Derby pedigrees: Classically bred Messier should go the distance

Making his first start for trainer Tim Yakteen, Messier stamped his ticket to the 2022 Kentucky Derby with a second-place finish to his stablemate Taiba in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. Bob Baffert previously conditioned the pair.

Messier earned 40 qualifying points for his runner-up finish. The Santa Anita Derby was his first outing since winning the Robert B. Lewis (G2) in February.

Last year, the son of Empire Maker beat Forbidden Kingdom and two other rivals in the Bob Hope (G3) before finishing second to Slow Down Andy in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2). Forbidden Kingdom returned to triumph in a pair of Grade 2s, the San Vicente and San Felipe Stakes, before a last-place finish in the Santa Anita Derby, while Slow Down Andy won the Sunland Park Derby (G3) in his last start.

Trainer Richard Mandella later reported that Forbidden Kingdom had an epiglottis problem, which caused the disappointing finish.

Canada's historic Sam-Son Farm bred Messier, named for famed hockey center Mark Messier.

SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, Golconda Stable and Siena Farm pooled their resources to purchase Messier for $470,000 from the 2020 Fasig-Tipton select yearling showcase.

Starlight, Madaket and Siena Farm are hoping for another Kentucky Derby winner; Justify (2018) and Authentic (2020) were co-owned by Madaket and Starlight. Always Dreaming (2017) was co-owned by Siena Farm.

Northern Dancer (1964) and Sunny's Halo (1983) are the only two Canadian-breds to win the Kentucky Derby. Messier will try to become the third.

Messier (Empire Maker - Checkered Past, by Smart Strike) is a product of the historic Sam-Son Farm's breeding program. He has a classic-oriented pedigree, including two Belmont Stakes winners and a Kentucky Derby winner in the first three generations of his pedigree.

Sam-Son Farm purchased Messier's fifth dam Gleaming Stone. The stakes-placed mare proved her worth as a broodmare getting multiple stakes-winning Radiant Ring (Halo).

In turn, Radiant Ring foaled Canada's 2000 champion 3-year-old filly, Catch the Ring, who strung together a five-race win streak, including a victory in the 1 1/8-mile Canadian Oaks. The following year, the daughter of Seeking the Gold stretched to 1 1/4 miles and captured the Maple Leaf Stakes (G3).

Catch the Ring passed her class to her offspring, including 2006 champion 2-year-old filly Catch the Thrill, a full sister to Messier's unraced second dam, Catch the Flag (A.P. Indy).

Messier's dam Checkered Past (Smart Strike) continued the stakes-winning tradition, capturing back-to-back editions of the 1 1/16-mile listed Trillium Stakes over Woodbine's Polytrack. Messier is Checkered Past's third foal and first to make it to the track.

In his storied career at stud, Belmont Stakes hero Empire Maker (Unbridled - Toussaud, by El Gran Senor) has sired two Kentucky Derby runner-ups, Pioneerof the Nile and Bodemeister. The well-monikered stallion's sons and grandsons figure proximately in this year's Kentucky Derby. Besides Empire Maker's Messier, Pioneerof the Nile and his son Classic Empire have Derby hopefuls Tawny Port, Pioneer of Medina, and Morello.

Messier's damsire Smart Strike (Mr. Prospector - Classy 'n Smart, by Smarten) is a proven damsire of 143 stakes winners, including 2009 Kentucky Derby shocker, Mine that Bird. Like Messier, Mine That Bird is a descendant of Unbridled.

Kentucky Derby contender or pretender?

The question on many fans' lips is, "Can Messier become the third Santa Anita Derby runner-up in a row to win the Kentucky Derby?" 

Since 1997, four Santa Anita Derby runners-up have triumphed in Kentucky: Silver Charm (1997), Real Quiet (1998), Authentic (2020), and Medina Spirit (2021). Yes, Medina Spirit was disqualified, but he did cross the finish line first.

Note any similarities between these Derby winners? All were conditioned by Bob Baffert. While it's true that Tim Yakteen has taken over Messier's conditioning, it wasn't until recently.

Messier has a classic-oriented pedigree and conformation, and these types generally improve with racing. His lone start as a 3-year-old was in February, so it's understandable that he got leg-weary in the final furlong in the Santa Anita Derby.