Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Encino
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Encino
Colt by Nyquist – Glittering Jewel, by Bernardini
Bred in Kentucky by Godolphin
The big question for Encino coming into last Saturday’s Grade 3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland was how he might handle dirt after making his first three starts on Turfway Park’s Tapeta. But the colt, who won gamely to move himself into the Kentucky Derby field based on points, has a classic-type dirt pedigree.
Nyquist, from the first crop of champion juvenile Uncle Mo, helped his sire become the leading freshman stallion of 2015. He followed in Uncle Mo’s footsteps by winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and an Eclipse Award. Nyquist went on to win the 2016 Kentucky Derby and become the first of two classic winners for Uncle Mo, who also sired 2022 Belmont Stakes winner Mo Donegal.
Nyquist also followed his sire by claiming the 2020 freshman sire title. His first crop was led by Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner and champion Vequist.
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Nyquist has continued to sire prominent route winners on dirt and was represented last year by Randomized, winner of the Grade 1 Alabama at 1 1/4 miles, and Slow Down Andy, winner of the Grade 1 Awesome Again at 1 1/8 miles.
Glittering Jewel raced in Europe for the first part of her career and scored her only win at 1 3/16 miles on synthetic. Encino is the first runner out of the mare, who is a half-sister to Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense.
Preakness Stakes winner Bernardini is crafting a legacy as a stellar broodmare sire, with more than 100 stakes winners out of his daughters. Those include Grade 1 Summer Stakes winner Gretzky the Great, by Nyquist. Bernardini also is the broodmare sire of Kentucky Oaks winner Serengeti Empress, Saudi Cup winner Emblem Road, and Grade 1 winners Catholic Boy, Clairiere, Colonel Liam, Dunbar Road, and Maxfield.
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