Belmont Stakes pedigree profile: Uncaged

Some racehorses are bred beyond a shadow of a doubt to relish racing classic distances on dirt. Uncaged, the sixth-place finisher from the Peter Pan (G3), is one of them.

Uncaged is slated to make his Grade 1 debut in the Belmont (G1) at Saratoga, the third and final leg of the 2025 Triple Crown. The Belmont is taking place over 1 1/4 miles this year, a distance Uncaged should appreciate more than the shorter trips he’s been tackling so far.

Uncaged is a son of Curlin, whose combined accomplishments on track and at stud rank him among the greatest U.S. racehorses of all time. Certainly his racetrack exploits were exceptional; Curlin earned two Horse of the Year titles thanks to his prowess over classic distances on dirt, which carried him to victories in the Preakness (G1), Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), Dubai World Cup (G1), and two editions of the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) over distances from 1 3/16 miles to 1 1/4 miles. He also recorded top-three finishes in the 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby (G1) and 1 1/2-mile Belmont.

Curlin has achieved as much or more as a stallion. He’s developed into a terrific source of classic dirt stamina. He’s sired Preakness winners Journalism and Exaggerator, Belmont hero Palace Malice, champions Vino Rosso, Idiomatic, Good Magic, Stellar Wind, Nest, and numerous Grade 1 winners, including Bright Future, Clairiere, Curalina, Global Campaign, Highland Falls, Idol, Keen Ice, Known Agenda, and Raging Sea. Every horse we just listed won at the Grade 1 level racing 1 1/8 miles or farther, with many of them recording signature victories over 1 1/4 miles.

Unsurprisingly, the progeny of Curlin as a whole win at a stamina-oriented average distance of 7.7 furlongs. Once in a while, he sires talented sprinters and milers like two-time Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) conqueror Cody’s Wish and two-time Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) hero Elite Power, but on the whole, classic stamina is what Curlin is all about.

Curlin alone is reason enough to have faith in Uncaged’s ability to handle 1 1/4 miles. But guess what? The bottom of his pedigree is also geared strongly toward classic stamina.

Uncaged’s dam is Dark Nile, a daughter of Pioneerof the Nile out of Royal Society. Dark Nile was a capable dirt route racer, counting the 1 1/16-mile Delaware Oaks (G3) as her biggest win. Prior to Uncaged, she foaled Hippodrome, winner of a one-mile maiden special weight and a 1 1/16-mile allowance.

Pioneerof the Nile needs no introduction. The 2009 Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner and Kentucky Derby runner-up will be remembered forever as the sire of American Pharoah, who ended a 37-year Triple Crown drought with his sweep of the 2015 Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont. Pioneerof the Nile is also the sire of Classic Empire, a champion two-year-old male who finished a close second in the Preakness.

Daughters of American Pharoah have foaled several notable horses, including Catching Freedom, winner of the 1 3/16-mile Louisiana Derby (G2) and a third-place finisher in the Preakness.

As for Royal Society, she never raced, but she contributes classic stamina through her sire, Bernardini. The champion three-year-old male of 2006 was a standout campaigner running long on dirt, winning the Preakness, Travers (G1), and Jockey Club Gold Cup over distances from 1 3/16 miles to 1 1/4 miles.

Bernardini has passed on stamina at stud, with his progeny compiling an average winning distance of 7.5 furlongs. Some of his high-profile runners include Stay Thirsty and Alpha, two winners of the 1 1/4-mile Travers, and Art Collector, conqueror of the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus World Cup (G1).

Daughters of Bernardini have foaled plenty of talented route racers, most notably 2025 Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty. Others include Saudi Cup (G1) victor Emblem Road, multiple Grade 1 winner Clairiere (sired by Curlin), Kentucky Oaks (G1) heroine Serengeti Empress, Travers conqueror Catholic Boy, two-time Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) winner Colonel Liam, and Alabama (G1) winner Dunbar Road. All of these runners achieved their biggest wins racing 1 1/8 miles or farther.

There can be no doubt—with names like Curlin, Pioneerof the Nile, and Bernardini in his pedigree, Uncaged is bred to shine racing 1 1/4 miles on dirt.

Join us on June 7 for a rematch that will shake the stands. Many top Kentucky Derby contenders return for the Belmont S. (G1) to fight for the finish, including probable contender Journalism, winner of Preakness 150, and Sovereignty, winner of Derby 151. Who will stand in the winner's circle for Belmont?

Stay with us throughout Belmont Day during stakes races as we bring you the latest horse racing news, live odds, expert picks, and more. It is sure to be an exciting day of racing!

Also, come chat with our expert panel regarding Friday and Saturday racing during Saratoga's Friday card, including the Acorn Stakes!