The GR I Santa Anita Derby

[TJ]

Sadler puts himself under a lot of pressure as McLaughlin did with Cairo Prince. Stevens said this is his Derby horse...let's hope he doesn't electrocute himself if he's carrying:>) PP's below. TJ

8th Race. (C10) The 77th Running of The Santa Anita Derby (Grade I)
Purse $1,000,000 Guaranteed One Mile And One Eighth
FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS.
1 RPRETTYBOYFLOYD (L) '11 R 122 Bejarano, R Karl Pergola Denise E. Breuer Blk-On
2 FRIENDSWITH K MILL (L) '11 C 122 Baze, T Haymes or Kenney or Wonderland Racing Stables Doug O'Neill
3 HOPPERTUNITY (L) '11 C 122 Smith, M Pegram or Watson or Weitman Bob Baffert
4 BIG TIRE (L) '11 C 122 Edwin A. Maldonado Donkey Island Racing LLC or Halo Farms Mark Glatt
5 CALIFORNIA CHROME (L) '11 C 122 Espinoza, V Coburn or Martin Art Sherman
6 CANDY BOY (L) '11 C 122 Stevens, G C R K Stable, LLC Sadler, John
7 SCHOOLOFHARDROCKS (L) '11 C 122 Talamo, J Amerman Racing, LLC David Hofmans
8 DUBLIN UP (L) '11 C 122 Desormeaux, K Donegal Racing Peter Miller
Blinkers On: Rprettyboyfloyd
http://www.brisnet.com/php/bw_pdf_viewe ... m3=1337296

[Cree]

At last, the horses I have been waiting for!
I like Candy Boy a lot, but I see him running on for 2nd because CC is so sharp, and like Sadler said, he doesn't want his horse peaking before the Derby.

"The Big 3" run 1-2-3

California Chrome
Candy Boy
Hoppertunity

[TJ]

California Chrome
Candy Boy
Friendswith K Mill
Hoppertunity

[Bill from WA]

I'm right with you TJ.

Bill

[ct2346]

I can see Candy Boy running down California Chrome in the stretch.

He looks like a very appealing physical type to me. Gives the impression of being solid.

As of right now he would be my pick for the whole shebang.

[TJ]

California Chrome comes to hand at the perfect time. Hoppertunity ran on well, Candy Boy should have enough points to get into the Derby? TJ

California Chrome
Hoppertunity
Candy Boy
Dublin Up

[dublino]

Hoppertunity wasn't knocked about when CA Chrome skipped cleared, clever ride by the jock just to coast home get the points and fight again on the big day.

Cannot take Ca Chrome seriously being a CA bred.

[TJ]

California Chrome received a 107 beyer in his "ridden out" performance in the SA Derby. That's the 2nd straight 107 beyer he's received!! Here's the race replay. TJ
http://www1.drf.com/displayVideo.do?tra ... ountry=USA

[Bill from WA]

California Chrome
(Can he get the Derby distance?)

At first glance the pedigree of California Chrome would project (by most observers) a sprinter/miler type of runner. However, his dominating performances on the race track have subsequently indicated more stamina than might have been perceived by that first glance. What is the source of that stamina?
I have always been of the opinion that the female contributors within the pedigree play an important part in supplying staying power. There have been many advances in equine genetic research over the past few years, accompanied by myriad theories regarding the X chromosome and mtDNA. Since I started my investigation into the female side of pedigrees many years ago a lot has changed, but there are still many questions yet to be answered regarding these hypotheses. Until a definitive answer is provided, my mind will remain open, and I will continue my exploration into the female influences within the racing thoroughbred pedigree.

Following is a breakdown of California Chrome’s pedigree, and the possible sources of stamina and the Conduit Mare influences that may contribute to that stamina potential.

My methodology is to break down a 4 generation pedigree by tracing the dam lines of 16 individuals within that 4 generation record to the conduit mare of each of the 16. The aptitudinal contributions (B=Brilliant, I=Intermediate, C= Classic, S=Stout, P=Professional) are based on an appraisal of the racing performance of each mare’s descendants, and is applied to the evaluation. A few elite mares have been dubbed “Transcendent” (B/P) mares, since their descendants transcend categorization by excelling at all distances.

The first contributor is the conduit mare of California Chrome himself, the transcendent mare Countess Wanda (B/P.) Kentucky Derby winners, Iron Liege, Clyde van Dusen, and Swaps trace to her, as does Betty Derr (a stakes winner at 5 furlongs and at 10 furlongs. The Champion two-year-old filly Althea (SA Oaks, and LA Derby) also calls Countess Wanda her Conduit Mare. There are certainly stamina contributors here.

