Boundary and Mien's Big Brown

Pair Produce Triple Crown Contender with Northern Dancer Pedigree

May 22, 2008 BarbaraAnne Helberg

Big Brown's sire and dam were grandsired by the great Canadian racer Northern Dancer, a Triple Crown contender in 1964, as Brown is now 44 years later.

Boundary was chosen as a mate for the Nureyev mare Mien, and they combined to produce a Kentucky Derby winner, Big Brown. The pedigree of Big Brown's parents traced through the Kentucky Derby winner, Northern Dancer, a Canadian who contended for the Triple Crown in 1964. Northern Dancer lost in the Belmont Stakes, nixing his Triple, but he became an important breeding stallion.

Mien's owner, Dr. Gary Knapp, correctly assessed the possibilities of Bounday and Mien producing a special offspring. Knapp purchased the mare Miasma in foal (with Mien) at Keeneland's 1998 breeding sale. Miasma was sired by Lear Fan, who produced 892 offspring.

Knapp also considered the influence of the mare Selene, the dam of Hyperion, a six-time leading English sire. A speed indicator came from Boundary's inbreeding to Northern Dancer, Damascus, and Round Table, even though Boundary was a winning sprinter.

From Boundary

Big Brown's daddy -- by the stallion Danzig (born,1977) and the mare Edge (1978) ----- Danzig by Northern Dancer (1961) and Pas De Nom (1968) ----- Northern Dancer by Nearctic (1954) and Natalma (1957) ----- Nearctic by Nearco (1935) and Lady Angela (1944) ----- Natalma by Native Dancer (1950) and Almahmoud.

Pas De Nom by Admiral's Voyage (1959) and Petitioner (1952) ----- Admiral's Voyage by Crafty Admiral(1948) and Olympia Lou (1952) ----- Petitioner by Petition (1944) and Steady Aim (1943).

Edge by Damascus (1964) and Ponte Vecchio (1970) ----- Damascus by Sword Dancer (1956) and Kerala (1958) ----- Sword Dancer by Sunglow (1947) and Highland Fling (1950) ----- Kerala by My Babu (1945) and Blade of Time (1938).

Ponte Vecchio by Round Table (1954) and Terentia (1962) ----- Round Table by Princequillo (1940) and Knight's Daughter (1941) ----- Terentia by Bold Ruler (1954) and Romantia (1954).

From Mien

Big Brown's mama -- by Nureyev (1977) and Miasma (1992) ----- Nureyev by Northern Dancer and Special (1969) ----- Special by Forli (1963) and Thong (1964) ----- Forli by Aristophanes (1948) and Trevisa (1951) ----- Thong by Nantallah (1953) and Rough Shod (1944).

Miasma by Lear Fan (1981) and Syrian Circle (1979) ----- Lear Fan by Roberto (1969) and Wac (1969) ----- Roberto by Hail To Reason (1958) and Bramalea (1959) ----- Wac by Lt. Stevens (1961) and Belthazar (1960).

Syrian Circle by Damascus and Friendly Circle (1971) ----- Friendly Circle by Round Table and Really Trying (1961).

Equals Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes Champion and Triple Crown Contender, Big Brown! Winning the event means he becomes just the twelfth American Triple Crown champion in Thoroughbred history! The Triple feat was last accomplished by Affirmed in 1978.

Big Brown battles for Triple Crown supremacy June 7 at Belmont Park.

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