Pedigree Spotlight: Pants on Fire, Anthony's Cross & Comma To The Top
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Zipse’s
Kentucky Derby Daily – Day 40
Pedigree Spotlight written by Scott Dick
The fire is
definitely burning in the Kelly Breen barn! The colt Pants On Fire has his
trainer smiling, with the Twin Spires of Churchill Downs on his mind. The son
of Jump Start did just that, jump started his 3 year old season with his
impressive win in the grade II Louisiana Derby. Sitting just off the early
speed of long shot Lion Drive, the Breen trainee, under the faithful hands of
“Rosie” Napravnick, made his move at the quarter pole. He put away Lion Drive,
but then had to deal with Risen Star winner Mucho Macho Man. He battled with
Macho down the stretch, finally putting him away, he then had to deal with the
oncoming rush of Nehro. He dug in and showed a ton of heart, taking the
Louisiana Derby by a neck. His score in the L.A. Derby was only the second
victory of his career.
The sire of
Jump Start is the great A.P. Indy, while his dam is Steady Cat. Steady Cat was
just like her name, steady. She was a hard trying sprinter, she won 5 times in
19 starts, hitting the board in 14 of those 19 races. As a broodmare, Steady
Cat has produced 4 winners, including the mare Steady Course. Steady Course won
2 races in 7 starts. She dominated an
allowance field at the Fair Grounds at the mile distance, winning by 8 lengths.
The Dam of
Pants on Fire, is Cabo De Noche. Cabo De Noche won only a single race in her
career, beating a maiden field on the turf at the Fair Grounds. She has
produced two winners, Pants On Fire and the gelding Louderthanthunder. Louderthanthunder
has won once in 14 starts, with his win coming at the mile distance.
The sire of
Cabo De Noche is Cape Town. Cape Town was a multiple graded stakes winner, with
wins in the 1998, grade I Florida Derby and the grade III Holy Bull Stakes. Cape
Town went on to run a credible 5th in the 1998, Kentucky Derby. Cape Town has
been very good in the breeding shed. He is the sire of the filly Bird Town, Bird
Town is a multiple grade stakes winner. She won the 2003 grade I Kentucky Oaks,
and is also a half-sister to 2004 Belmont Stakes winner Birdstone. Cape Town
has also sired graded stakes winners, Capside Lady and Southern Africa.
The dam of
Cabo De Noche is Key Flight. Key Flight won 1 race in 4 career starts. As a
broodmare she has produced 7 winners, including the mare Key Hunter. Key Hunter
won 5 races in 13 starts, including a 3rd in the 1997, grade I Coaching Club
American Oaks. Key Hunter is the dam of the grade III winner, Liquor Cabinet.
Pants On
Fire is coming off a very impressive victory in the Louisiana Derby, but, I do
question the talent of the horses he beat. His pedigree definitely says he can
get the 10 furlong distance, whether he has the talent to compete with the
likes of Uncle Mo, Soldat, and The Factor. He certainly has the earnings to
make the Derby, so we'll see what he can do on the First Saturday in May.
Anthony's
Cross seems to have figured this whole “racing” thing out. He has yet to run a
bad race and he's never finished worse than 4th. While running over the Super
Speedway that is Santa Anita Park, Anthony's Cross has adapted to a new racing
style. He's learned to run closer to the pace, whereas, in his two year old
season he liked to make his run from further back. He's now won 2 races in 6
starts, with two 3rd place finishes. Anthony's Cross is coming off a super win
in the grade II Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita. He pressed a very quick
pace, and fought hard down the stretch to beat Riveting Reason by a nose. His
time of 1:48. for the 1 1/8th mile distance was also very impressive.
Indian
Charlie has been a fantastic sire and he seems to be improving with age. He's
sired the grade I winners and champion fillies - Fleet Indian and Indian
Blessing. He's also sired graded stakes winners - Two Trail Sioux, Pampered
Princess, My Pal Charlie, Mr.Nightlinger, Indy Anne, Conveyance, Charlie's
Moment, Bwanna Charlie, as well as, the grade I winner and 2 year old Champion,
Uncle Mo (who will most likely be favored in this year's Kentucky Derby.) Indian
Charlie is known for putting speed into his progeny, but they have also shown
the ability to handle the 10 furlong distance.
The dam of
Indian Charlie is Soviet Sojourn. Soviet Sojourn won 3 races in 10 starts, with
3 seconds and 3 third place finishes. She won the 1991, grade III Sorrento
Stakes. In the breeding shed she produced 4 winners.
