Pedigree Profile: Wildcat Red

The most impressive thing about Wildcat Red is the fact that he's completely outrun his pedigree. He's the only major winner around two turns for his sire, d'Wildcat, and when I say only, I literally mean that the other 4 top performers were at their best at 6 or 7 panels. So while this says he should not get the 10 furlongs of the Derby, he's done nothing but love a route of ground and has done nothing but cash big checks.

Wildcat Red, by D'Wildcat out of Racene (Miner's Mark)

So d'Wildcat. Well, let's start with the fact that he now stands in Louisiana and the vast majority of his performers are on the local Louisiana circuit at Evangeline, Delta, and the Fairgrounds. His best performers only wanted one turn:

• Authenicat - best performance was in the 6f G3 Chicago Handicap on the poly
• Dfunnybone - winner of the 7f Swale at Gulfstream
• Wildcat Lily - best win was the 6f G3 Azalea stakes
• d'Wild Ride - best win was a 6f listed stakes at Mountaineer

After that, he has no winners of more than $500,000 and no millionaires at all. But d'Wildcat is a major influence for speed, which is probably where that pure speed of Wildcat Red comes from. But overall, if you had to choose a stallion that would be the perfect stallion for a 10 furlong winner of the Kentucky Derby, d'Wildcat would not be on your list. But that seems to matter little to Wildcat Red.

Racene seems to be a run of the mill broodmare sire. She was G3 placed in the Yerba Buena and most importantly over 11 furlongs on the grass. But both her dam and 2nd dam are not of any note; she's by the run of the  mill stallion Miner's Mark (more on him in a second); her sales figures are just ok. Up until this year that is. Wildcat Red exploded onto the scene and she had a 2 year old by Pomeroy RNA for $95,000 after working in 10.2. But other than that, there isn't a lot there. But Miner's Mark's pedigree is interesting in and of itself. From Bloodhorse.com:

Miner's Mark was the first foal out of Personal Ensign, Phipps' grand undefeated racehorse and blue hen producer. The daughter of Private Account—Grecian Banner, by Hoist the Flag, was perfect in 16 starts, culminating with a historic victory in the 1988 Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I), considered by many to have been the greatest race in the history of the Breeders' Cup World Championships.

Miner's Mark is a full brother to the grade I-placed Our Emblem, sire of the 2002 Kentucky Derby winner War Emblem, and a half brother to four-time grade I winner My Flag, who is the dam of 2002 champion 2-year-old filly Storm Flag Flying.

Retired to stud, Miner's Mark began his career at Lane's End Farm near Versailles, Ky., with a fee of $20,000. Standing for Phipps and Lane's End owner William S. Farish, Miner's Mark was there for five seasons. In 2001-02 he stood at Dunhill Stud near Reddick, Fla. In 2003 Miner's Mark was moved to Pin Oak Lane Farm near New Freedom, Pa. He then was moved to Blue Ridge Farm in 2004.

Miner's Mark was euthanized in May 2013 at age 23. While not a great sire, you cannot possibly be better bred when you're by Mr. Prospector out of Personal Ensign. Ridiculous. But he has not shown up as any broodmare of consequence yet.

Bottom line is that as of right now, Wildcat Red has proven that his pedigree matters little. He clearly relishes a route, he's shown himself to be tough enough to keep going longer and longer, and he's definitely fast enough to get to the lead in any race. Now can he win the Derby from the front? History says no. But he's not shown any sign of slowing down yet.