Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Talk to Me Jimmy

Talk to Me Jimmy made his Road to the Kentucky Derby debut a winning one in the 1 1/8-mile Withers S., leading all the way to dominate by 11 lengths.

Talk to Me Jimmy is the first stakes winner sired by Modernist, a young stallion who made some noise on the 2020 Road to the Kentucky Derby. While Modernist failed to make the Kentucky Derby (G1) starting gate, it’s possible he’s passed on sufficient talent and stamina to Talk to Me Jimmy to make the latter a serious Run for the Roses contender.

During the winter of 2020, Modernist came to hand quite suddenly. He’d gone 0-for-2 as a juvenile, but in his three-year-old debut, he wired a 1 1/8-mile maiden special weight at Aqueduct by four lengths. Three weeks later, he pressed the pace on his way to a one-length triumph in the 1 1/8-mile Risen Star (G2) on the Kentucky Derby trail.

Modernist’s form slipped after that; he finished third in the Louisiana Derby (G2), seventh in the Belmont (G1), and fifth in the Peter Pan (G3), after which he went to the sidelines and missed the COVID-19-delayed Kentucky Derby. But he returned as a four-year-old and flaunted his stamina in a handful of notable performances, including a win in the 1 1/8-mile Excelsior (G3) and a runner-up effort in the 1 3/16-mile Pimlico Special Match Series (G3).

It’s unsurprising that Modernist proved best as a route racer. After all, he’s a son of Uncle Mo out of the Bernardini mare Symbolic Gesture. Uncle Mo, the champion two-year-old male of 2010, has proven to be a source of stamina at stud, with Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist and 1 1/2-mile Belmont winner Mo Donegal among his best runners. Bernardini, the champion three-year-old male of 2006, won the Preakness (G1), Travers (G1), and Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) over classic distances.

As for Symbolic Gesture, she’s a half-sister to 2004 champion two-year-old filly Sweet Catomine and 2009 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (G1) winner Life Is Sweet. It’s safe to say Modernist’s pedigree is packed with elite route racing talent.

Often, the pedigrees of Kentucky Derby winners contain a blend of speed and stamina. If you’re concerned Modernist will tip the balance of Talk to Me Jimmy’s pedigree too far in the direction of stamina, never fear, because Prairie Trip—the dam of Talk to Me Jimmy—contributes speed to the mix.

Prairie Trip was a durable claimer who won 10 of her 56 starts. Eight of her wins came sprinting seven furlongs or less, so speed was her strong suit. That’s understandable since Prairie Trip is a daughter of Trippi.

Trippi wasn’t exclusively a sprinter; as a three-year-old, he stretched his speed to wire the 1 1/8-mile Flamingo (G3), and he even competed in the 2000 Kentucky Derby, finishing 11th. However, he was doubtlessly at his best dashing seven furlongs, the distance over which he won the Vosburgh (G1), Tom Fool H. (G2), Riva Ridge (G2), and Swale (G3).

Trippi passed on his speed at stud. His progeny compiled a sprint-oriented average winning distance of 6.4 furlongs. Some proved effective in short routes, with Gourmet Dinner winning the 1 1/16-mile Delta Downs Jackpot (G3) and R Heat Lightning dominating the 1 1/8-mile Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) and one-mile Davona Dale (G2). But even R Heat Lightning scored her biggest win in a sprint, taking the seven-furlong Spinaway (G1) by four lengths.

Trippi has arguably proven more influential as a broodmare sire. His daughter Miss Macy Sue, winner of the six-furlong Winning Colors (G3), has achieved renown as the dam of Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Liam’s Map and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) runner-up Not This Time. The latter has developed into an elite and versatile stallion whose most accomplished son, 2022 champion three-year-old male Epicenter, finished second in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness before winning the 1 1/4-mile Travers.

By mixing the speed of Trippi with the stamina of Modernist, Talk to Me Jimmy should have a pedigree suitable for success over the Kentucky Derby’s 1 1/4-mile distance.