Pedigree

A cursory glance at Etched's pedigree may cast doubt upon his ability to handle 1 1/4 miles, but a more thorough appraisal offers some encouragement. His sire, the Storm Cat horse Forestry, scored his signature victory in the seven-furlong King's Bishop S. (G1), and all three of his stakes wins came in one-turn events. One of the hottest commercial stallions on the market, Forestry has largely transmitted his speed, with his five crops of runners recording an Average Winning Distance of 6.6 furlongs. His marquee performers, including Cigar Mile H. (G1) hero Discreet Cat, Carter H. (G1) victor Forest Danger and Hollywood Starlet S. (G1) queen Diplomat Lady, have tended to follow in Forestry's mold of brilliance with distance limitations.

Etched's dam, Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) winner Unbridled Elaine, redresses this balance by contributing a degree of stamina. The gray never got the chance to showcase her talents beyond 1 1/8 miles, but her stirring late charge to get up in time in the Distaff suggests that she could have handled longer distances. Unbridled Elaine garnered a total of four stakes and placed in two others, including an excellent second when tackling males in the 1 1/8-mile Pennsylvania Derby (G3), and earned more than $1.7 million.

Unbridled Elaine is a daughter of multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Unbridled's Song, the hero of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1). Dispatched as the 7-2 favorite in the 1996 Kentucky Derby (G1), he was compromised by foot issues and wound up running in bar shoes, but still turned in a terrific performance to finish fifth. Unbridled's Song now ranks as a successful stallion, with an Average Winning Distance of 7.2 furlongs for his progeny. His top three performers are all fillies, including 1 1/4-mile Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) heroine Octave. Unbridled Elaine's dam, the multiple stakes-winning sprinter Carols Folly, has a rather unfashionable background, being by Taylor's Falls and out of a Bob's Dusty mare. Her best foals have far exceeded her own distance capacity. In addition to Unbridled Elaine, Carols Folly is also responsible for Ashland S. (G1) victress Glitter Woman, herself the dam of Political Force, the winner of the 1 1/4-mile Suburban H. (G1). Because he is by Unbridled's Song, Political Force is a three-quarters brother to Unbridled Elaine.