Kentucky Derby Pedigree Profile: Cairo Cat

Cairo Cat got the 2019 Road to the Kentucky Derby series started last Saturday when registering a half-length upset over favorite Tight Ten in the $150,000 Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs.

The 1 1/16-mile Iroquois, worth 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the winner, was the first of three Derby point-scoring opportunities at the home of the Kentucky Derby (G1) this fall. The others are the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) on November 2 and the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) on November 24. Both are also at 1 1/16 miles.

How would Cairo Cat potentially do over the same track going three-sixteenths of a mile farther on the first Saturday in May?

Cairo Cat is the first stakes winner sired by Cairo Prince, an early candidate for the 2014 Kentucky Derby who ultimately didn't make the race. Cairo Prince won three of his five career starts, including the Nashua (G3) at one mile and the Holy Bull (G2) by 5 3/4 lengths going 1 1/16 miles, but he lost both times he attempted 1 1/8 miles. He was nosed out by future champion Honor Code in the Remsen (G2) in his final start at two, and then was a disappointing fourth as the favorite in the Florida Derby (G1) and did not race again after sustaining an injury.

Cairo Prince is by Pioneerof the Nile, himself a Kentucky Derby runner-up and notably the sire of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. Cairo Prince's dam, the multiple stakes-winning Holy Bull mare Holy Bubbette, did not win beyond six furlongs. Holy Bubbette has also produced Grade 1-placed Nonna Mia, herself the dam of Wood Memorial (G1) winner Outwork, and the stakes-placed Holdin Bullets.

Cairo Cat is the second winner and first stakes winner reared by La Belle Cat, who at the end of her career was competing in $5,000 conditioned claimers. She's a Tale of the Cat half-sister to Palace Pier, who captured the Ontario Lassie at 1 1/16 miles and placed in the Beaumont (G2) at Keeneland.

Prior to his 17-1 upset of the Iroquois, the Kenny McPeek-trained Cairo Cat had finished up the track in his debut on turf at Saratoga, but came back to post an 18-1 victory by a head going seven furlongs in an off-the-turf maiden at the same track.

While his pedigree seems to lean more toward races under 10 furlongs, Cairo Cat should be given a chance to prove otherwise.

(Coady Photography)