PEGASUS S. (gr. III ), Monmouth Park , June 16, 2013 , $150,000 Guaranteed , value of race $150,000 , 3 yo , 1 1/16 miles , 1:41.72 Dirt FT .

Verrazano was back to his old form again in the June 16 Pegasus Stakes (gr. III) at Monmouth Park. Jockey John Velazquez, who has ridden the 3-year-old son of More Than Ready in all his six starts, felt it, saying it was “good to have him back.” And he recognized that Verrazano knew it too: “His ears were wagging every step of the way,” added the Hall of Fame rider.

Victorious in all but his last start, the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), Verrazano can credit at least some of his success and resilience to a very strong female line, influenced by the solid broodmare sire lines of Giant’s Causeway and Mr. Prospector.

Giant’s Causeway is currently ranked ninth on The Blood-Horse 2013 broodmare sire list. He is the sire of 301 dams of 332 runners, 34% of which are winners. Mr. Prospector was one of the leading broodmare sires of all time, leading the ranks every year but one (2004) from 1997 to 2006. He is also a sire of broodmare sires with 14 of his sons in the top 100 of the 2013 broodmare sire list, five of whom fall in the top 20.

Verrazano’s dam is the Giant’s Causeway mare Enchanted Rock, who has also produced El Padrino, by Pulpit, winner of the Risen Star Stakes (gr. II). Of her three foals of racing age, the two to race have been black-type winners.

Verrazano’s second dam is grade I winner Chic Shirine, by Mr. Prospector, and a sister to Queena, grade I winner and U.S. champion older female. Chic Shirine produced five mares—including grade II stakes winner Tara Roma. Four of them have produced at least two stakes winners each, including graded added-money winners Serra Lake, Hungry Island, and Somali Lemonade.

Bred by Emory A. Hamilton in Kentucky, who also bred Enchanted Rock, Verrazano was consigned to the 2011 Keeneland September yearling sale by Middlebrook Farm, as agent. He was purchased by Let’s Go Stable for $250,000, who now races him in partnership with Michael B. Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier, and Derrick Smith.

More Than Ready has sired 120 stakes winners since retiring to stud in 2001. He currently stands at WinStar Farm near Versailles, Ky., for a fee of $60,000.—M.P

PALM BEACH S. (gr. III ), Gulfstream Park , March 03, 2013 , $150,000 Guaranteed , value of race $190,000 , 3 yo , 1 1/8 miles , 1:48.18 Turf FM .

When Palm Beach Stakes (gr. IIIT) winner Rydilluc brought $55,000 as a yearling during the third session of the 2011 Keeneland September sale co-breeder John Sikura of Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms was initially disappointed in the price.

“He was a long, angular, rangy horse and was maybe a touch light,” said Sikura, who bred the colt in partnership with Gaines-Gentry Thoroughbreds. “We were disappointed, but we’re breeders, so we have to move horses along and get them sold.”

But now, following Rydilluc’s third consecutive victory on the turf, Sikura couldn’t be more thrilled for trainer Gary Contessa and owners Team Stallion Racing Stable and partners.

“For (Rydilluc) to come around, we’re very happy for everybody involved,” said Sikura. “It’s always exciting to breed a top horse.”

Rydilluc was initially purchased by Straight Away Farm with Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, agent, serving as consignor. As a 2-year-old, the colt was consigned by Secure Investments to the Fasig-Tipton Florida select 2-year-olds in training sale, but he failed to meet his reserve when the bidding stopped at $90,000.

Again consigned by Secure Investments, agent, Rydilluc fetched $150,000 from Contessa at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-olds in training sale.

Foaled and raised at Hill ‘n’ Dale near Lexington, Rydilluc is by Medaglia d’Oro—Swift and Classy, by Clever Trick.

“Medaglia d’Oro is a horse we stood here, so we had a familiar connection,” said Sikura of the stallion, who spent his first two seasons at Hill ‘n’ Dale. “Medaglia d’Oro is a very good sire and (Rydilluc) has received those qualities from the horse. Hopefully, he’ll continue to win important races.”

Swift and Classy, a stakes winner during her race career, was bought for $100,000 by Hill ‘n’ Dale at the 2009 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. Consigned by Liberation Farm and partners through Trackside Farm, agent, she was carrying the Palm Beach Stakes winner.

The mare was sold to Gaines-Gentry in a private transaction after delivering a filly by Roman Ruler in 2011.

Among Swift and Classy’s offspring are stakes winner Gold Wonder (by Golden Missile), stakes-placed runners Dangerous Guy (by Awesome Again) and Whambam (by Lite the Fuse), and $1 million yearling Flagship (by El Prado).

Barren to the cover of Zensational in 2012, Swift and Classy was bred to Indygo Shiner for 2013.

Medaglia d’Oro is the sire of 40 stakes winners, including other 2013 added-money victor Live Lively (gr. II). Medaglia d’Oro stands for $100,000 at Darley near Lexington.–E.M.