Pedigree profile: France Go de Ina

Triple Crown nominee France Go de Ina has taken a circuitous route to reach the American classics. Although he’s been campaigned in Japan and Dubai, the chestnut colt was bred in Kentucky and boasts a strong pedigree instantly recognizable to U.S. racing fans.

France Go de Ina is a son of Will Take Charge, who competed in all three legs of the 2013 Triple Crown, before he rattled off victories in the Travers (G1), Clark H. (G1), and Pennsylvania Derby (G2). An elite performer over 1 1/4 miles, Will Take Charge was beaten just a nose in the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), which helped the late-maturing sophomore earn an Eclipse Award for champion three-year-old male.

Will Take Charge was always cut out to be a champion. His sire, Unbridled’s Song, was a standout stallion, whose most successful runners include Breeders’ Cup Classic victor Arrogate and Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) winners Forever Unbridled, Unbridled Elaine, and Unrivaled Belle.

But Will Take Charge’s dam, Take Charge Lady, boasts an equally impressive résumé. A three-time Grade 1 winner, Take Charge Lady has foaled Florida Derby (G1) winner Take Charge Indy and the accomplished broodmare Charming, the dam of champion two-year-old Take Charge Brandi and multiple Grade 1 winner Omaha Beach.

Will Take Charge hasn’t quite set the world on fire at stud, though he has sired a handful of capable graded stakes performers. Chief among them is Will’s Secret, winner of the Martha Washington S. and Honeybee (G3) on the 2020-2021 Road to the Kentucky Oaks.

The bottom half of France Go de Ina’s pedigree might seem a bit less accomplished at first glance. Dam Dreamy Blues went winless in four starts, and her first foal — Takhteet — has failed to break his maiden.

But Dreamy Blues is a daughter of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, who is carving out a spectacular stud career as a source of classic dirt stamina. Preakness (G1) winner Exaggerator, Belmont (G1) victor Palace Malice, Kentucky Derby (G1) runner-up Good Magic, and Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Malathaat are just a few of the many Grade 1 winners Curlin has sired. Dreamy Blues was produced by Shawklit Delight, a daughter of Preakness winner Pine Bluff and the dam of Vagrancy H. (G2) winner Shawklit Mint.

It’s still too early to determine what kind of a legacy Curlin will impart as broodmare sire, but if France Go de Ina is any indication, crossing the bloodlines of Will Take Charge and Curlin has the potential for great success.

France Go de Ina has already posted two powerful victories over 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) in Japan, and the talented colt may soon influence the classics in the nation where he was bred.