Road to the Kentucky Derby – Alex’s Pedigree Paddock
Alex Henry | March 2nd 2024
Goal: Highlight interesting pedigrees of 2024 Kentucky Derby contenders who are also my best bets of the race.
Fountain of Youth Stakes | Gulfstream Park
Dornoch (April 2021)
Owner: West Paces Racing LLC R A Hill Stable Belmar Racing and Breeding LLC Two Eight R | Breeder: (Ky) Grandview Equine
Trainer: Danny Gargan
Good Magic o/o Puca by Big Brown
True Nicks: B+
If you feel a sense of déjà vu with Dornoch’s pedigree, don’t fret. This full brother to 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage is poised to make a serious challenge for an unheard of familial derby double. In fact, the closest two full siblings have gotten to winning the Kentucky Derby were Mine That Bird (winner in 2009) and Dullahan (3rd in 2012). No mare has ever foaled more than one Kentucky Derby winner, however, 100 years ago full brothers Whiskery (1927 Kentucky Derby winner) and Victorian (1928 Preakness winner) are the only full siblings (Whisk Broom II o/o Prudery) to both win American classics. Dornoch has already won as many times in his young career as Mage did throughout his entire career, twice demonstrating serious early speed on two very different racetracks and surface conditions. He’s already touted himself well over two turns, narrowly winning the Grade 2 Remsen at a 2 year old in his most recent outing. Let’s explore the family that contributed to this spellbinding blend of speed and stamina.
Sired by Breeder’s Cup Juvenile winner and 2017 champion 2 year old colt Good Magic (Curlin o/o Glenda The Good by Hard Spun), stamina influence isn’t hard to find in this stallion. Curlin won over 10 furlongs no less than 5 times and nearly succeeded at 12 furlongs if he hadn’t run into a dead game filly in Rags to Riches, losing the 2007 Belmont stakes by a hard-fought head. Glenda The Good found her best form at and around 1 mile and her family has excelled at this distance, notably half siblings Flash Forward (by Curlin, winner of My Flag stakes, 9 furlongs), Bright Magic (by Prized, winner of C.T.B.A. Marian stakes, 8.5 furlongs), and Take The Ribbon (by Chester House, winner of Heavenly Cause stakes and Churchill Distaff Turf mile stakes, both 8 furlongs). Good Magic was dangerous over 9 furlongs, winning the G1 Haskell Invitational and G2 Blue Grass after his championship 2 year old season. In addition to siring Mage, he’s sired multiple routing graded stakes winners including How Did He Do That, Dubyuhnell, and Curly Jack.
Puca (Big Brown o/o Boat’s Ghost by Silver Ghost) is plausibly on her way to being remembered as one of the most prolific broodmares of the 2020s if Dornoch continues to perform well and future offspring inherit similar talent. Winner of nearly $300,000, Bill Mott trained this mare to collect her black type via winning the restricted Steve Pini Memorial stakes at Suffolk Downs over nearly 8.5 furlongs. In addition to Mage, her only other foal to race is Gunning (by Gun Runner), an allowance winner over 6 furlongs. Interestingly, the most successful family member produced from any member of Puca’s dam line (out of her dam Boat’s Ghost) is $1.5 million earner Finnegan’s Wake, winner of the G1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic stakes (9 furlongs), G2 Hollywood Turf Cup stakes (12 furlongs), G2 San Gabriel stakes (9 furlongs), and G2 San Marcos stakes (10 furlongs) all over turf. Boat’s Ghost was a minor winner at 2 but is a half-sister to Ooey Gooey, winner of the restricted John Wayne stakes at Praire Meadows over 6 furlongs. More minor stakes winners can be found in the family of Dornoch’s 4th dam Native Boat (by Native Royalty), herself a 9-time winner including the Marigold (6.5 furlongs) and Dhalia (6 furlongs) stakes at Turfway Park and Ellis Park respectively.
Dornoch is an exciting 3 year old prospect for a slew of reasons outside of his pedigree, as the two thrilling wins already on his resume were very different but demonstrated enough talent to believe there’s plenty of innate talent and upside. His maiden win in October saw him lead throughout and explode in the stretch on the wrong lead to win by 6 ½ lengths at Keenland. His Remsen win last out saw him skip over the muddy Aqueduct dirt in 23.09 for the first quarter and control his speed on the back side running 46.97 for the half. Then around the far turn he appeared to be home free, blasting off to a deceptive and brief lead while skimming the inside rail. Then in a matter of a few seconds, 2024 Risen Star stakes winner Sierra Leone closed like Mage in the Kentucky Derby and found himself 1 length clear. Dornoch wasn’t finished yet and re-rallied to eyeball Sierra Leone in deep stretch, needing every last inch to pull ahead to win by a lunging nose, yet galloping out with his ears pricked. I hope not to jinx Dornoch’s chances tomorrow, but I feel the magic with this colt.
