Creative Cause a Serious New Player

Creative Cause defined himself as colt to watch in the Best Pal Stakes (G2) on August 7.  In his debut, Creative Cause towered over maidens in a wire-to wire win earning a gaudy 107 Brisnet speed figure. Jumping into graded stakes competition in his second start, the pretty gray colt showed professionalism in sitting off of the pace, then powering three wide down the stretch to win by 1 ¾ lengths, beating five stakes placed runners and earning a 91 speed figure for his effort. Creative Cause is undoubtedly a skilled colt and his pedigree can offer insight into his talent.
CREATIVE CAUSE (Giant's Causeway - Dream of Summer, by Siberian Summer) is by the international sire sensation Giant’s Causeway. Nicknamed “Iron Horse” for his exploits over the European courses, Giant’s Causeway triumphed in six Group 1 contests. In his only start over dirt, the talented colt finished second by a head to the gallant Tiznow in the 2000 running of the Breeders’ Cup Classic.  That same year, Giant’s Causeway earned European Horse of the Year honors.
Giant’s Causeway, a son of the legendary sire Storm Cat, has passed his talent and determination to his offspring. In only eight crops to race, he’s sired over 100 stakes winners and a Champion.  He was leading US sire in 2009 and 2010. In 2010, he was recognized as a Classic chef-de-race, which indicates that he passes his stamina to his offspring.  Although many of his progeny are best over turf, Giant’s Causeway has sired seven dirt stakes winners at 1 ¼ miles or farther.
 Creative Cause’s dam Dream of Summer was a top race mare. She won her maiden at first asking, and then developed into a multiple stakes winner. She was victorious in six stakes races, from the 6 ½ furlong Rancho Bernado Handicap (G3) to the 1 1/16 mile Apple Blossom (G1). Dream of Summer was second in two editions of the Santa Margarita Invitational at 1 1/8 miles. Overall, the hardy mare started 20 times, wining half of her starts and placing in seven others.  She earned California Champion Older Mare honors for her exploits.
The pretty gray Dream of Summer is a young broodmare and has produced only three foals to race. Her first-born, Taboo, a 2007 daughter by Forestry (by Storm Cat), has entered the starting gate seven times winning and placing once each. She’s currently in training at Fair Hill.  Dream of Summer’s second foal, an Unbridled’s Song colt named Master’s Song, is racing in Japan. The mare has a 2010 yearling filly by Distorted Humor and a 2011 Tiznow filly by her side.
Creative Cause’s damsire Siberian Summer, a grandson of Caro, is a veteran of 32 races, winning six contests and placing in eight others. He was victorious in the Charles H. Strub Stakes (G1) at 1 ¼ miles and placed in the Volante Handicap (G3), Bay Meadows Derby (G3) and El Cajon Stakes. Siberian Summer was a versatile runner, winning from seven furlongs over the turf to 1 ¼ miles on dirt.
The beautiful gray Siberian Summer stands at stud in California, where he won the majority of his races.  He has 11 crops to race, six graded stakes horses and two champions. The majority of his winners are successful up to a mile, but he has sired four stakes winners that have been victorious beyond a mile including two at 1 ¼ miles. To be fair, many of the California mares that he’s bred have sprint oriented pedigrees.  The offspring of Siberian Summer’s daughters are young and most of their offspring are competing in the claiming ranks. Besides Creative Cause, Siberian Summer is the broodmare sire of  Bahama Bound, who placed in the Winter Melody Stakes at 1 1/16 miles over the dirt. It’s hard to determine whether Siberian Summer will have stamina or speed influence on his daughter’s progeny, given the limited number of their runners.
Examining the third generation of a horse’s pedigree can yield further clues when there isn’t enough data to form an opinion from the records of the sire, dam and damsire.  Creative Cause’s second damsire Skywalker started 20 times, winning eight of those, including the 1985 Santa Anita Derby and 1986 Breeders’ Cup Classic. His best runner was Champion older male and California sire Bertrando. Skywalker’s offspring won up to 1 1/8 miles although he did sire a top steeplechaser who won Grade 1 races at 2 3/8 miles.
The early buzz over Creative Cause appears to be warranted. Creative Cause’s pedigree indicates that he should easily handle 1 1/16 miles and that he should be competitive at longer distances. Plus, his sire, dam and damsire made a combined 65 starts and retired sound, which is a rarity in today’s climate of fragile horses. Creative Cause’s trainer Mike Harrington is pointing the undefeated colt to the Del Mar Futurity (G1) in September, where he’ll meet up with the unbeaten Majestic City.

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