Can Kentuckian fulfill the promise of Maclean’s Music?

On March 19, 2011 a good looking bay colt named Maclean’s Music ran one of the most talked about debut performances of the last decade. Making his first career start in a six furlong maiden race at Santa Anita, the Steve Asmussen trained colt ran off and hid from his competition. He won by more than seven lengths while scorching the Southern California earth for a final time of 1:07.44. Unfortunately, he would never race again after that 114 Beyer rated debut.

Stonestreet Stables and Asmussen tried to bring him back, but physical setbacks never allowed for his second career race. It was a decidedly sad case of what might have been. Today, the eight-year-old stallion has begun his second career as a stallion at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm, but those who saw the debut, will never forget the all too brief racing career of the son of Distorted Humor and Forest Music.

Fast forward four years to Maclean’s Music’s half brother making his career debut in a six furlong maiden race on Saturday. Much like his older brother, Kentuckian looked like the genuine article first time out. A three-year-old son of Tiznow, the Jerry Hollendorfer trained gray dominated the maiden special weight at Golden Gate Fields in dazzling fashion. The eleven-length runaway under Russell Baze was visually impressive, and the final time of 1:08.96 added to the excitement over the absolute romp.

Bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, Kentuckian was purchased as a yearling at the Keeneland September Sale for $610,000 by Rick Porter’s Fox Hill Farms. Armed with a gaggle of bullet works at the Bay Area oval, Kentuckian was bet down to odds of 3-5 in the eight-horse field. As it turns out, the other seven maidens never had a chance.

Breeding wise, Kentuckian would seem to have it all. His sire, Tiznow is not only a top stallion at WinStar Farm, but was a Horse of the Year and multiple Eclipse Award winner on the racetrack. His ability to go the classic distance of ten furlongs, was vividly pointed out by back-to-back determined victories in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. To this day, Tiznow remains the only two-time winner of America’s richest race.

Meanwhile, his dam, Forest Music, had a nice career in her own right. While Tiznow supplies the stamina to Kentuckian’s pedigree, he inherits a high turn of speed from his mom. The now 14-year-old daughter of Unbridled’s Song was a durable, multiple graded stakes winner, which included an easy win in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss Handicap at Saratoga in 2005. She competed in 17 stakes races overall in her three-year career, including the 2003 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. Oh, and by the way, Forest Music won her career debut by better than eight-lengths in a six furlong time of 1:08.53. Sound familiar? What’s in store for Kentuckian? Only time will, but much like his older brother, he has race fans very excited.