Rachel Alexandra's Pedigree Worthy of Champions
Filly and Holy Bull Son Hull to Preakness – Mr. Fantasy to Met Mile
May 10, 2009
Top trainer Todd Pletcher believes filly Rachel Alexandra has the look of a female worthy to challenge the colts in a Triple Crown event. Pletcher's brawny filly Rags to Riches nosed out eventual two-time Horse of the Year Curlin in the 2007 Belmont Stakes. It remains the only Triple Crown race Pletcher has won.
So he knows a great filly when he sees one. Of Rachel Alexandra, Pletcher says, "...she looks like she is special...That filly has been most impressive..."
Rachel Alexandra's Pedigree of Champions
Filly Rachel, 20-1/4 length victor in the Kentucky Oaks, has some great runners in her lineage. A Northern Dancer cross appears in her great-great-grandsire houses.
Rachel Alexandra has modest parentage in her dams, but her sire ancestry is outstanding. She was sired by Medaglia d' Oro, by El Prado, by Sadler's Wells, by Northern Dancer. Her great granddam was sired by Northern Dancer.
A bay filly owned by Jess Jackson's Stonestreet Stables and Harold T. McCormick, Rachel Alexandra was purchased from Dolphus Morrison and Mike Lauffer after her Kentucky Oaks win. Steve Asmussen is her new trainer.
Her dam is Lotta Kim, by Roar--Kim's Blues, by Cure the Blues--Early Decision. Roar is by Forty Niner--Wild Applause, by Mr. Prospector--File. Wild Applause is by Northern Dancer--Glowing Tribute. Cure the Blues is by Stop the Music--Quick Cure. Early Decision is by Lord Gaylord--Biscayne Missy.
El Prado's mate Cappucino Bay is by Bailjumper--Dubed In. El Prado is by Sadler's Wells--Lady Capulet. Sadler's Wells is by Northern Dancer--Fairy Bridge. Lady Capulet is by Sir Ivor--Cap and Bells. Bailjumper is by Damascus--Court Circuit. Dubbed In is by Silent Screen--Society Singer.
Holy Bull Colt Hull Joins Preakness
Holy Bull--Band Queen son Hull triumphed in the one mile Derby Trial Stakes April 25. The win pointed him to try the Preakness Stakes competition on May 16.
A dark bay, or brown colt owned by Heiligbrodt Racing Stable, Gary Barber, and Team Valor International, Hull is trained by Dale Romans.
Hull's grandparentage is Great Above--Sharon Brown in his sire's house and Chimes Band--Queen's Nest on his dam's side. Great Above is by Minnesota Man--Ta Wee. Sharon Brown is by Al Hattab--Agathea's Dawn.
Chimes Band is by Dixieland Band--Chimes. Queen's Nest is by Czaravich--Empty Nest. The sire of Dixieland Band is Northern Dancer. Mr. Prospector sired Chimes. Nijinsky II sired Czaravich.
Miler Mr. Fantasy Goes to Met Mile
Mr. Fantasy, who won The Withers Stakes on April 25, is pointed to the Shadwell Metropolitan Handicap (G1) after first being considered for the Preakness Stakes. Mr. Fantasy is a bay colt owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, Lakland Farm, and R.D. Hubbard.
Kiaran McLaughlin, the colt's trainer, won the 2008 Met with Divine Park. "He's a true miler," West Point Thoroughbreds co-owner Terry Finley reported when asked about Mr. Fantasy's race switch.
