Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Solomini

Solomini

Curlin – Surf Song, by Storm Cat

Bred in Kentucky by veterinarian Glenna R. Salyer ($270,000 purchase by Zayat Stables at 2016 Keeneland September yearling sale)

Proven young classic sire Curlin doesn’t just have Eclipse Award champion Good Magic eyeing the Kentucky Derby from his most successful crop of juveniles. His arsenal also includes the consistent Solomini, who is bolstered by a long-winded female family.

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Two-time Horse of the Year Curlin won eight graded stakes at 1 1/8 miles or longer – including the 2007 Preakness Stakes – and four of those were Grade 1/Group 1 events at 1 1/4 miles. His progeny has followed in his hoofprints stamina-wise, notably in the Triple Crown series. His streak of Triple Crown race winners or placed runners from each of his crops began with 2013 Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice from his first crop. He was followed by 2014 Preakness runner-up Ride On Curlin, 2015 Belmont third-place finisher Keen Ice, 2016 Preakness winner Exaggerator (who also was second in the Kentucky Derby), and 2017 Belmont runner-up Irish War Cry.

Curlin, by late multiple classic sire Smart Strike, was North America’s leading living juvenile sire by earnings last season, and is taking dead aim on keeping his streak alive.

The unraced Surf Song was sired by leading broodmare sire Storm Cat, whose recent standouts in that category include champions Close Hatches, Honor Code, and Shared Belief. Surf Song has produced five winners from seven starters, and the four preceding Solomini won at distances from 1 1/16 to 1 3/8 miles. Solomini was disqualified after crossing the wire first in the Los Alamitos CashCall Futurity at 1 1/16 miles.

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Out of Grade 2 winner Fleet Lady, Surf Song is a half to champion juvenile Midshipman and to Grade 2 Cotillion winner Fast Cookie, a multiple stakes producer whose runners are led by Frosted. Although best known for his scintillating victory in the Metropolitan Handicap at a mile, Frosted also won the Wood Memorial, Pennsylvania Derby, and Whitney routing and was second in the Belmont to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.

Relatives in Solomini’s extended family include French Group 1 winner Salse, Italian champion Carnauba, and European highweight Shaanxi.

– Nicole Russo