(Editor's Note: This pedigree analysis was written by Carly Silver, 15, a sophomore at Weston (Connecticut) High School who is a racing fan and student of pedigrees. Carly previously analyzed the pedigrees of the 2004 classic contenders for bloodhorse.com and was first to write about the classic potential in the pedigree of Smarty Jones previous to his victory in the Kentucky Derby and subsequent win in the Preakness Stakes and runner-up effort in the Belmont.)One major aspect of Thoroughbred breeding lamented today is that all of the focus is on speed. The great old sires of yore, who transmitted stamina and racing longevity to their progeny, are alleged to be "long gone" with the ascent of sprinting. However, if this year's Triple Crown races are any indication, this is not true in the least. A close look at the pedigrees of Barbaro, the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner, Bernardini, the Preakness (gr. I) victor, and Jazil, who captured the Belmont (gr. I) shows how stamina influences are alive and well in American pedigrees.
Barbaro's sire Dynaformer has been an influence for stamina (he's by Epsom Derby, Eng-I, winner Roberto), by siring Perfect Drift and Riskaverse. Dynaformer's dam Andover Way was from On the Trail, dam of graded stakes winner and successful sire Darby Creek Road and stakes winner Regal Road, third dam of Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos.On the Trail's dam was the noted broodmare Golden Trail, whose descendants include champions Ryafan and Sunshine Forever. The dam of Golden Trail was Sunny Vale, who traces back to Artless. From Artless and her full sister Artful further grade I winner Yonaguska and leading sire Runaway Groom, winner of the Travers (gr. I). Barbaro's dam is La Ville Rouge, whose half-brother, Green Alligator was a grade III winner. This line traces to the prominent War Plumage, ancestress of grade I winner Five Star Flight. War Plumage's dam was War Feathers, ancestress of Epsom Oaks winner Long Look, the juvenile filly champion Sensational, and top West Coast handicap horse and grade I winner Desert Wine.Bernardini's pedigree is no less impeccable. His sire, A.P. Indy, is one of the primary stamina influences in today's breeding market. A Seattle Slew half-brother to Preakness winner Summer Squall, he won the Belmont and has sired several champions. A.P. Indy's maternal granddam was Lassie Dear, dam of European highweight Wolfhound and granddam of champion and Belmont winner Lemon Drop Kid . Further back, this line includes Irish classic winner Uvira, champion Plugged Nickle, and top sire Raja Baba.The dam of Bernardini is grade I winner Cara Rafaela. Cara Rafaela's dam Oil Fable was also the dam of grade III winner Abaginone, and was in turn the daughter of grade III winner Northern Fable, granddam of grade I-placed Blue Burner. Northern Fable's dam, stakes winner Fairway Fable, was the great-granddam of European and United Arab Emirates champion Muhtathir and grade II winner Hook and Ladder. Fairway Fable's granddam was Fast Line, who also foaled Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winner White Star Line and group I winner Filiberto and is the great-granddam of grade II winner Devil's Cup. This family also includes Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) winner On the Sly, champion Miss Request, and Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I) victress Magazine.Jazil's sire, Seeking the Gold, is one of the top distance-running and siring sons of Mr. Prospector. Seeking the Gold won the grade I Super Derby and was runner-up in the Breeder's Cup Classic (gr. I). His top progeny include multiple champion and Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) winner Dubai Millenium and Breeder's Cup Distaff (gr. I) winner Pleasant Home. Although Seeking the Gold's sire, Mr. Prospector, is primarily known as a sprinter and a sire of sprinters, 10 of the last 12 Triple Crown race winners have traced in tail-male line to him. Seeking the Gold's superb female family, which includes several champions, traces back to a full sister to Epsom Derby winner Hermit.Jazil's graded stakes-winning dam, Better Than Honour, Kentucky Oaks (gr. I)-winning granddam Blush With Pride, and great-granddam and Broodmare of the Year Best in Show, trace back to Herd Girl, dam of handicap champion mare Late Date. Her Girl is the ancestress of classic sires El Gran Senor and Try My Best.
From Epsom Derby winners to Breeder's Cup Classic runners, stamina is hardly gone in American pedigrees. Sires prove, year after year, that the ability to "go the distance" is still inherent in their offspring's pedigrees.
