Kentucky Derby 2014 - Danza Pedigree Profile

Danza reserved his spot in the 2014 Kentucky Derby with a scintillating 4 ¾ length victory in the Arkansas Derby (G-1).  Jockey Joe Bravo tucked the colt on the rail in the perfect stalking position behind dueling leaders Bayern and Thundergram. As they traveled around the far turn, Danza was given his cue to slip through an opening on the rail. He bore out slightly in the stretch, but found another gear and coasted under the wire in 1:49.68 for 1 1/8 miles. The time was comparable to the 2011 Arkansas Derby hero Archarcharch (1:49.34). Danza, the longest shot on the board at 41-1, was awarded 100 Kentucky Derby points for his victory. Ride On Curlin had a wide trip, but got up for second, earning 50 points and has a total of 55 points. gamely held on for third, ½ length behind Ride On Curlin. He captured 20 points. Fourth place finisher Tapiture collected 10 points and has a total of 52 points.

 

 

DANZA (Street Boss - Champagne Royale, by French Deputy) was bred by Liberation Farm & Brandywine Farm and was purchased by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners for $105,000 at the 2012 Keeneland September Yearling. Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners also own King’s Bishop (G-1) hero Capo Bastone, another son of Street Boss. The Todd Pletcher trainee fought hard for his 5 ½ furlong maiden victory last July at Belmont.  A month later, he came from off of the pace to finish third in the Saratoga Special.  The colt was put away for the year and started back into training in December. Making the first start of his three year old season in March at Gulfstream, Danza chased the speed four wide in a merry-go-round race and checked in third. The lightly raced colt has a 4-2-0-2 ($666,428) race record.

 

 

Danza’s sire STREET BOSS (Street Cry – Blushing Ogygian, by Ogygian) spent his racing career in California.  He wasn’t a precocious youngster and didn’t make it to the races until early September of his three year old season. Brought along conservatively, Street Boss spent that year racing against allowance class runners.  Midway through his four year old season, Street Boss burst upon the graded stakes scene. In his first foray over Hollywood Park’s Cushion Track, the son of Street Cry took the Los Angeles Handicap (G-3) by a decisive length, setting a new track record for six furlongs in 1:07.55.

 

 

Two months after his track record run in the Los Angeles ‘Cap, Street Boss jumped into the highly competitive Grade 1 Sprint Division.  Stretching his speed to seven furlongs, Street Boss recorded a ½ length decision in the Triple Bend Invitational (G-1). Just two weeks later, the speedy colt set another track record, this time at Del Mar in the prestigious Bing Crosby Handicap (G-1) getting six furlongs in 1:08.67.  In his final two contests, Street Boss finished second in the Ancient Title (G-1) and third in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G-1).  At the peak of his racing career, Street Boss compiled a five race win streak including victories in two Grade 1’s and a Grade 3 contest. Additionally, he set two new track records within four months.  He accumulated a 13-7-3-1 record and earned $831,800.

 

 

Street Boss is by racing champion and international top stallion Street Cry.   So far, the Irish-bred son of Machiavellian has given the world the Champion Zenyatta, two-time Champ and Kentucky Derby hero Street Sense, and Champions in Australia, Italy, and Peru. Street Cry’s offspring are so talented that one of his sons, Storm Street, was named Champion Sprinter and Champion Stayer in Trinidad.

 

 

The top broodmare sire Ogygian is Street Boss’ damsire. Ogygian was a multiple Grade 1 winner from 7 furlongs to 1 1/8 miles.  As a damsire, he’s represented by Champion Johannesburg, multiple graded stakes veterans Gygistar and New York Champion Sprinter Friendly Island, to name a few. Despite being a son of the great stayer Damascus, Ogygian imparted mainly speed to his offspring. Blushing Groom, Street Boss’ second damsire, is a Brilliant/Classic Chef-de-race, imparting both speed and stamina to his descendants.

 

 

At stud, Street Boss passes along speed to his progeny.  His offspring are best as sprinter milers, although he does have several winners at 1 1/16 miles, mainly over the lawn.  Danza is Street Boss’ only progeny to win at 1 1/8 miles on dirt, however, Street Boss' son Gabrial the Boss won at 1 1/4 miles over Poly in England and another son was victorious at 1 3/16 miles, also over the Poly in England. Both of those sons have plenty of stamina through their distaff lines.  Street Boss has sired nine stakes winners, two of them graded, from four crops of racing age.

