Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Lucky Kid

Lucky Kid could be bound for the 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) after holding off a late challenger to win the Hyacinth S. over 1,600 meters (about one mile) at Tokyo Racecourse.

The Hyacinth is an important stop on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby. Over the last decade, it’s produced five Kentucky Derby starters. But if Lucky Kid makes the starting gate on the first Saturday in May, will he have the stamina to handle the Derby’s testing 1 1/4-mile distance?

That’s a tough question. Lucky Kid’s sire is Discreet Cat, who was known for his miler speed more than his stamina. He scored his signature win in the Cigar Mile H. (G1), in which he clocked one mile in the blazing time of 1:32.46. He also dominated the one-mile Jerome Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) by 10 1/4 lengths.

Discreet Cat did stretch his speed over 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) to win the UAE Derby (G2), but in his lone try over 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles), he finished last of seven in the Dubai World Cup (G1). However, a throat abscess likely compromised his chances, leaving some degree of uncertainty regarding Discreet Cat’s distance capabilities.

His stud record, however, paints a clearer picture: Discreet Cat is a source of speed who primarily sires sprinters and milers. Some of the best runners he’s sired include Discreet Marq, winner of the 1 1/8-mile Del Mar Oaks (G1), 1 1/16-mile Sands Point (G2), and 1 1/16-mile Beaugay (G3); Dads Caps, a two-time winner of the seven-furlong Carter H. (G1); Secret Spice, triumphant in the one-mile Beholder Mile (G1); Obamburumai, winner of the 1,400-meter (about seven-furlong) Keio Hai Nisai (G2) and 1,600-meter Churchill Downs Cup (G3) in Japan; and Combustion, winner of the 2022 Hyacinth on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby.

The fact that Discreet Cat passes on speed shouldn’t come as a surprise, considering his own pedigree. His sire, Forestry, scored his biggest wins in the seven-furlong King’s Bishop (G1) and 1 1/16-mile Dwyer (G2). And while Discreet Cat’s dam, Pretty Discreet, showed stamina when dominating the 1 1/4-mile Alabama (G1), as a broodmare she became known for foaling sprinters and milers. In addition to Discreet Cat, she produced King’s Bishop winner Discreetly Mine, seven-furlong Hopeful (G1) and one-mile Futurity (G1) runner-up Pretty Wild, and one-mile Westchester (G3) runner-up Discreet Treasure.

If Lucky Kid is going to stay 1 1/4 miles in the Kentucky Derby, he’ll have to rely on stamina from the dam side of his pedigree. Fortunately, there are a couple of good sources to be found.

Lucky Kid’s dam is Happy Go Lucky, who made 15 starts in Japan. She proved best on dirt, winning three times over distances from 1,200 meters (about six furlongs) to 1,400 meters. She failed to finish better than third in three starts over longer distances.

Happy Go Lucky, in turn, is a daughter of Pyro out of the King’s Best mare Felicitous. Early in his career, Pyro was a capable route racer who won the 1 1/16-mile Louisiana Derby (G2) and recorded top-three finishes in the 1 1/4-mile Travers (G1), 1 1/16-mile Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), and one-mile Champagne (G1). But he could only finish eighth in the 2008 Kentucky Derby, and later on he demonstrated sprinting prowess when rallying to victory in the seven-furlong Forego (G1).

The good news for Lucky Kid is that Pyro has proven to be a source of stamina at stud. He’s the sire of Meshio Hario, a three-time local Group 1 winner racing 2,000 meters or farther on Japan’s National Association of Racing (NAR) circuit; Mutually, a two-time winner of the local Group 1 JBC Classic racing 2,100 meters; and Derma Louvre, victorious in the local Group 2 Nagoya Grand Prix over 2,500 meters (about 1 9/16 miles).

The specific cross of Discreet Cat with Pyro mares has been tested repeatedly in Japan. Many of the resulting racehorses have been sprinters and milers, but one—the above-mentioned Hyacinth winner Combustion—has developed into a hurdles racer with a victory racing 2,860 meters (roughly 1 3/4 miles) over fences.

Moving on to Felicitous and King’s Best, they contribute a mix of speed and stamina to Lucky Kid’s pedigree. Felicitous won twice over distances of six furlongs and seven furlongs, and as a broodmare she’s best known for foaling Elation, a five-time winner over 1,600 meters on turf in Japan.

As for King’s Best, he scored his signature win in the 2000 Guineas (G1) racing one mile on turf, but later proved capable of siring elite runners over long distances on grass. His son Workforce won the 1 1/2-mile Derby (G1) and 2,400-meter (about 1 1/2-mile) Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1), while another son—Eishin Flash—nabbed the 2,400-meter Yokyo Yushun (G1) and 2,000-meter Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1).

There might not be an overabundance of stamina in Lucky Kid’s pedigree, but the presence of Pyro and King’s Best should help counterbalance the speed of Discreet Cat and give Lucky Kid a shot to stay 1 1/4 miles in the Kentucky Derby.