Summer Stakes Racing Roundup

(The preceding story, originally published in the July/August 2010 issue of HorsePlayer Magazine, has been updated with current information and statistics.) 

Now that the Triple Crown is over, the next crop of 2-year-old thoroughbreds are ready to begin racing. Pedigree, of course, is one of the most important tools handicappers have when wagering on precocious juve­niles-it can determine which horses have the potential to be rising stars and stakes winners.

Not surprisingly, descendants of the Mr. Prospector and Northern Dancer sire lines perform extremely well as juveniles, and it would do the horseplayer some good to pay attention to these pedigrees as the prestigious 2-year-old races at Del Mar and Saratoga get underway.

Del Mar July 18 to September 5

Del Mar hosts two marquee races for juvenile colts: the Best Pal Stakes (G2) and Del Mar Futurity (G1).

The Best Pal Stakes (G2) is eponymously named after the California-bred racehorse, who began racing at two and had more than $5.6 million in earnings when he retired at the age of eight. The Best Pal Stakes (G2) produced the 2010 Preakness (G1) winner, Lookin At Lucky, who also won the 2009 Del Mar Futurity (G1).

Traditionally held on the closing day of the meet, the Del Mar Futurity (G1) has long been a springboard for top run­ners. Del Mar Futurity (GI) winners that became classic champions include:

·         Lookin At Lucky (Preakness)

·         Silver Charm (Kentucky Derby, Preakness)

·         Gato del Sol (Kentucky Derby)

·         Tomy Lee (Kentucky Derby)

Saratoga July 20 to September 3

Saratoga hosts the Sanford Stakes (G2), Saratoga Special Stakes (G2), and Three Chimneys Hopeful Stakes (G1) - all prestigious races in their own right.

Sanford Stakes (G2) winners that went on to become classic champions include:

·         Affirmed (Triple Crown winner)

·         Secretariat (Triple Crown winner)

·         Afleet Alex [Preakness, Belmont)

·         Regret (Kentucky Derby)

·         Vagrant (Kentucky Derby)

·         Spendthrift (Belmont)

Saratoga Special Stakes (G2) winners that became classic champions include:

·         Union Rags (Belmont)

·         Whirlaway (Triple Crown winner)

·         Morvich (Kentucky Derby)

·         Regret (Kentucky Derby)

·         Swale (Kentucky Derby, Belmont)

·         Bold Forbes (Kentucky Derby, Belmont)

·         Native Dancer [Preakness, Belmont)

·         Bimelech [Preakness, Belmont)

·         Conquistador Cielo (Belmont)

·         Blue Larkspur (Belmont)

·         Colin (Belmont)

·         Summer Squall (Preakness)

Three Chimneys Hopeful Stakes (GI) winners that became classic champions include:

·         Affirmed (Triple Crown winner)

·         Secretariat (Triple Crown winner)

·         Whirlaway (Triple Crown winner)

·         Foolish Pleasure (Kentucky Derby)

·         Morvich (Kentucky Derby)

·         Regret (Kentucky Derby)

·         Ben Ali (Kentucky Derby)

·         Afleet Alex (Preakness, Belmont)

·         Man O'War (Preakness, Belmont)

·         Native Dancer [Preakness, Belmont)

·         Nashua (Preakness, Belmont)

·         Bimelech (Preakness, Belmont)

·         Needles (Kentucky Derby, Belmont)

·         Middle Ground (Kentucky Derby, Belmont)

·         Zev (Kentucky Derby, Belmont)

·         Jaipur (Belmont)

·         Peter Pan (Belmont)

·         Summer Squall [Preakness}.

Sire Lines for the Last Seven Key 2-Year-Old Stakes

Sanford Stakes (G2), $200,000, 6-furlongs, July 22

Year-Horse, Sire, Sire Line

2011-Overdriven, Tale Of The Cat, Northern Dancer

2010-Maybesomaybenot, Sunday Break, Mr. Prospector

2009-Backtalk, Smarty Jones, Mr. Prospector

2008-Desert Party, Street Cry, Mr. Prospector

2007-Ready’s Image, More Than Ready, Nasrullah

2006-Scat Daddy, Johannesburg, Northern Dancer

Note: In 2005, the Sanford Stakes (G2) was not run.

Best Pal Stakes (G2), $150,000, 6½-furlongs, August 5

Year-Horse, Sire, Sire Line

2011-Creative Cause, Giant’s Causeway, Northern Dancer

2010-J P’s Gusto, Successful Appeal, Man o’ War

2009-Lookin At Lucky, Smart Strike, Mr. Prospector

2008-Azul Leon, Lion Heart, Northern Dancer

2007-Salute The Sarge, Forest Wildcat, Northern Dancer

2006-Principle Secret, Sea Of Secrets, Northern Dancer

2005-What A Song, Songandaprayer, Mr. Prospector

Saratoga Special (G2), $200,000, 6½-furlongs, August 12

Year-Horse, Sire, Sire Line

2011-Union Rags, Dixie Union, Northern Dancer

2010-Kantharos, Lion Heart, Northern Dancer

2009-D’ Funnybone, D’ Wildcat, Northern Dancer

2008-Run Away and Hide, City Zip, Mr. Prospector

2007-Kodiak Kowboy, Posse, Northern Dancer

2006-Chace City, Carson City, Mr. Prospector

2005-Henny Hughes, Hennessy, Northern Dancer

Three Chimney’s Hopeful (G1), $300,000, 7-furlongs, September 3

Year-Horse, Sire, Sire Line

2011-Currency Swap, High Cotton, Northern Dancer

2010-Boys At Tosconova, Officer, Man o’ War

2009-Dublin, Afleet Alex, Mr. Prospector

2008-Vineyard Haven, Lido Palace, Mr. Prospector

2007-Majestic Warrior, A. P. Indy, Bold Ruler

2006-Circular Quay, Thunder Gulch, Mr. Prospector

2005-First Samurai, Giant’s Causeway, Northern Dancer

Del Mar Futurity (G1), $300,000, 7-furlongs, September 5

Year-Horse, Sire, Sire Line

2011-Drill, Lawyer Ron, Northern Dancer

2010-J P’s Gusto, Successful Appeal, Man o’ War

2009-Lookin At Lucky, Smart Strike, Mr. Prospector

2008-Midshipman, Unbridled’s Song, Mr. Prospector

2007-Georgie Boy, Tribal Rule, Northern Dancer

2006-Horse Greeley, Mr. Greeley, Mr. Prospector

2005-Stevie Wonderboy, Stephen Got Even, Bold Ruler

In the past seven years, of the 35 key 2-year-old stakes races at Del Mar and Saratoga, 15 races have been won by sire-line descendants of Northern Dancer; the Mr. Prospector sire line produced 13 winners; the Man o’ War sire line produced three winners; the Bold Ruler sire line produced two winners and the Nasrullah sire line produced one winner.