Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Emerging Market

It wasn’t surprising to see Emerging Market handle 1 3/16 miles with aplomb in the Louisiana Derby (G2), charging with determination to win the Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier by a head.

After all, Emerging Market is bred top and bottom to relish classic distances. Tackling an additional sixteenth of a mile in the 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby (G1) shouldn’t be any issue for the lightly raced chestnut colt.

Emerging Market is a son of the versatile Argentine-bred Candy Ride, who went undefeated in six starts. He was brilliant on turf, winning the 1,600-meter (about one-mile) Joaquin S. de Anchorena (G1) in the blazing time of 1:31.01. But he also proved exceptional over 1 1/4 miles on dirt, winning the Pacific Classic (G1) over a strong field in the still-standing track-record time of 1:59.11.

At stud, Candy Ride has sired all types of runners—sprinters, routers, dirt horses, turf runners, and synthetic stars. A large handful have excelled racing 1 1/4 miles, including 2017 Horse of the Year and Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Gun Runner, Santa Anita H. (G1) and Pacific Classic winner Shared Belief, Dubai World Cup (G1) conqueror Hit Show, Santa Anita H. winner Misremembered, and Manhattan (G1) winner Ascend.

The bottom half of Emerging Market’s pedigree is packed with stamina and increases the likelihood of the chestnut colt developing into one of Candy Ride’s 1 1/4-mile stars.

Emerging Market is the first foal produced by Wild Empress, a daughter of Empire Maker out of the Seeking the Gold mare Trappings. Wild Empress wasn’t much of a racehorse, failing to finish better than fifth in three starts, but thanks to her breeding, she has the potential to be a top-notch broodmare.

Consider her sire, Empire Maker, a son of 1990 Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Unbridled. Empire Maker could only finish second in the 2003 Kentucky Derby, but he snagged a classic win in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont (G1), and then he developed into a successful stallion who sired Kentucky Derby runners-up Pioneerof the Nile and Bodemeister. Pioneerof the Nile went on to sire 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, while Bodemeister begot 2017 Kentucky Derby conqueror Always Dreaming.

Meanwhile, daughters of Empire Maker have produced runaway Dubai World Cup winner Laurel River and 2021 Kentucky Derby hero Mandaloun.

Empire Maker is one of many graded stakes winners produced by the remarkable mare Toussaud, winner of the 1 1/8-mile Gamely H. (G1). Toussaud also foaled 1 1/4-mile Arlington Million (G1) winner Chester House, 1 1/4-mile Secretariat (G1) winner Chiselling, seven-furlong Santa Monica H. (G1) victor Honest Lady, and Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. (G2) winner Decarchy.

Getting back to Wild Empress, her dam, Trappings, failed to crack the trifecta in eight starts. However, she left her mark as a broodmare, foaling 2009 champion two-year-old filly and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner She Be Wild.

The sire of Trappings, Seeking the Gold, proved to be a top-class performer over 1 1/4 miles, winning the Super Derby (G1) and finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and Travers (G1). He passed on his stamina at stud. A few of his top runners include:

• Dubai Millennium, winner of the Dubai World Cup on dirt and the 1 1/4-mile Prince of Wales’s (G1) on turf.
• Heavenly Prize, winner of the Alabama (G1) and John A. Morris H. (G1) over 1 1/4 miles, plus six other Grade 1 prizes over distances from one mile to 1 1/8 miles.
• Jazil, triumphant in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont.
• Pleasant Home, conqueror of the 1 1/8-mile Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1).
• Cape Town, winner of the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby (G1).
• Cash Run, winner of the 1 1/16-mile Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).

Daughters of Seeking the Gold have been every bit as productive. They’ve foaled a bevy of talented and long-winded runners, including champion and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Blame, 1 1/8-mile Clark H. (G1) conqueror Seeking the Soul, two-time 1 1/4-mile Flower Bowl (G1) winner Riskaverse, and Point of Entry, a five-time Grade 1 winner over distances from 1 1/8 miles to 1 1/2 miles.

With so much class and stamina in Emerging Market’s pedigree, he’s cut out for success in Triple Crown races.