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The Belmont Derby Invitational is run this Saturday, July 4, at Belmont Park. It is a 1 1/4 mile turf race for three-year-olds, with prize money of $1,250,000 up for grabs. With that amount of money, the race has attracted a deep collection of turf horses to run in it from both America and Europe. Here is a look at the field, their past performance, and pedigree. Hopefully this will give you clues on their ability run a winning race at this classic distance.
Post Position #3 Divisidero: Race Record 4-3-0-1 ($301,000), Trainer: William “Buff” Bradley, Jockey: Rafael Manuel Hernandez, (Kitten’s Joy-Madame Du Lac by Lemon Drop Kid)
Photo courtesy of Twin Spires
When last seen on May 30 in the 1 1/8 mile Pennine Ridge Stakes at Belmont Park, Divisidero overcame a troubled start and wide trip to charge home five-wide and hit the wire first over Takeover Target by a neck in a sharp 1:48.03. This was a gritty performance by Divisidero, in which he adapted his running style and raced closer to the lead. Here’s the replay:
This was Divisidero’s third win from four starts. On Kentucky Derby undercard, Divisidero won the Grade 2, $250,000 American Turf Stakes at 9/1 odds. Divisidero came from the back of the pack and again raced wide around the turn, passing A Lot in the final sixteenth of a mile and won going away by 3/4 length. This is what Bradley said after the race, “We worried a little bit yesterday because it looked like the turf course favored speed, but I told Rafael [Hernandez], ‘Don’t take him out of his game and let him run his race,’ ” said Bradley. “He’s an awesome horse. He professional already and it’s just his third race. It’s unbelievable. The owners have been great, the Gunpowder Stables. We’ve come up with a plan to give this horse plenty of time, and that’s what’s helped us.” A Lot came back and won the seven-furlong Paradise Creek Stakes at Belmont on May 23 by 5 ¾ lengths, validating Divisidero’s win. He is almost undefeated, suffering a narrow loss when forced to check in the Palm Beach Stakes in March.
Divisidero is owned by Gunpowder Farms LLC, and was purchased for $250,000 in a Keenland September yearling sale. He is a very strong candidate for a mile and a quarter. His dad, Kitten’s Joy, won twice at 1 1/4 miles and once at 1 1/2 miles. He has also injected stamina into his progeny, including horses like Big Blue Kitten ad Real Solution. Divisidero’s 2nd sire, El Prado, also gave off plenty of endurance. Finally, his 3rd sire, Sadler’s Wells, produced over 323 stakes winners and 80 Group 1/Grade 1 winners. He is also a huge stamina influence, giving Divisidero plenty of it as a whole from his sire line. We know it’s more important to get your distance from your dam sires, and Divisidero doesn’t lack in this department. Divisidero’s dam is Madame du Lac. She is a half-sister to Chilean Group 2 winner Genial Boy. This family boasts multiple Group 2 winner Zindabad to its name. His dam sire is Lemon Drop Kid, the winner of the 1999 Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes. He also was named Champion Older Male Horse of 2000. He passed on his knack for winning at long distances onto his offspring, sporting a 7.9 AWD Brisnet number, which is very high. One of is offspring, Richard’s Kid, won multiple graded stakes at 1 1/2 miles. Divisidero’s 2nd dam sire, Nashwan, won the 1 1/2 mile Epsom Derby and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 1989. Finally, his 3rd dam sire is Sadler’s Well, giving Divisidero a 3X4 crossing to him. There is no doubt that Divisidero can cover this classic distance. In fact, he boasts one of the best distance pedigrees in the field. Using his natural speed to stay in contention will only help his cause. He is a real threat to take this race, when looking at his past performance, especially winning his last out given the trip he had.
