Queen's Plate pedigree analysis: Aheadbyacentury

Aheadbyacentury
Midnight Lute – Sunful, by Touch Gold
Bred in Ontario by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms ($51,121 purchase by John Ross, agent, at 2016 Canadian September yearling sale)

Aheadbyacentury, a stakes-winning juvenile who has continued to acquit himself well in his sophomore season, is from a sire line that has proven successful in Canada and from a prominent female family.

Aheadbyacentury is by Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner and Eclipse Award champion sprinter Midnight Lute, who has done well with his stakes performers in Canada, including at route distances. The son of dual classic winner Real Quiet was represented by 2013 Queen’s Plate winner Midnight Aria and also is the sire of multiple Grade 3 winner Midnight Miley, a Sovereign Award champion as Canada’s outstanding older female. Midnight Lute also is the sire of Grade 1 winners Midnight Bisou, Midnight Lucky, and Shakin It Up.

Sinful, who posted her only win going a mile on Turfway’s synthetic surface, is the dam of six winners from seven starters, including stakes-placed Awfully Sinful. The mare is a half-sister to Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap winner Seek Gold, as well as to stakes-placed Southland Blues and stakes producer Cloudrunner.

Stakes winner Aly’s Adita, the dam of Sinful and those others, is a half-sister to champion and Hall of Famer Davona Dale, whose descendants on the track in recent years include multiple Grade 1 winners Hoppertunity and Executiveprivilege. This is the extended family of 1984 Preakness winner Gate Dancer. Even farther back, the family includes 1948 Triple Crown winner Citation.

Belmont Stakes winner Touch Gold, who adds stamina to the family, is the broodmare sire of Emollient, a multiple Grade 1 winner routing on turf and synthetic. He also is the broodmare sire of Belmont Stakes runner-up Commissioner and this year’s third-place finisher Hofburg.

– Nicole Russo