Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Madaket Road

We know Madaket Road has speed. On the Road to the Kentucky Derby, he employed pacesetting tactics to finish second in the Rebel (G2) and fourth in the Florida Derby (G1), earning a spot in the Kentucky Derby (G1) starting gate.

But does Madaket Road have the requisite stamina to race 1 1/4 miles in the Kentucky Derby? His lone win came in a six-furlong sprint, and his pedigree suggests classic distances might be a little longer than ideal.

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That was the case for Madaket Road’s sire, Quality Road. A four-time Grade 1 winner over distances from one mile to 1 1/8 miles, Quality Road was brilliant in short routes, but went 0-for-3 racing 1 1/4 miles.

At stud, Quality Road has carved out a productive career with many Grade 1 winners to his credit. His progeny win at an average distance of 7.4 furlongs, indicating he passes on stamina with some reliability.

Many of Quality Road’s best dirt runners have thrived racing 1 1/8 miles or less, including champion three-year-old filly and Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Abel Tasman, champion two-year-old filly and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner Caledonia Road, champion two-year-old male and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Corniche, Saudi Cup (G1) winner Emblem Road, Pegasus World Cup (G1) conqueror City of Light, and the Grade 1 winners Bellafina, Klimt, and Roadster.

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But there have been some notable exceptions. National Treasure won the one-mile Metropolitan H. (G1) and 1 1/8-mile Pegasus World Cup, but he also stretched his speed over 1 3/16 miles to secure a classic win in the Preakness (G1). Dunbar Road stayed 1 1/4 miles to win the Alabama (G1), and Missed the Cut—a multiple graded stakes winner on turf—handled 1 1/2 miles on dirt to dominate the Tokyo City Cup (G3).

Quality Road has also sired a bevy of notable winners racing 1 1/4 miles or farther on turf, including Spring Quality, winner of the 1 1/4-mile Manhattan (G1); Bleecker Street, conqueror of the 1 1/4-mile New York (G1); Integration, winner of the 1 3/8-mile Red Smith (G2); Astronaut, who triumphed in the Red Smith and 1 3/8-mile Del Mar H. (G2); and Friar’s Road, winner of the 1 1/4-mile San Marcos (G2).

There are enough examples of Quality Road siring graded stakes winners over classic distances to suggest 1 1/4 miles isn’t out of the question for Madaket Road. But the dam side of his pedigree is considerably less stout, and that’s a cause for pause where Triple Crown races are concerned.

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Madaket Road was produced by Frolic’s Dream, a daughter of Smoke Glacken out of Flashy Frolic. Flashy Frolic’s other foals include six-furlong Swept Away S. winner Frolicing and one-mile San Clemente H. (G2) winner Mokat, the 13th-place finisher from the 2016 Kentucky Oaks.

Frolic’s Dream scored three stakes wins during an accomplished career, but all three came sprinting seven furlongs or less, including her signature triumph in the Forward Gal (G2). She tried to stretch out over a one-turn mile for the Davona Dale (G2), but faded after setting the pace to finish third by 10 3/4 lengths.

Frolic’s Dream passed on her sprinting prowess to Bode’s Dream, her most accomplished foal before Madeket Road. Bode’s Dream won twice sprinting at the stakes level, taking the 5 1/2-furlong Astoria S. and six-furlong House Party S.

The source of Frolic’s Dream’s speed is likely her sire, Smoke Glacken, the champion sprinter of 1997. While Smoke Glacken won racing as far as one mile in the Southwest (G3), his biggest wins came in sprints, including the seven-furlong Hopeful (G1) and six-furlong Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (G2).

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The progeny of Smoke Glacken have won at a speed-oriented average distance of 6.5 furlongs. Short routes have been within reach—Smoke Glacken’s daughter On Fire Baby won the Apple Blossom H. (G1) and La Troienne (G1) racing 1 1/16 miles—but he generally isn’t known as a source of classic stamina.

On the bright side, Smoke Glacken’s daughter Hookah Lady foaled Get Smokin, winner of the United Nations (G2), Kentucky Turf Cup (G2), and Valedictory (G3) over distances from 1 3/8 miles to 1 1/2 miles on turf and Tapeta.

But chances are, Smoke Glacken has contributed more speed than stamina to the genetic makeup of Madaket Road. That’s likely to tip the scales toward Madaket Road excelling over miles and short routes rather than classic distances, like many of Quality Road’s best dirt racers.

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