Kentucky Derby 2012 - Early Contenders By Bloodlines

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There are always exceptions to the rule, but generally speaking, horses that end up winning the Kentucky Derby come from sires that were able to go that distance effective as well.

Maria’s Mon has been a highly effective sire having produced two Kentucky Derby winners; Monarchos in 2001 and most recently, Super Saver in 2010. According to the Thoroughbred Sports Network book of Sire Stats, the average winning distance for progeny of Maria’s Mon is seven furlongs, which indicates his progeny do best at middle distance races, which makes it all the more remarkable that he would have not one but two sons that have captured the Kentucky Derby.

A.P. Indy is known for being a sire of long distance runners, and his AWD is about a furlong and a half greater than Maria’s Mon. He has never sired a Kentucky Derby winner although he has come close. In 2000, his son Aptitude came in second to Fusaichi Pegasus in that year’s Derby. Attswhatimtalkinbout was a fast closing fourth in the 2003 Kentucky Derby and might have won if he had another six seconds to run them down. Steppenwolfer finished third to Barbaro in the ...
... 2006 edition, and Pulpit finished fourth in the 1997 Kentucky Derby.

Dynaformer is also is a highly successful sire, especially at the longer distances. He is the sire of the afore-mentioned Barbaro, and is the sire of 2002 third place finisher in the Derby, Perfect Drift. He is actually more known as a turf sire but many of his offspring do tend to perform just as well on the dirt.

Another sire whose progeny you might want to put on your watch list is El Prado, who sired Paddy O’ Prado, the third place finisher in the 2010 Derby, as well as Medaglia D’oro, who finished fourth in the 2002 Derby after a troubled trip.

The sire of beloved 2004 Kentucky Derby winner, Smarty Jones was Elusive Quality who is not known for producing horses that can go particularly long distances. The average winning distance for his progeny is about 6 ½ furlongs, which indicates he is primarily a sire of sprinters.
The horse that finished runner up to Smarty Jones was Lion Heart, and his sire Tale of the Cat was likewise primarily a sire of sprinters, which makes him somewhat an anomaly as well.

The most famous exception to the rule was probably Secretariat, who was out of the great sire Bold Ruler. Because Bold Ruler was generally a sire of middle distance runners, some questioned whether Secretariat had the stamina to go the 1 ¼ mile distance of the Kentucky Derby after finishing a distant third in the 1 1/8 mile Wood Memorial. Of course, history shows that he could have run all day if it was needed.

When following this year’s two year old crop, other horses to pay attention to are those who are by Smart Strike, Distorted Humor, Giant’s Causeway, Mineshaft, and Candy Ride.

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