Pedigree Insights
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Andrew Caulfield, April 11, 2006–Bob and John P EDIGREE INSIGHTS Brother Derek, hero of the GI Santa Anita Derby, is a son of the California-based Benchmark, who stood for BY ANDREW CAULFIELD $5,000 in 2002, while Sweetnorthernsaint, a wide-margin winner of the GII Illinois Derby, is by the WOOD MEMORIAL S.-GI, $750,000, AQU, 4-8, 3yo, Florida-based Sweetsouthernsaint, who stood for 1 1/8m, 1:51 2/5, sy. $2,500 (one-hundredth of Seeking the Gold's fee). 1--sBOB AND JOHN, 123, c, 3, by Seeking the Gold Both these stallions are achieving more than could 1st Dam: Minister's Melody (GSW & GISP, reasonably be expected, and it's worth pointing out $451,470), by Deputy Minister that Sweetsouthernsaint, with only 91 named foals in his first two crops, has sired the Santa Anita Derby 2nd Dam: My Song for You, by Seattle Song second General John B. and King's Bishop S. third 3rd Dam: Too Bald, by Bald Eagle Better Than Bonds in addition to his Illinois Derby O/B-Stonerside Stable (KY); T-B Baffert; J-G Gomez; winner. $450,000. Lifetime Record: 9-4-1-3, $680,070. *1/2 But it is Bob and John who possesses the type of to Connie Belle (Storm Cat), SW, $129,830. pedigree one hopes to find in a Kentucky Derby winner. Click for the brisnet.com chart, the free brisnet.com This Stonerside homebred is now on offer at 8-1 with catalogue-style pedigree or the Video, sponsored by Ladbrokes, with Brother Derek at 3-1 and Barbaro, Taylor Made. Discreet Cat and Lawyer Ron also on offer at 8-1. However, most of the other European bookmakers have Saturday's Kentucky Derby trials highlighted exactly Bob and John between 10-1 and 14-1, with the longer why Thoroughbred breeding has such a wide range of odds reflecting the fact that Bob and John has five devotees. While the GI Wood Memorial was won by lengths to make up on Brother Derek from their meeting Bob and John, whose sire Seeking the Gold in the Hollywood Futurity four months ago. commanded a fee of $250,000 in 2002, the Derbys at These longer odds are possibly also a reflection of the Santa Anita and Hawthorne reminded everyone that recent record of Wood Memorial winners in the main event. Only one Wood winner--Fusaichi Pegasus (a you don't necessarily need bottomless reserves to Stonerside co-bred)--has gone on to win the Kentucky breed a live hope for Triple Crown honors. Derby since Pleasant Colony completed the double in The trials were also a reminder that you don't need to 1981 (but Empire Maker, Captain Bodgit and Easy Goer be based in Kentucky to produce a Kentucky Derby all found only one too good for them at Churchill candidate. Downs, and the Stonerside-bred Congaree was third). www.coolmore.com As Funny Cide, Monarchos and Go for Gin all warmed My Song For You was bred to stay reasonably well, up for their Derby victories with the runner's-up spot in as her dam Too Bald was also responsibly for Vaguely the Wood Memorial, perhaps we should be keeping a Noble's magnificent son Exceller, an 11-time Grade-I close eye on Saturday's second Jazil, who gave every winner from 1¼ miles to nearly two miles in Europe indication that he'll benefit from the extra 220 yards at and North America, as well as for the successful Churchill. stallion Baldski. The interesting link between Bob and John and Jazil Too Bald--a Broodmare of the Year--was another very is that they are both by Seeking the Gold (a runner-up good performer at up to 1 1/16 miles and the next dam in the Wood Memorial) out of daughters of Deputy is Hidden Talent, winner of the Kentucky Oaks and Minister. Ashland S. and sister to Heavenly Body, one of the best Fifteen months ago I tried to work out in this column juvenile fillies of 1959. Heavenly Body lives on as the why Seeking the Gold was having an unusually quiet third dam of the outstanding Arc winner Sakhee, while time. I added that "he probably represents a very Hidden Talent is the third dam of Broad Brush. This acceptable risk at his current fee," and suggested that winner of the 1986 Wood Memorial winner went on to there was every chance that he would bounce back. finish a creditable third in the Kentucky Derby. Don't be I'm pleased to say he is doing so. His impressive surprised if history comes close to repeating itself with daughter Pleasant Home put him back on the Grade-I Bob and John next month. map with her victory in the Breeders' Cup Distaff, and Seeking the Ante, Seeking Slew and Wanderin Boy also BOB AND JOHN, c, 2003 became graded winners in 2005. Now Bob and John Native Dancer Raise a Native and Jazil are leading a crop which sold for up to $1.8- Raise You Mr. Prospector million as yearlings. Nashua Gold Digger Coincidentally, Deputy Minister was another top-class Sequence Seeking the Gold stallion who inexplicably went off the boil. After siring a Tom Fool Buckpasser succession of Grade-I winners, including four in his Busanda Con Game 57-strong 1994 crop, Deputy Minister became Hasty Road Broadway champion sire in 1997 and 1998. Although his fee and Flitabout profile rose accordingly, he has come up with only one Northern Dancer Vice Regent Grade-I winner, in Canada, from his last eight crops of Victoria Regina Deputy Minister racing age. Minister’s Bunty’s Flight Mint Copy While Deputy Minister has been struggling as a sire, Melody Shakney GSW & GISP his reputation as a sire of broodmares has grown and Seattle Slew 4 Fls, 1 GSW, My Song for You Seattle Song grown, thanks to the Grade-I successes of such as 1 SW Incantation Sarava, Halfbridled, Redattore, Magistretti, Request For SP 9 Fls, 1 GSW Too Bald 13Fls, Bald Eagle Parole and Bahamian Pirate. His daughters have earned 1Ch, 3GSW, 2SW Hidden Talent him a top-five finish in each of the last four years, with only Mr. Prospector keeping him off the top in 2002 and 2003. The Deputy Minister mares responsible for Bob and John and Jazil--Minister's Melody and Better Than Honour--were both Grade I-placed stakes winners. Minister's Melody had a rather frustrating record, as she won only one stakes race, the GIII Arlington Heights Oaks, but was second in five others, including the GI La Brea. This pair aren't the first daughters of Deputy Minister to do well with a son of Mr. Prospector, previous graded-winning examples being Smart Strike's son Tenpins, Woodman's daughter Woodland Melody and Conquistador Cielo's son Lone Star Sky. I said earlier that Bob and John had a pedigree worthy of a Kentucky Derby winner. His dam was a $400,000 yearling, her appeal stemming partly from the fact that her dam, the stakes-placed My Song For You, was a three-parts sister to Capote. This champion juvenile, who became winter favorite for the Kentucky Derby following his Breeders' Cup Juvenile victory, was by Seattle Slew, whereas My Song For You (a dual winner on dirt and turf) is by Seattle Slew's son Seattle Song, a Grade-I winner at up to 1½ miles. .