Derby Watch pedigree profile: Suddenbreakingnews

Suddenbreakingnews

Mineshaft – Uchitel, by Afleet Alex

(Purchased for $72,000 by S.F. Henderson at the 2014 Keeneland September yearling sale)

The champion Mineshaft, standing just across the aisle from his great sire, A.P. Indy, in the Lane’s End stallion barn, has quietly fashioned a solid stud career for himself. Carrying the banner is his Grade 3 Southwest Stakes winner, Suddenbreakingnews, who will take the next step on the Kentucky Derby trail in Saturday’s Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

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Suddenbreakingnews is from a family that has crossed very well with the A.P. Indy line.

Mineshaft was Horse of the Year in 2003, when he won four Grade 1 events, taking the Pimlico Special, Suburban Handicap, Woodward Stakes, and Jockey Club Gold Cup. Retired following that campaign, he has developed into one of A.P. Indy’s more consistent sons at stud. Among A.P. Indy’s active sons with active runners, Mineshaft ranks first in the group by average progeny earnings and is tied with Malibu Moon for first in percentage of stakes horses from starters.

Some of Mineshaft’s offspring have followed in his footsteps with route victories, including Clark Handicap winner and Breeders’ Cup Classic runner-up Effinex, multiple Grade 1-winning filly It’s Tricky, Florida Derby winner Dialed In, and classic-placed Fly Down. However, his progeny’s average winning distance is 7.35 furlongs, and his runners also include Grade 1-winning sprinter Discreetly Mine and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint winner Hightail.

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Suddenbreakingnews is the second winner from as many starters out of the Afleet Alex mare Uchitel. Her other winner, Virginia Hill, is by Sky Mesa, a grandson of A.P. Indy.

Out of the Alleged mare Party Cited, a Grade 3 winner and Grade 1-placed, Uchitel is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Composure and Grade 3 winner Ready Set. Composure went on to produce Grade 2 winner Penwith, by A.P. Indy’s son Bernardini, and Grade 1-placed Centring and Tranquil Manners, both by A.P. Indy.