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by Rachael Zilboorg  Diva Delite (dam of Verifying) with a colt by Uncle Mo - Photo credit: Woodford Thoroughbreds FB page “Breed to the best and hope for the best.”“Breed to the best and hope for the best.” That’s the adage of the Thoroughbred breeding industry, often attributed to breeder John E. Madden (1856-1929). But the reality is, while you can stack the odds in your favor by breeding proven mares to proven stallions, Thoroughbred breeding is a game of chance. An exceptional racehorse may fail to pass on his brilliance. An exceptional race mare can fail to produce a winner… and an unraced mare can produce a champion. For fun, and for educational purposes, we’ve done a brief sketch of the dams of each of the Kentucky Derby (G1) contenders below. The Derby will be run Saturday, May 6, at Churchill Downs. But before we get into it, here are some helpful hints for the laypersons out there: Post is an abbreviation for post position, which is the gate from which the horse is set to “break” (start) during the race. Post position #1 is on the inner rail to the far left, while post position #14 is closest to the outer rail to the right. Horses will be presented in order of post below. Record can be read as follows: Starts-Wins-Seconds-Thirds (Earnings). For example, Disarm (below), has five starts, one win, two seconds, two thirds, and earnings of $404,375; 5-1-2-2 ($327,850)). Blacktype is a kind of stakes race recognized worldwide. Almost all of the stakes you read about in national news are blacktype. Some may be graded, like the Kentucky Derby, while others are restricted to state-breds. Blacktype gets its from its name display on Thoroughbred pedigrees; horses who are blacktype stakes winners are displayed in BOLD, while horses who have finished second or third in blacktype stakes are displayed in Bold. S. is the abbreviation for a stakes race, in which weights (the amount of weight a horse carries between jockey, saddle, and padded weights) are uniform based on sex. Often times, fillies will be “allowed” a number of pounds when racing against males, meaning they will carry less pounds than their male counterparts. H. is the abbreviation for a handicap stakes race, in which weights are determined based on a variety of factors, which can include current form (how well the horse has run and at what level in its recent starts), age, and sex. G1/G2/G3 are abbreviations for Grade 1, Grade 2, and Grade 3 in North America. Grade 1 stakes are considered the highest level of competition. Grade 2 stakes are a level below that. Grade 3 stakes are the lowest level of graded stakes offered. (All graded stakes rank above other kinds of blacktype stakes like listed and restricted, designated by L and R, which we’ve not indicated below.) (JPN) indicates that the horse was bred in - born in - Japan. Registered foals are foals of a mare which have been registered with The Jockey Club. At this time of year, a mare’s current foal and yearling offspring are often not registered, and it is possible that her two-year-old offspring is not yet registered. Also not registered are any foals a mare produced which died prior to being registered. In addition, we will indicate the two-year-old, yearling, and 2023 foals of the mares below, but may not discuss older foals except in naming their accomplishments. It is common in the industry upon speaking of the dam of a current performer to describe their younger offspring, or her produce “in the pipe.” Today, we’ll review the dams of the remaining 10 starters, plus the three also eligible entries. (If you missed it, check out Part 1 here.) Disarm - Post 11 by Gun Runner out of Easy Tap (by Tapit) Record: 5-1-2-2 ($327,850) Blacktype: 2nd Louisiana Derby (G2), 3rd Lexington S. (G3) Dam: Easy Tap (2010) Easy Tap started five times at ages 2 and 3, with one win and one third, and earnings of $26,252. As a broodmare, Easy Tap is the dam of seven registered foals. Of these, five have started and four are winners. Disarm is her sixth foal and her highest individual earner. Her second foal, Tap Daddy, was a champion and six-time stakes winner in Venezuela; that horse was also third in the Bourbon S. (G3) at Keeneland at 2. Her first foal, Total Tap, raced 40 times, with eight wins and a pair of stakes placing at age 3. She also has a yearling colt by Gun Runner and produced a filly by Silver State this year. Her offspring have earned at least $854,316 to date (Tap Daddy’s Venezuelan earnings may not be complete). Easy Tap was last offered at public auction in 2011, where she sold for $300,000 as a yearling. It was her only trip through the sales ring. Jace’s Road - Post 12 by Quality Road out of Out Post (by Silver Deputy) Record: 6–2-0-2 ($238,050) Blacktype: 1st Gun Runner S., 3rd Louisiana Derby (G3), 3rd Iroquois S. (G3) Dam: Out Post (2006) Out Post started 20 times, with three wins, seven seconds, and three thirds. She was twice placed in stakes company, finishing second in the Jenny Wade H. at 4 and in the Candy Eclair S. at 5. She earned $203,690. As a broodmare, Out Post is the dam of seven registered foals, with two winners from three starters. Jace’s Road is her sixth