Pedigree

Colonel John boasts a strong pedigree for 1 1/4 miles. His sire, $6.4 million earner Tiznow, scored all of his most notable victories at that classic distance. A late-developing sort who did not break his maiden until late May as a sophomore, Tiznow went on to become champion three-year-old and Horse of the Year in 2000. He set a new track record of 1:59 4/5 when romping in the 1 1/4-mile Super Derby (G1) at Louisiana Downs, and later that fall, he captured the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs. In 2001, Tiznow took home another Eclipse Award as champion older horse. That year, he added the Santa Anita H. (G1) to his resume, and in his final career outing in the Breeders' Cup Classic, he mounted a determined rally inside the final yards to deny Sakhee by a nose. In the process, Tiznow became the only two-time winner of that 1 1/4-mile prize. Tiznow is transmitting his stamina to his progeny, who have recorded an Average Winning Distance of 7.5 furlongs. So far, his two leading performers have been fillies -- Folklore, the champion juvenile filly of 2005, and reigning Lady's Secret S. (G1) heroine Tough Tiz's Sis. Tiznow has also sired several good males, however, including highly regarded Grade 2 winner Tiz Wonderful, a 2007 Kentucky Derby (G1) hopeful whose career was unfortunately curtailed by injury.

Additional staying power is conferred by Colonel John's dam. He is the fourth foal out of Sweet Damsel, the winner of five minor races at about a mile, on both dirt and turf, from her 33 starts. Her previous three foals are all winners, with the only stakes performer among them being Caroline's Gold (Touch Gold), the third-place finisher in the 1 1/16-mile Dogwood S. (G3) in 2005. Sweet Damsel is by Turkoman, the champion older male of 1986, who blazed 1 1/4 miles in a track-record 1:58 3/5 at Hialeah to capture the Widener H. (G1). As might be expected, his progeny are responsible for a stout Average Winning Distance of 8.1 furlongs. Turkoman has made his mark as a broodmare sire, especially in the Triple Crown. His daughters have produced 2001 Horse of the Year Point Given, who disappointed when fifth in the Run for the Roses but rebounded with powerful scores in the Preakness S. (G1) and Belmont S. (G1), and Hard Spun, a gallant runner-up in last year's Kentucky Derby and third in the Preakness.

Sweet Damsel is herself out of Illinois-bred stakes victress Grande Dame, who is by 1976 Gotham S. (G2) winner Zen. Colonel John's third dam, Fia, finished third in the 1 1/2-mile Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) in 1977. She likely inherited her stamina from her sire, One for All, the Canadian champion grass horse in 1971. This is the family of multiple Grade 2 victor Imperialism (Langfuhr), who was third to Smarty Jones in the 2004 Run for the Roses.