By Sid Fernando
Although more than half the Derby field had been purchased at auction, the winner was a homebred for WinStar Farm. A member of the penultimate crop of Maria’s Mon, Super Saver was produced from the A.P. Indy mare Supercharger, who’d been purchased at auction by WinStar carrying the future Derby winner for $160,000. The family is all Phipps and the mare is a full sister to She’s a Winner, the dam of WinStar-bred Derby runner-up Bluegrass Cat. The latter is represented by his first crop of 2yos this season and has already picked up two winners. Click here to read an account of this female family and the Derby winner’s history, by Frank Mitchell, in his new pedigree column for the Paulick Report.
WTC was particularly proud to be represented Derby weekend by favorite Lookin at Lucky, a recommended mating and last season’s champion 2yo colt. But, at the risk of tooting our own horn, there were others connected to us, we’re proud to say. One was Derby third-place finisher Paddy O’Prado, a WTC “Best of Sale” purchased by client Jerry Crawford. Jerry was nice enough to call the office on Friday to remind us that Paddy was a “three-star” recommendation he’d purchased for $105,000—what a bargain for an El Prado colt, in retrospect! Jerry liked this colt so much that he was back the next year to buy his Rahy half-sister for $100,000.
The following were either WTC recommended matings or “Best of Sales” :
LOOKIN AT LUCKY – WTC ASSISTED MATING for Gulf Coast Farms, LLC
ICE BOX – Best of Sale
STATELY VICTOR – Best of Sale
AMERICAN LION – Best of Sale
PADDY O’PRADO – Best of Sale (Jerry Crawford purchased on WTC Recommendation)
DEVIL MAY CARE – Best of Sale
CONVEYANCE – WTC ASSISTED MATING for Gulf Coast Farms, LLC
MISSION IMPAZIBLE – Best of Sale
AWESOME ACT – Best of Sale
Additionally, Lou Brissie, the 2yo colt who won the G3 Kentucky Juvenile Stakes on Friday, was a WTC assisted mating for client Gulf Coast Farms, LLC—the breeding operation of Lance Robinson and Jerry Bailey. Gulf Coast Farms is one of the premier sources of high-quality auction stock in the US, and we’re proud to be associated with this leading breeder. Congrats, Lance and Jerry!
Good Post.
So, now that Maria’s Mon has not one but two Derby winners, can he be considered the greatest sire of the modern era?
(I know that this is all highly subjective.)
-Jameel
No. Jameel, the best sires of the modern era are Northern Dancer, Mr. Prospector, and Storm Cat in this country. There are several grouped near or behind them. Maria’s Mon has two Derby winners, which is an incredible accomplishment, no doubt. Halo also has two, off the top of my head, but the sheer quality of runners sired by the three mentioned is astounding.
Storm Cat? Better than Danzig? Not in my book.
Oversight on my part, Tinky. Yes, Danzig should be there, behind Mr. Prospector.