Classic Pedigree Profile: Suave

If there were a prize to be given for the most royal pedigree in the Breeders' Cup Classic-Powered By Dodge (gr. I), Suave would be right up there among the contenders. A son of 1992 U.S. Horse of the Year A.P. Indy (also the sire of probable race favorite Bernardini), Suave was produced from 1995 Ashland Stakes (gr. I) and 1996 John A. Morris Handicap (gr. I) winner Urbane, whose great-granddam Goofed is also the fifth dam of possible Classic starter Flower Alley.

Urbane is by Citidancer, a very fast son of Dixieland Band who had the misfortune to meet up with a still faster horse, two-time U.S. champion sprinter Housebuster, on his lone venture into stakes competition, the 1990 Jerome Handicap (gr. I). Citidancer did run second but was beaten thirteen lengths by the champion after trying to outduel Housebuster early. He did not run again. Retired to Maryland, Citidancer compiled an honorable stud record despite fertility problems. Pensioned in 2005, Citidancer is the sire of at least twenty-eight stakes winners including 2006 Grade III winners Cherokee's Boy and Park Avenue Ball. His daughters are showing promise as broodmares, with at least eleven stakes winners to their credit so far.

Suave is the third foal and third winner for Urbane, who has since produced one more foal of racing age in the unraced Coronado's Quest filly World Wise, a 3-year-old. The mare has a yearling by Vindication and a weanling by A.P. Indy and is back in foal to A.P. Indy for 2007.

Urbane is by far the best runner produced from the Pleasant Colony mare Dumfries Pleasure, who was unplaced in her only start. The next dam, Dumfries (by Reviewer), also failed to win in two starts but is a half sister to the excellent sire Lyphard, to the 1975 Washington, D.C., International (gr. IT) winner Nobiliary, and to two-time Grade II winner Barcas, all produced from Goofed.

A.P. Indy himself, of course, is one of the most regally bred stallions in North America. A son of the great Seattle Slew, he is out of 1992 Broodmare of the Year Weekend Surprise (by Secretariat), who had previously produced 1990 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Summer Squall (by Storm Bird) and multiple Grade III-placed Honor Grades (by Danzig). Weekend Surprise subsequently produced Grade I-placed Weekend in Seattle (by Seattle Slew), 2000 Dogwood Stakes (gr. III) winner Welcome Surprise (by Seeking the Gold), and listed stakes winner Eavesdropper (by Kingmambo). Given that the now-pensioned Summer Squall was a good stallion and the deceased Honor Grades had his moments, there will certainly be opportunities for inbreeding to Weekend Surprise. One such opportunity has already paid off handsomely in 2005 U.S. champion juvenile male Stevie Wonderboy, who is by A.P. Indy's son Stephen Got Even out of the Summer Squall mare Heat Lightning.

A Grade III winner in her own right, Weekend Surprise was produced from 1976 Villager Stakes (gr. III) winner Lassie Dear, whose other produce include the listed stakes winner Spectacular Spy (by Spectacular Bid), the Group I-winning sprinter Wolfhound (by Nureyev), the French listed stakes winner Foxhound (by Danzig), and Deerhound, a winning full brother to Foxhound who sired 1997 U.S. champion juvenile filly Countess Diana. Lassie Dear was, in turn, one of four stakes winners produced from the Sir Gaylord mare Gay Missile, herself a stakes-winning half sister to five other stakes winners and to 1991 Broodmare of the Year Toll Booth. The family is that of the 1941 Irish Oaks winner *Uvira II and is one of the most prolific sources of high-class horses in modern breeding.

It will take more than regal bloodlines to win the Breeders' Cup Classic, of course, and Suave will have to take a step upwards from the best form he has shown to date to be competitive. Nonetheless, he has already proven a worthy son of his heritage.