Post Position #1 Takeover Target: Race Record 3-2-1-0 ($131,200), Trainer: Chad Brown, Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr., (Harlan’s Holiday-Vanquished by Empire Maker)
Photo Courtesy of Adam Coglianese
Takeover Target lost by a neck to Divisidero in the Pennine Ridge Stakes on May 30, his first loss in three tries. This was the major prep race at Belmont Park for the Belmont Derby Invitational for three-year-olds on July 4, and was Takeover Target’s first stakes race, which makes his showing a strong one. Takeover Target ran both of his wins on the Belmont Turf. In his previous run, on May 7, in the featured allowance event, Takeover Target made a huge rally, surging past six horses down the center of the track, to win by 1 3/4 length as the even money favorite. This victory was also quite impressive, given it was his first race in over 6 months. Here is the video:
This is what Chad Brown had to say after the race, “Takeover Target ran terrific – he ran to his training. My staff did a great job getting him ready. He had some baby stuff – no surgeries – and he needed time. He had a nice series of works at Palm Meadows, and we were quietly confident he was going to go out there and run a big one, and he did.” Brown added that the Belmont Derby was his ultimate goal for this horse, saying, “The longer, the better for him,” Brown said. “One race a time, but obviously the [Belmont Derby] would be a dream if we could get to that. I believe this horse will stay a mile and a quarter.”
Takeover Target is owned by Klaravich Stables, Inc. and William H. Lawrence. He was purchased for $175,000 at the 2013 Keenland September yearling sale and is by Harlan’s Holiday. In 2002, he won the Grade 1 Bluegrass Stakes and Florida Stakes, and in 2003 he captured the Grade 1 Donn Handicap. As a sire, he established a North American record in 2012 for 2-year-old earnings of $2,954,556. Some of his best progeny were Into Mischief, Eclipse Champion Two-Year-Old Shanghai Bobby, Dennis of Cork, Majesticperfection, Wilcox Inn, Mendip, Summer Soiree and Turkish Champion Agresivo. In 2013, Harlan’s Holiday was euthanized in Argentina. Harlan’s Holiday was known to put more speed into his offspring than distance. Takeover Target comes from a Northern Dancer sire line. His dam, Vanquished, is a half-sister to Multiple Grade One winner Critical Eye. His dam sire, Empire Maker, won the 2000 Belmont Derby. He is the sire of Bodemeister and Royal Delta, and the Grand-Sire of Triple Crown Champion American Pharoah through Pioneerof the Nile. He is a great stamina influence for his offspring. Takeover Target’s 2nd dam sire is Dr. Blum, who was a stakes winning sprinter on the racetrack. He gave off a moderate amount of endurance, while Takeover Target’s 3rd dam sire, Silent Screen, was a U.S. Champion Two-Year-Old and never won beyond a mile. It looks like Takeover Target will really need the strong presence from Empire Maker in his bloodlines to be able to step up and run a winning race at a mile and a quarter.
Takeover Target came from off the bench with a strong performance in the Pennine Ridge Stakes, and that was very encouraging. He also owns two wins on the Belmont turf, and is a fresh horse. I think that with a step forward, he can definitely run a winning race.
Post Position #8 Startuup Nation: Race Record 5-2-0-1 ($193,800), Trainer: Chad Brown, Jockey: John R. Velazquez, (Temple City-Pennyrile by Wagon Limit)
Photo Courtesy of Coglianese Photo
After Startup Nation won his first two races, including a dominating win in the Grade 2 With Anticipation, he ended his 2014 campaign with a 4th place finish in the grade 3 Pilgrim Stakes and 11th place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. Startup Nation began his three-year-old campaign with a fast closing 3rd place finish in the Pennine Ridge Stakes, 1 3/4 lengths behind Divisadero and Takeover Target. This was a nice race for him, considering he hadn’t run in close to seven months. As in his victory in the With Anticipation, Startup Nation showed off his impressive ability to accelerate in the Pennine Ridge Stakes. He just can’t leave himself with too much to do in this mile and a quarter race, especially with a moderate pace expected. Here is a video of that performance:
Here is what Chad Brown said about Startup Nation after a recent workout, “Takeover Target and Startup Nation breezed together as they have been all along,” said Brown. “It was more of the same from them, steady, easy work. We didn’t want to do too much with them today and they went perfect. I believe they both will have no problem with a mile and a quarter, as well.” Here’s a look at Startup Nation’s pedigree.
