Six Kentucky Derby Horses Entered in Preakness
Derby Results May Not Be a Reliable Guide to Preakness Success
May 13, 2009
Six horses from the Derby are scheduled to run in the Preakness, the second jewel in the American Triple Crown. Derby winner Mine That Bird has proven he can win at distances from seven to 12 furlongs. (For an analysis of his breeding, go here.) In the Derby, he was flying the last quarter in an amazing 23-2/5. His time for the Preakness distance was about 1:55 (the exact time was not officially recorded) on a muddy track. For comparison, here are some Preakness winning times on a fast track:
- 2008, Big Brown, 1:54-4/5
- 2007, Curlin, 1:53-2/5
- 2006, Bernardini, 1:54-4/5
- 2005, Afleet Alex, 1:55
- 2004, Smarty Jones, 1:55-3/5
- 2002, War Emblem, 1:56-2/5
In 2003, Funny Cide won in 1:55-3/5 on a track listed as good, but close to muddy.
Kentucky Derby Contenders in the Preakness
Derby runner-up Pioneerof the Nile is a May foal. He had an operation for colic just a few weeks after his birth, followed by several more surgeries. His tenacity is undeniable. He ran a great race in the Derby to be second. His two wins at 3 were at 1-1/8 and 1-1/16 miles, both shorter than the Preakness. His sire, Empire Maker, was second in the Derby. Empire Maker is by the great Unbridled out of Toussaud, a Grade 1 winner who produced four Grade 1 winners. Pioneerof The Nile is out of La Troienne winner Star of Goshen.
Musket Man (3rd), winner of the Illinois Derby at nine furlongs, is by the young sire Yonaguska, a son of Preakness runner-up Cherokee Run. Yonaguska comes from a very strong female family. Musket Man’s dam, Fortunesque, is by graded stakes-winning sprinter Fortunate Prospect, sire of 28 stakes winners but best known as a broodmare sire. Fortunesque has two crosses to Northern Dancer and descends from Derby winner Lucky Debonair.
Other Derby Horses in the Preakness
Papa Clem (4th) is by Smart Strike, the grandsire of the Derby winner and sire of Preakness and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Curlin. His dam, Grade 1 winner Miss Houdini, is from a sprinting family, but her sire is from the Northern Dancer line. Papa Clem’s pedigree combines speed, stamina and the ability to win at Classic distances with the proven combination of Mr. Prospector and Northern Dancer. The Preakness distance will be no problem.
General Quarters (10th) suffered from the big Derby field and should have a better trip in the Preakness. The son of Sky Mesa—Ecology, by Unbridled’s Song won the Blue Grass at a mile and an eighth and should stretch the extra half-furlong. Sky Mesa was a Grade 1 winner at 2 and stakes-placed at 3, defeating Funny Cide in the Haskell Invitational. He is by Pulpit (Blue Grass winner by A.P. Indy) out of a Storm Cat daughter. Ecology is out of a daughter of Danzig, providing another cross to Northern Dancer.
Friesan Fire (18th) had a rough Derby trip and came back with multiple cuts and a hoof injury, but has recovered. He has won twice this year at 1-1/16 miles, but breeding suggests the extra distance is fine. He is by top sire A.P. Indy, by Seattle Slew and out of a Secretariat daughter. Friesan Fire is out of an Australian-bred daughter of Dehere, who is from the Northern Dancer sire line.
More horse racing information and photos:
Cindy Pierson Dulay’s HorseRacing.Net has a gold mine of photos and information.
