Dust Commander

Dust Commander
Dust Commander after winning the 1970 Kentucky Derby
Sire	Bold Commander
Grandsire	Bold Ruler
Dam	Dust Storm
Damsire	Windy City
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	February 8, 1967[1]
Died	October 7, 1991(1991-10-07) (aged 24)
Country	United States
Colour	Chestnut
Breeder	Pullen Brothers
Owner	Robert E. Lehmann. Silks: Gold, Red REL, Red Chevron on Sleeves, Gold Cap
Trainer	Don Combs
Record	42: 8-5-4
Earnings	$215,012
Major wins
Blue Grass Stakes (1970) Triple Crown classic race wins: Kentucky Derby (1970)
Honours
Dust Commander Stakes at Turfway Park

Dust Commander (February 8, 1967 – October 7, 1991) was an American Thoroughbred race horse.

Background

The name "Dust Commander" is derived from his dam, Dust Storm, and his sire, Bold Commander. A descendant of Nearco, Dust Commander was bred by the Pullen brothers. He was owned by Robert E. Lehmann and trained by Don Combs. His dam Dust Storm was descended from the American broodmare Laughing Queen (foaled 1929) who was also the female-line ancestor of Tom Fool.^[2]

Racing career

Dust Commander's Owners Trophy

In a 3-year racing career, Dust Commander had 8 wins, 5 places and 4 shows in 42 starts. He finished his career with $215,012 in winnings. Some of the highlights of his career include winning as a 2-year-old the City of Miami Beach Handicap and as a 3-year-old the Blue Grass Stakes, a Kentucky Derby prep race.

On May 2, 1970, with Mike Manganello aboard, Dust Commander won the 96th running of the Kentucky Derby in 2:03.4 ahead of My Dad George and High Echelon.^[3]

Hunter S. Thompson's seminal 1970 essay "The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved" detailed the running of the Derby won by Dust Commander.

Stud record

Standing at stud, Dust Commander sired the 1975 Preakness Stakes winner, Master Derby.

In 2006, the family of the late Robert E. Lehmann donated Dust Commander's Kentucky Derby Trophy to the Kentucky Derby Museum.

Pedigree

Pedigree of Dust Commander (USA), chestnut stallion, 1967^[1]

Sire Bold Commander (USA) 1964	Bold Ruler (USA) 1954	Nasrullah	Nearco
			Mumtaz Begum
		Miss Disco	Discovery
			Outdone
	High Voltage (USA) 1952	Ambiorix	Tourbillon
			Lavendula
		Dynamo	Menow
			Bransome
Dam Dust Storm (USA) 1956	Windy City (GB) 1949	Wyndham	Blenheim
			Bossover
		Staunton	The Satrap
			Crotanstown
	Challure (USA) 1948	Challedon	Challenger
			Laura Gal
		Captivation	Stimulus
			Laughing Queen (Family: 3-j)[2]

References

1. "Dust Commander pedigree". equineline.com.
2. "Sister to Skysweeper - Family 3-j". Thoroughbred Bloodlines.
3. "1970".

• Dust Commander's offspring at the Triple Crown database by Kathleen Irwin and Joy Reeves