Ky. Derby pedigrees: Can Zandon handle the classic distance?
Brereton Jones' Airdrie Stud bred Zandon. The $170,000 Keeneland September Yearling races for Jeff Drown.
Zandon kicked off his 3-year-old season with a close third-place finish in the Risen Star (G2). He hopped at the start and was a bit rank in the early stages but closed five wide, beaten just 1/2 length for second by Smile Happy.
Zandon won his 2-year-old debut
at Belmont before finishing second by a nose to Mo Donegal in the Remsen (G2) while
racing in tight quarters. The dark bay colt has two wins, a second and third in
four starts with earnings of $713,000.
Zandon (Upstart -
Memories Prevail, by Creative Cause) is the first Grade 1 winner in three
generations of his family.
By a son of Belmont Stakes hero A.P. Indy, out of a daughter of Belmont Stakes winner Touch Gold, we would expect that Upstart (Flatter - Party Silks, by Touch Gold) would have excelled at classic distances. But that wasn't the case.
Upstart won multiple graded stakes at 1 1/16 miles but was susceptible at longer distances. He failed to win at 1 1/8 miles but placed second once and third two times. He was unplaced in the Kentucky Derby and Travers Stakes (G1) at 1 1/4 miles.
A New York-bred, Upstart won his debut and the restricted Funny Cide Stakes before finishing second in the Champagne (G1) and third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
The Rick Violette Jr. trainee kicked off his Kentucky Derby campaign with a victory in the Holy Bull (G2). He also crossed the wire first in the Fountain of Youth (G2) but was disqualified to second place for interference in the stretch.
Upstart went to the post of the 2015 Florida Derby (G1) as the favorite but couldn't catch loose-on-the-lead Materiality. Then, in the worst finish of his career in the Kentucky Derby, Upstart raced four wide around the first turn, then quickly dropped back to last and was eased. He managed a third-place finish in the Haskell Invitational (G1) and was off the board in two subsequent starts.
As a 4-year-old, Upstart raced four times. He won the Razorback Handicap (G3) and was third in a pair of Grade 1s, the Met Mile and Whitney Stakes.
Upstart entered stud for a $10,000 fee at Airdrie, and his first crop are 4-year-olds. Besides Zandon, Upstart sired the undefeated Kathleen O., one of the major contenders for this year's Kentucky Oaks.
Zandon's first three dams own one start between them, but they are good producers.
Zandon is the second foal and first competitor out of the unraced Memories Prevail (Creative Cause - Incarnate Memories, by Indian Charlie). The mare's 2-year-old colt Sol Principe Gris (Summer Front) was a $12,000 Keeneland September yearling.
Zandon's second dam Incarnate Memories (Indian Charlie), was unplaced in her only start. However, she bore a pair of turf stakes winners by Cairo Prince. Cairo Memories won the Providencia (G3) at 1 1/8 miles, and Cariba won the Caress at 5 1/2 furlongs.
The colt's third dam was unraced, yet she and her daughters bore graded winners capable to 1 1/16 miles on dirt and turf. They include the multiple graded stakes-winning turf mare Significant Form, her half-brother Commonwealth Turf (G3) winner Hay Dakota and restricted dirt sprinter Hello Hot Rod, winner of last year's Jimmy Winkfield Stakes.
Zandon's damsire Creative Cause is a multiple graded winner from 6 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/16 miles. He placed at 1 1/8 miles in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and was third in the 1 3/16 mile Preakness.
The pretty gray horse's offspring are capable up to 1 1/16 miles, and a few have won at 1 1/8 miles. Creative Cause is a young broodmare sire, with only eight winners from a dozen starters. Zandon is the first stakes winner.
Kentucky Derby contender or pretender?
The last Blue Grass winner to win the Kentucky Derby was Strike the Gold in 1991, although Street Sense won the Derby after finishing second in 2007 over the Polytrack.
Since 2008, two Blue Grass winners have finished in the money in the Derby. Good Magic was second in 2018, and Dullahan was third in 2012. Last year's winner, Essential Quality, had his unbeaten record marred with a fourth-place finish at Churchill Downs.
Zandon has a middle-distance pedigree, although his running style suggests that he could place at 1 1/4 miles. He physically resembles his sire and is a well-balanced colt. He has a smooth gait with no paddling, and he switches leads correctly.
Zandon is comfortable racing among horses. His athleticism and professional demeanor were displayed in the Blue Grass when he was asked to race in mid-pack and then weave his way to the front. This will be to his benefit in the Derby.