Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Vino Rosso

Vino Rosso
Curlin–Mythical Bride, by Street Cry
Bred in Kentucky by John D. Gunther ($410,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Mike Repole and St. Elias)

Unbeaten Santa Anita Derby winner Justify tries to break the “Apollo curse” in the Kentucky Derby. Among his challengers will be a former stablemate, Wood Memorial victor Vino Rosso.

Vino Rosso, who has proven classic ability on both sides of his pedigree, was, like Justify, foaled, raised, and sold by John D. Gunther’s Glennwood Farm. Both colts are out of mares Gunther raced.

Vino Rosso’s sire, Curlin, produced a classic winner or classic-placed runner from each of his first five crops, beginning with 2013 Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice. Curlin was then represented by Ride On Curlin, the runner-up in the 2014 Preakness Stakes, and Keen Ice, third to American Pharoah in the 2015 Belmont Stakes before defeating the Triple Crown winner in the Travers at 1 1/4 miles. Exaggerator finished second in the Kentucky Derby before winning the Preakness in 2016, and Irish War Cry was second in last year’s Belmont.

These colts followed in the footsteps of their long-winded sire. Curlin competed with distinction in all three 2007 Triple Crown races, highlighted by his victory in the Preakness over Street Sense, and won four Grade 1/Group 1 events at the classic distance of 1 1/4 miles, taking the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic, 2008 Dubai World Cup, and two editions of the Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Mythical Bride, by Street Cry and out of a stakes-winning daughter of Belmont Stakes winner Touch Gold, scored her only win at a mile. The mare’s classy female family has displayed high-end ability both routing and sprinting. Mythical Bride is a half-sister to the long-winded multiple graded winner Commissioner, a close second in the 2014 Belmont Stakes, and to graded stakes winner and Breeders’ Cup Sprint runner-up Laugh Track.

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