Kentucky Derby Pedigrees: Handicapping and Betting Based on Bloodlines

by Trevor Whenham - 5/1/2017

I'm a big geek when it comes to thoroughbred pedigrees, and it doesn't get any better than at Kentucky Derby time, when the best of the best bloodlines are on display. I love perusing the pedigrees because it is a portrait of the history of this great sport. More importantly, though, spending the time to get to know the pedigrees can let you know which horses have plenty of stamina in their blood and which ones could be challenged by the grueling mile and a quarter of the Derby. That can point you towards some nice-priced longer shots and away from some horses at prices that are just too low. To help you out with the field this year, which, as it currently sits, has the rare distinction of having 20 different sires represented, here's a look at some of the more interesting and important breeding storylines this year:

Family bragging rights

There are a few bloodlines represented at multiple levels in the field this year, with sons or grandsons looking to outshine those that came before.

Battle of Midway is a son of Smart Strike. Curlin, who sired Irish Way Cry, and Lookin at Lucky, who sired Lookin at Lee, are also both sons of Smart Strike. Both Curlin and Lookin at Lucky are Preakness winners, so we know that there is plenty of Triple Crown capability in the blood.

Tapit has been the top sire in North America the last few years, and he is represented here by his son Tapwrit. Like Smart Strike, he also has two sons who have sons in this race - former two-year-old champion Hansen has the hopeless Fast and Accurate , and Trappe Shot has Untrapped. Tapit sons have won the Belmont twice, so Triple Crown cred is there as well.

Tapit is a grandson of A.P. Indy, the legendary sire who has a massive influence in this race. He is too old to have any sons of his own in this race, but the impact is very strong. He's the grandsire of Gormley and the damsire of both Hence and Patch. He's also the sire of Mineshaft, who sired J Boys Echo in this race. Mineshaft also sired Dialed In, who is represented by Gunnevera here. And A.P Indy son Malibu Moon, sire of Gormley, is also the damsire of Girvin. And A.P. Indy sired Bernardini, who is the grandsire or State of Honor. So, in one way or another A.P. Indy has his hoofprints over much of the field - and that's good news for all of them from a stamina perspective.

Empire Maker is another sire well represented here. His son Pioneerof the Nile, who sired Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, is represented by potential favorite Classic Empire in the Derby. And his son Bodemeister sired Always Dreaming , another horse that has the potential to be Derby favorite. And Empire Maker is a son of Derby winner Unbridled, who is the damsire of Gunnevera.

The great Storm Cat doesn't have direct representation, either, but his blood still runs deep. He is a third generation sire of Girvin, Classic Empire, and Untrapped, and the damsire of Irap, and he is in the direct sire line of Practical Joke as well.

Horse of the Year winners

It's not always the case, but often the best horses become the best sires. The surest indicator of quality in a horse is being named Horse of the Year. And the sons of horses with that hardware are numerous in this race. Irish War Cry is the son of Curlin, who won in 2007 and 2008. McCraken is sired by 2004 winner Ghostzapper. J Boys Echo's sire Mineshaft won in 2003. And Irap's sire Tiznow was the 2000 winner. A.P. Indy, who we discussed earlier, also won in 1992. Of note, all those horses except for Mineshaft also won the Breeders' Cup Classic - Tiznow won it twice - so we know they can all both handle both the Derby distance and the pressure of massive races.

Eclipse Award Winners

Horse of the Year is the biggest of the Eclipse Awards but far from the only one. Divisional titles are also important, and beyond the four Horse of the Year sires represented here there are several other Eclipse Awards among sires this year. Fast and Accurate's sire Hansen was Two-Year-Old Champion. Union Rags, who sired Patch, finished second to Hansen in voting that year. Lookin at Lee's sire Lookin at Lucky was also Two-Year-Old Champion and added a Three-Year-Old Championship as well. And Sonneteer's sire Midnight Lute was twice name Top Sprinter. So, seven of the 20 horses in the Derby field are sons of Eclipse Award winners. That's remarkable. That doesn't necessarily mean they can handle the Derby distance - the sprint titles and two year old titles don't necessarily require serious stamina. Class is only secondary to stamina, though, and you can't question the class of these runners.

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Start:	December 12, 2024 @ 7:30 PM
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