MCM  

 

 

CALIFORNIA CHROME

A PEDIGREE PERSPECTIVE

 

4/29/2014

 

 

                         California Chrome(Can he get the Derby distance?)  

 

At first glance the pedigree of California Chrome would project (by most observers)

a sprinter/miler type of runner. However, his dominating performances on the race track have subsequently indicated more stamina than might have been perceived by that first glance. What is the source of that stamina? I have always been of the opinion that the female contributors within the pedigree play an important part in supplying staying power. There have been many advances in equine genetic research over the past few years, accompanied by myriad theories regarding th x chromosome and mtDNA since I started my investigation into the female side of pedigrees many years ago. A lot has changed, but there are still many questions yet to be answered regarding these hypotheses. Until a definitive answer is provided, my mind will remain open, and I will continue my exploration into the female influences within the racing thoroughbred pedigree.

 

Following is a breakdown of California Chrome’s pedigree, and the possible sources of stamina and the Conduit Mare influences that may contribute to that stamina potential.

 

My methodology is to break down a 4 generation pedigree by tracing the dam lines of 16 individuals, within that 4 generation record, to the conduit mare of each of the 16. The aptitudinal contributions (B=Brilliant, I=Intermediate, C= Classic, S=Stout, P=Professional) are based on an appraisal of the racing performance of each mare’s descendants, and is applied to the evaluation. A few elite mares have been dubbed “Transcendent” (B/P) mares, since their descendants transcend categorization by excelling at all distances.

 

The first contributor, the conduit mare of California Chrome himself, is the transcendent mare Countess Wanda (B/P.) Kentucky Derby winners, Iron Liege, Clyde van Dusen, and Swaps trace to her, as does Betty Derr (a stakes winner at 5 furlongs and at 10 furlongs. The Champion two-year-old filly Althea (SA Oaks, and LA Derby) also calls Countess Wanda her Conduit Mare. There are certainly stamina contributors here.

 

California Chrome’s sire Lucky Pulpit comes next. Lucky Pulpit was generally regarded as a sprinter on the race track, although he did place in stakes at distances over one mile, however, he does have some stamina within his pedigree. His conduit mare is Saratoga Belle (C ) whose best runners were middle distance types but her family does include some stamina, with runners like Hamburg Belle (a stakes winner at 14 furlongs, ) and Seattle Song, winner of the Washington DC International at 12 furlongs. Seattle Song is also the sire of Cee’s Song, dam of Tiznow, Budroyale, and Tizbud.

 

We now move to Pulpit and his conduit mare Altoviscar (B/P), another Transcendent Mare.Altoviscar is the conduit of many fine runners at all distances including Aureole (2nd in the Epsom Derby and 3rd in both the St Leger and Eclipse Stakes). Ascot Gold Cup (2.5 miles) winners Lasalle and Foxlaw (sire of 2 Ascot Gold Cup winners), Italian St Leger (2800 meters) winner Ben Marshall, St Leger (just over 14 furlongs) winner Alcide, Epsom Derby (12 furlongs) winners High Rise and Nashwan, plus the great runners, Round Table, Pebbles, Known Fact,and Jet Ski Lady in addition to Broodmare of the Year, Knights Daughter. There are too many more to mention here, but in my opinion, this mare has to be a great influence.

 

We will continue with Not for Love.Not for Love was a good,maybe not great, racehorse. A son of the superb stallion Mr. Prospector, he was most comfortable at sprint to middle distances, winning as far as 9.5 furlongs. Standing 16.1 hands he has been a useful sire. His son, Buckhorn, was the winner of the 10 furlong Hawthorne Gold Cup, so some of the stamina passed forward on his dam side was revealed in this good runner. Not for Love’s conduit mare, Doxa (Transcendent Mare B/P), is the source of a multitude of fine runners and producers at all distances. It would take many pages to list all of the greats in this family. A few are, Prix de l ’Arc de Triomphe winners Allez France and Ardan, Kentucky Derby winners Spend A Buck, Go For Gin, Sea Hero, and Smarty Jones who also won the Preakness and ran second in the Belmont stakes. Preakness winners Prairie Bayou, Personality and Bimelech (who also won the Belmont, and ran 2nd in the Kentucky Derby) join the St Leger winner Boucher in company with hundreds of wonderful racehorses and producers that have had such a positive impact on the industry such as Buckpasser, CCA Oaks winner Black Helen and the multiple stakes winner Affectionately. You can’t find a more productive family than this one.

