Derby Pedigrees: Simplification's lineage is not so simple
Simplification stamped himself a favorite for the Grade 1 Florida Derby on Saturday with a 3 1/2-length victory in the $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park.
The Antonio Sano trainee earned 50 qualifying points for the 2022 Kentucky Derby and has 54 points total. He earned four points for his second-place finish in the Holy Bull (G3). Sano previously conditioned 2017 Fountain of Youth winner Gunnevera.
Simplification was bred in Florida by France Weiner and Irwin Weiner. He didn't meet his $50,000 reserve as a weanling at the 2019 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Owner Tami Bobo later bought Simplification as a pinhook prospect but kept the colt because of physical problems.
Simplification (Not This Time - Simply Confection, by Candy Ride (ARG)) and second-place finisher In Due Time completed the exacta for the up-and-coming Not This Time.
Not This Time is the leading third-crop sire by earnings and
is 10th on the general sire list. From two crops to race, the son of
Giant's Causeway has sired 16 graded and listed winners, led by Grade 1 heroine Princess Noor.
So far, only one of Not This Time's offspring has hit the board beyond nine furlongs on dirt. But two turf routers placed at classic distances, so the ability is there. Unfortunately, few races are carded beyond nine furlongs on dirt, so we rarely get to see the actual ability of a sire's stamina-oriented offspring.
Besides classic hopefuls
Simplification and In Due Time, Not This Time sired Risen Star (G2)
winner Epicenter, who has similar breeding to Simplification – both are out of daughters
of Candy Ride. Not This Time has five starters, all winners, including two
graded winners from this nick.
Filled with full and half siblings, a lot is going on in Simplification's pedigree. His six-generation chart shows color-coded half and full siblings.
There is Rasmussen Factor breeding (siblings descended from the same reine-de-course (superior mare) through five generations) in his sire, damsire and second dam Ballado's Halo's pedigrees.
Additionally, the full siblings Glorious Song (dam of Rahy) and Saint Ballado (Simplification's second damsire) and half siblings Halo and Maribeau (damsire of Mari's Book) are part of the pedigree, but not within five generations.
Not This Time (Giant's Causeway - Miss Macy Sue, by Trippi) is the third stakes winner and second successful stallion out of the graded winner and producer Miss Macy Sue. His half-brother, Liam's Map (Unbridled), set a new track record at Keeneland in the 2015 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).
Not This Time's distaff line is a product of the top Florida breeders, Tartan Farms (later Mockingbird Farm)/John Nerud bloodlines, and Claiborne Kentucky royalty.
Not This Time's second dam Yada Yada (Great Above - Stem, by Damascus), has Rasmussen Factor breeding (descended from the same Reine-de-Course through siblings within five generations) to two-time Champion Sprinter, Ta Wee, a half-sister to champion miler Dr. Fager.
An excellent race mare and producer, Ta Wee's son Great Above sired Yada Yada, and her daughter Tweak (Secretariat) is Yada Yada's second dam. Great Above also sired 1994 Horse of the Year Holy Bull.
Simplification is the first foal out of Simply Confection; he has an unnamed 2-year-old half-sister by Mendelssohn.
Simply Confection (Candy Ride (ARG) - Ballado's Halo, by Saint Ballado) competed from ages 2 to 4 in Kentucky as an allowance-class runner and finished second in the one-mile Rags to Riches Stakes. She compiled a 15: 3-1-2 record and earned $124,688.
Simply Confection's half-sister Halo's Verse (Unbridled's Song) bore a trio of stakes earners; Inflexibility (Scat Daddy), a multiple stakes-winning turf router in Canada; Halo Again (Speightstown), a multiple stakes winner from seven to nine furlongs; and Fundamental (Arch), placed in six turf stakes.
Simply Confection's second dam Ballado's Halo (Saint Ballado - Goulash, by Mari's Book), is a stakes-placed sprinter. She has Rasmussen Factor breeding to Almahamoud, through her daughters Cosmah, dam of Halo (sire of Saint Ballado) and Natalma, dam of Northern Dancer (Sire of Marie's Book).
The class just keeps on with Simplification's third dam, Goulash (Mari's Book - Wise Bride, by Blushing Groom (FR)).
She bore Ballado's Halo's three full siblings, two-time champ Ashado, who owns Breeders' Cup Distaff and Kentucky Oaks trophies; Grade 1 winner Sunriver; and stakes-winning turf miler Saint Stephen. Plus, a half-brother, stakes placed sprinter Storm Creek Rising (Storm Creek).
Simplification's damsire Candy Ride (ARG) also benefits from Rasmussen Factor breeding. His sire Ride the Rails (Cryptoclearance - Herbalesian, by Herbager) is inbred to the Reine Alablue through Cryptoclearance's second dam Mock Orange (Dedicate) and Ride the Rails' second dam Alanesian (Polynesian).
The Argentinian sensation stands 24 on the leading broodmare sire list by earnings, and his daughters have produced 24 listed and graded winners.
Kentucky Derby contender or pretender?
Since 2008, 10 Fountain of Youth winners have made it through the Triple Crown races. Orb won the 2013 Kentucky Derby and was third in the Belmont. Code of Honor was second in the 2019 Kentucky Derby, and Union Rags won the 2012 Belmont.
Simpification's pedigree and conformation indicate that nine and 10 furlongs should be within his scope as he stretches out.
Simplification has slightly high knee action. He learned to sit behind horses in the Holy Bull Stakes when he was off slow, but he might prefer being closer to the lead.
He was eager behind horses in the Fountain of Youth traffic jam, and once he swept to the front, Simplification never switched to his right lead. He didn't switch leads in the Holy Bull, but he did as a pacesetter in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes.
Simplification has shown three traits critical for doing well in the Kentucky Derby. He has overcome trouble twice, he has tactical ability, which means he can set the pace or close, and he has a swift closing move.