Queen's Plate pedigree profile: Skywire

Skywire
Afleet Alex–Meandering Stream, by Gone West
Bred in Ontario by William D. Graham ($47,000 Keeneland January mixed purchase by De Meric Stables, agent; $45,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic juvenile purchase by Hidden Brook, agent)

Skywire could be the latest Queen’s Plate prospect from one of Canada’s most prolific female families, which has a long record of classic success.

The unraced Meandering Stream, the dam of four winners from as many starters, is a full sister to stakes winner Surging River, plus a half-sister to several stakes producers. That makes Skywire’s third dam No Class, the pivot point for an outstanding classic family.

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No Class is the dam of Canadian champion Sky Classic, a multiple Grade 1 winner and course record setter on turf. No Class is also the dam of Canadian champions Classy ‘n Smart, Grey Classic, and Regal Classic; Grade 1 winner Always a Classic; and stakes winner Classic Reign. Classy ‘n Smart founded her own dynasty, producing 1991 Canadian Triple Crown winner Dance Smartly, both a Sovereign Award and Eclipse Award champion; Grade 1 winner and sire Smart Strike; Grade 1 winner Full of Wonder; Grade 2 winner Strike Smartly; and Seattle Classic, the dam of champion Hello Seattle. Dance Smartly produced a pair of Queen’s Plate winners in Grade 1 winner Dancethruthedawn and Scatter the Gold, plus stakes horses including Grade 2 winner Dance With Ravens.

Afleet Alex won the 2005 Preakness and Belmont stakes to secure a divisional Eclipse Award. His best runners in the continental U.S. include Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Texas Red, Travers Stakes winner Afleet Express, and multiple Grade 1 winner Iotapa.

– Nicole Russo