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Kentucky Derby Pedigree Corner: King Guillermo, Thousand Words, And South Bend

Each day of Kentucky Derby week, we'll take a look at the pedigrees of some Derby contenders and how those pedigrees might factor into their ability to succeed at 1 1/4 miles.

King Guillermo
Uncle Mo x Slow Sand, by Dixieland Band
Uncle Mo is one of two members in this year's class of Kentucky Derby sires to have already sired a Derby winner, with champion Nyquist taking the prize in 2016. Nyquist also reeled off wins in the G1 Florida Derby (1 1/8 miles) and Breeders' Cup Juvenile (1 1/16 miles) as the flagbearer of Uncle Mo's record-setting first crop.

That group also included Outwork, who won the G1 Wood Memorial Stakes at 1 1/8 miles en route to a Derby start. Mo Tom also ran in that year's Derby with a win in the G3 LeComte Stakes at 1 mile 70 yards under his belt. Uncle Mo's runners post an average winning distance of 7.41 furlongs, which is in the upper half of this year's Derby sires.

Uncle Mo was named champion 2-year-old male of 2010 with Grade 1 wins in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (1 1/16 miles) and Champagne Stakes (1 mile). He came back at three to win the G2 Kelso Handicap at 1 mile.

Slow Sand, a product of the globally-known Wertheimer and Frere breeding program, went unplaced in two career starts, one coming at 7 furlongs on the dirt and the other at 1 mile on the turf.

As a broodmare, Slow Sand has visited a global variety of stallions, with the most successful outcome besides King Guillermo being Dorothy B, a Fastnet Rock filly who is stakes-placed in England over 6 furlongs. Northern Star, by Montjeu, was also a winner in England at 1 1/8 miles. Slow Sand's biggest distance standout is Snan, a son of High Chaparral who was a two-time English winner at 1 3/4 miles.

Thousand Words
Pioneerof the Nile x Pomeroy's Pistol, by Pomeroy
Pioneerof the Nile is the sire of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, more than proving his ability to sire a horse capable of winning a classic.

The sire nearly gained another classic winner in 2017 when Classic Empire finished a narrow second in the Preakness Stakes. Prior to that race, Classic Empire took home champion 2-year-old male honors with Grade 1 two-turn wins in the Breeders' Futurity and Breeders' Cup Juvenile, then he came back at three to win the G1 Arkansas Derby at 1 1/8 miles. Pioneerof the Nile had another classic-placed runner in Social Inclusion, who finished third in the 2014 Preakness Stakes and was an allowance winner at 1 1/16 miles.

Pioneerof the Nile narrowly missed Kentucky Derby glory on his own right, having finished second to Mine That Bird in the 2009 edition. He entered the race on a four-race winning streak capped off by the G1 Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles. He also tallied wins at 1 1/16 miles in the G1 CashCall Futurity, and the G2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes and San Felipe Stakes.

Pomeroy's Pistol was a star sprinter, with three graded stakes wins between 6 and 7 furlongs. She stretched out to 1 mile to finish third in the G2 Davona Dale Stakes.

Thousand Words is by far the most successful of the two winners from three runners out of Pomeroys Pistol. The other winner is Moon Pistol, a Malibu Moon gelding who graduated in a Gulfstream Park West maiden claimer going 6 furlongs on the main track. Sweet Pistol, by Smart Strike, went unplaced in two career starts, one each on dirt and turf, both at 1 1/16 miles.

South Bend
Algorithms x Sandra's Rose, by Old Trieste
Algorithms went a perfect three-for-three in a racing career cut short by injury. He won on debut in a Belmont Park maiden special weight at 5 furlongs, then finished his juvenile season in the Gulfstream Park winner's circle, following a 6 1/2-furlong allowance optional claiming race. At three, he won the G3 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream, going 1 mile.