Startup Nation is also owned by Klaravich Stables, Inc. and William H. Lawrence. He was purchased as a yearling in a Fasig-Tipton 2013 Saratoga sale for $95,000. Startup Nation is by the young sire Temple City. While he is currently the #12 second-crop sire, he was the #6 Freshman Sire in total earnings in 2014. That year, he tied for second with 3 stakes winners, 1 Graded stakes winner, and 6 stakes horses. His runners won on both turf and dirt. He did as well on the racetrack. Temple City won from distances from 6 1/2 furlongs all the way to 12 furlongs. He earned $326.400 in his racing career. A highlight in his career is when he wired the field, while breaking the Del Mar turf track record for 12 furlongs, in the Grade 3 Cougar II Handicap. Temple City was a very fast horse, who could carry his speed a long ways. Startup Nation’s 2nd sire is Dynaformer, who was a high quality stallion and a steady influence for stamina as well. Dynaformer was also known as a stand out turf sire for many years. Finally, Startup Nation’s 3rd sire is Roberto, who was a distance and grass influence too. Startup Nation’s dam, Pennyrile, earned $239,048 racing in sprints. His 3rd dam, the Chilean import Infinidad, was a Grade I winner over a mile and a quarter in the Vanity Handicap. Startup Nation’s dam sire is Wagon Limit, Wagon Limit, whose career highlight was winning the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup over a mile and a quarter. His 2nd dam sire, Harlan, won the G1 Vosburgh at 7 furlongs. Startup Nation’s 3rd dam sire, Mr. Long, was a 5-time Champion Sire in Chile from 1982 to 1986. As I see it, Startup Nation has the right bloodlines to tackle this classic distance.
Startup Nation has great connections preparing him for this race, and he is well rested coming into it, with this only being his 2nd start of the year. With his great turn of foot, if he can stay within striking distance of the field, he becomes a serious threat in this race. He is definitely classy enough to get the job done.
Post Position #2 Bolo: Race Record 7-3-0-2 ($288,700), Trainer: Carla Gaines, Jockey: Rafael Bejarano, (Temple City-Aspen Mountain by Chief Seattle)
Photo courtesy of racinggroups.co.uk
It was decided after a 12th place finish in the Kentucky Derby that turf was Bolo’s favored surface, and on May 29, 2015, he proved it with a 2 1/2 length gate-to-wire win in a $65,000 allowance race at Santa Anita Park as the 1/5 favorite. Bolo’s jockey, Rafael Bejarano, said after the race “My horse doesn’t have to be on the lead, but he made it so easy, I just stayed there. He was training good on the dirt going into the (Kentucky) Derby, but he has so much confidence on the grass. He’s much better on it. He doesn’t make any noise on the grass and there’s no doubt in my mind he’s one of the best horses in California on grass.”
Bolo’s career highlight came as a 2-year-old on turf, with a dominant performance in the Eddie Logan Stakes. In the race, the 9/5 favorite shared strides on the lead with Stormy Liberal, when in the upper stretch he left him and won with ease by 4 1/2 lengths. Here is the video:
Bolo has great tactical speed to place himself in a nice position in his races, but isn’t a need-to-lead horse. This is what his trainer said after the Eddie Logan Stakes, “You know he’s doing it easy,” Gaines said. “He’s not a rank horse. Just let him settle into his stride, and he’ll go on forever.” This west coast invader has a big shot if he has carried his 2-year-old turf form into 2015.
