Secretariat Makes Comeback at Kentucky Derby in Unique Fashion

There are just a few hours left until the 2025 Kentucky Derby kicks off! Fans are buzzing with excitement, and there’s so much anticipation building for the G1 event at Churchill Downs. There are 20 horses in the race, but just like every year, only one will take home the win in the Run for the Roses. There’s definitely something unique about the 151st edition of the horse race. If you’re a seasoned horse racing fan, you definitely think of Secretariat.

So, you won’t believe this! It seems like the horse is back in a pretty interesting way. On X, @Secretariatprmr shared a fact, stating, “It’s Derby Day! Every horse in today’s Kentucky Derby, including Thursday’s addition of Baeza, has Secretariat in his pedigree. We wish good luck and safe trips to all the horses and riders!” Every horse that’s going to be in the 2025 Kentucky Derby has a link to the Triple Crown winner. How does that work? Alright, let’s check it out.

Since Rodriguez got scratched from the race, Baeza stepped in and made his way into the Derby. Baeza has several connections to Secretariat in his lineage, showing just how much Secretariat has impacted modern Thoroughbred breeding. The horse’s sire, McKinzie, is actually a son of Street Sense, who won the Kentucky Derby back in 2007.

Street Sense’s dam, Bedazzle, is actually a granddaughter of Storm Cat. Storm Cat was sired by Storm Bird, who is a son of Northern Dancer. This line might not lead straight back to Secretariat, but it definitely connects with a bunch of pedigrees that he’s influenced.

It's Derby Day! Every horse in today's #KentuckyDerby, including Thursday's addition of Baeza, has Secretariat in his pedigree. We wish good luck and safe trips to all the horses and riders!#Secretariat #KentuckyDerby2025 #Thoroughbreds #KyDerby151 #RunForTheRoses #DerbyDay pic.twitter.com/4lu2NmD9eT

— Secretariat (@Secretariatprmr) May 3, 2025

All the horses in this year’s Run for the Roses have a bit of a connection to the legendary Triple Crown winner. How about we check out some of the popular ones? Bob Baffert’s Citizen Bull has a sire named Into Mischief, who comes from Storm Cat. Storm Cat is a well-known son of Terlingua, one of Secretariat’s daughters. This lineage creates a direct link to Secretariat through the sire’s side. How successful as a racing horse, then, was Secretariat?

Secretariat cemented his name in racing history

Secretariat, born on March 30, 1970, was an American Thoroughbred racehorse famous for his incredible speed and endurance. Back in 1973, he made history by becoming the first U.S. Triple Crown winner in 25 years, taking home the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. His Belmont win, which he snagged by an incredible 31 lengths, is often talked about as one of the best performances in horse racing history.

Secretariat set and still holds the fastest times in all three Triple Crown races, and that’s pretty impressive! Aside from being an amazing racehorse, he was also known for his stunning chestnut color and strong build. Once Secretariat retired, he really made a name for himself as a broodmare sire.

The champion stallion’s daughters went on to produce some pretty influential stallions, including Storm Cat, A.P. Indy, and Gone West. He passed away in 1989 because of laminitis, but his legacy lives on, with many modern racehorses having connections to him. Well, I guess we’ll just have to wait and see from his pedigree who’s going to stand out at the 2025 Kentucky Derby.

The post Secretariat Makes Comeback at Kentucky Derby in Unique Fashion appeared first on EssentiallySports.