Pedigree Analysis: Shared Belief
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During the first of a pair of Super Saturday weekends rich in grade I stakes, Shared Belief stamped himself as an early favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) by beating older horses again—this time Sept. 27 in the Awesome Again Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park.
The son of Candy Ride overcame a wide trip throughout the race, in part due to some race-riding by jockey Victor Espinoza on Sky Kingdom. Espinoza floated Shared Belief and rider Mike Smith about five paths wide on the first turn, where Shared Belief remained through much of the nine-furlong race. Class and ability prevailed, however. The 3-year-old gelding eyeballed Fed Biz in deep stretch and prevailed at the wire by a neck.
Shared Belief is now eligible to capture the Bolton Challenge bonus, a new incentive offered this year to attract attention to Los Alamitos Race Course’s inaugural Thoroughbred meet, taking over dates from the now-defunct Hollywood Park. A $1 million prize is being offered if a horse can sweep the Los Alamitos Derby, which Shared Belief won by 4 1/4 lengths over Candy Boy (by Candy Ride), while earning a 105 Beyer Speed Figure; the TVG Pacific Classic (gr. I); and the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Shared Belief took on older horses for the first time in the Pacific Classic—including Game On Dude, Majestic Harbor, and Clubhouse Ride (also by Candy Ride)—and won by a commanding three lengths.
Still undefeated, Shared Belief’s record is now seven wins in seven starts, those victories having been achieved by just over 32 lengths.
Shared Belief is from the sixth crop of Candy Ride. A son of Ride the Rails (by Cryptoclearance), Candy Ride was standing for $25,000 at the time of Shared Belief’s conception, and 2010 marked the first time that he had covered at more than $15,000, having risen to that mark from an initial fee of $10,000. Despite the modest stud fee Candy Ride made the most of his early opportunities, his first five crops yielding 39 stakes winners including grade I scorers Sidney's Candy , Twirling Candy , Evita Argentina, Misremembered , Capt. Candyman Can, El Brujo, and Home Sweet Aspen.
In the next two years he’ll have what should be his best two crops, sired at fees of $40,000 and $50,000.
Candy Ride has a couple of parallels with Shared Belief: an undefeated race record and spectacular performances in California. Undefeated in three starts in his native Argentina, Candy Ride was accorded the title of champion miler there following eight-length victories in the group I Joaquin S. de Anchorena and San Isidro. His U.S. career also consisted of three starts: a three-length victory in an allowance/optional claiming race at Hollywood Park; a win in the American Handicap (gr. II), and a 3 1/4-length triumph over Medaglia d'Oro in the Pacific Classic, an effort that earned a Beyer of 123.
Shared Belief, bred by Pam and Marty Wygod, is from a family that has produced numerous good runners for the couple. The dam, Common Hope, a daughter of Storm Cat, scored her only win in a maiden and has since been exported to Turkey, but she has also produced the Iowa Oaks (gr. III) winner Little Miss Holly, and stakes-placed Double Major. Common Hope is a sister to the late Tribal Rule , a lightning-quick performer who won two of four starts and went on to become a major sire in the California program. Common Hope is also a half sister to the Santa Monica Handicap (gr. I) winner Key Phrase.
When Key Phrase was bred to Storm Cat, she produced another very rapid horse in Yankee Gentleman , as well as Zing (dam of graded stakes winner and sire Half Ours) and Confidently (dam of graded stakes winner Khancord Kid). The granddam, Sown, is out of stakes winner Bad Seed, herself a daughter of Rich and Rare II, the champion 2-year-old filly of 1957 in England.
Shared Belief, as his TrueNicks rating of A+ would suggest, is bred on what has been one of the most successful crosses for Candy Ride, and Sidney’s Candy and graded stakes scorer Sweet Swap are the other stakes winners from just 16 starters for him out of Storm Cat mares. The success of the cross is extending to Storm Cat’s next generations, as there are also a total of eight stakes winners including other grade I scorers Capt. Candyman Can and Evita Argentina, from 61 starters for Candy Ride out of mares by Storm Cat, his sons, and grandsons.