baker and William Mack. They, along with trainer D. Wayne Lukas, campaigned Dublin to victory in the 2009 Hopeful Stakes. With his latest victory, Strong Mandate owns a 3-2-0-0 ($230,400) race record. He gave his Hall of Fame trainer a remarkable birthday present - his seventh win in the race, the most of any trainer in the race's 110 year history.

Strong Mandate is by one of best sires standing in North America. Tiznow was slow to get going on the race track. He made his first start in spring of his three year old season, blossoming through the year to accumulate a spectacular stakes laden season with consecutive wins in the Super Derby, Goodwood Breeders’ Cup Handicap and a thrilling victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Plagued by back issues, the son of Cee’s Tizzy raced for only two years, however, Tiznow will be remembered as the first horse to win back-to-back runnings of the Breeder’s Cup Classic, both stretch drives turning into epic battles with the best European stallions of their generation. For his exploits on the track, Tiznow received top three year old colt, older horse and Horse of the Year honors, plus induction to Racing Hall of Fame.

In the breeding shed, Tiznow passes his determination and will to win to his offspring, who, like their sire, hit their best stride in the middle of their three year old season. He is one of the few stallions standing in North America that traces directly back to the legendary Man O’War. Tiznow's most well-known sons include Travers Stakes hero and first crop sire Colonel John, Belmont Stakes winner Da’Tara and Dubai World Cup Champ Well Armed.

TIZNOW(Cee's Tizzy - Cee's Song, by Seattle Song)

Race record: 15-8-4-2 ($6,427,830)

1^st - Breeder's Cup Classic (2000 – 2001)

1^st – Super Derby (G-1) 1 ¼ miles

1^st – Santa Anita Handicap 1 ¼ miles

1^st – Affirmed Handicap (G-3) 1 1/16 miles

 

 

$200,000 for Strong Mandate was a steal, considering his breeding. His dam Clear Mandate made only two starts as a two year old, winning in her second attempt. She spent much of her three year old season in the allowance ranks, although she did win the Cotillion Handicap (G-2). The mare came into her full potential as a four and five year old, earning victories in the Shuvee (G-1), Spinster Stakes (G-1) and John A. Morris (G-1), the later over a sloppy track. She entered the Breeders' Cup Distaff, but finished sixth in two attempts.

Clear Mandate was an excellent broodmare, and may have carried the large-heart gene. Out of seven sons to race, two are graded stakes winners Newfoundland (by Storm Cat), Strong Mandate; one is a listed winner, Full Mandate (by A.P. Indy); and one is stakes placed, The Mighty Tiger (by Storm Cat). The gallant mare died after foaling her only Grade 1 winner, Strong Mandate.

Strong Mandate's second dam, Dream Deal (by Sharpen Up) won the Monmouth Oaks (G-1), and produced Clear Mandate's black-type half siblings, Grade 2 winner Dream Scheme (by Danzig), listed winner A Diehl (by Aldebaran) and stakes placed Miss Kate (by Storm Cat) and Special Event (by Saint Ballado). Dream Deal is the grand-dam of Japanese Group winners Silent Deal and To The Victory, both by Sunday Silence. Dream Deal is a half sister to the popular gelding, Cream Fraiche (by Rich Cream), hero of the Belmont Stakes, two-time winner of the Jockey Club Gold Cup, etc. He's one of the original gutsy geldings, having earned over $4 million dollars in a career spanning 64 starts. Strong Mandate's third dam, the blue hen Likely Exchange (by Terrible Tiger) was a multiple stakes veteran who earned almost $500,000 in 72 starts. In 1974, that was a lot of money.

CLEAR MANDATE (Deputy Minister - Dream Deal, by Sharpen Up (GB))

Race record: 31-10-6-4 ($1,085,588)

1^st – Spinster Stakes (G-1) 1 1/8 miles

1^st - John A. Morris (G-1) 1 1/8 miles

1^st – Shuvee Stakes (G-1) 1 1/16 miles

1^st - Cotillion Handicap (G-2) 1 1/16 miles

2^nd – Ruffian Handicap (G-1) 1 1/16 miles

3^rd – Beldame Stakes (G-1) 1 1/8 miles

3^rd – Go For Wand Handicap (G-1) 1 1/8 miles

In 1981 DEPUTY MINISTER (Vice Regent - Mint Copy, by Bunty's Flight) was Champion Two Year Old in the U.S. and Canada and also Canadian Horse of the Year. Competing against the best of his generation, Deputy Minister won between 5 furlongs and 1 1/8 miles. He placed in one stakes attempt at 1 ¼ miles. The stallion became one of the best stallions in modern times, although his true strength lies as a broodmare sire. He earned leading broodmare sire honors in 2007 and he's been a top ten broodmare sire for over a decade. His daughter's offspring include Champions Rags to Riches, Curlin, Magistretti, Persistently, To Honor and Serve, etc.

The Tiznow – Deputy Minister bloodline cross has been very productive. From 10 of 13 foals have raced, six have won and two own black-type.

Strong Mandate physically resembles his bay dam, Clear Mandate, rather than his dark brown sire Tiznow. Although larger and more powerful looking than his dam, the colt has a balanced, athletic body built to run two turns. Strong Mandate has the pedigree to handle 1 ¼ miles and beyond. He may target the Frontrunner Stakes at Santa Anita with the Breeders' Cup Juvenile his year-end goal.

 

 

 

I suppose naysayers will say that Strong Mandate handled the sloppy Saratoga track while the other nine didn't. That's basically true. However, they will neglect to mention the way the son of Tiznow did it. Strong Mandate didn't appear to shift gears. He loped along, not really extending his legs at any point. Is he that good or was the Hopeful field filled with less than hopeful material?