Key to the Mint (1969–1996) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse.
Background Bred by Paul Mellon and raced under his Rokeby Stable colors, Key to the Mint was trained by future Hall of Fame inductee Elliott Burch.
Racing career Key to the Mint did not run in the Kentucky Derby, the first race of the U.S. Triple Crown series, then finished third to winner Bee Bee Bee in the Preakness Stakes and fourth to Riva Ridge in the Belmont Stakes.
Following the Triple Crown races, Key to the Mint dominated his age group in 1972 and was voted the Eclipse Award for American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse. He continued to race at age four, notably winning the 1973 Excelsior Handicap and won on a sloppy track for 10 furlongs in winning the Suburban Handicap.
Stud record Retired to stud duty, Key to the Mint sired Plugged Nickle, the 1980 American Champion Sprint Horse; Java Gold, a multiple Grade 1 winner and sire of Kona Gold; and Jewel Princess, the 1996 American Champion Older Female Horse. He is also the damsire of European Champion Swain and Canadian Champion 3-Year-Old Male Horse Key to the Moon. Key to the Mint was euthanized due to infirmities of old age on September 21, 1996.
Sire line tree
Key to the MintDarley Arabian Sire Line: St Simon BranchAmerican Classic Pedigree: Key to the Mint Sauce BoatAmerican Classic Pedigree: Sauce Boat Plugged Nickle Gold And Ivory Java GoldAmerican Classic Pedigree: Java Gold Kona GoldAmerican Classic Pedigree: Kona GoldKona Gold: An Unlikely Sprint ChampionKona Gold: ‘Those of us lucky enough to have worked and worshipped at his doorstep enjoy a special bond’ Access To Java Boreal
Pedigree
Key to the Mint is inbred 5S x 4D to the stallion Papyrus, meaning that he appears fifth generation (via Barbara Burrini) on the sire side of his pedigree and fourth generation on the dam side of his pedigree.
References
Key to the Mint's pedigree and partial racing stats Video at YouTube of Key to the Mint winning the 1972 Travers Stakes