2023 Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Continuar

Continuar

Drefong – Pan de Ring, by King Kamehameha

Bred in Japan by Lake Villa Farm ($635,432 JRHA yearling purchase by Toshihiko Tabata)

Japanese-based Thoroughbreds have in recent years found increased success in major world events, such as the Breeders’ Cup and Dubai World Cup Carnival. The country’s horsemen have long eyed the Kentucky Derby, and it became obvious as this Derby Watch season unfolded that the Japanese contingent would be a major part of the picture. Derma Sotogake and Continuar are both guaranteed a spot in the starting gate as of April 25 – Mandarin Hero still needs defections to make the field – and both cross American dirt speed over stamina-oriented bloodlines. Continuar, in particular, has a female family that will be very familiar to U.S. racing fans.

Continuar is from the second crop of Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner and Eclipse Award champion Drefong, who was Japan’s leading freshman sire of 2021. Derma Sotogake is from the first crop of multiple Grade/Group 1 winner Mind Your Biscuits, a U.S.-based dirt sprinter. Drefong is already showing that his offspring can get a route of ground. He also is the sire of Japanese 2000 Guineas winner Geoglyph.

:: DRF Kentucky Derby Package: Save on PPs, Clocker Reports, Betting Strategies, and more.

Unraced Pan de Ring, the dam of two winners, is out of Group 1 winner Fusaichi Pandora, who was runner-up in the Japanese Oaks. Pan de Ring is a half-sister to two-time Japanese Horse of the Year Almond Eye, and they are bred on the same cross.

Pan de Ring’s great-granddam Sex Appeal – dam of a pair of champions in her own right – is a half-sister to, among other standouts, Kentucky Oaks winner Blush With Pride.

Blush With Pride’s daughter Better Than Honour produced back-to-back Belmont Stakes winners in Jazil and Rags to Riches. Rags to Riches also won the 2007 Kentucky Oaks and was an Eclipse Award champion.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.