Laurel River is out of Calm Water (Empire Maker), who was placed but failed to win in eight starts, and is her best runner. She is a full sister to the multiple Grade 1 winner Emollient (Empire Maker), who won four Grade 1 races in the US.

Second dam Soothing Touch (Touch Gold) did not win in six starts but was placed and has bred six winners from ten runners. Her first foal Emollient won the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes in 2013 and the Grade 1 Spinster Stakes, and has four winners herself, among them Raclette (Frankel), winner of the Gr.2 Prix de Malleret, and Ardent (Frankel), a Listed winner in France. Soothing Touch is also the dam of the stakes winners and sires Hofburg (Tapit), a Listed winner, second in the Grade 1 Florida Derby and third in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes, and Courtier (Pioneerof the Nile), a Listed winner placed at Grade 2 level.

Third dam Glia (A.P. Indy) won two Listed races and is a daughter of Coup De Genie (Mr Prospector).

Coup De Genie's dam Coup De Folie (Halo) ranks among the foundation mares of today's thoroughbred. This family also includes the Group 1 winners Coup De Genie, Denebola and Senga and the Group 1-winning sires Bago and Maxios.

Calm Water has a 2-year-old filly and a yearling colt, both by Constitution, and in 2024 she foaled a full sister to Laurel River.