Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: California Burrito

A refuse-to-lose tenacity carried California Burrito to victory in the 1 1/16-mile John Battaglia Memorial S. at Turfway Park. The frontrunning colt turned back a challenge to prevail by half a length.

The John Battaglia Memorial took place over Turfway’s synthetic Tapeta track, but California Burrito previously showed encouraging form on dirt at Churchill Downs, trouncing a $150,000 maiden claimer and finishing second in a $100,000 allowance optional claimer.

Switching back to dirt for the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) shouldn’t be a concern for California Burrito. But can he handle the Derby’s 1 1/4-mile distance? That’s a tougher question.

California Burrito is a son of Army Mule, a talented but lightly raced runner who retired with an unblemished 3-for-3 record. He was clearly a stellar sprinter, winning all of his starts—including the Carter H. (G1)—by a minimum of 6 1/4 lengths. But he never tackled a distance longer than seven furlongs.

Whether Army Mule could have handled longer trips is open to debate. Certainly his pedigree offered potential for success around two turns. His sire, Friesan Fire, won the 1 1/8-mile Louisiana Derby (G2) and several other two-turn stakes. His dam, Crafty Toast, foaled Platinum Steel, the dam of 1 1/4-mile King’s Plate S. winner Paramount Prince.

But as a stallion, Army Mule is siring sprinters and milers. His progeny have compiled a speed-oriented average winning distance of 6.5 furlongs. The best of them include seven-furlong H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1) winner One in Vermillion and six-furlong Phoenix (G2) winner Federal Judge.

If California Burrito is going to handle 1 1/4 miles in the Kentucky Derby, he’ll have to rely on the bottom half of his pedigree for stamina. There’s definitely stamina in his female family, but will it be enough?

California Burrito’s dam is Bluegrass Sunset, an unremarkable racer who failed to crack the top three in two starts. She’s found more success as a broodmare, with her first three starters recording multiple victories apiece. In addition to California Burrito, she’s foaled Splurge (a sprinter on Tapeta) and Mongolian Diamond (a miler on dirt).

Bluegrass Sunset is a daughter of Hard Spun out of the Dynaformer mare Bluegrass Princess, and this is where the stamina comes into play.

Hard Spun scored his signature victory in the seven-furlong King’s Bishop (G1), but he was also a capable campaigner over classic distances, finishing second in the Kentucky Derby, second in the 1 1/4-mile Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), and third in the 1 3/16-mile Preakness (G1). His progeny have compiled a solid average winning distance of 7.4 furlongs, and several have won at the highest level over 1 1/4 miles. Two years ago, his son Two Phil’s finished second in the Kentucky Derby.

Hard Spun has also found success as a broodmare sire. His daughters have foaled champion juvenile and Kentucky Derby runner-up Good Magic and the long-winded dirt marathoner Lone Rock, to name a couple of prominent examples.

As for Bluegrass Princess, she won three times racing 1 1/16 miles and placed twice at the graded stakes level over 1 1/8 miles. Her sire, Dynaformer, was a renowned stamina influence best known for siring 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro. Other long-winded progeny of Dynaformer include Americain, winner of the Melbourne Cup (G1) over 3,200 meters (about two miles); Point of Entry, a five-time Grade 1 winner racing as far as 1 1/2 miles; and Perfect Drift, who recorded top-three finishes in nine Grade 1 stakes, including the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Having Hard Spun, Bluegrass Princess, and Dynaformer in the bottom half of his pedigree is likely the reason why California Burrito found enough stamina to win over 1 1/16 miles in the John Battaglia Memorial. And their influence may well prove sufficient to carry California Burrito over even longer distances.

But it remains to be seen how much the speed influence of Army Mule will be a limiting factor, especially since California Burrito’s dam—Bluegrass Sunset—previously foaled sprinters and milers. It’s possible 1 1/4 miles is a little too far for this particular pedigree cross.