Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Myriad Love

A filly hasn’t contested the Kentucky Derby (G1) since Devil May Care finished 10th in 2010. That could potentially change in 2025.

Myriad Love joined the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby with a victory over male rivals in the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun, the second leg of the four-race series. As of December 2024, she ranks atop the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 20 qualification points.

Only time will tell if Myriad Love makes the trip to Churchill Downs, but her pedigree suggests the Kentucky Derby is a viable goal.

Bred by Japan’s Northern Farm—the same breeding operation behind 2024 Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Forever Young—Myriad Love is a daughter of New Year’s Day, whose brief racing career culminated with a triumph in the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).

New Year’s Day first stood at stud in the U.S. before shifting to Brazil and then Japan. Stateside, he left behind Maximum Security, the champion three-year-old male of 2019 after winning the Florida Derby (G1), Haskell (G1), and Cigar Mile H. (G1).

Maximum Security was a capable performer over 1 1/4 miles, the distance of the Kentucky Derby. In fact, he crossed the wire first in the 2019 Kentucky Derby before getting disqualified to 17th place for interfering with rivals around the final turn. The following year, he won the 1 1/4-mile Pacific Classic (G1).

New Year’s Day’s ability to sire talented route racers isn’t surprising, given the makeup of his own pedigree. His sire is Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Street Cry, responsible for 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Cry as well as the legendary mares Zenyatta and Winx.

Meanwhile, New Year’s Day’s dam is the Dixie Union mare Justwhistledixie, whose other foals include the graded stakes-winning route racers Kingly, Mohaymen, and Enforceable. The latter two respectively started in the 2016 and 2020 editions of the Kentucky Derby, finishing fourth and seventh.

The dam side of Myriad Love’s pedigree also offers potential for success over classic distances on dirt.

Myriad Love is the second starter produced by Ladybird, a sprinter who won on both dirt and turf. Her first starter, Steelblue, has won racing as far as 1,600 meters (about one mile) on turf.

Of greater significance, however, is the fact Ladybird is a daughter of Smart Falcon, an accomplished dirt campaigner who won 23 of his 34 starts while competing almost exclusively in Japan. Showing remarkable distance versatility, Smart Falcon recorded dirt wins over distances of 1,400 meters, 1,600 meters, 1700 meters, 1,800 meters, 1,900 meters, 2,000 meters, 2,100 meters, and 2,400 meters. Eight of his wins came over 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles), so it’s safe to say Smart Falcon relished the Kentucky Derby distance.

At stud, one of Smart Falcon’s best runners has been Auvergne, winner of the 1,800-meter Tokai (G2) and 1,900-meter Heian (G3) on dirt in Japan.

It’s worth mentioning Smart Falcon is a son of Gold Allure, who is in turn a son of 1989 Kentucky Derby and Preakness (G1) winner Sunday Silence. Gold Allure won the 1,800-meter February (G1) and has sired some of Japan’s best dirt route racers, including the multiple Group 1 winners Espoir City and Gold Dream.

Meanwhile, Ladybird’s dam is She’s Impossible, a stakes-placed filly who won four times sprinting on dirt and synthetic. She’s Impossible is a daughter of Yankee Victor, an accomplished miler who counted the Metropolitan H. (G1) and Westchester H. (G3) as his signature triumphs.

In addition to Ladybird, She’s Impossible has foaled All Possible, I’m Possible, Lago di Lagorai, and One Millionth, all of whom have recorded at least one win on dirt. One Millionth was a particularly talented runner, winning half a dozen times on dirt over distances from 1,400 meters to 2,100 meters.

Taking all of these pedigree elements together, it’s clear Myriad Love is cut out to shine racing 1 1/4 miles on dirt in the Kentucky Derby.