Pioneer of Medina: Kentucky Derby contender profile
Pioneer of Medina arrives at Churchill Downs (Coady Photography)
May 6th, 2022
Pioneer of Medina barely made the 20-horse cut for the Kentucky Derby, qualifying by virtue of a fourth in the Risen Star (G2) and a third in the Louisiana Derby (G2) in his first two stakes outings. His Brisnet Speed ratings have increased nicely in four starts since mid-December, but the bay Kentucky-bred will need to keep improving to challenge on the first Saturday in May. Pioneer of Medina possesses the tactical foot to establish favorable positioning in the early stages with a clean break, and he rates as a wild card for a savvy Kentucky Derby conditioner.
Trainer #ToddPletcher joined the Morning Works show this morning to discuss his @KentuckyDerby contenders, #MoDonegal, #ChargeIt, and #PioneerofMedina, with @TravisStone, @ScottShap34, and @bstaubs22! pic.twitter.com/98d7ve0ang
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) April 28, 2022
Owner: Pioneer of Medina will be the first Kentucky Derby runner for Oussama Aboughazale’s Sumaya U.S. Stable.
Trainer: Todd Pletcher is the all-time leader by Kentucky Derby starts, compiling a 59-2-2-4 record since saddling his first horse in 2000. His wins came via Super Saver (2011) and Always Dreaming (2017), and Pletcher is also preparing Charge It and Mo Donegal for this year’s Run for the Roses.
Sire: Runner-up in the 2009 Kentucky Derby, Pioneerof the Nile sired the first American Triple Crown winner in 37 years, American Pharoah, who swept the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont S. in 2015. He’s a son of Empire Maker, who has Messier in the Kentucky Derby field, and Pioneerof the Nile will also be represented by Tawny Port in this year’s starting gate.
Dam: Pioneer of Medina is out of the stakes-winning Lights of Medina, runner-up in the 2017 Black-Eyed Susan (G2). Lights of Medina is a daughter of Esekendereya, who is still a relatively new broodmare sire, and Lights of Medina's dam, Medina Thunder, is a daughter of 1995 Kentucky Derby and Belmont S. winner Thunder Gulch
Top Brisnet Speed: 96, Louisiana Derby
Top Brisnet Late Pace: 95, Louisiana Derby
Pioneer of Medina Speed Figures
Top Brisnet Speed: 96, Louisiana Derby
Top Brisnet Late Pace: 95, Louisiana Derby
Pioneer of Medina Pedigree
Sire: Pioneerof the Nile
Runner-up in the 2009 Kentucky Derby, Pioneerof the Nile sired the first American Triple Crown winner in 37 years, American Pharoah, who swept the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont S. in 2015. He’s a son of Empire Maker, who has Messier in the Kentucky Derby field, and Pioneerof the Nile will also be represented by Tawny Port in this year’s starting gate.
Dam: Lights of Medina
Pioneer of Medina is out of the stakes-winning Lights of Medina, runner-up in the 2017 Black-Eyed Susan (G2). Lights of Medina is a daughter of Esekendereya, who is still a relatively new broodmare sire, and Lights of Medina's dam, Medina Thunder, is a daughter of 1995 Kentucky Derby and Belmont S. winner Thunder Gulch.
Pioneer of Medina Connections
Owner: Oussama Aboughazale’s Sumaya U.S. Stable
Pioneer of Medina will be the first Kentucky Derby runner for Oussama Aboughazale’s Sumaya U.S. Stable.
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Todd Pletcher is the all-time leader by Kentucky Derby starts, compiling a 59-2-2-4 record since saddling his first horse in 2000. His wins came via Super Saver (2011) and Always Dreaming (2017), and Pletcher is also preparing Charge It and Mo Donegal for this year’s Run for the Roses.
Learn about all of the Kentucky Derby Contenders and the lead up to the Fastest Two Minutes in Sports here on TwinSpires.com
