Photo: Kevin Creative (Kevin House)
by Jarrod Horak
Which horse has the best
pedigree to handle twelve furlongs in the final leg of the Triple Crown on
Saturday, June 9 at Belmont Park? My Belmont Stakes alphabetical list continues
with Paynter.
Paynter’s sire Awesome Again (by Deputy Minister) won 9
of 12 races from 1997-98. He captured such prestigious events as the Queen’s Plate,
G2 Stephen Foster, G1 Whitney, and G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic. He earned more
than $4.3 million in his career and has sired 11 grade one winners including Awesome
Gem, Game On Dude, Ghostzapper, and Ginger Punch.
Awesome Again’s sire Deputy Minister (by Vice
Regent) went 12-for-22 from 1981-83 and won multiple
stakes races including the GP Sprint Championship, Donn Handicap, and Tom Fool.
He sired more than 80 stakes winners including Dehere, Deputy Commander, Go For
Wand, Open Mind, and Belmont Stakes hero Touch Gold.
Awesome Again’s dam Primal Force (by Blushing Groom) went
4-for-8 in 1990-91. In addition to Awesome Again, the late Adena Spings mare
also threw juvenile champion Macho Uno.
Paynter’s dam Tizso (by Cee’s Tizzy) lost both career
starts at Santa Anita in 1998. She is a full sister to 2-time Breeders’ Cup
Classic winner Tiznow.
Cee’s Tizzy (by Relaunch) won 3 of 6
starts in 1990 and finished 3rd in the G1 Super Derby. He brought
back the Man O’War male line and was responsible for more than 39 stakes
winners (Budroyale, Cost of Freedom, Gourmet Girl, Tiznow) with earnings
topping $35 million.
Tizso’s dam Cee’s Song (by Seattle
Song) captured 1 of 18 starts in Southern California. She tossed four stakes
winners sired by Cee’s Tizzy including the aforementioned Tiznow. She died at
age 25 in 2011.
Paynter has stamina influences
throughout his pedigree, especially in the ten furlong range. Bob Baffert’s
promising colt is on the improve and might play catch me if you can under Mike
Smith in the 2012 Belmont Stakes.