Kentucky Derby pedigrees: Will recent winners get the distance?
As the 2019 Kentucky Derby draws near, we’ll discover which contenders can carry their speed and handle tougher competition.
The Kentucky Derby Pedigree Watch reviews the pedigree, conformation, running style, and other details of stakes, allowance and last out maiden runners.
This week we’ll look at the newest Derby trail stakes winners. Check back Thursday for more on stakes runners-up.
(New Year's Day - Lil Indy, by Anasheed)
Trainer: Jason Servis
Race Record: 4: 4-0-0 ($649,400)
Last Race: 1st Florida Derby (G1)
Derby Points: 100
Maximum Security had it all his own way in the Florida Derby. He strolled through an uncontested first-quarter in 24.56, then gradually picked it up, getting his second quarter in 23.92, his third in 23.44 and his final furlong in 12.52, stopping the clock in 1:48.86 and finishing 3 1/2 lengths in front of maiden Bodexpress.
Maximum Security has a strong middle distance pedigree. Sire New Year’s Day, a son of Street Cry, had his promising career cut short after capturing the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in his third start. The young stallion has only two stakes winners. We don’t know how far his offspring will travel, but his son Day Raider, out of a Pleasant Tap mare, finished second, beaten a length in the 1 3/8-mile Canadian Derby (G3), and his son Bourbon Resolution won an allowance/optional claimer at 1 1/8 miles but was DQ’d to sixth place.
Maximum Security is the fourth foal and first blacktype earner in his immediate family. His full brother is a claiming class winner at a mile on dirt and turf. Their dam won between five furlongs and a mile. She’s a half-sister to multiple Grade 1 stakes winner and sire Flat Out, who captured back-to-back Jockey Club Gold Cup victories. The third generation of Maximum Security’s distaff line produced Got Koko, who won the La Brea (G1) at seven furlongs, and a year later won the La Canada (G2) at 1 1/8 miles. She was also third in the 2003 Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
Damsire Anasheed, a well-bred son of A.P. Indy, was an allowance-class winner at a mile and 1 1/8-miles. He stood at stud in the U.S. for five years before being sent to Russia. His few offspring, and that of his daughters are mainly sprinter/milers.
Derby Distance Verdict: Borderline. There’s no doubt Maximum Security is talented. He’s captured three of four starts going gate to wire. However, his pedigree is strong for a mile to 1 1/8-miles. His conformation is more like a miler than a classic horse, and he has high leg action.
In the Florida Derby, Maximum Security benefited from an unchallenged lead and slow first quarter on a speed-favoring track. Doubtful that he’ll get the same set-up in Kentucky, and if he draws wide, he’ll have to be used early to get an advantageous position.
(Goldencents - A Jealous Woman, by Muqtarib)
Trainer: Bret Calhoun
Race Record: 5: 2-2-1 ($653,710)
Last Race: 1st Louisiana Derby (G2)
Derby Points: 100
In a textbook ride by Gabriel Saez, By My Standards tucked in behind the pace in the Louisiana Derby for much of the race. He faced a wall of horses coming off the turn but ducked through a hole and grabbed the lead. He turned back a strong challenge by Spinoff to prevail by 3/4 of a length, getting the 1 1/8-miles in 1:49.52, and his final furlong in an excellent 12.69.
By My Standards has a miler/middle distance pedigree. He's the first graded stakes winner by second-crop sire and two-time Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile hero, Goldencents. The stallion won the Santa Anita Derby but was off the board in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. After his Triple Crown foray, his connections pointed Goldencents to a successful sprinter/miler campaign.
By My Standards is the second foal and first blacktype winner out of a multiple stakes-winning miler. One of her half-siblings is a stakes placed miler. The third generation offers more of the same, three blacktype earning sprinter/milers.
Damsire Muqtarib competed in three different countries and won a Group 2 sprint on the dirt. He stood for a season or two in the US, then relocated to Chile. He's the damsire of two stakes winners in the U.S. Going back one more generation, By My Standards' second damsire Fly So Free was capable against Grade 1 company up to 1 1/8-miles, as he captured the Florida Derby and Jim Dandy, yet he placed second in the 1 3/16-mile Pimlico Special, and third in the 1 1/4-mile Travers.
