Pedigree Look: McDynamo

Name: McDynamo
Color: Bay
Year Born: 1997
Sex: Gelding
Sire: Dynaformer
Dam: Rondonia
Broodmare Sire: Monteverdi (IRE)

Profile: McDynamo was a decent allowance horse on the flat, but blossomed when he started his steeplechase career. On Friday, he joins Housebuster, Lure, Invasor (ARG) and Calvin Borel in the Class of 2013 for Racing's Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, NY. All the horses and Calvin deserve their places in the Hall, but McDynamo holds a special place in my heart.

Originally trained by his owner Michael Moran (who with his mom bred Hard Spun), he moved to steeplechase trainer Sanna Hendriks barn after a 6th place finish at Belmont in 2001. He would win his first three races over the jumps, including a G1 at Churchill. He would show that race was no fluke when he finished second in his next race. He would end his first year as a steeplechaser with a ninth place finish and another win.

2003 was his first big year where he went 3 for 3 including wins in the Breeders' Cup Steeplechase (which is no longer a BC race) and the Colonial Cup. He won his first Eclipse Award for Champion Steeplechaser. In 2004 he would make two starts where he would win the BCS once again. 2005 was his next big year where he would finish no worse then third while picking up BCS and Colonial Cup wins once again, along with another Eclipse Award. 2006 was when he only lost once, and picked up wins in the BC Grand National and Colonial once again along with what would be his final Eclipse Award. 2007 was made up three races where he finished in the top 3 only once. However, it would be in the race he dominated the Grand National winning it for the fifth time. He finished his career after a 6th place finish in the Colonial Cup.

Sire

Dynaformer (Roberto) won the 1988 Jersey Derby and Discovery Handicap. Of course it was as a sire where he made his name with sons such as Barbaro and Perfect Drift and daughters like Film Maker and Riskaverse.

His sire Roberto (Hail to Reason) won the Epsom Derby and the Coronation Cup in England. He was named a Champion in both the UK and Ireland three times. Among his foals include G1 winners Sunshine Forever, Script Ohio and Bob Back. His dam Bramalea (Nashua) won 8 races in her career. As a broodmare she is also the dam to stakes placed Mullineaux (Hail to Reason). This is the same female family as stakes placed Oh So Noble (Noble Nashua).

His dam Andover Way (His Majesty) is a G1 winner herself. Other then Dynaformer she is the dam to Alvear (Seattle Slew) who is the dam to G1 winner Offlee Wild (Wild Again), one of the few horses to defeat Funny Cide multiple times, as well as Black Speck (Arch) the dam of UAE Derby winner Lines of Battle (War Front). Andover Way's dam On the Trail (Olympia) of G1 placed Derby Creek Road (Roberto) who defeated John Henry three times.

Dam

McDynamo's dam Rondonia (Monteverdi (IRE)) was unraced in her career. Other then McDynamo, she is the dam to G3 winner Old Chapel (Dynaformer) and Russian stakes winner Radonezh (Barkerville).

Her sire Monteverdi (IRE) (Lyphard) won the Dewherst in England and was 2yo champion in both England and Ireland. Among his foals include stakes winner Niccolo Polo and G3 placed Warranty Applied. His dam Janina (IRE) (Match (FR)) is also the dam to stakes winner Jadana (IRE) (Pharly (FR)). Thus this is the same female family as G1 placed Jade Hunter (who of course is the sire to a Hall of Famer himself, Azeri).

Her dam Flying Carpet (Damascus) went unplaced in her career. She is the dam to stakes winner Winter Spirit (Icecapade). Pimento Dram (Cyane), Flying Carpet's dam is a stakes winner as well. She is the dam of stakes placed Special Connection (Buckfinder). This is the same female family as G3 placed Skin Dancer (Dance Spell).