Nehro
Graded Earnings: $425,140.00
Race Record: 5-1-2-0
Trainer - Steve Asmussen
Jockey - Corey Nakatani
Owner - Zayat Stables
Breeder - Mt. Brilliant Farm
Pedigree
With two strong Kentucky Derby (G1) preps at 1 1/8 miles, by a sire whose runners have really shined the last couple of seasons, and by a dam that has already thrown two graded stakes performers, Nehro has a lot going for him entering the May 7 Run for the Roses.
Bred in Kentucky by Mt. Brilliant Farm, Nehro is by Mineshaft, who reached the peak of his powers as a four-year-old, earning Horse of the Year honors after romps in the 1 1/4-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) and Suburban H. (G1), 1 3/16-mile Pimlico Special H. (G1) and 1 1/8-mile Woodward S. (G1), Ben Ali S. (G3) and New Orleans H. (G2).
Mineshaft is regally bred, being by 1992 Horse of the Year A.P. Indy (himself a son of 1977 Triple Crown legend Seattle Slew) and out of Broodmare of the Year Prospectors Delite, by supersire Mr. Prospector, and he is starting to live up those bloodlines at stud.
Mineshaft enjoyed a breakout year in 2010 by siring top performers across the distance spectrum -- Dwyer S. (G2) romper Fly Down missed narrowly in the 1 1/4-mile Travers S. (G1) and 1 1/2-mile Belmont S. (G1), and finished a rallying third in the 1 1/4-mile Breeders' Cup Classic (G1); Redding Colliery set a 1 1/8-mile track record at Laurel and stayed 1 1/4 miles to win the Hawthorne Gold Cup (G2); Discreetly Mine won the 1 1/16-mile Risen Star S. (G3), but ultimately thrived as a sprinter and concluded the season with a stunning victory in the seven-furlong King's Bishop S. (G1); and A. U. Miner made a name for himself in the marathon division.
Mineshaft is also the sire of this year’s likely Kentucky Derby favorite Dialed In, who landed the Florida Derby (G1) and Holy Bull S. (G3) at Gulfstream this winter.
Nehro was produced by The Administrator (Afleet), who was stakes-placed at two and three and winner of a minor seven-furlong stakes at Laurel as a five-year-old in 1997. Three offspring have already exceeded her performance at the track. In addition to the subject, she has also produced Discovery H. (G3) winner Saint Marden (Saint Ballado) and the Grade 2-placed Sunshine Millions Distaff winner Sweet Lips (Kris S.). This is the family of Grade 2 juvenile winner Old Tascosa (Gone West).
Broodmare sire Afleet (Mr. Prospector) was Canada’s Horse of the Year in 1987. Though probably best up to one mile, the distance of his signature win in the Jerome H. (G1), Afleet did stretch his speed to win the nine-furlong Pennsylvania Derby (G2) and finish second in the 1 1/4-mile Meadowlands Cup (G1) and Queen’s Plate.
Afleet’s daughters have produced individuals as varied as Fleet Indian (Indian Charlie), the 2006 champion older mare who won twice at 1 1/4 miles that season; Rogue Romance (Smarty Jones), an early Kentucky Derby candidate this year after third-place efforts in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and Risen Star S. (G2); and the full-sibling grass dragsters California Flag and Cambiocorsa, both by Avenue of Flags.