 

 

 

Danza’s dam CHAMPAGNE ROYALE (French Deputy - All Tanked Up, by Tank's Prospect) spent her racing career at the allowance/optional claiming level, although she did place second in the Lang Michener Matriarch Handicap at Hastings, traveling 1 1/16 miles. She won from 6 ½ furlongs to 1 1/16 miles over dirt and racked up an 11-4—2 ($63,887) race record. 

 

 

As a broodmare, Champagne Royale has five foals of racing age, four started and are winners.  Danza’s half-brother Majestic Harbor (by Rockport Harbor) recently won the 1 ½ mile Tokyo City Handicap (G-3) in 2:29.97 over the Santa Anita dirt. , Champagne Royale also produced an unnamed 2012 Zensational colt and a 2013 filly by Majestic Warrior named Majestic Champagne.

 

 

Danza has some listed blacktype in his immediate generations.  His dam is a half-sister to He’s Hammered (by Rubiano) and Techinocat (by Saint Ballado) who are multiple stakes placed.  We have to go back to Danza’s fifth dam, the blue hen Brighton View to find the notable stakes winners.  This is the same distaff line as the multiple graded turf horse Paddy O’Prado (who also finished third in the Kentucky Derby), Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile hero Tapizar, Forgo Stakes hero Pyro, Grade 1 stakes winner and sires Cuvee, Early Flyer and Olympio, the pretty gray multiple stakes winner On Fire Baby, and many more.

 

 

 

 

The top miler FRENCH DEPUTY (Deputy Minister - Mitterand, by Hold Your Peace) is Danza’s damsire.  French Deputy’s only stakes victory came in the Jerome Stakes, which he won by four lengths and recorded the highest speed figure (119) of the 1995 three year old crop.  The son of the Champion and popular broodmare sire Deputy Minister out of the Grade 1 winner Mitterand stood at stud in the United States for only five years before shipping to stand in Japan and Australia.  French Deputy has been ranked amongst the top 100 broodmare sires for five consecutive years, despite limited crops.

 

 

French Deputy’s daughters have produced four graded stakes winners at 1 ¼ miles and beyond. Two, the aforementioned Majestic Harbor and Dynamic Host (by Dynaformer) won the Tokyo City Handicap while the other two are Australian and Japanese.

 

 

Street Boss has sired three foals, two starters and one winner from French Deputy mares.  There’s precedent for this bloodline cross as he’s also sired three starters, all winners from Deputy Minister mares and Street Boss’ sire Street Cry also produced a winning foal from a French Deputy mare.

 

 

Danza’s second damsire Tanks Prospect (Mr. Prospector - Midnight Pumpkin, by Pretense) won the 1985 Arkansas Derby.  After a seventh place finish in the Kentucky Derby, the colt won the Preakness Stakes, but suffered a career-ending injury in the Belmont Stakes. Despite costing $625,000 at the 1983 Keeneland summer yearling sale, Tanks Prospect wasn’t much of a sire and wound up at stud in Texas. After ten years at stud, he passed away. His daughters bore few stakes horses, most were listed winners up to 1 1/8 miles.

 

 

 

Danza has a very high knee action, yet quick acceleration when it’s time to make his run. Unfortunately, I don’t have a good conformation photo to make an accurate physical assessment. Here’s what we do know:  Danza is headed into the Kentucky Derby with only two prep races under his girth.  Plus, his pedigree is very borderline for 1 ¼ miles. Yes, there’s some stamina two and three generations back and this may come into play, but essentially, up close, Danza’s pedigree is one of sprinter speed over miler stamina.  He took the short way ‘round in the Arkansas Derby and sat behind a fairly comfortable pace, with internal fractions of  23:99, 24:58, :25.09 and Danza got his final eighth in :12.30.  Danza’s ability to settle behind the pace and his quick acceleration will be to his benefit in a speed-laden Kentucky Derby.  

 

 

Over the last ten years, the Arkansas Derby has been a key prep leading to Kentucky.  Afleet Alex and Smarty Jones won both races. Curlin and Bodemeister won in Arkansas and placed in Kentucky. Super Saver placed in Arkansas and wore the roses a few weeks later, while the gallant Nehro and Summer Bird were runner-ups in both Derbies.  So far this year, we’ve seen some colts outperform their pedigrees. California Chrome, and Victor’s in Trouble are two of them. Add Danza to the list.