Pedigree

Country Star's pedigree may be superficially summed up as the marriage of the blue-blooded aristocrat and the upstart commoner, but the so-called commoner has some excellent breeding herself further back. The high society comes courtesy of her first-crop sire, classic winner Empire Maker, who promises to be a significant source of stamina. A son of 1990 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner and champion Unbridled and Broodmare of the Year Toussaud, Empire Maker was bred to be a star. He began to live up to his inordinate potential with a 9 3/4-length triumph in the Florida Derby (G1), and after a narrow score in the Wood Memorial S. (G1), he was sent off as the 5-2 favorite in the 2003 Kentucky Derby. Empire Maker was afflicted by a problematic hoof in the days leading up to the Run for the Roses, but in any event, he was unable to overhaul Funny Cide and settled for second. The dark bay got his revenge in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont S. (G1), though, before retiring with nearly $2 million in earnings. The Mr. Prospector-line sire Empire Maker is already making a mark with his first runners in 2007, including Demoiselle S. (G2) victress Mushka, another Kentucky Oaks (G1) hopeful.

Country Star's dam, Rings a Chime, springs from unfashionable parentage, but the overachiever went on to become a Grade 1 heroine. The Washington-bred just lasted by a nose in the 1 1/16-mile Ashland S. (G1), and she held on for runner-up honors in the 2000 Kentucky Oaks. She placed in five other stakes as well, notably the Las Virgenes S. (G1), and amassed a bankroll worth $606,315.

Rings a Chime is by Metfield, a royally bred son of Seattle Slew who didn't quite live up to his pedigree on the racetrack, managing one stakes score in the Sheridan S. (G3). He has sired one other Grade 1 winner, Oak Leaf S. (G1) heroine Tipically Irish, and the Average Winning Distance of his progeny is 7.2 furlongs. Rings a Chime is out of sprint stakes winner Outofthebluebell, by Red Ryder, an unraced full brother to world-class sire Mr. Prospector. As a result, Country Star is inbred 4 x 3 to those full brothers, whose fortunes could not have been more diametrically opposed.