There was something to sing along to at Del Mar yesterday when Durante graduated in his third career start. The Distorted Humor colt is out of Seahawk Girl, a Pioneerof the Nile mare from a long-ago chapter of our work.

Returning off a much improved 2nd last out when stretched out to a mile for the first time, Durante overcame a stumbling start to make all the pace and hold determinedly for a half-length decision over Union Train.

The colt, a $130,000 2yo purchase by trainer's brother Dennis, has earned consideration for next month's Los Alamitos Futurity and given both his pedigree and professionalism, a bright overall future appears well within reach.

From her sire's first book, Seahawk Girl is out of Ionlyhaveeyesforyou (Tunerup), a mare who had produced nine winners from her first 10 foals, her most notable being the MGSW sprinter Gaff. Yet it was to be in the breeding shed where her daughter by the future Triple Crown sire was destined to shine.

With Durante being her best runner to date, the now 10yo mare is already a proven commercial success as well. Just last week at the Keeneland November Sale, her Candy Ride colt sold for $300,000 and she is back in foal to that leading sire's son Twirling Candy.

It's noteworthy the emphasis on linebreeding in each of these matings (Seahawk Girl has also been bred to the likes of Hard Spun and Animal Kingdom). Bred himself on the notable cross of Empire Maker over a Lord at War dam, Pioneerof the Nile serves a dutiful outcross to plenty of matings as broodmare sire.