An interesting Kentucky Derby contender, Tawny Port all but sealed a Kentucky Derby start when finishing second to Tiz the Bomb in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park. His previous two starts on the Turfway all-weather both produced victories, and he ran a respectable fifth in his only start on dirt, finishing fifth behind Epicenter in the Risen Star S. (G2) at Fair Grounds. The $430,000 yearling purchase’s pedigree suggests he should be best on dirt; he is by American Pharoah’s sire Pioneerof The Nile out of Livi Makenzie, a stakes-winning mare by Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Macho Uno who produce good performances on dirt, turf, and all-weather tracks. It is the family of the graded stakes dirt winners Surf Cat and Rosie O’Greta. The family doesn’t have great form at 1 1/4 miles but the Pioneerof The Nile factor should help him get the trip.

Related Stories of Tawny Port:

SCULLY: Kentucky Derby contender profile: Tawny Port

JOHNSON: Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Tawny Port