The Kentucky Derby G1, scheduled to take place on May 7, has links to the past editions of the race, ranging from dominant sire lines to deep maternal ties. 

Uncle Mo and Pioneerof the Nile have sired a derby winner

Two sires of contenders bear the responsibility for a derby winner. Pioneerof the Nile was responsible for being the runner up in the 2009 Derby and sired the 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. The horse has two chances on Saturday but with outsiders Tawny Port and Pioneer of Medina.

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Uncle Mo, the champion who was removed from the 2011 Derby, sired Nyquist, the 2016 hero. Mo Donegal is a prominent player for Uncle Mo. 

Native Dancer’s sire line echoes in 2022 derby

Native Dancer’s single career defeat came in the 1953 Kentucky Derby. Despite losing by a head after a rather frustrating trip, the ‘Gray Ghost’ managed to leave a genetic imprint on the breed. 

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Ten contenders this Saturday tie back to Native Dancer’s sire line via the horse’s son Raise a Native. 

Northern Dancer’s final shot at siring Derby winner 

Six of the current crop of contenders come from Northern Dancer, the 1964 Kentucky Derby winner, and breed-shaping patriarch. 

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Half of them are representatives of the Storm Cat line via Giant’s Causeway. Thus, the late great ‘Iron Horse’ now has a final chance to sire a Derby winner in Classic Causeway. 

Seattle Slew and expanding influence 

Seattle Slew is the 1977 Triple Crown winner, whose influence has been expanded by A.P. Indy, his Hall of Fame son. Other Slews can be traced back to A.P. Indy’s grandson Tapit and the latter’s son, Race Day. 

Japan’s Crown Pride will look to channel Sunday Silence’s legacy

Sunday Silence the 1989 Derby and Preakness hero refashioned the Japanese Thoroughbred. Crown Pride will look to continue its legacy, coming from Sunday Silence’s sire line and Hall of Famer’s dam line.