California Chrome’s sire Lucky Pulpit comes next. Lucky Pulpit was generally regarded as a sprinter on the race track, although he did place in stakes at distances over one mile, plus, he does have some stamina in his pedigree. His conduit mare is Saratoga Belle (C ) who’s best runners were middle distance types, but her family does include some stamina with runners like Hamburg Belle (a stakes winner at 14 furlongs, ) and Seattle Song, winner of the Washington DC International at 12 furlongs. Seattle Song is also the sire of Cee’s Song, dam of Tiznow, Budroyale, and Tizbud.

We now move on to Pulpit and his conduit mare Altoviscar (B/P) another Transcendent Mare.
Altoviscar is the conduit of many fine runners at all distances including Aureole (2nd Epsom Derby and 3rd in the St Leger and Eclipse Stakes). Ascot Gold Cup (2.5 miles) winners Lasalle and Foxlaw (sire of 2 Ascot Gold Cup winners), Italian St Leger (2800 meters) winner Ben Marshall, St Leger (just over 14 furlongs) winner Alcide, Epsom Derby (12 furlongs) winners High Rise and Nashwan, plus the great runners, Round Table, Pebbles, Known Fact, Jet Ski Lady in addition to Broodmare of the Year, Knights Daughter. There are too many more to mention here, but in my opinion, this mare has to be a great influence.

To be continued.

[Bill from WA]

California Chrome Continued

We left off with Pulpit’s conduit, Altoviscar. We will continue with Not for Love.
Not for Love was a good, not great, racehorse. A son of the superb stallion Mr. Prospector, he was most comfortable at sprint to middle distances, winning as far as 9.5 furlongs. Standing 16.1 hands he has been a useful sire. His son, Buckhorn, was the winner of the 10 furlong Hawthorne Gold Cup, so some of the stamina passed forward on his dam side was revealed in this good runner.

Not for Love’s conduit mare, Doxa (Transcendent Mare B/P), is the source of a multitude of fine runners and producers at all distances. It would take pages and pages to list all of the greats in this family. Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winners Allez France and Ardan, Kentucky Derby winners Spend A Buck, Go For Gin, Sea Hero, and Smarty Jones who also won the Preakness and ran second in the Belmont stakes. Preakness winners Prairie Bayou, Personality and Bimelech (also won the Belmont and ran 2nd in the Kentucky Derby) join the St Leger winner Boucher in company with hundreds of wonderful racehorses and producers that have had such a positive impact on the industry, such as Buckpasser, CCA Oaks winner Black Helen and the multiple stakes winner Affectionately. You can’t find a more productive family than this one.

Let’s jump to the BC Classic and Belmont stakes winner AP Indy. His conduit is the transcendent mare Rambling Rose (B/P), another with pages of fine runners at all distances. Belmont Stakes winner Lemon Drop Kid and Preakness winner Summer Squall (also 2nd in the Kentucky Derby) head the list. Many European winners hail from this family as well, including the Epsom Derby winner Ruler of the World, and Gay Mecene, winner of the G1 Grand Prix de Saint Cloud (2500 meters). Broodmares of the Year Weekend Surprise and Toll Booth also trace to Rambling Rose. There are too many more to mention here, but a lot of stamina is registered via this segment.

Next up, Cozzene and his conduit, Audience.

[TJ]

California Chrome
(Can he get the Derby distance?)

The first contributor is the conduit mare of California Chrome himself, the transcendent mare Countess Wanda (B/P.) Kentucky Derby winners, Iron Liege, Clyde van Dusen, and Swaps trace to her, as does Betty Derr (a stakes winner at 5 furlongs and at 10 furlongs. The Champion two-year-old filly Althea (SA Oaks, and LA Derby) also calls Countess Wanda her Conduit Mare. There are certainly stamina contributors here.

To be continued.

Hi Bill,
Thanks for posting this info. Looking forward to the continuation. I agree California Chrome has the pedigree to get the distance, my worry is leaving California's speed favoring track and racing over the CD surface. As well as the anticipated hot pace that could develop? That being said, there may be more working here then just pace and pedigree which does ease my worry. There seems to be a sort of history repeating itself (omen?), when the first transcendent mare mentioned by you in California Chrome himself, being Countess Wanda. Then reading Swaps was also represented by the same transcendent mare, Countess Wanda. Art Sherman galloped Swaps (also a chestnut with less chrome:>) for trainer "Mesh" Tenney and owner/breeder Rex Ellsworth. Swaps was also a California bred who won 3 from 7 starts as a 2YO. California Chrome won 3 races from 6 starts as a 2YO. At 3 Swaps won the San Felipe and the Santa Anita Derby before winning the Kentucky Derby. Art Sherman is following the exact same play book as he and Tenney did with Swaps. Winning the San Felipe and Santa Anita Derby in his attempt to win the Kentucky Derby. What also caught my eye was Love The Chase (California Chrome's dam) carry's the Rasmussen Factor 3x3 to Numbered Account through 1/2 siblings Polish Numbers and Dance Number. All typically looking Phipps bred bays. Except, Dance Number's dam, the chestnut, Intriguing who was sired by Swaps. Some strange goings on bringing California Chrome to the fore of this years 3 YO picture:>) TJ

[Bill from WA]

California Chrome Continued

We now move to the 6th horse of the 16 to be evaluated, the multiple stakes winner and sire, Cozzene, and his conduit mare, Audience (B/S).