Bolo is owned by Golden Pegasus Racing Inc. and Earle I. Mack. Like Startup Nation, Bolo is by Temple City, so look at my write-up on him there to learn about this sire’s qualifications. His dam, Aspen Mountain, is a half-sister to Mining My Own, who is the dam of both Mine That Bird and Multiple Grade 1 winner Dullahan, who broke a track record for 1 1/4 miles at Del Mar, running it in 1:59.54. Bolo’s dam sire, Chief Seattle, sired 4 champions in his breeding career. He gave off more speed than stamina onto his offspring. His 2nd dam sire, Canadian Hall of Famer Vice Regent, was Canada’s Leading Sire for 13 years. He produced Deputy Minister (Leading Sire in North America in 1997 & 1998), and was the broodmare sire of 1998 Belmont Stakes Champion Victory Gallop and 2001 Dubai World Cup winner Captain Steve. Vice Regent gave off a decent amount of endurance to his offspring.
Overall, Bolo has a nice amount of stamina from his sire and distaff family. In watching his dirt races, it never appeared to me that Bolo relished the added distance of his races. But that could completely change with a move to grass, as it appears he does everything easy on that surface.
Post Position #5 Force The Pass: Race Record 5-3-2-0 ($360,084), Trainer: Alan E. Goldberg, Jockey: Joel Rosario, (Speightstown-Social Queen by Dynaformer)
Photo courtesy James Robinson
In his most recent win, at 9/1 odds, in the in the $500,000 Grade 3 Penn Mile at Penn National on May 30, Force the Pass was 7 horses back at the top off the stretch with nowhere to go. Somehow he found a seam, and with a huge turn off foot, rallied to catch Night Prowler at the wire to win by the a head in a sharp time of 1:34.03. This impressive and game win was his first black-type victory and 3rd win from five starts. Here is what his jockey, Joel Rosario, said after the race, “It looked like it was kind of tough for me the whole way,” Rosario said. “Every time I tried to make a move, it was always somebody in the way, but he got the job done. I was between horses the whole time. It’s not easy sometimes when you have nowhere to go. But he responded and he’s a nice horse.” And this is what his trainer Alan Goldberg had to say, “He doesn’t train like he just wants to go a mile. He trains like he wants to go all day. He’s kind of big long horse with a big long stride. He got banged around the whole way.” Here is a replay of the race:
http://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/members/video/index.cfm?race_code=201505301940PEN4
Prior to the Grade 3 Penn Mile, Force the Pass ran 2nd in the James W. Murphy Stakes on the Preakness Stakes undercard, losing by 3/4 lengths. Before that, he won the 1 mile Cutler Bay Stakes at Gulfstream Park by a neck. In both races, hhe finished strong.
Force the Pass is a mid packer who can accelerate very well. He has never raced over a mile, but he seems like a horse who is screaming for more distance.
Force the Pass is owned by Richard Santulli and is by Speightstown. He is a millionaire and the Eclipse Champion Sprinter of 2004, winning the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. He has 69 stakes winners so far with progeny earnings of over 60 million dollars. He has been a top 30 turf sire by earnings since 2011, and in 2010 he was 31st. Over that time, he has also been in the top ten in total earnings, and has 6 millionaires to his credit. He does sire more sprinters than long distance types. Force the Pass is out of the Raise a Native sire line. His dam, Social Queen, is a multiple 3 Grade winner and also a half-sister to Wonder Gal (stakes winner, multiple G1 places juvenile filly). Social Queen is also a relative to Perfect Drift via Force the Pass’s 4th dam, Nice Gal. Force the Pass’s dam sire is Dynaformer, who should provide him with distance and talent on the grass. His 2nd dam sire, Irgun, won the 1994 G1 Wood Memorial. He only sired 5 stakes winners at stud. His 3rd dam sire, Marfa, won the G1 Santa Anita Derby in 1983. He is known as a stamina influence.
