Pedigree

Cowboy Cal is by Giant's Causeway, who was nicknamed the "Iron Horse" after he won five Group 1 races in England and Ireland within a time period of 10 weeks in the summer of 2000. Giant's Causeway went on to prove himself on the dirt when he finished a game second to Tiznow in his last career start in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs later that year, and as a stallion he has made a phenomenal start to his career. While the majority of his most important successes have come on the turf, through the likes of Shamardal, Footstepsinthesand (GB), Aragorn (Ire) and My Typhoon (Ire), he has also sired top dirt runners such as First Samurai, who won the Champagne S. (G1), Hopeful S. (G1) and Fountain of Youth (G2). Giant's Causeway's offspring have recorded an Average Winning Distance of 8.3 furlongs.

Cowboy Cal is out of the Seeking the Gold mare Texas Tammy, who was unplaced in her lone start. Seeking the Gold, who, like Giant's Causeway was a Breeders' Cup Classic runner-up, is among Mr. Prospector's best sons at stud, siring more than 80 stakes winners, including such champions as Dubai Millennium, Heavenly Prize and Flanders. His progeny have compiled an Average Winning Distance of 7.3 furlongs. As a broodmare sire Seeking the Gold is responsible for more than 50 black-type winners, including Surfside, Pine Island, Pomeroy and Excellent Art (GB), and this Giant's Causeway/Seeking the Gold cross has already produced Noble Causeway, who was second in the 2005 Florida Derby (G1).

Cowboy Cal's second dam, Hot Novel, is by Mari's Book, the broodmare sire of 2001 Derby third Congaree. Hot Novel won the Santa Ynez S. (G3) and was second in the Acorn S. (G1) and is also the dam of the Oaklawn H. (G1) winner and Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) third Behrens.

With dirt and stamina influences on both sides of this classy pedigree, there is little reason on paper to suggest that Cowboy Cal will not be capable of handling the testing Derby trip.