Making the Grade: Madefromlucky

Madefromlucky wins the May 9 Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park. (Photo by NYRA/Coglianese Photo)
Making the Grade, which will run through the 2015 Belmont Stakes, focuses on the winners of the big races, usually from the previous weekend, who could impact the Triple Crown. We’ll be taking a close look at impressive winners and evaluating their chances to win important races based upon ability, running style, connections (owner, trainer, jockey) and pedigree. 
This week we take a closer look at Madefromlucky, winner of the $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes on May 9 at Belmont Park. 

The Grade 2 Peter Pan Stakes was a breakout performance in several ways for Madefromlucky. He recorded his first career stakes win, earned a career-best Equibase Speed Figure and secured a spot in the Belmont Stakes. Madefromlucky is expected to be part of a strong Belmont Stakes group from trainer Todd Pletcher that could also include Grade 1 winners Carpe Diem and Materiality. Let’s take a look at how Madefromlucky stacks up against the elite competition he will face in the Belmont Stakes.

Madefromlucky
Chestnut Colt
Sire (Father): Lookin At Lucky
Dam (Mother): Home From Oz, by Pulpit
Owner: Cheyenne Stables and Mac Nichol
Breeder: RMF Thoroughbreds (Ky.)
Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Ability: Co-owner Mac Nichol purchased Madefromlucky for $150,000 at the 2014 OBS March sale of 2-year-olds in training. After failing to win in his first three starts last summer at Monmouth Park, including a runner-up finish and third-place finish, Madefromlucky was given a break. He returned in December at Gulfstream Park and delivered a dominant 4 ¾-length romp in a 1 1/16-mile race. He subsequently was transferred from trainer John Mazza to Todd Pletcher after Everett Dobson’s Cheyenne Stables purchased an interest in Madefromlucky from Nichol.
His next race was another clear win at 1 1/8 miles at Gulfstream on Feb. 4 in his 3-year-old debut for Pletcher, in which he established a new career-top Equibase Speed Figure of 93.
Madefromlucky made his stakes debut in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes on March 14 and finished a distant second to American Pharoah. Beaten by 6 ¼ lengths, Madefromlucky did improve his speed figure to 98. Four weeks later, he finished fourth, again well beaten by winner American Pharoah, in the Arkansas Derby and his owners decided to look at options other than the Kentucky Derby for his next start.
Madefromlucky was entered in the Peter Pan Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Belmont Park, host track of the Belmont Stakes, and showed an affinity for the surface while delivering a career-best performance. Sent off as the third betting choice in a five-horse field, Madefromlucky tracked the pace from about three lengths back and took command in the stretch en route to a one-length win. He earned a 106 Equibase Speed Figure that marked a new, six-point career top.
MADEFROMLUCKY IN THE PETER PAN WINNER'S CIRCLE

Photo by Susie Raisher/NYRA
Madefromlucky has finished 6 ¼ lengths and nine lengths behind American Pharoah, so he has quite a bit of ground to make up on the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner in the Belmont Stakes. He does appear to be headed in the right direction, however, and with an extra week of rest and another step forward on a surface he appears to like, Madefromlucky could be in a position to challenge for a victory in the Belmont Stakes on June 6.
Running style: Madefromlucky has raced within three lengths of the pace in five of his last six races with the lone exception being the Arkansas Derby, in which he dropped 7 ½ lengths back behind a very fast pace and did not factor. Ideally, I expect Madefromlucky’s connections would like to see him rate in third or fourth early in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes and stay within a few lengths of the lead. Contrary to popular opinion, closers don’t have a major advantage in the Belmont Stakes. Closers certainly can and do win the Belmont Stakes, like in Afleet Alex’s case when he was the best horse or in instances where there is a taxing pace. But after running 1 ¼ miles on a deep track known as “Big Sandy,” it can be tough to accelerate enough to make up a ton of ground in the final quarter-mile, unless the leaders are really running on fumes and slowing down late. Tactical speed can be very advantageous in the Belmont Stakes, and it looks like Madefromlucky has the speed to be able to find a sweet spot.
MADEFROMLUCKY