Force the Pass appears to have a lot of talent, and seems to be getting better with each race. He’ll want to stay in contention in this 1 1/4 mile journey, because there doesn’t appear to be an abundance of speed signed on for the race. His pedigree has a nice blend of speed over endurance, so I don’t see Force the Pass not getting the trip.
Post Position #9 Granny’s Kitten: Race Record 3-2-0-1 ($124,870), Trainer: Michael Maker, Jockey: Julien R. Leparoux, (Kitten’s Joy-Granny Fanny by Grand Slam)
Granny’s Kitten ran 3rd in the Penn Mile on May 30th. He was far back early, gained ground in the stretch before getting a bump from Gallery late, and finished a commendable third, three-quarters of a length behind Force the Pass. This was an impressive race by a horse running in his third career start, and first stakes race. Granny’s Kitten won his maiden race at 6 furlongs at Belmont, then scored in an allowance race at Churchill Downs at 1 1/8 miles. He has won on the lead, but also has shown the ability to rate and win. This is an exciting prospect who has every right to win this race at a nice price.
Granny’s Kitten is owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, who gives this horse very strong connections, along with Michael Maker as the trainer. He is by Kitten’s Joy. You can read my write-up on him in my profile of Divisidero. Granny’s Kitten’s dam, Granny Fanny, has produced 3 winners from 3 foals, including Multiple Graded Stakes winner Kitten’s Dumplings ($691,262, Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes) and Granny MC’s Kitten (P.G. Johnson Stakes). His 4th dam, Fanghorn, gave out Multiple Grade 1 winner Double Form. Granny’s Kitten dam sire is Grand Slam. He was a very fast horse who earned close to 1 million dollars while racing. At 2, he won the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes and Futurity Stakes, and finished 2nd in the 1998 G1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint. His progeny includes Limehouse and Cajun Beat, who won the 2003 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at 25/1. Grand Slam is more of a speed influence than an endurance one. His 2nd dam sire is Sadler’s Wells, who is a strong stamina influence, and Granny’s Kitten is inbred 3×3 to him. Granny’s Kitten’s 3rd dam sire is Habitat. He was England’s Champion Miler in 1969 and its Leading Sire in 1985. He was also the leading broodmare sire in Great Britain and Ireland in 1987, 1994, and 1996.
Granny’s Kitten has a strong sire line, gets class from his dam, and takes in enough endurance from his dam sire line that helps me to view him as capable of lasting the distance of this race.
I think it’s possible for Granny’s Kitten to have a strong impact on thhis race. I like how he raced on the lead in his allowance win at Churchill Downs at 1 1/8 miles, right after breaking his maiden when rating at 6 furlongs. After watching the race replay from his last start, I feel he has an excuse for the race..
Post Position #6 Closing Bell: Race Record 2-1-0-0 ($46,440), Trainer: William I. Mott, Jockey: Jose Lezcano, (Tapit-Rehear by Coronado’s Quest)
On May 24, 2015, Closing Bell broke his maiden on the dirt at Belmont Park, running 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.74. In the race, he got squeezed back at the break, but later caught up to his rivals and made a sweeping four-wide bid around the far turn to hit the wire first by a neck. Closing Bell debuted on grass at Gulfstream Park on April 11. At a distance of 1 1/16 miles, he closed late to run a promising 4th. Trainer Bill Mott is very talented at finding the right surface for his horses to succeed on, so he must see a bunch of talent in this horse to place him in these deep waters Saturday, especially moving him back to turf. And by breaking him in at 1 1/16 miles, he probably doesn’t feel that distance should be an issue for this horse either. Here is a video of his maiden score at Belmont:
http://www.racereplays.com/winstarfarm/video.cfm?siteid=lwsf&raceid=tbel052415a07&runnername=Closing Bell
Closing Bell appears to be a closer with a good turn of foot. There doesn’t appear to be a lot of speed in the Belmont Derby, so his connections are probably hoping he doesn’t fall too far behind the pack. One thing he’s got going for him is that this will be his third race on his form cycle. He’ll have to make a big jump up in class to contend Saturday. But his owners, WinStar Farms, did pay $400,000 for him as a yearling, so the talent may be there.
