Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Final Gambit

A terrific homestretch rally allowed Final Gambit to overcome a bumping start and dominate the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), his Road to the Kentucky Derby debut.

The Jeff Ruby took place at a distance of 1 1/8 miles over the synthetic Tapeta track at Turfway Park. The Kentucky Derby (G1) is a 1 1/4-mile dirt race. Does Final Gambit have the pedigree to switch distances and surfaces successfully for the Run for the Roses?

There’s a strong chance the answer is “yes” on both accounts.

Final Gambit is a son of Not This Time, a stallion with the genetic makeup to sire major winners over a wide variety of distances and surfaces. Not This Time is a son of European grass star Giant’s Causeway, who won Group 1 races over distances from one mile to 1 5/16 miles in addition to finishing second in the 1 1/4-mile Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on dirt.

Plus, Not This Time’s dam is Miss Macy Sue, a stakes winner on dirt and synthetic who previously foaled Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Liam’s Map.

Giant’s Causeway sired top-notch runners on dirt, turf, and synthetic, but his progeny primarily thrived racing one mile or farther. That includes Not This Time, winner of the Iroquois (G3) and runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) racing 1 1/16 miles on dirt.

Not This Time is following Giant’s Causeway’s example as a stallion, with the added versatility of siring sprinters and route racers alike.

A sampling of Not This Time’s top progeny includes Epicenter, a champion three-year-old who won the 1 1/4-mile Travers (G1) after finishing second in the Kentucky Derby and 1 3/16-mile Preakness (G1); Up to the Mark, a champion turf male after winning three Grade 1 races over distances from one mile to 1 1/4 miles; Cogburn, a record-setting winner of the 5 1/2-furlong Jaipur (G1) on turf; Next, a multiple graded stakes-winning dirt marathon star; and Sibelius, Just One Time, and Princess Noor, all Grade 1-winning dirt sprinters.

Since the top half of Final Gambit’s pedigree suggests he could develop into any sort of horse—sprinter, miler, router, dirt horse, turf horse, synthetic specialist—we’ll look to the bottom half of his pedigree to gauge which direction he might ultimately lean.

Final Gambit’s dam is Pachinko, who scored her lone victory in a one-mile maiden special weight over the Ellis Park turf course. Her first foal, Havildar, is a two-time winner over distances of 1 1/16 miles and one mile and 70 yards on dirt.

Pachinko, in turn, is a daughter of Tapit out of Hachita. Tapit won the 1 1/8-mile Wood Memorial (G1) on dirt and is a three-time leading North American sire best known for siring long-winded dirt racers, including four winners of the 1 1/2-mile Belmont (G1): Tonalist, Creator, Tapwrit, and Essential Quality. Tapit is also the sire of 2022 Horse of the Year Flightline, whose undefeated career culminated with a runaway win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Tapit is also developing a strong reputation as a broodmare sire. His daughters have foaled a bevy of accomplished horses, including Horse of the Year and two-time Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Cody’s Wish, champion three-year-old filly and 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Pretty Mischievous, champion three-year-old male and Belmont/Travers winner Arcangelo, and the six-time Group 1-winning turf sprinter/miler Gran Alegria.

As for Hachita, she’s enjoyed success as a broodmare. Aside from Pachinko, she has foaled 2,000-meter (about 1 1/4-mile) Prix Jean Romanet (G1) winner Announce, the multiple Group 3-placed Straight Thinking, and 1 1/16-mile Athenia (G3) third-place finisher Mexican Gold. All three of these horses did their best work on turf.

Taking all of these elements together, it’s clear the pedigree of Final Gambit is packed with multi-surface versatility. While Final Gambit has proven best on Tapeta and has yet to race on dirt, there’s no reason to believe he’ll struggle while switching surfaces, especially since Not This Time and Tapit were both talented dirt racers.

Furthermore, there’s nothing in Final Gambit’s pedigree to suggest 1 1/4 miles is out of reach. Don’t underestimate his chances of shining over the Kentucky Derby conditions.