His best runners at stud have typically been sprinters, as evidenced by his average progeny winning distance of 6.73 furlongs. However, his best runner to date, Math Wizard, took the G1 Pennsylvania Derby at 1 1/8 miles. As for his other graded stakes winners, Recruiting Ready took the G3 Gulfstream Park Sprint Stakes at 6 furlongs, while Rich Mommy won the G3 Sugar Swirl Stakes at the same distance.

Sandra's Rose was an imposing turf sprinter on the West Coast, notching a win in the 5 1/2-furlong Tulza Stakes, and hitting the board in the G3 Senator Ken Maddy Handicap and Las Cinegas Handicap, both at 6 ½ furlongs. Though her most notable efforts came around one turn, she also nosed out a maiden special weight victory at 1 1/8 miles over the Santa Anita turf.

A veteran broodmare, Sandra's Rose has produced one other six-figure earner in North America: He's the Reason, by The Factor. The gelding is a multiple stakes winner in British Columbia, going as far as 1 1/8 miles.

Rose Essence, by Speightstown, earned her lone victory in her 15th career start when she won a 6 1/2-furlong Charles Town maiden special weight. Baroness Rose, by Curlin, won twice on the turf, once at 1 mile and another at 7 1/2 furlongs. The Dixie Union gelding Rose Junction won on debut as a juvenile, taking a 5 furlong Belmont Park maiden special weight, while the Eskendereya filly Eskenforandreya earned her lone career victory over 1 mile on the all-weather Tapeta at Golden Gate Fields.

Though she'll have a Derby starter, the most successful runner to date out of Sandra's Rose might be Anichkov Most, a son of Awesome Again who became a top runner in Russia. His exploits include back-to-back wins in the G1 N.N. Nashibov Cup at the classic 1 1/4-mile distance, along with victories in the G3 Season Opening Stakes and Season Closing Stakes, both at 9 furlongs.

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Yaupon Stays Unbeaten With Snappy Amsterdam Victory

Yaupon answered another challenge thrown his way, improving to 3-for-3 in his career by wiring a six-horse field by two lengths in his stakes debut in the 28th running of the Grade 2, $150,000 Amsterdam for sophomores on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Yaupon was unraced as a juvenile but won his debut by a nose going six furlongs on June 20 at Churchill Downs. The Uncle Mo colt proved he could ship well in his last start, a 3 3/4-length allowance win at Saratoga on July 18, before handling the step up in class on Saturday.

Breaking well from post 2 under jockey Joel Rosario, Yaupon was sent to the front, where he registered the opening quarter-mile in 21.93 seconds and the half in 44.68 over a muddy and sealed main track after earlier rainfall.

Out of the turn, Rosario kept Yaupon focused for the stretch run, repelling any potential challenge from runner-up Basin, completing six furlongs in 1:08.50.

“He's extremely fast. He's got an elite amount of speed,” Asmussen said. “It's very important that a horse with his physical [gifts], and as fast as he is, is a graded stakes winner here at Saratoga. I think we can sit down and map out a serious future for him from here.”

Owned by L. William and Corinne Heiligbrodt, Yaupon rewarded his 7-5 favoritism, returning $4.80 on a $2 win wager.

“He broke out of there well. I was trying to get a forward position and he put himself on the lead,” said Rosario, who notched his third win on the card. “He went on well. He's a very talented horse. He had no problem [with the surface].”

Yaupon, purchased for $255,000 at the 2019 Ocala Breeders' Sale, won on an off track for the first time. He nearly doubled his career earnings to $168,264.

“He had very minor issues, but it was just the physics of it when you're capable of going that fast,” Asmussen said. “We wanted to give him all the maturity we could. We were trying to follow a similar plan with him as we were with Mitole for the Heiligbrodts. They had expected to run him over the winter at the Fair Grounds, but he had another minor issue, so we erred on the side of caution as far as waiting and letting him get to 100 percent.”

Basin, making his first start for trainer Todd Pletcher, finished two lengths in front of Premier Star for second in his first start at Saratoga since winning last year's Grade 1 Hopeful.

“The winner was very good,” Pletcher said. “We were hoping for a bit of a speed duel, but it never really developed. We were pleased with the effort though.”