Closing Bell is by the great sire Tapit. In 2014, Tapit broke the North American record for sire earnings. That year, his daughter, Untapable, won both the Kentucky Oaks and Breeders’ Cup Distaff. His son, Tonalist, won the Belmont Stakes and Jockey Club Gold Cup. And this year, his son Frosted won the G1 Wood Memorial and finished second in the Belmont Stakes to American Pharoah. Other notable progeny are Breeders’ Cup winners Stardom Bound, Tapitsfly, Hansen, Tapizar, and 2009 G1 Alabama Stakes winner Careless Jewell. Tapit has become a decent influence on stamina. In fact, there is no shortage of this in Closing Bell’s sire line, which includes Pulpit, A.P. Indy, and Seattle Slew. Closing Bell’s dam, Rehear, gave out Grade 1 Spinaway Stakes winner Mani Bhavan and Graded Stakes winner Hear the Ghost. Closing Bell’s dam sire is Coronado’s Quest. He earned over 2 million Dollars, winning the Wood Memorial, Haskell Invitational, and Travers Stakes at three. He has a 6.8 AWD Brisnet figure, which is pretty low for endurance. His 2nd dam sire, Valid Appeal, was a top sprinter who also gave minimal amounts of stamina onto his offspring. Finally, his third dam sire, Chieftain, threw a dash of speed to his offspring as well. I have serious concerns about Closing Bell being able to last 1 1/4 miles based on his bloodlines. Tapit did produce Tonalist, but with him he was matched up to a mare with a distance laden distaff family.
Post Position #7 Postulation: Race Record 8-3-3-1 ($53,266), Trainer: Dermot Weld, Jockey: Patrick J. Smullen, (Harlan’s Holiday-Supposition by Dansili)
Postulation has 3 things going for him in the Belmont Derby: he races on grass in Europe, experience (8 career starts), and distance (he won at 10 furlongs in the Silver Stakes at Curragh recently on June 7, so he is in great form). The Silver Stakes was actually his first stakes race. In that race, the 7/1 Postulation stayed in the rear with odds-on favorite Parish Hall. When he started gaining ground a quarter-mile out, Postulation followed and beat him to the wire by a surging neck. Trainer Dermot Weld said after the race, “He’s been a model of consistency and has never been out of the first three. That’s his ideal trip and, with that win under his belt, we might travel with him now.” Postulation is a big horse, and with a 2nd place finish the race prior at 10 furlongs as well, it looks like he’s found his prefered distance of ground. Being a proven winner at 10 furlongs is a positive attribute in this race; no other horse can say that about themselves. How he handles the trip from Europe will be key for Postulation. Also, when looking at his career earnings, one might question the competition he’s been running against. Finally, he is starting as a gelding for the first time.
Postulation is owned by Khaled Abullah. He is by Harlan’s Holiday. Look for my write-up on him in my spotlight on Takeover Target. Postlation’s dam is Supposition. She ran third in the Group One Moyglare and is a half-sister to two winners. His granddam, Topicality, is a sister to Group Three winner Cherry Hinton and Multiple Group 3 winner and French Guineas second Top Socialite. She is also a half-sister to Exbourne (G1 Hollywood Invitational) and Expelled (Grade 1 Eddie Read). Finally, Topicality is the dam of Multiple Grade 1 winner Affirmed Success. Postulation’s dam sire is the high quality sire Dansili. He has produced over 100 stakes winners and was the Leading Sire in France in 2006. Some of his best offspring have been Rail Link, Harbinger, Dank, and The Fugue. His AWD Brisnet is very high (9.0), meaning he provides a ton of distance for his offspring. His 2nd dam sire is Topsider. He was a solid sprinter, but did give off a good amount of endurance as a sire, who stood his entire career at Claiborne Farm. Postulation’s 3rd dam sire is Forum, who is a son of 1962 U.S. Champion Three Year Old colt Jaipur. Postulation has one of the best distaff family in terms of endurance and class out of all the horses I’ve looked at in the race.
