A Look at 2015 Homebred Derby Hopefuls
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Likely Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) favorite American Pharoah leads a trio of homebreds being pointed to this year's classic.
Joining him on the short but formidable list of Derby hopeful homebreds is Godolphin Racing's Frosted and Philip Birsh's Tencendur, the respective one-two finishers in the TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial Stakes (gr. I) April 4 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
American Pharoah is not only a homebred for Zayat Stables, but the 2-year-old champion male also is by Pioneerof the Nile , the first grade I winner bred by the Zayat family. Zayat Stables owns a 75% share in Pioneerof the Nile as a stallion. American Pharoah is out of the unplaced Yankee Gentleman mare Littleprincessemma, who is named after a daughter of owner Ahmed Zayat.
Zayat Stables purchased Littleprincessemma for $250,000 at the 2007 Keeneland September yearling sale from the consignment of Woods Edge Farm. Last year Littleprincessemma sold for $2.1 million to Summer Wind Farm, in foal to Pioneerof the Nile, at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November sale. She was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, at that sale.
Sheikh Mohammed's Darley operation is the breeder of Frosted, a son of leading sire Tapit out of the Deputy Minister mare Fast Cookie. Darley acquired Fast Cookie when it purchased Robert and Janice McNair's Stonerside Farm in 2008.
A Stonerside homebred, Fast Cookie won the 2003 Cotillion Handicap (gr. II) at Philadelphia Park. Frosted is the first stakes winner for Fast Cookie, who has produced three winners from as many starters. Fast Cookie is out of two-time grade II winner Fleet Lady, by Avenue of Flags, and is a half sister to champion 2-year-old male Midshipman .
From the first crop of Warrior's Reward , Tencendur is out of the winning Hennessy mare Still Secret and is a half sister to multiple stakes winner Mother Russia, by Mayakovsky. Mother Russia has produced Golden Barows, by Tapit, a stakes winner in Japan.
Birsh acquired Still Secret, in foal to Boundary, for $17,000 at the 2005 Keeneland January horses of all ages sale. She was consigned by Brookdale Sales, agent.