The dam of
Anthony's Cross is the unraced Screening. As a broodmare she has produced 2
winners out of 3 foals. Besides Anthony’s Crossing, she produced Fugitive
Angel. Fugitive Angel won 4 races in 8 starts and captured purse money
exceeding $220,000. She won the 2010, grade III Valley View Stakes at
Keeneland.
The sire of
Screening is Unbridled. Unbridled was an awesome race horse. In his 3 year old
season alone, he captured the grade I Kentucky Derby, the grade I Florida Derby
and the grade I Breeder's Cup Classic. He was named 3 year old champion colt in
1990.
Unbridled has
proven just as special in the breeding shed. He sired champions - Anees, Banshee
Breeze, Halfbridled and Smuggler. Other sons and daughters of Unbrideled
include Belterra, Broken Vow, Connections, Eddington, Empire Maker, Exogenous, Grindstone,
Harlington, Manistique, Mustanfar, Red Bullet, Red Chili Pepper, Saarland, Santa
Catalina, Surya, Unbridled Hope, Unbridled's Song, and Unshaded.
The dam of
Screening is Recording. A winner of 3 races in 9 starts, the highlight of her
career was her win in the grade III Sands Point Stakes. Recording has produced
5 winners, including the grade II winner Smart Bid. Smart Bid has won over
$540,000 in his career.
Anthony's
Cross seems to be improving with every race. He's coming off his first graded
stakes win, with his victory in the grade II Robert Lewis Stakes. His pedigree
is regal and his bloodlines suggest he can go the 10 furlong distance. He has a
lot of improving to do to compete with the likes of Uncle Mo, but he's very
versatile and can run close to the pace or rally from off. He has a win over
the Churchill Downs surface, which will help him come Derby day. I could see
this colt spicing up the exotics on the First Saturday in May.
Comma To
The Top is one of the most experienced runners in the Derby picture. He's raced
12 times with 6 wins. As a two year old he captured 3 straight stakes, with his
big win in the grade I Cash Call Futurity capping off his season. The speedy
Peter Miller trainee has yet to win as a 3 year old. He disappointed as the
favorite in the El Camino Real Derby, sitting just off the pace, he lacked the
late punch to win. He faded and finished a well beaten 4th. Miller decided to
take a shot in grade II San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita next, and Comma To The
Top pressed a suicidal pace (22.3,44.2) to the top of the stretch, where he briefly
took the lead, but the quick fractions were just too much. He faded to 4th,
beaten 9 ½ lengths by Premier Pegasus. He actually ran a lot better than it
seems on paper. The top three finishers all came from well off the pace, while the
other pace setters faded badly, finishing last and next to last.
The dam of
Bwana Charlie is Shahalo. Shahalo was unplaced in 2 career starts. She has been
an extremely useful broodmare. She's produced 5 winners, including the grade II
winner - My Pal Charlie and the grade III winner - Bwana Bull.
The Dam of
Comma To The Top is Maggie’s Storm. Maggie’s Storm only raced 4 times and
recorded just one 2nd place finish. Comma To The Top is Maggie’s Storm's only
winner to date.
Maggie’s
Storm is sired by Stormy Atlantic. Stormy Atlantic won 6 times in 15 starts. but
he has been incredible as a sire. Stormy Atlantic has sired numerous graded
stakes winners, including Atlantic Ocean, Bittel Road, Gators N Bears, Icy
Atlantic, Leonnatus Anteas, My Princess Jess, Quite A Bride, Ren, She Says It
Best, Stormello, Twice As Bad.
The Dam of
Maggie’s Storm is Maggie’s Pistol. Maggie’s Pistol won 7 times in 28 career
starts. The highlight of her career was her win in the grade III Virginia
Handicap. As a broodmare she has produced 7 winners. She is the dam of Dumaani
Of Course. Dumaani Of Course won 8 races in 27 starts, he captured purses
exceeding $172,000. He was a hard trying horse who was able to win around two
turns.
Comma To
The Top is a speedy colt, but he lacks a win so far this season. He seems to be
a few notches below the likes of Uncle Mo and Soldat. His running style doesn't
seem to fit the 10 furlong distance and his pedigree says he'll be better
around one turn. He has the earnings to make the derby, but, in my opinion, he
will only be an annoyance to the early speed of The Factor.
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