Post Position #4 Canndal: Race Record 5-1-1-2 ($54,455), Trainer: Mikel Delzangles, Jockey: Christophe Soumillon, (Medicean-Clodovina by Rock of Gibraltar)
French invader Canndal comes into the Belmont Derby not having a great win %, but running against some strong company out in France. In his last outing, on June 20th at Compiegne, he finished a nice second in a very competitive field to Palace Prince, losing by a 1/2 length in the Prix Ridgway Listed Stakes, run at 1 1/4 miles. This followed a 3rd place finish in the Group 2 Prix Hocquart at Longchamp at 1 3/8 miles on May 10th. He lost by 3 1/2 lengths in this affair to undefeated Ampere, but finished 7 lengths in front of the 4th place finisher. Canndal ran on the lead for most of this race before being caught and passed, so maybe the 1 1/4 will be more to his liking. How fit he is will be in question, now running his second 1 1/4 races in a matter of two weeks. The quick turnaround in travel coming from over the pond may affect this horse as well.
Canndal is owned by Aga Khan. He is by Medicean, who at 4 years of age won three important races: the Lockinge Stakes, The Queen Anne Stakes, and the Eclipse Stakes at 1 1/4 miles. At Stud, he has sired the winner of over 500 races. His son, Dutch Art, was a Dual Group One winner at two and now is a successful sire in Europe. Medicean gives plenty of stamina to his offspring. Canndal’s 2nd sire is Machiavellian, a sire of sires. At 2 years old, he won two Group 1 races in France: the Prix Morny and the Prix de la Salamandre. He produced 78 stakes winners during hhis breeding career. Some of his finest progeny include Street Cry, Almutawakel, Medicean, Storming Home, and Chic. Canndal’s dam, Clodovina, was stakes-placed in France. His granddam, Clodora, won the Group 2 Prix de l’Opera. Finally, his 3rd dam, Cloche d’Or, was a Group 3 winner. Canndal’s dam sire is Rock of Gibraltar. He was the European Horse of the Year and Champion 3-Year-Old Colt in 2002. In the breeding shed, Rock of Gibraltar has sired over 100 stakes winners, including Epsom Derby, and Breeders’ Cup Turf runner-up Eagle Mountain, as well as Group One winners Seventh Rock, Mount Nelson, Samitar, Diamondrella, Varenar and Society Rock. Rock of Gibraltar gives off plenty of stamina to his sons and daughters. His 2nd dam sire is Linamix. He won the Group 1 Dubai Poule d’Essai des Poulains in France, and was the Leading French Sire in both 1998 and 2004. Linamix gave off an incredible amount of endurance on to his progeny. His 3rd dam sire is Good Times, who was a Grade 2 winner in Italy.
Canndal sports probably the best mile and a quarter pedigree in the race. He appears battle tested, and I look at him as a definite canidate for win honors in this race, although he may tire in this race, having run a mile and a quarter just two weeks ago. I must admit, I do have a slight bias towards European horses running in America. But with this past Breeders’ Cup, and Undrafted’s performance at Royal Ascot, maybe American Turf form is starting to hold up stronger than ever to European form.
Summary
This is one of the deepest field I’ve seen for a Grade 1 race in quite some time. There are no real standout favorites, and anyone here can step up and win. Not one of these horses has distanced themselves from their other rivals with a big time effort at three. Divisidero has won two straight stakes races, but even he only got up just in time to beat Target Takeover in the Pennine Ridge Stakes. To top it off, most of these horses are running 1 1/4 miles for the first time, adding another wrinkle to this already contentious affair. This is one race, in my opinion, good luck finding a winner. The wagering public should have their hands full capping this one.