Pedigree analysis of Debutante runners

Picking up where we left off from the Bashford Manor, here are the pedigree notes for the fillies in Saturday’s Debutante S. at Churchill, again in program order:

#1 Langstars Charmer is by Canadian champion sprinter Langfuhr, who has transcended his own distance limitations as a successful sire. His top performers include champion Lawyer Ron and Canadian Triple Crown winner Wando. The Iowa-bred juvenile’s dam is the winning End Sweep mare Star Escort. While there is little of note close up in the family, further back one finds Horse of the Year and 1985 Kentucky Derby (G1) hero Spend a Buck, Irish classic winner Hula Angel, and 2010 Florida Derby (G1) victor and Kentucky Derby runner-up Ice Box.

#2 Adhara is by multiple Grade 2-winning millionaire Cowboy Cal, a well-bred son of Giant’s Causeway who hasn't lived up to promise so far at stud. Surprisingly, he has yet to sire the winner of a black-type stakes race in the Northern Hemisphere. But Adhara’s robust female line may carry her. The Winchell Thoroughbreds homebred is out of the stakes-placed Tapit mare Tapatia, a three-quarter sister to Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Tapizar from the family of current champion Untapable.

 #3 Tia Chuy is from the first crop of Archarcharch, the 2011 Arkansas Derby (G1) hero. Her dam, the Awesome Again mare Miss Laylee, is a winning half-sister to multiple Grade 1-placed Riveting Reason. The Pennsylvania-bred counts as her third dam multiple Grade 3 scorer Rabiadella, who produced Canadian Grade 2 victress Diadella and multiple stakes winner and Grade 2-placed Say a Novena. Despite the useful female line and overall solid pedigree, Tia Chuy was a bargain-basement $1,000 yearling at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October.

#4 Sheza Fine Justice is by freshman sire Regal Ransom, winner of both the U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2) and Super Derby (G2) in 2009. She was produced by the winning Even Tempo, a Stephen Got Even half-sister to Grade 3-placed stakes scorer Saratoga’s Magic. This is the immediate family of multiple Canadian stakes victor and Grade 2-placed Awesome Rhythm. Offered as a Keeneland September yearling, the Ohio-bred failed to reach her reserve when bidding stalled at $7,000.

#5 Cosmic Evolution is by Proud Citizen, the 2002 Lexington (G2) winner and Kentucky Derby runner-up. Possibly emerging as more of a “filly sire,” Proud Citizen is responsible for champion Proud Spell and fellow Kentucky Oaks (G1) queen Believe You Can, as well as Chilean champion Vamo a Galupiar. Cosmic Evolution is out of Laheen, a winner by Ghostzapper, from the family of multiple Grade 2 victress Naissance Royale. A $20,000 Keeneland September yearling, she has an attractive pedigree top to bottom with the likes of Seattle Slew and Private Account as her second and third damsires.

#6 Areolite can claim to be the best-bred filly in the race, even more so than stablemate and 2-1 morning-line favorite Adhara. This fellow Winchell homebred hails from the same family, with such maternal relatives in common as champion Untapable. But Areolite is herself by Untapable’s sire, North American record-setting sire Tapit, who is also responsible for champions Stardom Bound and Hansen along with 2014 Belmont (G1) star Tonalist and recent Belmont runner-up Frosted. Areolite was produced by the stakes-placed Catera, a Gone West half-sister to Grade 1-winning juvenile Cuvee and Grade 2 victor Will He Shine.

#7 Thievery is by Valid Expectations, a productive campaigner for the same connections of Ackerley Brothers Farm and trainer Steve Asmussen. His seven stakes wins highlighted by the 1996 Derby Trial (G3) at Churchill, he has gone on to become a yeoman sire through such flagbearers as 2005 Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) winner Saratoga County and the same year’s Super Derby hero, The Daddy. The Texas-bred juvenile is a full sister to three stakes performers, including stakes winners Big Texas Daddy and Namesake. Their dam, the winning Diablo mare Keepthename, is in turn a half-sister to Grade 3 victor B L’s Appeal.

#8 Don’t Boss Me is by the multiple Grade 1-winning sprinter Street Boss. A young son of Street Cry, Street Boss has made a splash with his initial crops featuring 2014 Arkansas Derby winner and Kentucky Derby third Danza, 2013 King’s Bishop (G1) scorer Capo Bastone and current El Camino Real Derby (G3) conqueror Metaboss. Out of the winning Miswaki mare Champagne N Glory, Don’t Boss Me is a half-sister to minor black-type placed Unsaddled Glory. The April 28 foal sold for just $15,000 as a Keeneland September yearling, but appreciated to $40,000 as a two-year-old in training at OBS April.

Photo: Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer