American Promise

Connections

Owner: BC Stables LLC
Breeders: Candy Meadows LLC
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Jockey: Nik Juarez

American Promise: 2025 Kentucky Derby Contender Profile

American Promise, a 3-year-old colt by Justify out of Tapella, heads into the 2025 Kentucky Derby with a key win in the Virginia Derby (G3) (1:46.08 over 1 1/8 miles), earning 50 Derby points. With a total of 67 points, he’s secured his spot. Featuring a pedigree with Scat Daddy and Tapit, American Promise aims for glory on May 3, 2025, at Churchill Downs and we’ll have to wait to see if he can compete at this level.

Pedigree

American Promise
├── Sire: Justify
│   ├── Sire: Scat Daddy
│   └── Dam: Stage Magic (by Ghostzapper)
└── Dam: Tapella
    ├── Sire: Tapit
    └── Dam: Princess Arabella (by Any Given Saturday)

1st Generation Pedigree

• Sire: Justify
  Justify, a son of Scat Daddy, is the 2018 Triple Crown winner, sweeping the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes, and retired undefeated after six starts. Standing at Ashford Stud for $100,000 in 2025, Justify has sired graded stakes winners like 2023 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Just F Y I and 2024 Preakness winner Seize the Grey, though his progeny can be inconsistent at the top level. His influence often imparts stamina and speed, ideal for classic distances.
• Dam: Tapella
  Tapella, by Tapit, is a stakes-placed mare who earned $165,000, with her best finish being a second in the 2017 Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct over 1 1/16 miles. She’s a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Tapwrit (by Tapit), who won the 2017 Belmont Stakes, adding significant classic-distance potential to her lineage. Tapella’s most notable foal is American Promise.

2nd Generation Pedigree

• Justify’s Parents (American Promise’s Paternal Grandparents)
  Justify’s sire is Scat Daddy, a son of Johannesburg who won the 2007 Florida Derby (G1) at 1 1/8 miles and sired four Breeders’ Cup winners, including Justify and 2016 Juvenile Fillies winner Champagne Room. Scat Daddy, who died in 2015, was a leading sire of versatile runners. Justify’s dam is Stage Magic, by Ghostzapper, a stakes-winning mare who earned $133,000 and adds speed through Ghostzapper (2004 Horse of the Year), whose progeny often excel from sprints to classic distances.
• Tapella’s Parents (American Promise’s Maternal Grandparents)
  Tapella’s sire is Tapit, a son of Pulpit who is a leading North American sire, producing classic winners like 2014 Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist, 2016 Belmont winner Creator, and 2017 Belmont winner Tapwrit (Tapella’s half-brother). Tapit’s progeny are known for stamina and class, often excelling at 1 1/4 miles and beyond. Tapella’s dam is Princess Arabella, by Any Given Saturday, a talented but lightly raced mare who won the 2012 Sunland Park Oaks at 1 1/16 miles before an injury ended her career. She earned $188,400 in three starts, all wins, and was retired due to an inflamed tendon. Her full brother, Mo Town (by Uncle Mo), won the 2017 Hollywood Derby (G1) at 1 1/8 miles, showing the family’s ability to handle distance.

Additional Notes on American Promise’s Pedigree

• Paternal Line (Justify): Scat Daddy, by Johannesburg, brings versatility—his progeny like Justify and Caravaggio (a Group 1 sprinter) excel across distances, with Justify’s undefeated 2018 Triple Crown campaign proving his stamina at 1 1/4 miles and beyond. Stage Magic, by Ghostzapper, adds speed and quality—Ghostzapper’s 2004 Breeders’ Cup Classic win at 1 1/4 miles complements Justify’s classic-distance ability, giving American Promise a strong foundation for the Derby.
• Maternal Line (Tapella): Tapit, by Pulpit, is a stamina powerhouse—his progeny like Tonalist and Tapwrit have won at 1 1/2 miles, and his daughters have produced classic runners like 2021 Belmont winner Essential Quality. Princess Arabella, by Any Given Saturday, adds both talent and stamina to the pedigree. Any Given Saturday, a son of Distorted Humor, was a Grade 1 winner who took the 2007 Haskell Invitational (G1) at 1 1/8 miles and sired talented runners like Princess Arabella, who was undefeated in three starts, including the Sunland Park Oaks, before her retirement. Princess Arabella’s dam, Tortuga Lady (by Thunder Gulch), brings additional distance aptitude—Thunder Gulch won the 1995 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, and his daughters often produce runners with staying power. Princess Arabella’s full brother, Mo Town, further proves this family’s quality with his 2017 Hollywood Derby win at 1 1/8 miles, reinforcing American Promise’s potential to handle the Derby distance.
• Pedigree Fit for the Derby: American Promise’s pedigree remains well-suited for the 1 1/4-mile Derby distance. Justify and Scat Daddy provide a blend of speed and stamina, while Tapit and Princess Arabella (via Any Given Saturday and Thunder Gulch) add proven classic endurance, as evidenced by his Virginia Derby win (1:46.08 at 1 1/8 miles). Any Given Saturday’s progeny, including Princess Arabella, have shown brilliance—her undefeated record and $725,000 sale price as a broodmare highlight her quality. However, American Promise’s inconsistent stakes performances (5th in the Risen Star, 6th in the Southwest) suggest he may struggle against the deepest fields, a concern we’ll explore further in his race progression analysis.

American Promise’s Race Record