foal and most accomplished runner. She also has a yearling filly by Curlin. Her offspring have earned $357,040 to date. Out Post was last offered at public auction in 2007, when she sold for $250,000 as a yearling. It was her only trip through the sales ring. Sun Thunder - Post 13 by Into Mischief out of Greenfield d’Oro (by Medaglia d’Oro) Record: 6-1-1-1 ($247,500) Blacktype: 2nd Risen Star S. (G2) Dam: Greenfield d’Oro (2011) Greenfield d’Oro started only twice, with her best effort a second-place finish at 2. She earned $11,450. As a broodmare, Greenfield d’Oro is dam of of four registered foals, with three winners from three to race. Sun Thunder is her third foal and most accomplished runner. She also has a two-year-old filly by More Than Ready, which has not started, and is due to American Pharoah this year. Her offspring have earned $432,943 to date. Greenfield d’Oro has never been offered at public auction. Angel of Empire - Post 14 by Classic Empire out of Armony’s Angel (by To Honor and Serve) Record: 6-4-1-0 ($1,069,375) Blacktype: 1st Arkansas Derby (G1), 1st Risen Star S. (G2), 2nd Smarty Jones S. Dam: Armony’s Angel (2016) Armony’s Angel started eight times at 2, with a record of zero wins, two seconds, and a third. She earned $23,560. As a broodmare, Armony’s Angel is dam of two registered foals, of which Angel of Empire is her only starter and winner. She also has a two-year-old colt by Collected, which has not started. Her offspring have earned $1,069,375 to date. Armony’s Angel was last offered at public auction in 2019, where she sold for $67,000 in foal to Classic Empire (carrying Angel of Empire “in utero).” It was her highest price of three times through the sales ring. Forte - Post 15 by Violence out of Queen Caroline (by Blame) Record: 7-6-0-0 ($2,409,830) Blacktype: Champion Two-Year-Old Male, 1st Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), 1st Florida Derby (G1), 1st Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1), 1st Hopeful S. (G1), 1st Fountain of Youth S. (G2) Dam: Queen Caroline (2013) Queen Caroline was a multiple stakes winner in her career. She started 20 times from ages 2 through 5. She won the Indiana Grand S. and the TaWee S. at 3 and the Nellie Mae Cox S. and the Brookmeade S. at 4. She finished second or third in four other stakes at ages 4 and 5. She earned $384,776 on the track. As a broodmare, Queen Caroline is the dam of two registered foals, of which Forte is her only starter and winner. She also has a two-year-old colt by Uncle Mo, which has not started, and is bred to Not This Time for 2023. Her offspring have earned $2,409,830 to date. Queen Caroline was last offered at public auction in 2014, when she sold for $170,000 as a yearling. It was her only time through the sales ring. Raise Cain - Post 16 by Violence out of Lemon Belle (by Lemon Drop Kid) Record: 7-2-1-1 ($296,000) Blacktype: 1st Gotham S. (G3), 2nd Gun Runner S., 3rd Bowman’s Mill S. Dam: Lemon Belle (2010) Lemon Belle raced four times at ages 2 and 3, with a win in her final start. She earned $27,825. As a broodmare, Lemon Belle is the dam of seven registered foals, with five starters and four winners. Raise Cain is her sixth foal and most accomplished runner. She also has a two-year-old by Frosted, which has not started, and produced a colt by Constitution this year. Her offspring have earned $558,233 to date. Lemon Belle was last offered at public auction in 2018, when she sold for $285,000 in foal to Violence. Of four trips through the sales ring, Lemon Belle’s highest price came in 2012, when she sold for $400,000 as a two-year-old in training. Derma Sotogake (JPN) - Post 17 by Mind Your Biscuits out of Amour Poesie (JPN) (by Neo Universe-JPN) Record: 8-4-0-2 ($1,162,164) Blacktype: 1st UAE Derby (G2), 1st Nisai Yshun, 3rd Saudi Derby (G3) Dam: Amour Poesie (JPN) (2010) Amour Poesie started 17 times at ages 2 through 4 in her native Japan. She won three times, including the Kanto Oaks at 3, and finished second once. She earned $543,569. As a broodmare, Amour Poesie is the dam of six registered foals, with five starters and four winners. Derma Sotogake is her fifth foal and most accomplished runner. She also has a yearling filly by New Year’s Day. Her offspring have earned $1,472,106. Fun fact: Amour Poesie’s foals have raced exclusively in Japan, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia! Derma Sotogake’s start in the Kentucky Derby will be her first foal to run in North America. Amour Poesie has never been offered at public auction. Rocket Can - Post 18 by Tapit out of Tough Tiz’s Sis (by Tiznow) Record: 7-2-2-0 ($383,413) Blacktype: 1st Holy Bull S. (G3), 2nd Fountain of Youth S. (G2) Dam: Tension (2012) Tension started twice at ages 2 and 4, finishing third once and earning $5,385. As a broodmare, Tension is the dam of four registered foals, with two starters. Rocket Can is her third foal and only winner so far. She is also the dam of a two-year-old colt by City of Light, which has not started, and was bred to Collected for 2023. Her offspring have earned $383,913 to date. Tension was last offered at public auction in January of this year, when she sold for $100,000 in foal to Collected; less than