Pedigree profile: Wynstock

Stretching out in distance has worked wonders for Wynstock. After failing to factor in his first two starts sprinting, the chestnut colt has been unstoppable in two-turn races, dominating a one-mile maiden special weight before battling to victory in the 1 1/16-mile Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) at Los Alamitos.

It’s no wonder why Wynstock has improved over longer distances. His pedigree is filled with potential for success around two turns.

Wynstock hails from the first crop of foals sired by Solomini, a son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin. Curlin was a beast over classic distances, counting the Preakness (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) among his major wins, and at stud he’s proven to be a reliable source of classic stamina. Indeed, Curlin is the sire of Preakness winner Exaggerator and Belmont (G1) hero Palace Malice, and he’s the grandsire of Kentucky Derby winners Rich Strike and Mage.

Solomini didn’t accomplish quite as much as Curlin’s best runners, but he held his own against tough competition at age two and three, posting top-three finishes in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), FrontRunner (G1), Arkansas Derby (G1), and Los Alamitos Futurity. In the latter race (a Grade 1 at the time), Solomini crossed the wire in first place, but wound up being disqualified to third place for causing interference.

Solomini’s form slipped following a 10th-place finish in the 2018 Kentucky Derby, and he retired after a largely unproductive 2019 campaign. But like other sons of Curlin, Solomini has gotten off to a strong start at stud. In addition to Wynstock, Solomini’s first crop of foals has produced seven-furlong New York Stallion Series S. winner My Shea D Lady and 5 1/2-furlong Lady Finger S. heroine Soloshot.

As for the bottom half of Wynstock’s pedigree, he’s the first foal produced by Timberlea, who failed to finish better than third in eight starts. But Timberlea is a daughter of Flatter, a son of Belmont winner and renowned stamina influence A.P. Indy. Flatter is best known as the sire of 1 1/4-mile Travers (G1) and 1 1/8-mile Pennsylvania Derby (G1) winner West Coast, the champion three-year-old male of 2017.

Other accomplished sons and daughters of Flatter include two-time 1 1/4-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) hero Flat Out, 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Oaks (G1) runner-up Search Results, and the six-time Grade 1-placed Upstart, the sire of 1 1/8-mile Blue Grass (G1) winner and Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Zandon.

Meanwhile, daughters of Flatter have foaled not only Wynstock, but also 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby (G1) and Pennsylvania Derby winner Taiba and 1 1/16-mile Alcibiades (G1) winner Juju’s Map.

It should be noted that Flatter isn’t all about speed; he’s also the sire of seven-furlong Humana Distaff (G1) winner Taris, and his progeny win at the modest average distance of 6.9 furlongs. But that’s actually a good thing, because pure stamina without speed isn’t ideal; a combination of both is usually the key to consistent success over classic distances. Crossing the stout bloodlines of Solomini and Curlin with the somewhat speedier genetics of Timberlea and Flatter should give Wynstock every chance to shine over distances up to 1 1/4 miles.