Came Home has rising son for Kentucky Derby

Mont Saint Legame won last weekend’s Cattleya Sho at Tokyo Racecourse, the first of two races in Japan offering points toward the 2017 Kentucky Derby. Although the colt has yet to set foot on American soil, he is by a familiar name.

Mont Saint Legame is by three-time Grade 1 winner Came Home, who won 9 of 12 career starts, including eight graded stakes, for earnings of more than $1.8 million. The son of Gone West posted his signature triumphs in the 2001 Hopeful Stakes and the following year’s Santa Anita Derby and Pacific Classic.

Came Home began his stud career at Lane’s End in 2003, but was sold to stand in Japan beginning with the 2008 season. His 19 career stakes winners include Japanese Group 3 winners Tagano Tonnerre and Sound Rihanna; in North America, his top runners are Grade 3 winner Passion and multiple stakes winners Quindici Man, Beautiful Venue, Came West, Headed for Home, and So Gone

Mont Saint Legame is the first stakes horse out of the winning Jade Robbery mare Julia Biko, dam of five winners from seven starters. She is a half-sister to Scarlet Lady, dam of four stakes horses, led by Group 1 Japan Cup Dirt and February Stakes winner Vermilion. This is also the family of Japanese champions Daiwa Major and Daiwa Scarlet.