Sires Who Showed Stamina Deliver in Belmont

As one might expect, the sires of Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winners have typically enjoyed success at the classic distances.

Looking at recent history, eight of the previous dozen Belmont winners were by sires who won grade I races at 1 1/4 miles or longer. Three of those winners were by previous Belmont winners in Summer Bird (2009), by 2004 Belmont winner Birdstone  ; Rags to Riches (2007), by 1992 winner A.P. Indy; and Point Given   (2001), by 1995 winner Thunder Gulch.

Other sires with grade I wins at 1 1/4 miles who sired Belmont winners during that stretch include two-time Breeders' Cup Classic, Santa Anita Handicap, and Super Derby winner Tiznow  , sire of 2008 Belmont winner Da'Tara; Super Derby and Dwyer winner Seeking the Gold, sire of Jazil (2006); Kentucky Derby winner Grindstone, sire of 2004 winner Birdstone  ; Florida Derby, Kentucky Derby, and Breeders' Cup Classic winner Unbridled, sire of Empire Maker   (2003), and Breeders' Cup Classic winner Wild Again, sire of Sarava (2002).

The only horse by a previous Belmont winner expected to enter this year's 1 1/2-mile classic is Darley Stable's Incognito, who is by A.P. Indy. There are two other expected starters by the A.P. Indy stallion Malibu Moon  , who because of an injury-shortened career never had the opportunity to race at the classic distances, in Kentucky Derby winner Orb   and Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II) winner Freedom Child  .

Another horse pointing for this year's Belmont by a previous sire of a Belmont winner includes Arkansas Derby (gr. I) winner Overanalyze  , who is by Dixie Union.

Oddly enough, the three most recent sires of Belmont winners: Dixie Union, sire of Union Rags   (2012); Roman Ruler, sire of Ruler On Ice (2011); and Distorted Humor  , sire of Drosselmeyer   (2010); did not win at at or beyond 1 1/4 miles on the track.

Other horses expected to be in this year's Belmont field by sires who won grade I races at 1 1/4 miles or longer include Giant Finish, by 2008 Suburban Handicap winner Frost Giant  ; grade II-winning filly Unlimited Budget, by 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense  ; Preakness winner Oxbow  , by Awesome Again  , who closed out his career with three straight graded stakes wins at 1 1/4 miles, including the Breeders' Cup Classic; and Palace Malice  , by Curlin  , who counted the Breeders' Cup Classic, two editions of the Jockey Club Gold Cup, and the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) among his top 1 1/4-mile wins.