Kentucky Derby 2018 pedigrees: Does Quip want the distance?
Can these emerging 3-year-olds get the distance in the 2018 Kentucky Derby? Let's find out!
Verdict: Distance Challenged
Though sire Distorted Humor has produced Kentucky Derby and Preakness (Funny Cide), as well as Belmont Stakes (Drosselmeyer) winners in his stallion career, Tampa Bay Derby (G2) winner Quip's broodmare side is pretty short on stamina. His dam, Princess Ash (by Indian Charlie), won one start at 6 furlongs in a 7-start career. Damsire Indian Charlie tops out at 6.5 furlongs in average winning distance. Princess Ash is a half-sister to Normandy Invasion (by Tapit) who, while he showed flashes of brilliance, placing in the Grade Wood Memorial and 4th in the Kentucky Derby, just couldn't win a stakes at any distance. Quip may be among the pace setters on Derby day, but I don't see him staying at the front during the stretch drive.
The Florida-bred Gotham Stakes (G3) runner-up is sired by Brethren, half-brother to 2010 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver (by Maria's Mon). He won the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) at 8.5 furlongs, but was not quite at the level of his famous half-sibling. Brethren won only one other stakes, at one mile, in his 18-start career. His first crop is only in its second season at the races, and out of 21 runners, the average winning distance is just under 6 furlongs. Old Time Revival comes from a stakes-winning female family, as his dam, Diary (by Congaree), is a half-sister to Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Awesome Feather (by Awesome of Course). Diary herself had one win at 8.3 furlongs. This doesn't seem like enough juice to get 10 furlongs on the first Saturday in May.
San Felipe Stakes winner Bolt D'Oro is a son of Medaglia D'Oro, who ran 4th in the 2002 Kentucky Derby and 2nd in the Belmont Stakes. He also won the Travers Stakes at Saratoga and was runner-up two years in a row in the Breeders' Cup Classic. He has two Kentucky Oaks winners among his champion fillies, Rachel Alexandra and Plum Pretty. Bolt D'Oro's dam, Globe Trot, has already produced a stakes winner in Sonic Mule (by Distorted Humor). Damsire A. P. Indy is the elite stamina influence in the US.
The San Felipe runner-up via disqualification, McKinzie, was sired by Street Sense, who won the 2007 Kentucky Derby, was 2nd in the Preakness Stakes that year and also won the Jim Dandy and Travers Stakes at Saratoga. Street Sense has an average winning distance of 7 furlongs. His dam, Runway Model, won the 8.5-furlong Alcibiades and Golden Rod at 2, and finished 3rd in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies to champion Sweet Catomine. McKinzie is her only stakes-winning son.
Gotham Stakes winner Enticed was the first foal of multiple Grade 1 winner It's Tricky. At 3, It's Tricky defeated two-time Champion Royal Delta and Oaks winner Plum Pretty in the Grade 1 Coaching Club of America Oaks over 9 furlongs. She defeated top sprinter Turbulent Descent in the Grade 1 Acorn over 8 furlongs. She ran 2nd two years in a row to Royal Delta in the Breeders' Cup Distaff. It's Tricky was a daughter of Catboat, a Grade 3 winner at 9 furlongs.