 

Let’s jump to the BC Classic and Belmont stakes winner AP Indy. His conduit is the transcendent mare Rambling Rose (B/P), another with pages of fine runners at all distances. Belmont Stakes winner Lemon Drop Kid and Preakness winner Summer Squall (also 2nd in the Kentucky Derby) head the list. Many European winners hail from this family as well including the Epsom Derby winner Ruler of the World, and Gay Mecene, winner of the G1 Grand Prix de Saint Cloud (2500 meters). Broodmares of the Year Weekend Surprise and Toll Booth also trace to Rambling Rose. There are too many more to mention here, but a lot of stamina registered here.

 

We now move to the 6th horse of the 16 to be evaluated, the multiple stakes winner and sire, Cozzene, and his conduit mare, Audience (B/S).Cozzene was a fine racehorse who excelled on the grass. He won several stakes including the G1 Man O’War Stakes at 1 and 3/8 miles. He was also a very good sire, with BC Classic winner Alphabet Soup as one of his better runners.Cozzene’s conduit mare, Audience, inbred 3x3 to Maggie B.B., won the Kentucky Oaks and proved to be an outstanding matron, producing the International stakes winner, Whisk Broom II. Whisk Broom II was the sire of Upset, the only horse to defeat the great Man O’War.Once again there are many outstanding racehorses that trace to this mare, including the Kentucky Derby winner, Venetian Way, Preakness winner Timber Country (3rd in the Kentucky Derby), Mincielo who won the 10 furlong Arlington Handicap 3 times, the great runner Dubai Millennium, Admiral Kitten, who won the 10 furlong Secretariat Stakes, Fort Wood, victorious in the 3000 meter Grand Prix de Paris, Colorful Judgement (Chief Bearhart Stakes at 10 furlongs, and the Sky Classic Handicap at 11 furlongs), plus the Blue Hen mare Portage and the Broodmare of the year, Fall Aspen. This branch of California Chrome’s pedigree definitely augments the other stamina contributors.

 

The next horse to be examined is the one and only Mr. Prospector and his conduit mare, Frizette. Mr. Prospector’s record as a sire is well known, and he is the sire, or grandsire of a myriad of top flight performers at all distances.Over 20 Classic winners (in various countries) trace to Frizette, including 5 Kentucky Derby winners, 3 winners of the Preakness, a St Leger winner, 2 CCA Oaks winners, and 3 Broodmare’s of the year. She is one of the most influential conduit mares of all time.

 

 We now move of to the sprinter, Polish Numbers and his conduit, Doxa who has been covered previously. Although a sprinter himself, Polish Numbers has sired several accomplished runners at route distances. A note here: Frizette and Doxa have had remarkable success when crossed in a pedigree (Smarty Jones being one example).

 

Next up is Triple Crown winner, Seattle Slew. We all know about him and his conduit, Frizette.

 

Number 11 on the list is Cozzene’s sire Caro, whose conduit mare, Jean’s Folly (C/P) was undefeated in 5 starts as a juvenile, and who produced the St Leger Stakes winner Night Hawk. As a runner Caro was best at about 2000 meters, but he did place 4th in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Some of the good ones tracing to Jean’s Folly include Epsom Derby winner, Shahrastani, Graded SW Cassis (2nd Deutches Derby), Medicean, winner of the Coral Eclipse Stakes at 10 furlongs, and Belmont Stakes winner, Sherluck.

