Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Owen Almighty

We know Owen Almighty has speed. He showed that quite clearly when wiring the 1 1/16-mile Tampa Bay Derby (G3) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby by 3 1/2 lengths.

But does Owen Almighty have the necessary stamina to win over 1 1/4 miles in the Kentucky Derby (G1)? That’s a tough question to answer, because Owen Almighty’s pedigree can be interpreted multiple ways.

Owen Almighty is a son of Speightstown, a pure sprinter who won a quartet of graded stakes dashing seven furlongs or less. He ended his career with a triumph in the six-furlong Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) and was voted champion sprinter of 2004.

As a stallion, Speightstown has generally passed on speed. His progeny win at an average distance of 6.6 furlongs, indicating he primarily sires sprinters and milers. The best of them include Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) winners Switzerland and Reynaldothewizard, Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) hero Tamarkuz, and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) victor Sharing.

But Speightstown has repeatedly shown he’s capable of siring major winners over 1 1/4 miles as well. Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) winners Olympiad and Haynesfield, Travers (G1) hero Golden Ticket, Belmont Derby (G1) conqueror Force the Pass, Hollywood Derby (G1) winner Seek Again, and American Oaks (G1) heroine Competitionofideas have all won at the highest level racing 1 1/4 miles.

One Grade 1 winner over 1 1/4 miles we might chalk up as a fluke. But six of them, including three on dirt? Clearly Speightstown is capable of siring long-winded route racers on occasion.

The key may be the mares. The damsires of Speightstown’s Grade 1 winners over 1 1/4 miles include Medaglia d’Oro, Deputy Minister, Dynaformer, and Danehill, stallions known for siring numerous top-tier winners over classic distances. When mares contribute stamina to the mix, Speightstown has the potential to sire longer-winded runners than usual, though it’s not guaranteed—he’s been known to sire sprinters even when bred to stoutly bred mares.

This brings us to the dam side of Owen Almighty’s pedigree. Does it offer enough stamina to counterbalance the speed of Speightstown? Maybe… or maybe not.

Owen Almighty is the first foal produced by Tempers Rising, a daughter of Bayern. While Tempers Rising never won at the stakes level—and actually scored just one victory, in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight—she did record top-four finishes in the 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Oaks (G1), 1 1/16-mile Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), 1 1/16-mile Rachel Alexandra (G2), and one-mile and 70-yard Silverbulletday S.

As for Bayern, he was a talented runner who won the 1 1/4-mile Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), 1 1/8-mile Haskell (G1), and 1 1/8-mile Pennsylvania Derby (G2). Speed was Bayern’s greatest weapon, but he wasn’t lacking in stamina either, much like his sire Offlee Wild. The 12th-place finisher in the 2003 Kentucky Derby, Offlee Wild won four graded stakes racing 1 1/16 miles or farther and scored his signature victory in the 1 1/4-mile Suburban H. (G1). He also defeated 2003 Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide in the 1 1/8-mile Massachusetts H. (G2).

However, at stud, Bayern has primarily passed on the speed portion of his racing prowess. His progeny have compiled an average winning distance of 6.5 furlongs. They include seven-furlong Malibu (G1) winner Speed Boat Beach, one-mile Buena Vista (G2) victor Leggs Galore, and two-time stakes-winning sprinter Bayerness.

There is, however, a notable exception. Bayern is also the sire of Raon the Fighter, who has competed at a high level running long in South Korea, winning the KRA Cup Classic over 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) before finishing second in the Grand Prix over 2,300 meters (about 1 7/16 miles).

So what does all this mean for Owen Almighty? If one judges from the average winning distance statistics compiled by the progeny of Speightstown and Bayern, Owen Almighty can be expected to shine as a sprinter/miler.

But there’s at least a small chance Owen Almighty has inherited the stoutest genetics of both Speightstown and Bayern, in which case 1 1/4 miles may be within reach.