Lucky Pulpit

Lucky Pulpit
Lucky Pulpit at the Harris stud.
Sire	Pulpit
Grandsire	A.P. Indy
Dam	Lucky Soph
Damsire	Cozzene
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	February 10, 2001
Country	United States
Color	Chestnut
Breeder	Mr. & Mrs. Larry Williams
Owner	Mr. & Mrs. Larry Williams
Trainer	Grant Forster Todd A. Pletcher
Record	22: 3-5-5
Earnings	$209,928
Major wins
Smile Stakes (2005)

Lucky Pulpit (foaled February 10, 2001^[1]) is an American Thoroughbred stallion who currently stands at Harris Farms in Coalinga, California. Lucky Pulpit is a son of the Blue Grass Stakes winner Pulpit, who in turn is a son of 1992 United States Horse of the Year A.P. Indy. Lucky Pulpit is the sire of the 2014 Kentucky Derby and 2014 Preakness Stakes winner and subsequent 2014 Horse of the Year, California Chrome.

Background

Lucky Pulpit head shot

Lucky Pulpit is a chestnut horse with a blaze and white socks on his hind legs^[2] bred in Kentucky by Mr. & Mrs. Larry Williams. He was sired by Pulpit, who won the Blue Grass Stakes in 1997 before becoming a successful breeding stallion. Pulpit's other offspring include Tapit, Ice Box, Corinthian, and Stardom Bound.^[3] Lucky Pulpit's dam, Lucky Soph, was foaled in California^[4] and was sent to the United Kingdom as a yearling to race. She won one race, the class D Longhill Maiden Fillies Stakes at Ayr, as a three-year-old in 1994.^[5] Lucky Soph is a three-quarter sister to the mare Trolley Song, the dam of multiple stakes winner and sire Unbridled's Song.^[6] Lucky Pulpit's half-brother Drewman was third in the Iowa Derby and second in the Diplomat Way Stakes with combined winnings of $88,852.^[7]

A few months after Lucky Pulpit was born, he was sent to the Tree Top Ranches in Parma, Idaho, where he was schooled and trained for racing.^[8]

Racing career

Three-year-old-season: 2004

Lucky Pulpit contracted a viral infection at the beginning of his three-year-old season which led to permanent respiratory problems. His difficulty breathing affected his ability to train before races, which often meant that his only time on the track was during races.^[9]

Stud career

As of 2014 Lucky Pulpit has sired three other stakes winners: Rousing Sermon, who was a California Champion Two-Year-Old colt; the geldings Luckarack, a multiple stakes winner; and Gatheratthealter.^[10]

After California Chrome won the 2014 San Felipe Stakes, Lucky Pulpit's stud fee increased from the 2013 fee of $2,500 to $10,000.^[11]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Lucky Pulpit (USA), chestnut horse, 2001^[1]

Sire Pulpit (USA) 1994	A.P. Indy (USA) 1989	Seattle Slew	Bold Reasoning
			My Charmer
		Weekend Surprise	Secretariat
			Lassie Dear
	Preach (USA) 1989	Mr Prospector	Raise a Native
			Gold Digger
		Narrate	Honest Pleasure
			State
Dam Lucky Soph (USA) 1992	Cozzene (USA) 1980	Caro	Fortino
			Chambord
		Ride the Trails	Prince John
			Wildwook
	Lucky Spell (USA) 1971	Lucky Mel	Olympia
			Royal Mink
		Incantation	Prince Blessed
			Magic Spell (Family: 4-m)

References

1. "Lucky Pulpit". equineline.com. 2014-03-07. Retrieved 2014-05-09.
2. "Lucky Pulpit image". i.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 2014-05-09.
3. "Pulpit Stud Record". Bloodstock.racingpost.com. 2012-02-15. Retrieved 2014-05-09.
4. Clancy, Joe. "Elm Tree Farm turns a rare Derby double". This is Horse Racing. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
5. Staff. "Lucky Soph (USA)". Racingpost. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
6. Staff. "Lucky Pulpit". Harris Farms. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
7. Staff. "Hip 1187" (PDF). obssales.com. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
8. Shelton, Bonnie (May 7, 2014). "Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome has Idaho roots". Krem.com. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
9. Rees, Jennie (May 2, 2014). "California Chrome sire Lucky Pulpit unlucky on track". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
10. "Lucky Pulpit" (PDF). California Thoroughbred 2014 Stallion Directory. CTBA. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
11. Lintner, Jonathan (May 5, 2014). "Report: California Chrome sire’s stud fee quadruples". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved May 8, 2014.