Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Hidden Scroll

Hidden Scroll

Hard Spun–Sheba Queen, by Empire Maker

Bred in Kentucky by Juddmonte Farms

Flashy debut winner Hidden Scroll was the victim of a brutal pace when he faded to fourth in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park earlier this month behind Code of Honor. Hidden Scroll, who is from an outstanding family typical of Juddmonte’s program, gets a chance at redemption in Saturday’s Grade 1 Florida Derby.

:: DERBY WATCH: Top 20 Kentucky Derby contenders with comments from Jay Privman and Mike Watchmaker

Hard Spun, by the great Danzig, scored his biggest victory in the Grade 1 King’s Bishop Stakes at seven furlongs. However, he also was a multiple graded stakes winner around two turns, finished second in both the 2007 Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic, and was third in the Preakness Stakes. As a stallion, he is represented by several prominent route runners, led by Eclipse Award champion Questing, who won the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes at 1 1/4 miles and Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks at 1 1/8 miles. Hard Aces won the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita at 1 1/4 miles and also was a multiple Grade 3 winner at 1 1/2 miles, while Wicked Strong won the Grade 1 Wood Memorial at 1 1/8 miles.

The unraced Sheba Queen is the dam of three winners from four starters, including Makada, a full sister to Hidden Scroll – although Makada’s only victory came at six furlongs on a synthetic track. Sheba Queen is out of Group 1 winner and stakes producer Etoile Montante, who finished third in the French 1000 Guineas.

This is the outstanding extended family of Eclipse Award champion Chief’s Crown, European champion Special Duty, Juddmonte’s multiple Grade 1-winning mares Sightseek and Tates Creek, and last year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Expert Eye.