a month later, Rocket Can would become a graded stakes winner. Of two trips through the sales ring, Tension’s highest price came in 2017, when she sold for $750,000 in foal to Curlin. Lord Miles - Post 19 by Curlin out of Lady Esme (by Majestic Warrior) Update: Lord Miles has been scratched from the Kentucky Derby, allowing the second “also eligible” entry, Mandarin Hero (JPN), to start. Record: 5-2-0-1 ($451,100) Blacktype: 1st Wood Memorial S. (G2), 3rd Mucho Macho Man S. Dam: Lady Esme (2016) Lady Esme is unraced. As a broodmare, Lady Esme is the dam of three registered foals, of which Lord Miles is her first foal and only starter and winner. She also has a two-year-old filly by Twirling Candy, which has not started, a yearling filly by Connect, and produced a filly by Quality Road this year. Her offspring have earned $451,100 to date. Lady Esme has never been offered at public auction. Continuar (JPN) - Post 20 by Drefong out of Pan de Ring (JPN) (by King Kamehameha-JPN) Update: Continuar has been scratched from the Kentucky Derby, allowing the third “also eligible” entry,King Russell, to start. Record: 5-2-1-1 ($337,889) Blacktype: 3rd UAE Derby (G2) (note: the Cattleya S., featured below, is not a blacktype stake) Dam: Pan de Ring (JPN) (2014) Pan de Ring started 10 times at ages 2 and 3 in her native Japan. She never won, finishing second twice and third once, and earned $72,635. As a broodmare, Pan de Ring is the dam of four registered foals, of which three have started and two are winners. Continuar is her third foal and most accomplished runner. She also has a two-year-old filly by Epiphaneia (JPN), which has not started. Her offspring have earned $498,279 to date. Fun fact: Pan de Ring’s foals have raced exclusively in Japan, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia! Continuar’s start in the Kentucky Derby will be her first foal to run in North America. Pan de Ring has never been offered at public auction. Also Eligibles Entries that are “also eligible,” designated as AE in the entries and racing program, are officially entered for the race but are not among the 20 starters in the Derby. If a guaranteed starter scratches prior to an established deadline, an also eligible entry will “draw in” to the field in order of eligibility. If drawn in, also eligibles start according to their assigned post, generally to the outside (grandstand side) of the guaranteed starters. Cyclone Mischief - Post 21 (AE) by Into Mischief out of Areyoucominghere (by Bernardini) Update: Cyclone Mischief has drawn into the Kentucky Derby field with the scratch of the #10 Practical Move. Record: 7-2-0-3 ($246,350) Blacktype: 3rd Florida Derby (G1), 3rd Fountain of Youth S. (G2) Dam: Areyoucominghere (2015) Areyoucoming here started twice at age 2, finishing no better than eighth. She earned $600. As a broodmare, Areyoucominghere is the dam of three registered foals, two of them starters. Cyclone Mischief is her second foal and only winner. She also has a yearling filly by Street Sense and was bred to Munnings for 2023. Her offspring have earned $246,350 to date. Areyoucominghere was last offered at public auction in 2018, when she sold for $350,000 in foal to Into Mischief. It was her highest price in two appearances in the sales ring. Mandarin Hero (JPN) - Post 22 (AE) by Shanghai Bobby out of Namura Nadeshiko (JPN) (by Fuji Kiseki-JPN) Update: Mandarin Hero has drawn into the Kentucky Derby field with the scratch of the #19 Lord Miles. Record: 6-4-2-0 ($386,854) Blacktype: 2nd Santa Anita Derby (G1) Dam: Namura Nadeshiko (JPN) Namura Nadeshiko started three times at 2 in her native Japan. She did not win, place, or earn any money. As a broodmare, Manura Nadeshiko is the dam of seven registered foals, of which five have started and two have won. Mandarin Hero is her sixth foal and most accomplished runner. She also has a two-year-old filly by Apollo Kentucky, which has not started. Her offspring have earned $655,664 to date. Mandarin Hero is her first and only North American starter. Namura Nadeshiko has never been offered at public auction. King Russell - Post 23 (AE) by Creative Cause out of Believe You Will (by Proud Citizen) Update: King Russell has drawn into the Kentucky Derby field with the scratch of the #20 Continuar (JPN). Record: 6-1-3-0 ($322,350) Blacktype: 2nd Arkansas Derby (G1) Dam: Believe You Will (2015) Believe You Will started five times at age 3. She earned $27,560. As a broodmare, Believe You Will is the dam of four registered foals, with two to race, both winners. King Russell is her second foal and most accomplished runner. She also has a two-year-old filly by Creative Cause (as such, a full brother to King Russell), which has not started, a yearling colt by American Freedom, and produced a colt by Upstart this year. Her offspring have earned $349,910 to date. Believe You Will has never been offered at public auction. Fun Facts
Check out these fun facts about the dams of these 23 Kentucky Derby entries as a group:
If you missed it, check out Part 1 here. |
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Mareworthy Charities is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Its tax identification number is 88-4420958