Admire Daytona (JPN)

Connections

Owner: Junko Kondo
Breeders: Northern Farm
Trainer: Yukihiro Kato
Jockey: Christophe Lemaire

Admire Daytona: 2025 Kentucky Derby Contender Profile

Admire Daytona, a 3-year-old colt by Drefong out of Ice Pastel, heads into the 2025 Kentucky Derby with a win in the UAE Derby (G2) (1:59.05 over 1 3/16 miles), earning 100 Derby points. With a pedigree featuring Gio Ponti, primarily a turf specialist, and Shackleford, fourth in the 2011 Kentucky Derby and won the Preakness, Admire Daytona will seek racing glory on May 3, 2025, at Churchill Downs.

Pedigree

Admire Daytona
├── Sire: Drefong
│   ├── Sire: Gio Ponti
│   └── Dam: Eltimaas (by Ghostzapper)
└── Dam: Ice Pastel
    ├── Sire: Shackleford
    └── Dam: Million Gift (by Sunday Silence)

1st Generation Pedigree

• Sire: Drefong
  Drefong, a son of Gio Ponti, was the 2016 U.S. champion sprinter, winning the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) in 1:08.78 for 6 furlongs and the King’s Bishop Stakes (G1), earning over $1.5 million. Now standing in Japan, Drefong has sired stakes winners like 2024 Japan Dirt Derby winner Kurino Dragon and Admire Daytona, who has earned $458,250 with a record of 2-2-0 from six starts. His progeny often show speed but can stretch out, as seen with Admire Daytona’s UAE Derby win.
• Dam: Ice Pastel
  Ice Pastel, by Shackleford, was unraced but has produced Admire Daytona as her most notable foal. She’s a half-sister to stakes-placed turf runner Color Me Fast and comes from a family with international success, including Million Gift’s progeny in Japan. Ice Pastel was bred in Kentucky, and Admire Daytona was foaled in Japan, reflecting the global reach of his pedigree.

2nd Generation Pedigree

• Drefong’s Parents (Admire Daytona’s Paternal Grandparents)
  Drefong’s sire is Gio Ponti, as you confirmed, a son of Tale of the Cat who was a multiple Eclipse Award winner, earning over $6 million with wins in the Arlington Million (G1) and Man o’ War Stakes (G1). Gio Ponti’s progeny often excel on turf, but Drefong transitioned that class to dirt sprints, and now Admire Daytona shows route ability on dirt. Drefong’s dam is Eltimaas, by Ghostzapper, a stakes-placed mare who earned $150,000 and adds broodmare quality—Ghostzapper, the 2004 Horse of the Year, brings dirt speed to the lineage.
• Ice Pastel’s Parents (Admire Daytona’s Maternal Grandparents)
  Ice Pastel’s sire is Shackleford, a son of Forestry who won the 2011 Preakness Stakes and the 2012 Met Mile (G1), earning over $3 million. Shackleford’s progeny, like Malathaat (2021 Kentucky Oaks winner), show versatility across distances and surfaces. Ice Pastel’s dam is Million Gift, by Sunday Silence, a mare who raced in Japan and produced stakes winners like Gift Box, a Grade 2 winner on dirt. Sunday Silence, a 1989 Kentucky Derby winner, adds stamina and class to the pedigree.

Additional Notes on Admire Daytona’s Pedigree

• Paternal Line (Drefong): Gio Ponti, by Tale of the Cat, brings class and stamina—his Arlington Million win (1:59.40 for 1 1/4 miles) shows his route ability, though his progeny typically excel on turf. Eltimaas, by Ghostzapper, adds dirt speed—Ghostzapper’s 2004 Breeders’ Cup Classic win (1:59.02 for 1 1/4 miles) complements Drefong’s sprint success, giving Admire Daytona a balanced foundation for routes.
• Maternal Line (Ice Pastel): Shackleford, by Forestry, offers versatility—his Preakness win (1:56.47 for 1 3/16 miles) and Met Mile success show he can handle both classic distances and speed, a trait Admire Daytona mirrors in the UAE Derby (1:59.05). Million Gift, by Sunday Silence, adds stamina—Sunday Silence’s 1989 Kentucky Derby win (2:05.00 for 1 1/4 miles) and success as a sire in Japan (e.g., Deep Impact) suggest Admire Daytona can handle the Derby distance.
• Pedigree Fit for the Derby: Admire Daytona’s pedigree is well-suited for the 1 1/4-mile Derby distance. Drefong’s speed, backed by Gio Ponti’s stamina, blends with Shackleford’s Preakness-winning grit and Sunday Silence’s classic-distance influence, giving Admire Daytona a strong chance to compete at 10 furlongs. His UAE Derby win at 1 3/16 miles shows he can handle extended distances, though his consistency in larger fields remains a question.

Admire Daytona’s Race Record