Cozzene was a fine racehorse who excelled on the grass. He won several stakes including the G1 Man O’War Stakes at 1 and 3/8 miles. He was also a very good sire, with BC Classic winner Alphabet Soup as one of his better runners.
Cozzene’s conduit mare, Audience, inbred 3x3 to Maggie B.B., won the Kentucky Oaks and proved to be an outstanding matron, producing the International stakes winner, Whisk Broom II. Whisk Broom II was the sire of Upset, the only horse to defeat the great Man O’War.

Once again there are many outstanding racehorses that trace to this mare, including the Kentucky Derby winner, Venetian Way, Preakness winner Timber Country (3rd in the Kentucky Derby), Mincielo who won the 10 furlong Arlington Handicap 3 times, the great runner Dubai Millennium, Admiral Kitten who won the 10 furlong Secretariat Stakes, Fort Wood, victorious in the 3000 meter Grand Prix de Paris, Colorful Judgement (Chief Bearhart Stakes at 10 furlongs, and the Sky Classic Handicap at 11 furlongs), plus the Blue Hen mare Portage, and the Broodmare of the year, Fall Aspen. This branch of California Chrome’s pedigree augments the stamina contributions.

The next horse to be examined is the one and only Mr. Prospector and his conduit mare, Frizette. Mr. Prospector’s record as a sire is well known, and he is the sire, or grandsire of a myriad of top flight performers at all distances.
Over 20 Classic winners (in various countries) trace to Frizette, including 5 Kentucky Derby winners, 3 winners of the Preakness, a St Leger winner, 2 CCA Oaks winners, and 3 Broodmare’s of the year. She is one of the most influential conduit mares of all time.

We now move of to the sprinter, Polish Numbers and his conduit Doxa who has been covered previously. Although a sprinter himself, Polish Numbers has sired several accomplished runners at route distances. A note here: Frizette and Doxa have had remarkable success when crossed in a pedigree (Smarty Jones being one example).

Next up is Triple Crown winner, Seattle Slew. We all know about him, and his conduit, Frizette, so we'll move on.

Number 11 on the list is Cozzene’s sire Caro, whose conduit mare, Jean’s Folly (C/P) was undefeated in 5 starts as a juvenile, and who produced the St Leger Stakes winner Night Hawk. As a runner Caro was best at about 2000 meters, but he did place 4th in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Some of the good ones tracing to Jean’s Folly include Epsom Derby winner, Shahrastani, Graded SW Cassis (2nd Deutches Derby), Medicean, winner of the Coral Eclipse Stakes at 10 furlongs, and Belmont Stakes winner, Sherluck.

To be continued.

[KonaNative]

Thanks Bill. Great info to have.

[TJ]

Thanks Bill. Great info to have.

Hi Kona,
I agree....we're lucky to have Bill and his expertise on this forum with us. TJ

[Bill from WA]

California Chrome Continued

We now jump to the #12 horse in the pedigree, Lucky Mel and his conduit mare Pilgrim’s Way (I/P) a three quarter sister to Chaucer.
Lucky Mel was a very fast horse who specialized in the sprint distances that contradict the performances of most of Pilgrim’s Way’s descendants, particularly those who raced in Australia. Australian Horse of the Year, Rain Lover won the grueling Melbourne Cup twice. Stakes winners Rain Amore, More Rain, and Rain Dance Lady were all proficient at longer distances. This family was also influential in South America with stakes winners such as Tiabaya and her daughter Latino adding to the family legacy.

At stud, Lucky Mel not only sired sprinters, but also many who were accomplished over a route of ground such as Copper Mel, a stakes winner at 12 furlongs. There is a good combination of speed and stamina via this segment.

The breed shaping Raise a Native falls in at position #13. His conduit mare Padula is classified as (I/S). Raise a Native was primarily regarded as a source of speed. He raced only as a two-year-old and was undefeated in 4 starts. As the sire of great Mr. Prospector Raise a Native’s name is found in many, if not most, of the best runners and producers in the world.
His conduit mare Padula was imported to America in 1915, and is the conduit of many very good performers over a route of ground including, One on the Aisle (San Juan Capistrano at 1¾ miles and the Lawrence Realization Stakes at 12 furlongs), Boundlessly (Arlington Classic at 8 furlongs), Black Servant, who won the Blue Grass Stakes, and ran 2nd in the Kentucky Derby, and the multiple Stakes winner Kingmaker (best at 9 furlongs). Another with stamina is Who’s to Pay who set a NCR at Belmont, running 10 furlongs in 1:58. This family also has produced some very good jumpers such as Brokopondo who also had success on the flat.