Pedigree Look: The Tin Man

Note: Pedigree Look is a bi-weekly post where I take a look at the pedigree of a selected horse on both his sire's and dam's side.

Name: The Tin Man
Year Born: 1998
Color: Dark Bay/Brown
Sex: Gelding
Sire: Affirmed
Dam: Lizzie Rolfe
Broodmare Sire: Tom Rolfe

Profile: When you think of the name, The Tin Man of course the first thing to come to mind is Wizard of Oz. Well you could say that Affirmed gelding The Tin Man, was the Wizard of the Turf. Unraced at 2, Tin broke his maiden in his second start in 2001 as a 3yo. He would then go onto to win a few allowance races before making his stakes debut in the 2002 San Francisco Breeders' Mile which would result in a 3rd place finish. His first stakes win would be in the American Handicap after finishing 9th in the Shoemaker. That October, he would get his first G1 win in the Clement Hirsch (defeating Sarafan) and wrapped up the year with a solid fourth behind High Chapperal in the BC Turf. His 5yo season in 2003 would result in only one win (San Luis Obispo), but he was second in United Nations behind Balto Star and was 4th once can in the BC Turf behind High Chapperal and Johar who had dead-heated for first. 2003 is when he also made his first start in the Arlington Million where he finished 6th. While he would be winless in 2004 and only make 1 start in 2005 (a win in an allowance), his breakout year would be as a 8yo in 2006.  He would start his career at home winning the San Marcos at Santa Anita before taking his show on the road where he finished a solid second to David Junior in the Dubai Duty Free at Nal Al Sheba. He would avoid the dreaded "Dubai bounce" when he came back to win the American Handicap before taking another shot at the Arlington Million which he won going gate to wire over Casique and English Channel who had been butting heads throughout the year. He would end the year with a win in the Hirsch, but would be denied Champion Turf Horse as Miesque's Approval the BC Mile winner took down the title. He would end his career with 3 runner up finishes including a heart breaker in the Arlington Million where he looked to be winner only to be run down by the Canadian invader Jambalaya. He made 31 starts with 13 of them wins and earnings of $3,663,780.

Sire

The Tin Man's sire is the one and only Affirmed (Exlusive Native). Of course he is known for his rivalry with Alydar in the 1978 Triple Crown. He also won the Hollywood Gold Cup and Jockey Club Gold Cup as a 4yo in 1979. While Alydar was the better sire, Affirmed had some solid horses. They include Canadian Triple Crown winner Peteski, G1 placed Affirmed Classic, G1 winner Quiet Resolve, G1 winner Affirmed Success, G1 winner Affluent and the legendary (and fellow Hall of Famer) Flawlessly.

Affirmed's sire Exlusive Native (Raise a Native) won the Sanford in his career. 2 years after Affirmed won the Triple Crown, he would sire his second Derby winner in Genuine Risk. She of course would go onto finish second in the Preakness and Belmont before defeating older fillies in the Ruffian later that year.

Affirmed's dam Wont Tell You (Crafty Admiral) won 5 races in her career. She is the dam to stakes winner and G3 placed Love You Dear (Bold Native), and G1 placed Silent Fox (Exlusive Native).

Dam

Lizzie Rolfe (Tom Rolfe) was unplaced in her 3 starts. Other then The Tin Man she is the dam to stakes winner and G1 placed Mama Simba (Mamaison).

Her sire Tom Rolfe (Ribot (GB)) won the Preakness in 1965, he would also go onto win the Arlington Classic and Arlington Derby. As a sire he would have G1 winner Bowl Game and stakes winner Droll Role.

Her dam, Dancing Liz (Northern Dancer) is a multiple stakes winner. Her highest earning foal is Bacavi (Pirate's Bounty). Liz's dam Crimson Queen (Crimson Satan) is the dam of stakes winner Crimson Slew (Seattle Slew) and G3 placed Prince Crimson (Prince of Reason). She is a half sister to 1956 2yo Champion male Barbizon (Polynesian).