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Fierceness – Sierra Leone – Forever Young – Catching Freedom – Just a Touch – Resilience – Stronghold – Just Steel – West Saratoga – Dornoch – Encino – T O Password – Domestic Product
By Alex Henry
How He Got Here
Grand Mo The First is in the 2024 Kentucky Derby starting gate by virtue of his tenacity to finish gamely despite encountering traffic and being bumped in his last three starts. Trainer Victor Barboza Jr started this colt on the Gulfstream Park synthetic, breaking his maiden at first asking in August 2023. He followed that victory with a step up to Allowance Optional Claiming company at 5 ½ furlongs a month later, needing the length of the stretch to win by a neck. Connections took a chance that he may enjoy the turf, a very reasonable idea given his pedigree, and shipped him west to Santa Anita for the Grade 3 Zuma Beach Stakes over 1 mile. Grand Mo The First broke last and trailed until the far turn, picking up steam and fanning four wide to be 4th at the head of the stretch. While unable to catch Ngannou and fellow derby entrant Endlessly, he finished with interest. After winter freshening, he was sent back to Gulfstream Park for a try on dirt, finishing 3rd by 4 ¼ lengths. In an effort to collect Derby points, Grand Mo The First was entered in the Tampa Bay Derby, finishing extremely well after playing bumper cars throughout the race again to be 3rd by a neck behind Derby-bound Domestic Product and No More Time. He kept up his consistency in the Florida Derby despite facing the likes of a fully locked-in Fierceness, finishing 3rd 2 ½ lengths behind Catalytic with Fierceness ahead in the distance 13 ½ away.
How He Fits Here
On speed figures alone, Grand Mo The First will need to improve to be competitive with his sophomore class. His last 3 Beyer figures are 72 (Swale Stakes), 82 (Tampa Bay Derby), and 87 (Florida Derby); these figures indicate steady progression throughout his 3 years old season. His Thorograph figures also indicate improvement and potential to move forward from the Florida Derby, as he has paired 6s in his last two starts after earning a 10 in his 3 year old debut. A major reason to respect this colt is some horses would completely give up when being faced with the physical contact Grand Mo The First has endured during his last few starts. Therefore, it is reassuring that he appears to be unfazed in spite of adversity as he will need to use that mental tenacity when facing 19 other horses on Saturday.
Connections And Pedigree
Sired by Breeders Cup Juvenile (8.5 furlongs) champion 2yo Uncle Mo, who in turn, sired the 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist. Nyquist has similar breeding to Grand Mo the First, as the dams of both horses are by Storm Cat sons.
Dam Lilies So Fair carries stamina through her sire, globe-trotting iron horse Giant’s Causeway, however it’s her dam Wildwood Flower who has produced the most prolifically thus far. Wildwood Flower has foaled two graded stakes winners, the ill-fated Materiality (winner, Florida Derby and Islamorada Handicap both 9 furlongs) and My Miss Sophia (winner, Gazelle Stakes and 2nd, Kentucky Oaks both 9 furlongs). My Miss Sophia was bred to War Front and subsequently produced multiple turf graded stakes winner, Annapolis. Additionally, Wildwood Flower’s 2016 offspring Wildwood Rose has stamped herself as a producer as well, foaling 2024 G1 Ashland Stakes winner Leslie’s Rose who is poised to start next in the Kentucky Oaks.
Overall Chance
Grand Mo The First will attempt to be the first horse breaking from post 16 in the Kentucky Derby to win since Animal Kingdom in 2011. I love how this colt never completely wilts in the face of physical contact from other runners or when chasing a runner more than 13 lengths ahead. Steady improvement from 2 to 3 is a positive sign and physical toughness will allow rider Emisael Jaramillo make a decision on if he’ll commit to going wide from post 16 or take back and join the calvary to save ground. Also, at 50-1 morning line odds, he may get ignored if the Rich Strike-effect has worn off from last year. Regardless, at any number above 25-1, Grand Mo The First will be a key 3rd place horse for my trifectas.