Wondrwherecraigis, Long Weekend and Liam's Pride completed the order of finish.

Live racing resumes Sunday at Saratoga with a 10-race card that features the Grade 3, $125,000 Shuvee for older fillies and mares going 1 1/8 miles in Race 9 at 5:46 p.m. Eastern. First post is 1:10 p.m.

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Yaupon Gives Uncle Mo a Graded Double in Amsterdam

Yaupon took his record to a perfect three-for-three and became the second graded winner of the day for Uncle Mo with a victory in the GII Amsterdam S. Hustled up to the front by Joel Rosario, the dark bay clicked off an opening quarter in :21.93 with Long Weekend giving chase in second. Registering a half-mile in :44.68 with a host of pursuers ranging up menacingly, Yaupon kept on finding over the sloppy going, pulling clear in the lane for a decisive score.

“He’s extremely fast. He’s got an elite amount of speed,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “It’s very important that a horse with his physical, and as fast as he is, is a graded stakes winner here at Saratoga. I think we can sit down and map out a serious future for him from here.”

As for a potential match-up with stablemate and GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt S. winner Volatile (Violence) in the Breeders’ Cup, the Hall of Famer said, “It’s maybe why there are different people [jockeys] on them to begin with. He’s just that level. We’re very fortunate that they’re both doing so well.”

Graduating by a nose in his Churchill downs unveiling June 20, Yaupon wired a track-and-trip optional claimer July 18 and breezed a bullet three panels in :37 flat over the Oklahoma Aug. 24. Carrying the same orange and white Heiligbrodt colors as Asmussen’s champion sprinter Mitole (Eskendereya), the sophomore was a $355,000 KEESEP yearling, who RNA’d for $485,000 at FTFMAR before selling to these connections for $255,000 at last year’s OBS June Sale.

Asmussen explained why the colt did not debut until this year, saying, “He’s a 2-year-old that worked :20.3 at Gulfstream for the 2-year-old-in training sale. He had very minor issues, but it was just the physics of it when you’re capable of going that fast. We wanted to give him all the maturity we could. We were trying to follow a similar plan with him as we were with Mitole for the Heiligbrodts. They had expected to run him over the winter at the Fair Grounds, but he had another minor issue, so we erred on the side of caution as far as waiting and letting him get to 100%.”

Pedigree Notes:

Yaupon is the second 3-year-old son of Uncle Mo to win a graded stake at Saratoga Saturday, following Bye Bye Melvin’s win on soft turf in the GIII Saranac S. earlier on the card. He is the 64th black-type victor and 36th graded victor overall for the Coolmore stallion. The winner’s dam is GISP Modification, a saughter of SW Swift Alliance (Afleet) and a half to GSW Sky Alliance. Also the dam of MGSP Sawyer Hill, the mare’s recent produce includes a yearling filly by American Pharoah and a Good Magic colt born May of this year. The 15-year-old was bred back to Uncle Mo this spring.

Saturday, Saratoga
AMSTERDAM S.-GII, $150,000, Saratoga, 8-29, 3yo, 6f, 1:08.50, my.
1–YAUPON, 118, c, 3, by Uncle Mo
1st Dam: Modification (GISP, $166,116), by Vindication
2nd Dam: Swift Alliance, by Afleet
3rd Dam: Stately Bride, by Tom Rolfe
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($350,000
Ylg ’18 KEESEP; $485,000 RNA 2yo ’19 FTFMAR; $255,000 2yo
’19 OBSOPN). O-L. William & Corinne Heiligbrodt; B-Betz,
Lamantia, CoCo Equine, Magers, Burns (KY); T-Steven M.
Asmussen; J-Joel Rosario. $82,500. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0,
$168,264. *1/2 to Sawyer’s Hill (Spring At Last), MGSP,
$366,705. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Basin, 124, c, 3, Liam’s Map–Appenzell, by Johannesburg.
($150,000 Ylg ’18 KEESEP). O-Jackpot Farm; B-Cottonwood
Stables, LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $30,000.
3–Premier Star, 120, c, 3, Tapiture–Letthetigerparty, by Hold
That Tiger. ($105,000 Ylg ’18 KEESEP; $100,000 2yo ’19
OBSOPN). ‘TDN Rising Star’ O-Sonata Stable; B-Charles H. Deters (KY); T-Michael J. Trombetta. $18,000.
Margins: 2, 2, 3HF. Odds: 1.40, 2.05, 7.70.
Also Ran: Wondrwherecraigis, Long Weekend, Liam’s Pride.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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Longshot Bye Bye Melvin Snares Saranac With Late Rally On Soggy Saratoga Turf

Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez angled Bye Bye Melvin out in the stretch and piloted his charge through a thrilling stretch run that saw him overtake three rivals, including pacesetter Don Juan Kitten in the final jumps, for a rallying win by a head as the longest shot on the board in Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Saranac for 3-year-olds at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Off at 19-1, Bye Bye Melvin tracked in second position as 2-1 favorite Don Juan Kitten led the eight-horse field through the opening quarter-mile in 27.17 seconds on the soft Mellon turf course that was pelted by rain.

Velazquez guided Bye Bye Melvin through a ground-saving trip, which he capitalized on out of the final turn by tipping him out and having him pick off a pair of rivals before running down the Danny Gargan-trained Don Juan Kitten just before the wire, completing the one-mile course in 1:39.92.

The 113th running of the Saranac, originally carded for the inner turf course, marked the first stakes win for Bye Bye Melvin, a Graham Motion trainee whose previous best effort came in a runner-up effort to Vannzy in the Jersey Derby on July 26 at Monmouth Park.

“It's very soft and heavy out there,” Velazquez said. “Even though they rolled it, it feels like you're going very deep in the ground. We were running right on top of the rain, so it's deep and slick at the same time, but he came running anyway.

“The first part, I came out running just to get a position going into the first turn,” Velazquez added. “He did not want to go anywhere. I grabbed him until he got more comfortable. He was lugging in down the stretch and I had to get after him, and he was slipping and sliding but he was good enough to get there. He was trying as hard as he could, but at the same time he was slipping. But he got there anyways.”

Owned and bred by Alex G. Campbell, Jr., Bye Bye Melvin improved to 3-1-1 in nine starts and has finished first or second four times in his last six starts. The Uncle Mo colt is out of Dynaformer mare Karlovy Vary and is a half-brother to the Motion-trained three-time graded stakes-winner Mean Mary, who ran second by a neck to Rushing Fall in last week's Grade 1 Diana. Bye Bye Melvin impressed his conditioner with his effort in the inclement weather.

“He's a late developer,” Motion said. “He's been a little bit of a project in that way, but I'm not surprised with the way he ran He slugs it out and he obviously handled the soft turf better than most.”

Motion said the addition of blinkers was beneficial.

“My team at home [Fair Hill] thought it might help him focus a little bit, so I give credit to my assistant Cat McGee and Skylar McKenna, who gallops him every day,” Motion said. “He's not easy in the morning and I give them a lot of credit for how he ran today.”

Bye Bye Melvin returned $41 on a $2 win bet. He more than doubled his career earnings to $107,965.

Don Juan Kitten, ridden by Kendrick Carmouche, finished 2 ½ lengths in front of Bodecream for second, marking his best stakes performance in three attempts.

“I had everything my way. The horse ran his heart out,” Carmouche said. “With different circumstances and a bit of a firmer turf course, I think it could have made the difference for us. But the horse ran well, we went into the race good and the horse gave us 100 percent. That's all we can ask for.

“He was running on “E” by the time he [Bye Bye Melvin] got there from running over that soft turf course, the only reason the winner beat us is because he had a good gallop,” he added.

Embolden, Irish Mias, Three Technique, L'Imperator and Vanzzy completed the order of finish. Big Dreaming and Turn of Events scratched, as did main-track only entrant Ima Pharoah.

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