On March 14, Nadal secured a likely berth in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (USA-G1) by splashing home first in the Rebel Stakes (USA-G2). After setting a lively opening pace and running most of his opponents off their feet, the son of Blame had enough left in the tank to stave off a late-running challenge by Excession.
The race was just what you want to see midway through the Triple Crown prep season---testing enough to move the colt's fitness and stamina forward, not so hard as to leave him completely knocked out. Provided that the Derby runs at its traditional time, Nadal appears to be on a good path forward. A run in the Arkansas Derby (USA-G1) appears likely, and a win there would send him to the Kentucky Derby with a distance progression behind him (a sprint to 8.5 furlongs to 9 furlongs) that used to be considered traditional.
Nadal's bloodlines have plenty of tradition behind them as well. Blame, the champion older male of 2010, has a deep Claiborne pedigree behind him that has contributed to his success as a sire. On the distaff side, Nadal descends from Patelin, a daughter of Cornish Prince who stands at the head of a solid modern family.
Patelin was one of the best juvenile fillies of 1970, winning the Selima Stakes, Alcibiades Stakes, and Schuylerville Stakes. She did not train on at 3, but this did not keep her from becoming a good broodmare. She produced 11 winners from 16 foals, and among them were 1982 Athenia Handicap (USA-G3) winner Middle Stage (by Stage Door Johnny) and 1978 California Oaks winner Northern Meteor (by Northern Dancer). Patelin also produced several good broodmares, among them Last Bird (by Sea-Bird), dam of 1991 Californian Stakes (USA-G1) winner Roanoke; Flying Buttress (by Exclusive Native), dam of three stakes winners including 1984 Coaching Club American Oaks (USA-G1) winner Class Play and 1985 Remsen Stakes (USA-G1) winner Pillaster; and Pat Us (by Caucasus), whose four stakes winners were headed by Grade 3 winner Silver Fox.
Northern Meteor was a good broodmare in her own right. Her three stakes winners include the brilliant sprinter A Phenomenon (by Tentam), winner of the 1983 Vosburgh Stakes (USA-G1), and Seattle Meteor (by Seattle Slew), winner of the 1988 Spinaway Stakes (USA-G1). She also produced the Stage Door Johnny mare Meteor Stage, dam of four stakes winners including 1991 American champion 2-year-old filly Pleasant Stage (by Pleasant Colony).
Pleasant Stage died before she could start a broodmare career, but Northern Meteor's Grade 2-winning daughter Colonial Play (a full sister to Pleasant Colony) produced multiple Canadian Grade 1 winner Marsh Side, and another full sister, Meteor Colony, is the dam of 2001 Grey Stakes (CAN-G1) winner Changeintheweather. A third full sister to Pleasant Stage, Solar Colony, produced Grade 2-placed stakes winner Reform Act and is the second dam of Nadal through her Pulpit daughter, Ascending Angel.
Patelin's family has generally tended toward speed but has demonstrated the ability to throw more stamina-oriented runners when crossed with staying sires. Nadal's pedigree, thus, contains a nice balance of speed and stamina elements, a combination that should stand him in good stead further down the line as he seeks to bring more glory to an already outstanding family.
The race was just what you want to see midway through the Triple Crown prep season---testing enough to move the colt's fitness and stamina forward, not so hard as to leave him completely knocked out. Provided that the Derby runs at its traditional time, Nadal appears to be on a good path forward. A run in the Arkansas Derby (USA-G1) appears likely, and a win there would send him to the Kentucky Derby with a distance progression behind him (a sprint to 8.5 furlongs to 9 furlongs) that used to be considered traditional.
Nadal's bloodlines have plenty of tradition behind them as well. Blame, the champion older male of 2010, has a deep Claiborne pedigree behind him that has contributed to his success as a sire. On the distaff side, Nadal descends from Patelin, a daughter of Cornish Prince who stands at the head of a solid modern family.
Patelin was one of the best juvenile fillies of 1970, winning the Selima Stakes, Alcibiades Stakes, and Schuylerville Stakes. She did not train on at 3, but this did not keep her from becoming a good broodmare. She produced 11 winners from 16 foals, and among them were 1982 Athenia Handicap (USA-G3) winner Middle Stage (by Stage Door Johnny) and 1978 California Oaks winner Northern Meteor (by Northern Dancer). Patelin also produced several good broodmares, among them Last Bird (by Sea-Bird), dam of 1991 Californian Stakes (USA-G1) winner Roanoke; Flying Buttress (by Exclusive Native), dam of three stakes winners including 1984 Coaching Club American Oaks (USA-G1) winner Class Play and 1985 Remsen Stakes (USA-G1) winner Pillaster; and Pat Us (by Caucasus), whose four stakes winners were headed by Grade 3 winner Silver Fox.
Northern Meteor was a good broodmare in her own right. Her three stakes winners include the brilliant sprinter A Phenomenon (by Tentam), winner of the 1983 Vosburgh Stakes (USA-G1), and Seattle Meteor (by Seattle Slew), winner of the 1988 Spinaway Stakes (USA-G1). She also produced the Stage Door Johnny mare Meteor Stage, dam of four stakes winners including 1991 American champion 2-year-old filly Pleasant Stage (by Pleasant Colony).
Pleasant Stage died before she could start a broodmare career, but Northern Meteor's Grade 2-winning daughter Colonial Play (a full sister to Pleasant Colony) produced multiple Canadian Grade 1 winner Marsh Side, and another full sister, Meteor Colony, is the dam of 2001 Grey Stakes (CAN-G1) winner Changeintheweather. A third full sister to Pleasant Stage, Solar Colony, produced Grade 2-placed stakes winner Reform Act and is the second dam of Nadal through her Pulpit daughter, Ascending Angel.
Patelin's family has generally tended toward speed but has demonstrated the ability to throw more stamina-oriented runners when crossed with staying sires. Nadal's pedigree, thus, contains a nice balance of speed and stamina elements, a combination that should stand him in good stead further down the line as he seeks to bring more glory to an already outstanding family.
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