2017 Kentucky Derby: Irish War Cry Pedigree Profile
Irish War Cry joined the 2017 Kentucky Derby trail when he captured the Holy Bull Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park last Saturday.
The chestnut colt led gate to wire, soundly defeating the 1 1/16-mile race’s two heavy hitters, Delta Jackpot winning millionaire Gunnevera by 3 ¾-lengths, with the Two-Year-Old Champ Classic Empire farther back in third.
Previously, Irish War Cry won the seven-furlong Marylander Stakes wire to wire. However, in that contest, he was rank early while vying for the lead. He battled through the second half of the race to win by a nose. In his debut, Irish War Cry broke from the 12 post and settled near the back of the pack. Irish War Cry circled the field five wide and drew off to win by 4 ½ lengths. Down the stretch, he tried ducking in a few times until he passed his rivals.
Irish War Cry (Curlin - Irish Sovereign, by Polish Numbers) is a New Jersey-bred racing in the silks of his owner and breeder, Isabelle de Tomaso. Graham Motion has conditioned the colt through a three-race winning streak. Irish War Cry has $295,460 in earnings and ten Kentucky Derby qualifying points. He’s tied for seventh place on the Derby Leaderboard.
In six crops to race, Curlin has sired one Champion, 3yo Filly, Stellar Wind, 14 graded stakes winners, and 31 listed winners. His offspring include last year’s Preakness hero Exaggerator, Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice, Travers Stakes upsetter Keen Ice, and multiple Grade 1 winner Curalina.
Curlin’s offspring win from sprints to 1 ½ miles. The bulk of his offspring are middle distance types, (8F – 9F) and are adept over dirt and turf.
Mrs. De Tomaso has carefully cultivated Irish War Cry’s distaff line for over 50 years. She purchased Irish War Cry’s fourth dam Tabebuia as a yearling. The mare’s dam Nectandra was a half-sister to 1961 (Eng.) Derby winner Psidium, and was a descendant of Ducca Di Buoninsegna a foundation mare bred by the legendary Federico Tesio.
We can trace Irish War Cry’s lineage through the stakes winners produced by Tabebuia. The mare foaled four stakes winners, including Irish War Cry’s stakes winning third dam, Irish Trip. Although bred in England, Irish Trip competed in Italy, where she won the (about) 1 1/8 mile Premio Alberto Zanoletti Di Rozzano for three year old fillies and placed in two other stakes.
Irish War Cry’s second dam Irish Genius (Beau Genius - Irish Trip (GB), by Saint Crespin III (GB)) was undistinguished on the race track and in the breeding shed.
Irish War Cry’s dam Irish Sovereign (Polish Numbers - Irish Genius, by Beau Genius) was an allowance class dirt sprinter who was in the money in seven of thirteen attempts. However, the mare has produced two blacktype earners, our Holy Bull hero Irish War Cry and his older brother, stakes placed sprinter Irish Politics (Political Force). Both colts are by Mr. Prospector sire line stallions.
Mrs. De Tomaso decided to breed Irish Sovereign to Curlin because “He ran until he was five, retired sound and liked the Smart Strike top line.”
There’s a lot to like about the Smart Strike/Polish Numbers bloodline cross. Polish Numbers’ daughters bear sprinter-miler types, winners up to 1 1/6 miles. Only two are winners beyond 1 1/6 miles, and both are by Curlin’s sire, Smart Strike. Philly Ace captured the 1 1/8 mile Tropical Turf Handicap (G3) and Evidently, won last year’s 1 ½ mile Long Island Handicap (G3) over the Aqueduct lawn.
Irish War Cry’s second damsire Beau Genius (Bold Ruckus - Royal Colleen, by Viceregal) was a constant type that handicappers love. The Chestnut horse earned over $1 million dollars in 42 starts while competing at 15 different tracks. He was successful in stakes company from six furlongs to 1 ¼ miles. Beau Genius gave the legendary Bill Shoemaker his final stakes score, earning the stallion a spot in racing trivia.
Beau Genius’ daughters are passing along the stallion’s characteristics. Their babies win over all surfaces and their stakes winners’ distance range is six furlongs to 1 1/8 miles.
Irish War Cry is a leggy Chestnut colt with a bright white star on his forehead. The colt was born in May, so technically, he’s still a two year old. The colt is well-balanced and not overly muscular. The colt has a smooth gallop, average leg extension and a naturally high cruising speed. Irish War Cry’s head and neck don’t stretch parallel to his body while running full out, a sign of a slightly upright shoulder and an indication that he could be vulnerable at longer distances.
Irish War Cry He has been a little green in all three starts, ducking out in his debut and going off course slightly in the stretch of the Holy Bull, and he was overeager in the Maryland Stakes. He’s still a bit immature and will need to focus better as race distances lengthen.
Since 2000, the only
horse to pull off the Holy Bull/Kentucky Derby double is Barbaro. Closing Argument placed second in both races.
Irish War Cry wasn’t fully tested over the speed favoring Gulfstream Park dirt. He set comfortable fractions and was never challenged. His main rival Classic Empire developed a foot abscess after the race. Will Irish War Cry be able to rate if faced with other need the lead types and will he be able to carry his speed against more stamina oriented foes?
The March 4 Fountain of Youth (G2) and Florida Derby on April 1 are natural goals for Irish War Cry’s next appearance. After the Holy Bull, trainer Graham Motion stated, “I really haven’t gotten beyond today. I don’t know if I want to run in every race. It will be hard enough to run back in one of them, obviously, but we’ll figure it out.”
Conformation photo of Irish War Cry used by generous permssion of Louie Dula.