2022 Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Messier

Messier

Empire Maker – Checkered Past, by Smart Strike

Bred in Ontario by Sam-Son Farm ($470,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky selected yearling purchase by SF/Starlight/Madaket)

Messier, who takes his one and only shot at earning a Kentucky Derby berth on Saturday at Santa Anita, is from a pedigree that has had classic success on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border for legendary breeding operations.

Juddmonte homebred Empire Maker won the 2003 Belmont Stakes after finishing second in the Kentucky Derby, giving sire Unbridled, winner of the 1990 Derby, a winner of each leg of the Triple Crown as a sire. He also sired 1996 Derby winner Grindstone and 2000 Preakness winner Red Bullet.

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Empire Maker went on to be a key part of Unbridled’s classic legacy. His sons Pioneerof the Nile and Bodemeister were second in the 2009 and 2012 editions of the Kentucky Derby, respectively, and went on to be classic sires in their own right. Pioneerof the Nile sired 2015 Triple Crown hero American Pharoah and also has been represented by classic-placed Classic Empire and Social Inclusion. Bodemeister was represented by 2017 Derby winner Always Dreaming in his first crop.

Grindstone and his Belmont-winning son Birdstone both became classic sires, further demonstrating the influence of this sireline.

Messier is the first starter out of Checkered Past, who raced as a homebred for legendary Sam-Son Farm and twice won the Trillium Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Woodbine’s synthetic main track. The mare is out of Catch the Flag, in turn out of Grade 3 winner and Canadian champion Catch the Ring, who won the Canadian Oaks and Bison City Stakes, legs of the Canadian Triple Tiara.

Catch the Flag is a full sister to Canadian champion juvenile filly Catch the Thrill as well as stakes winner Catch the Luck. This is the immediate family of another Bison City winner, Seeking the Ring, as well as Grade 2 winner Radiant Ring.

Classic sire Smart Strike, represented by two-time Horse of the Year Curlin and dual Eclipse Award champion Lookin At Lucky, has continued to be a prolific influence in the second generation. In particular, his daughters have had classic success with 2009 Derby winner Mine That Bird; classic-placed Dullahan and First Dude; 2011 Queen’s Plate and Woodbine Oaks winner Inglorious; 2009 Queen’s Plate winner Eye of the Leopard; and additional Canadian classic winners Cool Catomine, Dixie Strike, and Tone Broke.