Increased Interest in Turf Lines Bodes Well for 'Oscar'

More so than in recent history, this year's leading contenders for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) are by sires that distinguished themselves by producing predominantly elite turf stakes winners, or themselves excelled on the grass.

Among the top seven on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard are two contenders by Claiborne Farm's top sire War Front , a son of Danzig who has sired 9% black-type winners on turf compared with 4% stakes winners on dirt. Gary Barber's War of Will is the top-ranked horse on the leaderboard March 21 and will look to enhance his standing in the March 23 TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (G2). War Front's other contender is Fox Hill Farm's Omaha Beach, who recently captured a division of the Rebel Stakes (G2).

Ranked second by points to date with 54, William S. Farish's Code of Honor is a son of three-time group 1 winner Noble Mission , who stands at Farish's Lane's End and is a full brother to top European sire and champion Frankel. As a second-crop sire, Noble Mission is still building his résumé, but so far his progeny have won nearly as much on turf as they have on dirt. Code of Honor is being aimed for the March 30 Xpressbet.com Florida Derby (G1).

Among the top 18 points leaders are Signalman, a son of General Quarters, who won a grade 1 on turf and has sired 21 (16%) winners on turf; and Tax, a son of the late Arch, who was grade 1 winner on dirt but went on to sire a higher percentage of stakes winners on turf than dirt.

Despite the broader turf connections this year, success in America's first classic by horses with turf ties is not unprecedented. Darley stallion Animal Kingdom , a son of the late Leroidesanimaux, made his first start on dirt in the 2011 Kentucky Derby and wore the blanket of roses in the winner's circle. Five years earlier, a son of predominant turf sire Dynaformer named Barbaro won the Kentucky Derby. Of Dynaformer's 131 black-type winners, 104 won on the grass.

Gradually American breeders and owners are embracing turf-oriented pedigrees, and stallion farms are increasingly finding room on their rosters for top turf runners. The entering-year sire class of 2017 featured three prominent grade 1 turf stars: Calumet Farm's Big Blue Kitten , Hill 'n' Dale Farms' Flintshire , and WinStar Farm's Tourist . This class also included Taylor Made's Mshawish , who won grade 1 stakes on both turf and dirt.

This year's dominant turf star going to stud is Mill Ridge Farm's Oscar Performance , a son of  2018's leading North American sire Kitten's Joy , who was bred and raced by John and Jerry Amerman. The striking bay stallion won grade 1 stakes at 2, 3, and 4 and broke a 20-year-old course record at Belmont Park in 2018 when he won the one-mile Poker Stakes (G3T) in 1:31.23.

Oscar Performance is the first high-profile stallion Mill Ridge has stood since the farm pensioned perennial top sire Gone West in 2009. Headley Bell, who manages the family-owned Mill Ridge, said Oscar Performance's preference for turf did not cause one moment's hesitation in pursuing him as a stallion.

"In our situation, we had not had a stallion for some time. We were waiting for the right opportunity and the right horse, and this horse provided that," Bell said of the 5-year-old horse born and raised at Mill Ridge on behalf of the Amermans, who have been the farm's clients and longtime friends for 15 years. 

"He is a bona fide racehorse with a pedigree blend that is extraordinary. People look for reasons to knock (a stallion) and other than perhaps the turf, you have a hard time knocking this horse. You can't knock him physically, you can't knock his race record, and you can't knock his pedigree. The bottom line is, it's all about the horse, and we believe he's one to be excited about."

Looking at the complexion of this year's Derby contenders and the results of recent yearling sales, Bell said commercial buyers are showing a greater interest in horses with turf-oriented pedigrees.

"I feel we are a little ahead of the curve with NYRA's recent increases in turf races," he said, referring to the New York Racing Association's announcement in February of a new "Turf Trinity" for males and "Turf Tiara" for females, two series worth $5.25 million that emulate the American classics, but on grass. "We also feel as if the market is more accepting of the turf. When we asked around, people told us they had less push-back on their turf horse yearlings last year than they've had in the past. With 41% of our graded stakes run on turf, buyers are looking for these turf horses. It is evolving, and we really believe the commercial side will take care of itself if you've got the horse."

Equally important to the natural gifts a stallion possesses, according to Bell, is the breeders supporting the horse. Oscar Performance is supported by the Amermans, who retained a half interest, and a 20-share syndicate of primarily owner/breeders who bought in on the stallion while he was still racing.

Oscar Performance, who stands for $20,000, is expected to cover 140 mares this year with his book including the Unbridled's Song daughter Fastbridled, the dam of group 1-placed winner Cymric (by Kitten's Joy); Sweet Assay, the dam of multiple graded 1-placed, multiple graded stakes winner Analyze It (Point of Entry ); Gold Round, a half sister to international champion Goldikova; and, Rendezvous Point, the dam of grade 1-placed, graded stakes winner Kitten's Point (Kitten's Joy).

"We definitely rely on the syndicate, an outstanding group of breeders who believe in this horse for the same reasons we do," Bell said. "These are people who have a history of breeding and raising racehorses. They really love this horse and are part of the family."

Regarding the desire to see any particular traits among Oscar Performance's first mares, Bell said the stallion's rich pedigree should work with a broad range of mares and considers any preferences toward dirt or turf to be immaterial to the real goal of producing athletes. 

"I don't think there's any limitation of what he'll work with," Bell said.

Gone West is a prime example of how the farm's focus on cultivating ability has resulted in some unexpected success.

The son of Mr. Prospector was a grade 1 winner on dirt out of the Secretariat mare, Secrettame, who was graded-placed, black-type winner on dirt. As a sire, Gone West sired 50 black-type winners on dirt and 49 black-type winners on turf. Among his 706 winners, 38% won on dirt and 27% won on the grass.

"What we all do is try to position ourselves to get lucky," Bell said. "And truly, sires that are going to be successful will be successful across the board. They are producing competitive runners whether it is on grass or dirt. They are giving the qualities of an athlete. You look at (Oscar Performance) and you won't necessarily think of turf, so maybe we'll be fortunate that he'll be one of those."