Pedigree

Recapturetheglory is another prominent son of Cherokee Run heading toward the Kentucky Derby (G1), the other being two-year-old champion War Pass. Cherokee Run, the champion sprinter of 1994 when he captured the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), was a winner up to nine furlongs, taking the 1993 Dwyer S. (G2), and he was second in that year's Preakness S. (G1) at 1 3/16 miles. As expected, races up to 1 1/16 miles have been the optimum distance for many of Cherokee Run's most prominent offspring, though several have distinguished themselves up to nine furlongs, including recent Grade 2 winner Zanjero, Arkansas Derby (G2) winner Sir Cherokee and Florida Derby (G1) third Chelokee.

Recapturetheglory's dam, Cold Awakening, won twice in 17 starts, and placed in one of her three stakes appearances. That placing was a runner-up finish in the 1998 Kentucky Cup Juvenile Fillies at a mile, one of only two races Cold Awakening ever ran around two turns. The other was a last-place finish in the 1 1/16-mile Alcibiades S. (G2), an effort well below par and easily the worst of her career. Cold Awakening spent the remainder of her career competing in overnight races, winning for the second and final time in a turf sprint allowance at Santa Anita.

Cold Awakening is by Dehere, a son of Deputy Minister and the two-year-old champion of 1993. Dehere was a major contender for the following year's Kentucky Derby before injury cut short his career. Dehere's final start was the Fountain of Youth S. (G2) at 1 1/16 miles, where he edged subsequent Derby winner Go for Gin by three-quarters of a length. Though unable to prove his ability to go longer distances, Dehere was out of the Secretariat mare Sister Dot, and thus did not appear to have distance limitations within his pedigree. Like Cherokee Run, however, the most prominent offspring of Dehere have generally found nine furlongs to be their limit, horses like the Grade 1 queen Take Charge Lady and Grade 2 winners Soto and Graeme Hall. Among Dehere's most prominent grandsons are sprint champion Midnight Lute (Real Quiet), Peter Pan S. (G2) winner Oratory (Pulpit), and WinStar Derby winner Liberty Bull (Holy Bull), another potential contender for this year's Kentucky Derby.

Overall, Recapturethglory's pedigree suggests nine furlongs might be his upper limit. However, considering his Illinois Derby was one of the more highly rated preps from a speed rating perspective, it is plausible he will not find the 10th furlong at Churchill Downs as big a hurdle as some of his opponents will.