 

We now jump to the #12 horse in the pedigree, Lucky Mel and his conduit mare Pilgrim’s Way (I/P) a three quarter sister to the influential stallion Chaucer. Lucky Mel was a very fast horse who specialized in the sprint distances that contradict the performances of most of Pilgrim’s Way’s descendants, particularly those who raced in Australia. Australian Horse of the Year, Rain Lover won the grueling Melbourne Cup twice. Stakes winners Rain Amore, More Rain, and Rain Dance Lady were all proficient at longer distances.This family was also influential in South America with stakes winners such as Tiabaya and her daughter Latino adding to the family legacy.At stud, Lucky Mel not only sired sprinters, but also many who were accomplished over a route of ground such as Copper Mel, a stakes winner at 12 furlongs. There is a good combination of speed and stamina via this pedigree segment.

 

The breed shaping Raise a Native comes in at position #13. His conduit mare Padula is classified as (I/S). Raise a Native was primarily regarded as a source of speed. He raced only as a two-year-old and was undefeated in 4 starts. As the sire of the great Mr. Prospector, Raise a Native’s name is found in many, if not most, of the best runners and producers in the world.His conduit mare Padula was imported to America in 1915, and is the conduit of many very good performers over a route of ground including, One On The Aisle (San Juan Capistrano at 1¾ miles and the Lawrence Realization Stakes at 12 furlongs), Boundlessly (Arlington Classic at 8 furlongs), Black Servant, who won the Blue Grass Stakes, and ran 2nd in the Kentucky Derby, and the multiple Stakes winner Kingmaker (best at 9 furlongs). Another with stamina is Who’s to Pay who set a NCR at Belmont, running 10 furlongs in 1:58. This family also had success with jumpers such as Brokopondo.

 

Moving on to position #14, we find Northern Dancer (Dazzling I/S). Anyone who is interested in thoroughbreds is familiar with Northern Dancer and the huge worldwide impact he has had on the breed as a runner, sire, and as a sire of sires (Danehill, Sadler’s Wells, etc.). Northern Dancer won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness and his conduit mare, Dazzling is the conduit of a veritable who’s who in the world of the thoroughbred. Names like Spectacular Bid (Kentucky Derby and Preakness), Cannonade (Kentucky Derby), Skywalker (BC Classic), Bago (Prix de l’arc de Triomphe), Zinabad (Yorkshire Cup at 2800 meters and the Hardwicke Stakes at 2400 meters), and the good runners and sires, Machiavellian, the unfortunate Stephan’s Odyssey, and Halo are just a sampling of the many outstanding descendant of this mare.Dazzling was unraced as a juvenile, and started only twice as a three-year-old, failing to win. She was however, highly tried, with her two lifetime starts being the One Thousand Guineas (won by Quintessence) and the Epsom Oaks Stakes (won by Our Lassie). The Broodmare of the Year, Cosmah, also traces to this mare.

 

Moving to position #15 we find the 15.3 hand Danzig. Undefeated in three lifetime starts, he was an immediate success at stud, and was the sire of both sprinters and routers. His conduit mare, Princess Sonia (I/S), was the conduit of many good performers both on the flat and over jumps (Paico as an example). The ‘Arc winner, Topyo, the Epsom Derby winner Kris Kin, the Duetches Derby winner Luigi, and the Gran Premio Nacional winner Gentlemen, all trace to this mare.

 

The last position #16 is Sir Ivor (Ste Claire B/P). Sir Ivor was a top class racehorse, winning the 2000 Guineas, the Epsom Derby and Laurel’s Washington International Stakes among other triumphs. At stud he was solid, with the likes of Sir Tristram and Bates Motel among many good ones.In addition to Sir Ivor, Ste Claire was the conduit of Aegina (2nd CCA Oaks), Menow (3rd Preakness, and an influential sire) and the BC Classic winner and sire, Proud Truth.An overview of this pedigree leads me to believe that California Chrome is indeed capable of excelling at the Derby distance, and perhaps even farther (Belmont?). He certainly is a very talented athlete.

 

Bill