Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: The Puma

A relentless outside rally from last place carried The Puma to a determined victory in the 1 1/16-mile Tampa Bay Derby (G3) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

The unwavering tenacity The Puma displayed in the homestretch is reminiscent of his sire, two-time champion Essential Quality. While Essential Quality fell short in his own bid for Kentucky Derby (G1) glory, perhaps The Puma can make amends for his sire on the first Saturday in May.

The Puma didn’t debut until January of his three-year-old year, which stands in stark contrast to Essential Quality. Essential Quality went 3-for-3 at age two, most notably launching a sustained rally from off the pace to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) by three-quarters of a length. He also won the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and earned champion two-year-old male honors.

Seven starts at age three reiterated Essential Quality’s championship credentials. He proved his worth over classic distances in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont (G1) and 1 1/4-mile Travers (G1), gallantly triumphing in prolonged battles with stubborn rivals. For good measure, he won the Blue Grass (G2), Jim Dandy (G2), and Southwest (G3). His only blemishes for the season were respectable third-place finishes in the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), and he ended the season as champion three-year-old male.

The Puma hails from Essential Quality’s first crop of foals. While Essential Quality has yet to sire a Grade 1 winner, several of his runners have shown stakes-caliber talent. My World won the one-mile Jerome S. on the Road to the Kentucky Derby (as well as the one-mile Nashua S.), while Chopsticks took the seven-furlong Ellis Park Debutante S., Black Hornet starred in the 1 1/16-mile Black Gold S., and Essential Time prevailed in the 6 1/2-furlong Clever Trevor S.

All told, the progeny of Essential Quality have compiled an average winning distance of 7.2 furlongs, which is respectably stout for a young stallion. There’s no reason to think Essential Quality can’t sire a notable winner of classic distances, especially since he’s a son of Tapit, the three-time leading North American sire who counts four Belmont winners (Essential Quality, Tonalist, Creator, and Tapwrit) among his numerous Grade 1 winners.

The Puma has likely inherited additional stamina from his dam, Eve of War. Though never victorious at the stakes level, Eve of War showed talent and versatility during her racing career, winning a maiden special weight sprinting six furlongs on dirt and a $75,000 allowance optional claimer over 1 1/8 miles on turf. She also ran third in the 1 1/16-mile Monmouth Oaks (G3) on dirt.

Eve of War is a daughter of Declaration of War, and here’s where an abundance of stamina comes into play. Declaration of War was a top-tier talent who excelled over a variety of distances and surfaces. He won minor races over synthetic tracks before developing into a grass star with wins in the one-mile Queen Anne (G1) and 1 5/16-mile Juddmonte International (G1) on his record. He ended his career in the 1 1/4-mile Breeders’ Cup Classic on dirt, finishing third by a head in a three-way photo finish.

At stud, Declaration of War has consistently passed on stamina, with his progeny compiling a remarkably long-winded average winning distance of 8.2 furlongs. The best of them include:

• Vow and Declare, winner of the Melbourne Cup (G1), racing 3,200 meters (about two miles).
• Gufo, winner of the 1 1/4-mile Belmont Derby (G1) and two editions of the 1 1/2-mile Sword Dancer (G1).
• Fire At Will, triumphant in the one-mile Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1).
• Warning, winner of the Victoria Derby (G1) over 2,500 meters (about 1 9/16 miles).
• Olmedo, triumphant in the 1,600-meter (about one-mile) Poule d’Essai des Poulains (G1).
• Decorated Invader, winner of the one-mile Summer (G1).
• Winning Ways, heroine of the 2,200-meter (about 1 3/8-mile) Queensland Oaks (G1).

The cross of Essential Quality with a Declaration of War mare should provide The Puma with plenty of stamina for the Kentucky Derby’s 1 1/4-mile distance.