Teen Tracks: Purge Poised for Upset?

One of the most popular phrases in horse racing is "Triple Crown". Used to refer to the trio of classic races for three-year-olds in the spring, this term was first coined by a reporter in the 1930's after Omaha triumphed in the triumvirate of races. Another well-known term is an "upset". This is used to refer to a surprise defeat of a favored horse in a race. This word was introduced into racing lore after the 1919 Sanford Stakes, when the great and heavily-favored Man o' War was beaten by a colt named Upset despite the victory being tarnished by the fact that Man o' War was turned sideways at the break, losing precious seconds, and was boxed in during the stretch run, was gaining on the winner with each gigantic stride, and would have overtaken him in the next second. These two terms come together to describe Purge, a bay son of Pulpit, who could pose a threat to Smarty Jones in this year's Belmont Stakes. Purge triumphed in the grade II Peter Pan Stakes, long an important Belmont prep, and, founded upon his very good pedigree, can cover the classic distance with ease.

Purge's sire is Pulpit, the multiple grade 2 winning son of A.P. Indy, who has sired such standouts as Sky Mesa and Stroll. A.P. Indy, was a Horse of the Year and Belmont winner, and a half-brother to Preakness winner Summer Squall. He traces back to the foundation mare Missy Baba. Pulpit's dam is Preach, winner of the grade I Frizette Stakes, who was out of grade III victress Narrate. Narrate was the dam of West Acre, sire of gr. II winner Ivanavinalot, as well as Yarn, dam of European champion Minardi, grade II winner and good sire Tale of the Cat (sire of Kentucky Derby runner-up and gr. I winner Lion Heart), and Myth, dam of champion Johannesburg. Narrate was out of State, dam of gr. III winner Announce, and Dibs, dam of French stakes winner Le Carre. State was out of Monarchy, a full sister to the great Round Table, being by the stayer Princequillo out of Knight's Daughter, by Sir Cosmo. Monarchy was the dam of Blade, grade II winner Fabled Monarch, Title, a stakes winner and dam of stakes winner Caption, Cherry Valley, ancestress of group II winner Schiller and champion Tessla, and Tsessbe, ancestress of stakes winner River Jig, group 3 winner Dance Parade, stakes winner Secret, and group I victor Always Aloof. Monarchy was out of stakes winner Knight's Daughter, dam of stakes winner Love Game, dam of stakes winners Nas-Mahal, dam of stakes winner Beja, group II winner Epidaurus, Hollywood Derby victor Tell, and champion Turkish Trousers, and ancestress of grade I winner Balzac.

The dam of Purge is Copelan's Bid Gal. She is out of Bid Gal, dam of gr. II winner Valid Wager. Bid Gal is by champion Bold Bidder out of
Nowmepache. Nowmepache is the dam of stakes winner Mepache, in turn dam of grade III winner Little Sister and stakes winner Littleexpectations. She is also the dam of Miss Valid Pache, dam of Princess H. winner Valid Pulpit, and Valid Expectations, a champion freshman sire. Nowmepache is out of Fool-me-not. Fool-me-not was the dam of 1975 Kentucky Derby winner and champion Foolish Pleasure, and the second dam of stakes winner Lucky Era and Baffle You. Fool-me-not was also the third dam of grade III winner Beldale Lustre, and the ancestress of Puerto Rican champion Honest Princess, and South American stakes winner Cicatriz. Fool-me-not was out of Cuadrilla, a French stakes winner, and second dam of stakes winner Sandhill Flight and San Mateo S. winner Three Stripes, and third dam of stakes winner Crags Corner, etc. Cuadrilla was out of Bouillabaisse, dam of 2,000 Guineas third Argur, leading sire in Argentina in 1961. Bouillabaisse is also the ancestress of South Australian Oaks (Aus-I) winner She's Archie, and stakes winner Noa Noa, ancestress, in turn, of group II winner Cabileno. Bouillabaisse was by Blenheim II, out of stakes winner Becti, ancestress of stakes winner Fiction Star, stakes winner Mirage, etc. Becti was a half-sister to champion Argentine sire Sind. This line traces back to Miranda, dam of Irish Derby victor King John, and ancestress of two Gran Premio Nacional winners, Grande Premio Derby Sul-Americano winner Jocosa, and thence back to Admiration, dam of the great mare Pretty Polly. Pretty Polly won the Epsom Oaks and 1,000 Guineas. Pretty Polly's descendants include Irish Derby and St. Leger victor Zodiac, Irish 2,000 Guineas and Derby winner Spike Island, the great English racer Brigadier Gerard, Lady Angela, granddam of Northern Dancer, 1,000 Guineas winner Sea Symphony, etc.

As you see, from Purge's extremely classic-oriented pedigree, he can pose a dangerous threat to Smarty Jones in the Belmont Stakes.