Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Jonathan’s Way

Jonathan’s Way became the first horse to earn points on the 2024-25 Road to the Kentucky Derby when wiring the one-mile Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs.

Bred in Ohio by Susan L. Anderson Racing, Jonathan’s Way has shown versatility in terms of running style. He was never headed in the Iroquois, but won his debut sprinting six furlongs with a big rally after a troubled start.

But does Jonathan’s Way have the pedigree to race 1 1/4 miles on the first Saturday in May? The Kentucky Derby (G1) distance tests both speed and stamina, and while we know Jonathan’s Way has speed, his pedigree suggests stamina is a question mark.

Jonathan’s Way hails from the first crop of foals sired by Vekoma, a talented sprinter/miler who won the seven-furlong Carter H. (G1) and one-mile Metropolitan H. (G1) during an unblemished 2020 campaign. The previous year, Vekoma stretched his speed over 1 1/8 miles to win the Blue Grass (G2), but he was tiring at the finish, running his final three furlongs in about :39.36. In the Kentucky Derby four weeks later, Vekoma raced forwardly before fading to cross the wire in 13th place (upgraded to 12th via disqualification).

That Vekoma proved superior in sprints and miles rather than routes isn’t surprising. While his sire, Candy Ride, proved sufficiently long-winded to win the 1 1/4-mile Pacific Classic (G1), the bottom half of Vekoma’s pedigree is largely about speed. His dam, Mona de Momma, won the seven-furlong Humana Distaff (G1) and 6 1/2-furlong Las Flores H. (G3). She, in turn, is a daughter of Speightstown, voted champion sprinter of 2004 after winning the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G3) and three other graded sprint stakes.

Now, Vekoma wouldn’t be the first sprinter/miler to sire a Kentucky Derby winner; five-time leading North American sire Into Mischief proved best as a sprinter/miler and passes on ample speed at stud, but is nevertheless the sire of Kentucky Derby winners Authentic (2020) and Mandaloun (2021).

The problem for Jonathan’s Way is that the bottom half of his pedigree is also geared toward speed. His dam is Female Drama, who scored her signature victory in the six-furlong Wings of Jove S. at Belmont Park. Five of her foals prior to Jonathan’s Way have reached the races; three have been sprinters and two have been milers, but none of them have recorded a single victory running farther than one mile and 70 yards.

That isn’t surprising since Female Drama is a daughter of Indian Charlie. Winner of the 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby (G1), Indian Charlie had plenty of speed and talent, but he faltered in the final furlong of the 1998 Kentucky Derby, weakening to finish third by 2 3/4 lengths as the favorite.

At stud, Indian Charlie developed a reputation for siring sprinters and milers. His top progeny include Indian Blessing, a two-time champion who won the 1 1/16-mile Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) before developing into a three-time Grade 1-winning sprinter; Uncle Mo, a champion two-year-old who won the 1 1/16-mile Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1); By the Moon, winner of the one-mile Frizette (G1) and seven-furlong Ballerina (G1); and A. P. Indian, conqueror of the six-furlong Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. (G1) and seven-furlong Forego (G1).

As a dam sire (the position he occupies in the pedigree of Jonathan’s Way), Indian Charlie has fared better with route racers. His daughters have foaled undefeated 2022 Horse of the Year Flightline, winner of the 1 1/4-mile Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1); Hot Rod Charlie, runner-up in the Kentucky Derby and 1 1/2-mile Belmont (G1); and Charge It, winner of the 1 1/4-mile Suburban (G2).

But an important distinction must be noted: Flightline and Charge It are sons of stamina influence Tapit (who has sired four Belmont winners), while Hot Rod Charlie is a son of 1 3/16-mile Preakness (G1) winner Oxbow. In other words, these three likely inherited stamina from their sires rather than from dam sire Indian Charlie. When daughters of Indian Charlie are mated with speedier stallions, they have produced the multiple graded stakes-winning sprinter Frank’s Rockette (by Into Mischief) and 1,200-meter (about six-furlong) Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) hero Switzerland. Indian Charlie is also the dam sire of champion male sprinter Mitole, a son of the reasonably long-winded 1 1/8-mile Wood Memorial (G1) winner Eskendereya.

Taking all of these pedigree elements as a whole, Jonathan’s Way is bred to shine in sprints and miles. Even 1 1/8 miles may prove to be within his reach, but the Kentucky Derby’s 1 1/4-mile journey may stretch the limits of his stamina.