Photo by NYRA/Susie Raisher
Connections: Trainer Todd Pletcher earned his first victory in a U.S. Triple Crown race with Rags to Riches in the 2007 Belmont Stakes. His reaction to winning the race was one the most emotional celebrations fans have ever seen from Pletcher, who has won seven Eclipse Awards as outstanding trainer since 2004, including the last two years. Pletcher also won the Belmont Stakes in 2013 with Palace Malice and the Kentucky Derby in 2010 with Super Saver. Pletcher figures to have a formidable hand for this year’s Belmont Stakes with Toyota Blue Grass Stakes winner Carpe Diem and Florida Derby winner Materiality also targeting the final jewel of the Triple Crown.
Mac Nichol selected Madefromlucky out of the OBS March sale in 2014 and later sold an interest to Everett Dobson, whose Cheyenne Stables is named after his hometown of Cheyenne, Okla. Dobson raced 2011 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Caleb’s Posse, who was a finalist for two Eclipse Awards, as well as graded stakes winner Mystical Plan. Dobson purchased an interest in Three Chimneys Stallions in 2010 and is a member of The Jockey Club and a board member of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.

Previous Making the Grades

Competitive Edge
American Pharoah
Carpe Diem
Daredevil
Texas Red
Ocho Ocho Ocho
El Kabeir
Leave the Light On
Nasa
Dortmund
Calculator
International Star
Upstart
Ocean Knight
Far From Over
Metaboss
Far Right
Materiality
Firing Line
Frosted
Mubtaahij
Danzig Moon
American Pharoah
Divining Rod

Javier Castellano rode Madefromlucky in the Peter Pan and Hall of Famer John Velazquez was aboard for his three previous starts in 2015. Castellano rode Materiality for his sixth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby and Velazquez is the regular rider for Carpe Diem, so it remains to be seen who will ride Madefromlucky in the Belmont Stakes. 
Pedigree: Madefromlucky is from the first crop of five-time Grade 1 winner Lookin At Lucky, who won the 2010 Preakness Stakes for Bob Baffert (trainer of American Pharoah) en route to champion 3-year-old male honors.
Madefromlucky is one of two graded stakes winners from six winners sired by Lookin At Lucky from his first crop. In addition to Madefromlucky, Lookin at Lucky is the sire of 2014, Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes winner Lucky Player and 2015 Sunland Park Oaks winner Maybellene.
By top sire Smart Strike, Lookin At Lucky entered stud expected to be a source of class and stamina and so far appears to be on the right path.
Madefromlucky is out of the unraced Pulpit mare Home From Oz, a full-sister (same sire [father], same dam [mother]) to outstanding sire Tapit, the leading general sire of 2014 and the top commercial sire on the market. Tapit stands for $300,000 at Gainesway. He earned his way every rung to the top after starting out standing for $15,000.
His grandam, Tap Your Heels, by Unbridled, was a stakes winner at two and a very close sibling to champion sprinter and sire Rubiano. This also is the family of 2009 Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird and top sire Relaunch. Elite sire and 2000 Horse of the Year Tiznow is a grandson of Relaunch, who also is the broodmare sire of 2004 Horse of the Year and sire Ghostzapper.
In addition to talent, Madefromlucky has plenty going for him from a pedigree perspective. Not only does he have a bright future on the racetrack, but it stands to reason he will be highly sought after for a second career at stud.
He is a very interesting Belmont Stakes candidate with a career-best race on the Belmont main track, improving form, four weeks of rest, tactical speed and a big-time pedigree. Madefromlucky still has significant ground to make up on American Pharoah to win the Belmont Stakes, but he’s a better horse now than he was a few months ago and should not be overlooked on June 6.