Ethereal Road Summary

Ethereal Road could give Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas a chance at his fifth Kentucky Derby victory, and his first since 1999. A $90,000 Keeneland September yearling sale purchase, Ethereal Road is by leading sire Quality Road, whose progeny have usually won up to 1 1/8 miles and sometimes further. His dam is the War Front mare Sustained, who was runner-up in the Miss Grillo S. (G3) at Belmont Park. She is also the dam of Grade 3-winning turf sprinter Turned Aside. Further back it’s the family of graded stakes winners Amy Be Good and Good and Tough. There are enough stamina influences to suggest 1 1/4 miles may not be beyond him.

By Alastair Bull