Pedigree fun facts: 2022 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
Nov 02, 2022
Five entrants in Friday’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) are sons of Breeders’ Cup winners, led by odds-on favorite Cave Rock.
By the late Arrogate, who clinched champion three-year-old male honors in the 2016 Classic, Cave Rock is bidding to become a fourth-generation Breeders’ Cup winner. Arrogate was himself a son of Unbridled’s Song, the victor of the 1995 Juvenile. As his name implies, Unbridled’s Song was sired by Unbridled, winner of the 1990 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Classic.
If Cave Rock continues his unbeaten streak, Arrogate would join the club of Breeders’ Cup winners to sire a winner at the championships. Arrogate has two other chances to achieve this, with And Tell Me Nolies in the Juvenile Fillies (G1) on Friday and reigning Kentucky Oaks (G1) queen Secret Oath in the Distaff (G1) the following day.
Verifying could give Triple Crown champion Justify a Breeders’ Cup winner in his first crop. Although Justify did not race at two, his whole sire line is replete with high-profile runners in the Juvenile – his sire, Scat Daddy, was fourth in 2006; grandsire Johannesburg won as an Irish shipper in 2001; great-grandsire Hennessy was just denied by Unbridled’s Song in 1995; and great-great grandsire Storm Cat was nailed at the wire in 1985.
Verifying aims to get a Breeders’ Cup trophy that eluded his champion half-sister, Midnight Bisou, who twice placed in the Distaff (third in 2018 and second in 2019). They are out of Grade 3 winner Diva Delite, by Repent, who chased Johannesburg home in the 2001 Juvenile.
Wound Up is by another freshman son of Scat Daddy, Mendelssohn, who landed the 2017 Juvenile Turf (G1). Mendelssohn, who is also the sire of leading U.S. Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) hope Delight, is a half-brother to three-time Breeders’ Cup queen Beholder and to leading sire Into Mischief.
Wound Up’s female line has its own stars; he descends from the family of Mitole, the 2019 Sprint (G1) hero, and Hot Rod Charlie, who makes his third swing at the Breeders’ Cup in Saturday’s Classic. Runner-up in the 2020 Juvenile, Hot Rod Charlie was fourth in last year’s Classic.
Forte hails from the family of that 2020 Juvenile champ, Essential Quality, as well as the 2005 Juvenile Fillies (G1) victress, Folklore. Forte’s broodmare sire, champion Blame, is best known for edging Zenyatta in the 2010 Classic.
Lost Ark is a half-brother to top three-year-old filly Nest, the favorite as she takes on elders in Saturday’s Distaff. Their broodmare sire is Hall of Famer A.P. Indy, the 1992 Classic winner.
Both Lost Ark and Forte are by Violence, a son of Medaglia d’Oro (who was twice second in the Classic, 2002-03). Medaglia d’Oro also factors as the broodmare sire of National Treasure.
National Treasure is by Quality Road, last in the Blame-Zenyatta Classic but the sire of four Breeders’ Cup winners – Hootenanny (2014 Juvenile Turf), Caledonia Road (2017 Juvenile Fillies), City of Light (2018 Dirt Mile [G1]), and last year’s Juvenile star, Corniche.
Blazing Sevens and Curly Jack are bidding to extend their sire line’s Breeders’ Cup success to a third generation. They are from the first crop of Good Magic, who broke his maiden in the 2017 Juvenile. Good Magic is by Curlin, the 2007 Classic winner.
Curly Jack also has Breeders’ Cup participants on his dam’s side. He is out of Grade 1-placed Connie and Michael, who was eighth in the 2009 Juvenile Fillies. Connie and Michael’s sire, Roman Ruler, wound up fifth as the 2004 Juvenile favorite. Blazing Sevens is out of a mare by Warrior’s Reward, fifth in the 2010 Sprint.
Hurricane J is another who could enter third-generation territory if he can spring a big upset. His sire Nyquist and grandsire Uncle Mo both reigned as unbeaten champion two-year-old male when taking the Juvenile in 2015 and 2010, respectively. Nyquist went on to capture the 2016 Kentucky Derby, just the second ever to turn the double. He’s already sired a Breeders’ Cup winner in 2020 Juvenile Fillies champ Vequist.
Congruent is by the outstanding sire Tapit, who is responsible for six winners – the aforementioned Essential Quality, Hansen (2011 Juvenile), Stardom Bound (2008 Juvenile Fillies), Tapitsfly (2009 Juvenile Fillies Turf), Tapizar (2012 Dirt Mile), and Untapable (2014 Distaff). Congruent’s dam comes from the further family of 2009 Juvenile Fillies scorer She Be Wild.
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