Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Kingsbarns
Kingsbarns winning the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds (Photo by Hodges Photography/Jamie Newell)
March 27th, 2023
A gate-to-wire victory in the Louisiana Derby (G2) has launched the undefeated Kingsbarns into the Kentucky Derby (G1) picture, and his pedigree suggests he’s well-suited to racing 1 1/4 miles on the first Saturday in May.
Kingsbarns is a son of 2010 champion two-year-old male Uncle Mo, already the sire of Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist and Belmont (G1) hero Mo Donegal. Running long on dirt is a strong suit for many of Uncle Mo’s top runners, and his progeny win at a lofty average distance of 7.5 furlongs.
| Kingsbarns Pedigree |
|---|
Indian Charlie | ||
Uncle Mo | ||
Playa Maya | ||
Kingsbarns | ||
Tapit | ||
Lady Tapit | ||
Temperence Gift |
Meanwhile, Kingsbarns is the first winning foal produced by Lady Tapit, who scored her lone victory in a one-mile maiden special weight at Los Alamitos. Lady Tapit wasn’t a superstar, but she was best running long on dirt, crossing the wire fourth in the Santa Margarita (G1), Santa Maria (G1), and Adoration (G3) as a five-year-old at Santa Anita.
Lady Tapit’s pedigree is more noteworthy than her racing achievements. She’s a daughter of three-time leading North American sire Tapit, who counts among his progeny the Belmont winners Tonalist (2014), Creator (2016), Tapwrit (2017), and Essential Quality (2021), as well as undefeated 2022 Horse of the Year Flightline. Tapit regularly sires top-class dirt routers, and his progeny win at an average distance of 7.6 furlongs.
Lady Tapit’s dam is Temperence Gift, whose previous foals include American Oaks (G1) winner Gozzip Girl and Gallileo Figaro, the dam of Argentinean Group 3 winners Gallileo’s Town and Gianella.
The cross of Uncle Mo with Tapit mares has yet to produce an elite racehorse; arguably the best has been Pneumatic, winner of the Pegasus S. at Monmouth Park and a competitor in the Preakness (G1) and Belmont. But it’s worth noting the cross of Uncle Mo with a mare by Pulpit (the sire of Tapit) produced the above-mentioned Belmont winner Mo Donegal.
If there’s one knock on the pedigree of Kingsbarns, it’s the fact his bloodlines are geared strongly toward stamina, and a combination of speed and stamina is often required to win the Kentucky Derby. Nyquist, for example, was produced by Seeking Gabrielle, a daughter of seven-furlong King’s Bishop (G1) winner Forestry.
But the fact Kingsbarns led from start to finish in the Louisiana Derby is encouraging, since it shows he has some speed. If Kingsbarns can secure a clean, forwardly placed trip in the Kentucky Derby, his abundant stamina can come into play down the homestretch and place him in the hunt for victory.
