Dunkirk
Graded Earnings: $150,000
Race Record: 3-2-1-0
Trainer - Todd Pletcher
Jockey - Edgar Prado
Owner - Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith
Breeder - W.S. Farish, James Elkins and Temple Webber Jr.
Pedigree
Dunkirk is exquisitely bred for classic success. He is the latest contender by multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Unbridled's Song, the hero of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), Florida Derby (G1) and Wood Memorial S. (G2). Dispatched as the 7-2 favorite in the 1996 Kentucky Derby (G1), he was compromised by foot issues and wound up running in bar shoes, but still turned in a terrific performance to finish fifth. A son of 1990 Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled, Unbridled's Song now ranks as a successful stallion, with an Average Winning Distance of 7.2 furlongs for his progeny. His top performers have excelled at a range of distances. Unbridled's Song is responsible for First Defence, hero of the seven-furlong Forego S. (G1); Thorn Song, winner of the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1); Political Force, who just missed in the Metropolitan Mile (G1) before capturing the 1 1/4-mile Suburban H. (G1); Octave, victress of the 1 1/4-mile Coaching Club American Oaks (G1); Unbridled Elaine, successful in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1); the gallant but ill-fated Eight Belles, who finished second to Big Brown in last year's Kentucky Derby; reigning champion juvenile Midshipman and Old Fashioned, who were both on the Derby trail before being derailed by injury.
Dunkirk's dam, Secret Status, romped by 6 3/4 lengths in the 2000 Kentucky Oaks (G1). Also that season, she won the Mother Goose S. (G1) and Florida Oaks (G3) while placing in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) and Alabama S. (G1). Secret Status, who retired with a mark of 19-8-3-4 and more than $1 million in earnings, has no shortage of stamina in her pedigree. Her sire, A.P. Indy, captured the 1 1/2-mile Belmont S. (G1) and 1 1/4-mile Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) en route to Horse of the Year honors in 1992. A.P. Indy, himself a son of 1977 Triple Crown legend Seattle Slew, has enjoyed a highly successful career at stud. A two-time leading sire, he is responsible for such champions as Horse of the Year Mineshaft; Bernardini, winner of the 2006 Preakness S. (G1); and Rags to Riches, the first filly in 102 years to win the Belmont in 2007. A.P. Indy mares have produced the likes of champion filly Wait a While (Maria's Mon); Kentucky Derby runner-up Bluegrass Cat (Storm Cat) and Any Given Saturday (Distorted Humor), both successful in the Haskell Invitational (G1); and millionaire Zanjero (Cherokee Run).
Secret Status is a full sister to multiple Grade 3 victor Alumni Hall (A.P. Indy) and a half-sister to stakes queen Private Gift (Unbridled). They are out of the stakes-winning Private Status, a daughter of Triple Crown runner-up Alydar. Private Status is herself a half-sister to two multiple Chilean Group 1 heroines -- Miss Brio (Chi) (Semenenko), who added the Maskette S. (G1) at Belmont to her resume, and Maria Candela (Chi) (*Balconaje), who swept the El Derby (Chi-G1) and Las Oaks (Chi-G1) in her homeland. Although the family spent generations in Argentina, it descends from the American-bred mare Mystify (Disguise), whose sire and dam were both by the great Domino.
