Brilliant Speed
Graded Earnings: $515,750.00
Race Record: 8-2-2-2
Trainer - Tom Albertrani
Jockey - Joel Rosario
Owner - Live Oak Plantation
Breeder - Live Oak Plantation
Pedigree
Despite his name, Brilliant Speed's pedigree is strongly suited to the 1 1/4-mile distance.
The Live Oak Plantation homebred is by the prolific Dynaformer, sire of 2006 Kentucky Derby (G1) legend Barbaro and two Derby third-placers, $4.7 million earner Perfect Drift (2002) and Blumin Affair (1994). The 26-year-old stallion is most often identified, however, with his champion runners on turf. Among them are reigning Melbourne Cup (Aus-G1) winner Americain, European champion juvenile filly Rainbow View, St Leger (Eng-G1) victor Lucarno, German classic hero Wiener Walzer and three-time Eclipse Award-winning steeplechaser McDynamo, while his high-class turf mares Film Maker, Riskaverse, Dynaforce and current European classic hopeful White Moonstone have also contributed to his profile.
Dynaformer's ability to sire runners on all kinds of surfaces was foreshadowed by his own racing career. Although his biggest victories came on dirt in the Jersey Derby (G2) (at 1 1/4 miles) and the Discovery H. (G2), he also set a course record for 1 1/2 miles on the Keeneland turf.
Brilliant Speed is the third registered foal, but first runner, produced by his dam, the unraced Speed Succeeds. She is herself a half-sister to Canadian champion older mare Serenading, winner of the Falls City H. (G2) at Churchill as well as the 1 1/4-mile Maple Leaf S. at Woodbine, and to Canadian Grade 1-placed stakes victress Handpainted.
Speed Succeeds, Serenading and Handpainted are all out of multiple Canadian stakes winner Daijin. Although Daijin finished third in the seven-furlong Test S. (G1), she is closely related to a couple of outstanding 1 1/2-mile performers: her full brother Touch Gold captured the 1997 Belmont S. (G1), and her half-brother With Approval swept Canada's Triple Crown on the way to that nation's Horse of the Year honors, and ultimately the Canadian Hall of Fame. Also in the family is fellow Canadian Triple Crown winner, Horse of the Year and Hall of Famer Izvestia.
Brilliant Speed's dam is by the influential Gone West, conqueror of the Dwyer S. (G1), Gotham S. (G2) and Withers S. (G2) and beaten narrowly in the Wood Memorial (G1) and Peter Pan S. (G2). Best from a mile to nine furlongs himself, Gone West has sired top performers over a range of distances. His progeny include 2000 Belmont upsetter Commendable; 2003 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) dead-heat winner Johar; fellow turf marathoners Marsh Side and Lassigny; champion sprinter Speightstown; English classic-winning miler Zafonic; two-time Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) star Da Hoss; Came Home, a three-time Grade 1 victor from seven furlongs to 1 1/4 miles; and multiple Grade 1-winning juvenile Grand Slam.
Gone West is emerging as a sire of sires. His son Elusive Quality sired 2004 Derby and Preakness (G1)-romping champion Smarty Jones; another son Zamindar sired unbeaten Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) queen Zarkava; yet another Gone West stallion, Proud Citizen, sired 2008 champion filly and Kentucky Oaks (G1) heroine Proud Spell; and Gone West's son Mr. Greeley also rates as an established international sire. Gone West's daughters are responsible for the likes of Epsom Derby (Eng-G1) hero Motivator, last year's champion juvenile filly Awesome Feather, current Swale S. (G2) winner Travelin Man, and classy European Group 2 victors Rob Roy and Pipedreamer.
