North American Bloodlines in the Clásico del Caribe Races

Nite Train is one of the horses with a North
American connection this weekend.

With a close-knit international community, it isn’t rare to see horses whose immediate family has a United States connection show up in countries outside North America. Just last month, the United States (Kentucky)-bred Air Force Blue was named Europe’s champion 2-year-old male while many U.S.-based stallions shuttle to southern hemisphere locations every summer after they finish the northern hemisphere season.

In Panama on December 12 and 13, some familiar bloodlines will be seen during the Clasico del Caribe weekend of racing at Hipodromo Presidente Remon in Panama City. The five races during the festival make up a small Breeders’ Cup-like racemeet for central America with five countries (Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico and Venezuela) represented by horses in the event.

While Blood-Horse’s Stallion Register doesn’t include all the stallions standing in these countries, it does list 117 stallions living in four of the five countries with quite a few making at least one start in the United States during their racing careers.

Not surprisingly, a number of those stallions are represented in the Panama races in addition to some familiar female families. Below you’ll find a list of some of the 43 horses competing in the five races this year and what connection their immediate pedigree has to the United States.

Clásico del Caribe

CALINICO, who drew post position No. 5 in the Clásico del Caribe, is by the Storm Cat son True Cause. True Cause started his career in England and won a listed stakes in 2005 before placing in multiple Grade 2 races in the United States. True Cause is out of the Group 3 winning Rahy mare Dearly (GB). Calinico’s female family is mostly based in Argentina, although the 3-year-old gray colt was bred in Panama.

FAMUS PALO, representing Mexico in the 9-hole, has a pedigree many Americans would recognize. The 3-year-old bay colt is by Famous Again and out of a Mexican-bred Van Nistelrooy mare whose dam is a Lil E. Tee mare. While Famous Again’s biggest win came in an allowance race at Keeneland (he also broke his maiden at Keeneland in 1999), he is by dual-classic winner Thunder Gulch (Gulch) and out of the multiple graded stakes winning 1986 Horse of the Year and Hall of Fame mare Lady’s Secret (Secretariat). On Famus Palo’s female side, his third dam Aunt Iva (Captain Courageous) won multiple stakes races while his fourth dam is the granddam to Washington-bred 1986 Grade 1 Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes winner Delicate Vine (Knights Choice).

HUITLACOCHE, this year’s Mexican Triple Crown winner, is bred on the ultra-successful Unbridled x Storm Cat cross. The colt’s pedigree is full of American bloodlines with just one horse in his first three generations being anything other than U.S.-breds (Strawberry Road (AUS) in the third generation). His sire Free Thinking (Unbridled) placed in multiple Grade 2 events in 2006 and participated in that year’s NetJets Breeders’ Cup Mile (where he finished 11^th). Huitlacoche’s dam Sonora Cat (Tabasco Cat) was sold at Keeneland September for $22,000 in 2001 and won three races in Mexico. She is a half-sister to Woodbine stakes winner Taos (Dr. Adagio) and Colonial Downs stakes winner Park Avenue Prince (Siphon (BRZ)). His third and fourth dams include four other United States stakes winners.

Huitlacoche

MANCHESTER has a familiar European name on the top half of his pedigree with the great Sadler’s Wells as his grandsire. But while the first three generations of his female family are mostly Venezuelan-breds like the colt, his fourth dam produced multiple U.S. stakes winner Allusion (Mr. Prospector) who herself produced a stakes winner with Allusion’s half-sister producing two U.S. graded stakes winners.

Panama’s 2014 champion 2-year-old colt, NITE TRAIN is by the A.P. Indy son Indy Vidual won was Grade 1 placed in the United States and was out of the multiple Grade 1 winning mare I’m Splendid. Nite Train’s female family has five U.S. stakes winners with his dam being a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Fly to Me (Belong to Me).

Nite Train

One of two colts by Indy Vidual in this field, SPARTO’s grand dam was stakes placed with his third dam winning a 1978 stakes at Bay Meadows. His third dam is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Regal Rumor (Damascus), who also produced two stakes winners with another sister producing multiple U.S. Grade 2 winner Grand Jewel (Java Gold) and a third half-sister producing a winner of the Grade 3 Bessarabian Handicap.

SUPREMO (King Seraf), who is in post position three, is from the family of multiple U.S. graded stakes winner Sir Shackleton (Miswaki), who set multiple track records and finished second in the Grade 1 Woodward.

Copa Velcidad del Caribe

Three-year-old EL MAGNANIMO, who is one of two horses by Panama champion Forever and Ever in this race, is out of a half-sister to multiple U.S. stakes placed Saratoga Lulaby (Brahms). Farther back in the family is Matron Handicap and Mademoiselle winner Redispot (Topersider).