Derby Distance Verdict: Nope! By My Standards is very light on pedigree for 10 furlongs. He was aided in his Louisiana Derby by a rail-skimming trip and the fact that his main rival, War of Will, was injured early in the race. By My Standards could develop into a nice miler/middle distance type this summer.
(War Front - Charming, by Seeking the Gold)
Trainer: Richard Mandella
Race Record: 6: 2-3-1 ($521,800)
Last Race: 1st Rebel Stakes (G2)
Derby Points: 37.5
Omaha Beach broke sharply and pressed the early pace from the outside. Then Mike Smith let Omaha Beach fly just past the half-mile pole in the second division of the Rebel Stakes. The dark bay colt held the lead by a length through the stretch and fended off 2-year-old Champ Game Winner by a scant nose. Omaha beach recorded evenly paced late fractions of 24.53, 24.57 and 6.03, stopping the timer in 1:42.42 for the 1 1/16-miles.
Omaha Beach has a middle distance/classic pedigree. War Front’s American offspring that have won at classic distances have done so over the lawn. His dirt runners are best up to 1 1/16-miles, but he does have two winners at 1 1/8 miles. Eventually, he may have a breakthrough winner at 1 3/16-miles or 1 1/4-miles on dirt.
Omaha Beach is the fifth foal and third blacktype earner in his immediate family. His full brother Courage Under Fire placed second as a juvenile in the Phoenix, an Irish Group 1 turf sprint. Half-sister Take Charge Brandi earned an Eclipse as Champion 2-Year Old Filly in 2014. Although their dam didn’t earn blacktype, she’s a half-sister to 2013 Champion 3-Year-Old and sire Will Take Charge, and to Florida Derby, hero and sire Take Charge Indy. Omaha Beach’s second dam is multiple Grade 1 stakes mare Take Charge Lady.
Damsire Seeking the Gold is the damsire of a dozen stakes winners in the US and Canada at 1 1/4-miles or farther. One of the best broodmare sires of his generation, Seeking the Gold’s daughters bore champions Blame, Surfside, and the aforementioned Take Charge Brandi, plus turf routers Point of Entry, and Riskaverse. Other Grade 1 winners include Pine Island, Questing, Dancing Forever and Good Reward.
Derby Distance Verdict: Yep! Omaha Beach’s pedigree is classy and stamina-oriented. His conformation matches. The fact that War Front’s offspring haven’t been capable at longer distances on dirt gives pause, but as mentioned before, it’s a matter of time before he does get a winner past 1 1/8 miles on dirt. Omaha Beach is a late-bloomer. These types get very good very fast. Orb is a good example. He needed four starts to find the winner’s circle, then captured his next four races, including the Kentucky Derby.
(First Samurai - Pun, by Pulpit)
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Race Record: 6: 2-2-1 ($516,967)
Last Race: 1st Sunland Park Derby (G3)
Derby Points: 50
Cutting Humor settled off the quick pace in the early stages of the Sunland Derby. He took the lead from a tiring Mucho Gusto and was all out to hold off the late rush of Anothertwistafate by a desperate neck. He set a new track record in 1:46.94, bettering the record of 1:47.39 set by Derby runner-up Firing Line in 2015.
Cutting Humor has a miler/middle distance pedigree. First Samurai’s offspring are strong miler/middle distance runners. His lone representative in the U.S. at 1 1/4-miles is Last Gunfighter, who won the Hawthorne Gold Cup in a glacial 2:06.11.
Cutting Humor is the fourth foal to race and second stakes winner in his immediate family. His half brother, Irish You Well, won the listed Long Branch Stakes at 1 1/16-miles and hit the board in the 1 1/8-mile Peter Pan (G2) and Illinois Derby (G3). Their dam is an unraced half-sister to multiple Grade 1-winning sprinter and sire Zensational. The illustrious third generation includes graded stakes winners Bolt d’Oro, Army Mule, Recruiting Ready, and multiple stakes-winning handicap horse Departing.
Pulpit is the damsire of almost 40 stakes winners in the U.S. and Canada. The majority of his daughter’s offspring are best up to 1 1/8-miles. However, five have won at classic distances, mostly over the lawn.
Derby Distance Verdict: Nope! Despite setting a new track record at 1 1/8 miles at Sunland Park, Cutting Humor was staggering through the stretch. His pedigree is light on classic influences, and his conformation is that of a miler/middle distance runner.