Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Fulleffort

After spending his first seven starts competing on turf and Tapeta, stretch-running Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) winner Fulleffort must switch to dirt for the 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1).

Will Fulleffort successfully handle the transition, or will he struggle over the Churchill Downs main track? An analysis of his pedigree can provide clues to the answer.

Fulleffort is a son of 2015 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Liam’s Map, a speedy and high-class dirt star who also won the 1 1/8-mile Woodward (G1) and finished second in the 1 1/8-mile Whitney (G1).

Liam’s Map may have been a dirt racer, but at stud, he’s proven capable of siring dirt, turf, and synthetic horses alike. Some of his best runners, such as Manhattan (G1) winner Deterministic and two-time Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) winner Colonel Liam, have starred on grass. Another, Roses for Debra, scored her biggest win in the Presque Isle Downs Masters (G2) on Tapeta.

But Liam’s Map is also the sire of Grade 1-winning dirt horses like Blue Grass (G1) hero Burnham Square, Alcibiades (G1) conqueror Juju’s Map, Hopeful (G1) hero Basin, Frizette (G1) winner Wicked Whisper, and runaway Champagne (G1) conqueror Napoleon Solo.

Liam’s Map’s accomplished dirt runners have tended to do their best work racing 1 1/8 miles or less (winning at an average distance of 7.0 furlongs), which is a concern since the Kentucky Derby takes place over the testing 1 1/4-mile distance. But dirt stamina in the bottom half of Fulleffort’s pedigree should help counterbalance the speed of Liam’s Map.

The dam of Fulleffort is Callmethesqueeze, a versatile miler who won a trio of stakes over distances from 7 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/16 miles on dirt and turf. Fulleffort is the third stakes winner she’s produced; previously, Callmethesqueeze foaled Power Squeeze, winner of the 1 1/4-mile Alabama (G1) and two other graded stakes, and Call On Mischief, triumphant in the six-furlong Mahoning Distaff S. Both Power Squeeze and Call On Mischief performed best on dirt.

Callmethesqueeze, in turn, is a daughter of Awesome Again out of Mop Squeezer.

Awesome Again was a top-tier competitor over 1 1/4 miles, winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), Saratoga Breeders’ Cup H. (G2), Hawthorne Gold Cup H. (G3), and Queen’s Plate S., all on dirt. He passed on his stamina regularly, with his progeny compiling a solid average winning distance of 7.4 furlongs. Among the many high-class dirt routers sired by Awesome Again are the following names:

• Game On Dude, a three-time winner of the 1 1/4-mile Santa Anita H. (G1). He also won the 1 1/4-mile Hollywood Gold Cup H. (G1) twice and the 1 1/4-mile Pacific Classic (G1) once.
• Ghostzapper, who set a still-standing stakes record in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
• Awesome Gem, winner of the Hollywood Gold Cup H.
• Sir Winston, conqueror of the 1 1/2-mile Belmont (G1).
• Oxbow, winner of the 1 3/16-mile Preakness.
• Ginger Punch and Round Pond, winners of the 1 1/8-mile Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1).
• Bravazo, runner-up in the Preakness.
• Paynter, winner of the 1 1/8-mile Haskell (G1) and runner-up in the Belmont.

Meanwhile, daughters of Awesome Again have foaled champion Accelerate, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Santa Anita H., Hollywood Gold Cup, and Pacific Classic; Keen Ice, victorious in the 1 1/4-mile Travers (G1); Highland Falls, winner of the 1 1/4-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1); Everfast, runner-up in the Preakness; and Next, a dominant performer in U.S. dirt marathons.

Now, how about Mop Squeezer? She won a couple of minor stakes racing 1 1/16 miles on dirt, in addition to placing third in the one-mile and 70-yard Sabin H. (G3). As a broodmare, she produced an impressive collection of stakes performers, including:

• Squeezer’s Palace, winner of the Norm Barron Queen City Oaks racing 1 1/8 miles on dirt.
• Royal Squeeze, winner of the Big Drama S. and Jeblar S., dashing seven furlongs on dirt.
• King’s Over, a top-three finisher in the seven-furlong Florida Stallion Affirmed S. and 1 1/16-mile Skip Trial S. on dirt.
• Burley’s Gold, runner-up in the one-mile Jerome H. (G2) on dirt.
• The above-mentioned Callmethesqueeze, the dam of Fulleffort.

In short, the pedigree of Fulleffort is packed with dirt influences. Switching to dirt for the Kentucky Derby shouldn’t be an obstacle, and the stamina of Awesome Again should help him see out the 1 1/4-mile distance on the first Saturday in May.