Pedigree fun facts: 2022 Kentucky Jockey Club

Now an outstanding second-crop sire, Gun Runner has two sons who will try to give him vicarious redemption in Saturday’s renewal of the Kentucky Jockey Club. 

Red Route One shares Gun Runner’s connections—Winchell Thoroughbreds and trainer Steve Asmussen. His dam, by Tapit, is a full sister to champion Untapable, the 2014 Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) heroine. She's also a half-sister to Grade 1 turf star Paddy O’Prado, third in the 2010 Kentucky Derby (G1). Tapit has factored in Kentucky Jockey Club winners’ pedigrees as the sire of Tapiture (2013) and broodmare sire of Silver Prospector (2019), both Asmussen trainees.

Gun Runner’s other hope, Denington, is out of Stronger Than Ever, once a contender on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks. Kenny McPeek has trained both mother and son. Stronger Than Ever was seventh in the 2017 Golden Rod (G2), where two-time Eclipse Award winner Monomoy Girl suffered the first of her very rare losses. In her 2018 debut at Fair Grounds, Stronger Than Ever pulled a 33-1 upset in the Silverbulletday S., edging future Canadian Horse of the Year Wonder Gadot.

Cyclone Mischief, by leading sire Into Mischief out of a Bernardini mare, is related to a past Kentucky Derby participant. His dam is a half-sister to Suddenbreakingnews, the 2016 Southwest (G3) winner and Arkansas Derby (G1) runner-up. Suddenbreakingnews went on to finish fifth in the Kentucky Derby won by Nyquist, with Gun Runner third.

Champion Good Magic and Bolt d’Oro, the respective first and third in the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), renew rivalry through their progeny.

Good Magic’s son Curly Jack hails from the extended family of Discover, second in the 1990 Kentucky Jockey Club. Curly Jack is out of Connie and Michael, runner-up 2010 Mother Goose (G1); her sire, Roman Ruler, is by 2000 Kentucky Derby star Fusaichi Pegasus.

Bolt d’Oro’s son Instant Coffee is out of stakes-placed Follow No One, by Uncle Mo, who clinched his Eclipse Award in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile here at Churchill. Instant Coffee comes from the same female line as multiple Grade 3 winner Lady Apple, third in the 2019 Kentucky Oaks.

Freedom Trail hopes to emulate sire Collected, who likewise started out on turf before winning his dirt debut in the 2016 Sham (G3). Collected reached his peak as an older horse, beating Arrogate in the 2017 Pacific Classic (G1) and placing second to Gun Runner in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). 

The maternal half of Freedom Trail’s pedigree is also replete with quality, descending from Hall of Famer and 1979 Kentucky Oaks winner Davona Dale. Freedom Trail is out of a half-sister (by War Front) to multiple Grade 1 winners Hoppertunity and Executiveprivilege. Hoppertunity, hero of the 2014 Rebel (G2) and Clark (G1) as well as the 2016 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), bankrolled more than $4.7 million in his lengthy career. Executiveprivilege suffered her first loss in the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), to future Hall of Famer Beholder.

Hayes Strike’s sire Connect, himself a son of Curlin like Good Magic, denied Gun Runner in the 2016 Pennsylvania Derby (G2). Hayes Strike is a half-brother to Senior Investment, third in the 2017 Preakness (G1) for their trainer McPeek. Both are out of Grade 3-placed multiple stakes winner Plaid, a daughter of 1997 Travers (G1) scorer Deputy Commander.

Gigante is a son of Not This Time, best known as the sire of this year’s Travers conqueror and Triple Crown trail warrior Epicenter. Gigante’s dam is by 2003 Belmont (G1) victor Empire Maker.

Empire Maker also appears as a male-line ancestor of Western Ghent, who is by Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. Western Ghent is out of stakes-placed Luzmimi Princess, a daughter of the A.P. Indy stallion Malibu Moon.