Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Pyromancer

Pyromancer emerged as a 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) contender when he brought his record to a perfect 3-for-3 in the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki Racecourse.

Held over a metric mile, the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun is the second leg of the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby, and it’s been won in recent years by subsequent Kentucky Derby starters Derma Sotogake and Forever Young.

Prior to winning the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun, Pyromancer claimed first prize in a pair of 1,800-meter (about 1 1/8-mile) races at Kyoto. His stamina is obvious, and it’s easy to find the sources in his pedigree.

Pyromancer is a son of Pyro, the eighth-place finisher from the 2008 Kentucky Derby. While Pyro scored his biggest win in the seven-furlong Forego (G1), he was also an effective route racer. He won the 1 1/8-mile Louisiana Derby (G2) and recorded top-three finishes in the one-mile Champagne (G1), 1 1/16-mile Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), and 1 1/4-mile Travers (G1).

Pyro retired to stud in Japan, where he’s carved out a successful stallion career. Unsurprisingly, his best runners have excelled on dirt. They include Meisho Hario and Mutually, both victorious in local Group 1 races on Japan’s National Association of Racing (NAR) circuit. Meisho Hario has won three Group 1 prizes over distances from 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) to 2,100 meters (about 1 5/16 miles), while Mutually is a two-time winner of the 2,100-meter JBC Classic.

Another accomplished son of Pyro, Derma Louvre, won the Nagoya Grand Prix (a local Group 2) over 2,500 meters (about 1 9/16 miles). Clearly, Pyro is capable of siring major winners over classic distances on dirt, which bodes well for Pyromancer’s Kentucky Derby chances.

Moving on, Pyromancer’s dam is Centrifuge, a daughter of Hard Spun out of the Sunday Silence mare Triple Pirouette. Sunday Silence earned 1989 Horse of the Year honors after winning the Kentucky Derby, Preakness (G1), and Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). He was a terrific competitor over classic distances and later became a breed-shaping sire in Japan.

Getting back to Centrifuge, she failed to show much ability as a racehorse, finishing no better than seventh in three starts. But she’s performed better as a broodmare. In addition to Pyromancer, Centrifuge has foaled Firenado, a maiden winner sprinting 1,200 meters (about six furlongs) on dirt in Japan.

Hard Spun, the dam sire of Pyromancer, was a high-class racehorse effective over a wide variety of distances. While he scored his biggest win in the seven-furlong King’s Bishop (G1), he also stretched his speed to finish second in the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic, racing 1 1/4 miles.

Hard Spun’s versatility is apparent in his stud record. He’s the sire of speedsters like Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) winner Aloha West and Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) conqueror Spun to Run, as well route racers like champion three-year-old filly Questing, Gold Cup at Santa Anita (G1) winner Hard Aces, and Arlington Million (G1) victor Hardest Core, all Grade 1 winners over 1 1/4 miles.

Hard Spun is also the sire of Two Phil’s, runner-up in the 2023 Kentucky Derby, and Rocketry, a dirt marathoner who counted the 1 5/8-mile Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G2) and 1 3/4-mile Marathon (G2) among his biggest wins.

Daughters of Hard Spun are further enhancing his legacy. Pyromancer is the latest of many stakes winners produced by Hard Spun mares. Others include Danon Smash, a Group 1-winning turf sprinter in Japan and Hong Kong; champion Good Magic, runner-up in the 2018 Kentucky Derby and the sire of 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage; and Alcohol Free, a four-time Group 1-winning turf sprinter/miler in England.

In addition, Hard Spun is the dam sire of Lone Rock, a standout dirt marathoner who won the 1 5/8-mile Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, the 1 1/2-mile Brooklyn (G2), and 1 3/4-mile Birdstone S., to name a few of his biggest triumphs.

So, what are the key takeaways? Pyromancer’s sire (Pyro) and dam sire (Hard Spun) both competed in the Kentucky Derby, with Hard Spun finishing second. Both have repeatedly shown the ability to sire major winners over 1 1/4 miles, and Hard Spun is the dam sire of a Kentucky Derby runner-up.

All of these facts suggest Pyromancer is bred to handle racing 1 1/4 miles in the Kentucky Derby.