By the Storm Cat stallion City Place, MARIA MARIA is out of a Maria’s Mon mare who raced in the United States. Her dam’s full brother is multiple stakes winner Rockerfeller with Maria Maria’s third dam producing stakes winning track record setter Nephrite (Majestic Luight) and graded stakes winner Jaded Dancer (Nijinsky II. Maria Maria shares a third dam with two-time Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Mizdirection (Mizzen Mast) and Grade 1 winner Hooh Why (Cloudy Hopping) among others.

Maria Maria

REAL ONOFRE is a half-brother to multiple group stakes winners in Venezuela but his granddam is a Canadian stakes winner from the family of Grade 3 winner Gleam of Hope (City Zip) and Grade 2 winner Trickey Trever (Demaloot Demashoot).

By the graded stakes winner Sweetsouthernsaint (Saint Ballado), SAN SE ACABO is out of a Charismatic mare whose dam is a half-sister to the Grade 1 winning sire Quiet American (Fappiano). Those two share a family with multiple grade 1 winner Dare and Go (Alydar) and Grade 1 Sword Dancer winner Go Deputy (Deputy Minister).

Copa Dama del Caribe

A 3-year-old bay filly, HEAKABU is by the Storm Cat stallion Impervious but her real North American connection comes from her dam, Takabu’s (Woodman), side of the family. Her dam is out of the multiple Grade 1 winner Nastique (Naskra), who also produced multiple stakes winner Nobo True (Broad Brush) and the Grade 3 winner Thunder Kitten (Storm Cat), who is the dam of Grade 2 Ribblesdale Stakes winner Michita (Dynaformer) and Grade 3 winner Cat O’Mountain (Street Cry (IRE)) among others. Also produced by Nastique’s daughters was Singapore Horse of the Year War Affair (NZ) (O’Reilly (NZ)) and multiple Grade 2 winner Skylighter (Sky Mesa).

Another horse by Forever and Ever, KATALINA LA OH is from the same family as 1969 U.S. champion 2-year-old filly Fast Attack (Your Alibhai). Under Katalina La Oh’s fourth dam is stakes winner Black Coyote (Phalanx).

By Sadler’s Well’s son Synergetic (FR), MALALA is from the family of a United States fan favorite in Twilight Eclipse (Purim). Malala’s third dam is the stakes winning mare Shimmy (Ninjinsky), who is Twilight Eclipse’s grand dam, in addition to stakes winner Itsacryingshame (Cure the Blues) and the fourth dam of Grade 3 Lone Star Derby winner Mythical Power (Congaree).

Panama Filly Triple Crown winner MONKEY BUSINESS is representing record-breaking 2-year-old The Green Monkey in the weekend’s races while also holding a strong hand in her female family. Monkey Business’s third dam is the granddam of multiple Grade 1 winner Premium Tap (Pleasant Tap) and stakes winner Red Rally (Reformer Rally) with Monkey Business’ fourth dam producing U.S. champion Tight Spot (His Majesty) and Grade 1 winner Valiant Nature (His Majesty).

Monkey Business

Copa Invitacional Importados

By multiple U.S. Grade 3 winner Gottcha Gold (Coronado’s Quest), DELAND is out of a daughter of 1993 Florida Oaks winner Star Jolie (John Alden). Farther back in her pedigree include multiple graded stakes winner Heros Reward (Partner’s Hero) and Grade 2 Sabin Stakes track record setter Devil’s Cave (Put It Back).

By 2002 Grade 1 Futurity Stakes winner Whywhywhy, SALUSTIO’s second dam is the multiple stakes winner Chris’s Thunder (Rubiano) and Italian highweight horse Damascus Regal (Damascus).

A son of 2002 Belmont Stakes winner Sarava (Wild Again) TORNIQUETTE’s second dam is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Ocean Crest (Storm Bird) with his fourth dam producing multiple Grade 1 winner Slewpy (Seattle Slew). Also notable in his family are Top Corsage (Topsider) and Grade 2 winner Water Bank (Naskra) among the 14 stakes winners listed under Torniquette’s fourth dam (including him).

Istan’s son YOU’RE MY BUDDY is out of a full sister to Grade 1 winner Cash Included (Include) who was a winner herself. Farther back in the 6-year-old gelding’s family is multiple Grade 1 winner By Land By Sea (Sauce Boat) and stakes winner Like a Hawk (Silver Hawk).

Copa Confraternidad

By 2004 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Wilko (Awesome Again), defending Confraternidad winner DON CARLOS R. has seven U.S. stakes winners under his first four dams with most running in Washington State. Among those winners are multiple stakes winner Flying With Eagles (Skywalker) and Money By Choice (Knights Choice).

ECLAIRE has a modern U.S. family that many would recognize. Her dam is a half-sister to Skipping Around (Skip Trial), who produced Grade 1 winner Sugar Shake (Awesome Again) who in turn produced this year’s Kentucky Oaks runner up Shook Up (Tapit).