In 2022, a former claimer who was once taken for a US$30,000 tag ended up winning the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve—Rich Strike, who upset the big race at the second-longest odds ever (80.80 to 1). This year, it looks as though another former US$30,000 claimer will be in the starting gate on Derby Weekend. Her name is Everland, and thanks to her victory in the Bourbonette Oaks (USA-L) on March 23, she has 50 qualifying points for the Longines Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1), enough to guarantee her a starting spot.
Now 7-3-0-1 lifetime, Everland has won three of her last four starts and seems to be moving up at the right time. She has also shown the ability to overcome adversity, always a plus in what is likely to be a large and contentious Kentucky Oaks field, and she certainly has the breeding to continue her improvement, especially over longer distances.
Everland is from the final crop of Arrogate, who is responsible for two previous Classic winners in 2022 Kentucky Oaks heroine Secret Oath and 2023 Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) winner Arcangelo. Now the sire of 20 stakes winners from his 325 named foals, the gray son of Unbridled’s Song became a case of “what might have been” as a stallion after lighting up the world with his racing heroics during six months in 2016-2017. The American champion 3-year-old male of 2016, he ran down two-time American Horse of the Year California Chrome in the closing strides of that year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (USA-G1) and also scored breathtaking victories in the 2016 Travers Stakes (USA-G1), 2017 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (USA-G1), and 2017 Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1). His death in June 2020 after just three seasons at stud is looking more and more like a great loss to the Thoroughbred.
On the distaff side, Everland is the first foal of the winning Tapit mare Ever Changing, whose other foals are the unraced 2022 Caravaggio colt Chagall and a 2023 filly by American Pharoah. Ever Changing, in turn, is out of 2008 European champion 2-year-old filly Rainbow View (by Dynaformer), who trained on to win the 2009 Matron Stakes (IRE-G1) as a 3-year-old. Rainbow View was also second in the 10-furlong Nassau Stakes (ENG-G1) and E. P. Taylor Stakes (Can-G1) at 3, so there seems to be little reason to think that Everland will not relish the 9 furlongs of the Kentucky Oaks or even longer distances as she continues growing into herself. Adding to the family’s luster, Rainbow View is out of 2000 Del Mar Oaks (USA-G1) winner No Matter What (by Nureyev out of multiple listed stakes winner Words of War, by Lord At War), also the dam of 2009 Northern Dancer Breeders’ Cup Turf Stakes (CAN-G1) winner Just As Well (by A.P. Indy), 2014 Dixie Stakes (USA-G2) winner Utley (by Smart Strike), multiple Grade 3 winner Winter View (by Thunder Gulch), and 2019 Winter Derby (ENG-G3) winner Wissahickon (by Tapit).
The biggest question regarding Everland is whether she will make the transition from Turfway’s Tapeta racing surface to the dirt at Churchill Downs, a question that will probably make her a double-digits long shot in the Oaks. If she relishes the dirt as much as her sire did, though, she may be in a position to win the first graded race of her career on the biggest stage of the spring.
In 2022, a former claimer who was once taken for a US$30,000 tag ended up winning the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve—Rich Strike, who upset the big race at the second-longest odds ever (80.80 to 1). This year, it looks as though another former US$30,000 claimer will be in the starting gate on Derby Weekend. Her name is Everland, and thanks to her victory in the Bourbonette Oaks (USA-L) on March 23, she has 50 qualifying points for the Longines Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1), enough to guarantee her a starting spot.
Now 7-3-0-1 lifetime, Everland has won three of her last four starts and seems to be moving up at the right time. She has also shown the ability to overcome adversity, always a plus in what is likely to be a large and contentious Kentucky Oaks field, and she certainly has the breeding to continue her improvement, especially over longer distances.
Everland is from the final crop of Arrogate, who is responsible for two previous Classic winners in 2022 Kentucky Oaks heroine Secret Oath and 2023 Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) winner Arcangelo. Now the sire of 20 stakes winners from his 325 named foals, the gray son of Unbridled’s Song became a case of “what might have been” as a stallion after lighting up the world with his racing heroics during six months in 2016-2017. The American champion 3-year-old male of 2016, he ran down two-time American Horse of the Year California Chrome in the closing strides of that year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (USA-G1) and also scored breathtaking victories in the 2016 Travers Stakes (USA-G1), 2017 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (USA-G1), and 2017 Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1). His death in June 2020 after just three seasons at stud is looking more and more like a great loss to the Thoroughbred.
On the distaff side, Everland is the first foal of the winning Tapit mare Ever Changing, whose other foals are the unraced 2022 Caravaggio colt Chagall and a 2023 filly by American Pharoah. Ever Changing, in turn, is out of 2008 European champion 2-year-old filly Rainbow View (by Dynaformer), who trained on to win the 2009 Matron Stakes (IRE-G1) as a 3-year-old. Rainbow View was also second in the 10-furlong Nassau Stakes (ENG-G1) and E. P. Taylor Stakes (Can-G1) at 3, so there seems to be little reason to think that Everland will not relish the 9 furlongs of the Kentucky Oaks or even longer distances as she continues growing into herself. Adding to the family’s luster, Rainbow View is out of 2000 Del Mar Oaks (USA-G1) winner No Matter What (by Nureyev out of multiple listed stakes winner Words of War, by Lord At War), also the dam of 2009 Northern Dancer Breeders’ Cup Turf Stakes (CAN-G1) winner Just As Well (by A.P. Indy), 2014 Dixie Stakes (USA-G2) winner Utley (by Smart Strike), multiple Grade 3 winner Winter View (by Thunder Gulch), and 2019 Winter Derby (ENG-G3) winner Wissahickon (by Tapit).
The biggest question regarding Everland is whether she will make the transition from Turfway’s Tapeta racing surface to the dirt at Churchill Downs, a question that will probably make her a double-digits long shot in the Oaks. If she relishes the dirt as much as her sire did, though, she may be in a position to win the first graded race of her career on the biggest stage of the spring.
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