Breeding Digest: Putting the ‘Run’ Into ‘Vron’

Last weekend represented a staging post on the Derby trail, a chance not only to reflect on some rather puzzling sophomore skirmishes, to this point, but also to celebrate fulfilments that remain far more pertinent to the vast majority of Thoroughbreds.

After all, very few get anywhere near testing their eligibility for the Classics and few others, certainly among the male of the species, will contrive a second career from such opportunities as remain once they have missed that one. That's why purses are so important. Otherwise racehorse ownership would depend entirely on an ancillary industry that annually divides access to a bare handful of colts and a contrasting surfeit of mares, many of them only marginally qualified.

First and foremost, all these horses are born–and bought–to run. Hats off, then, to a 6-year-old gelding whose popularity now extends far beyond the local theater he has long dominated. Following a 16th success in 21 starts, in the GIII San Carlos S., The Chosen Vron (Vronsky) has now banked a few cents short of $1.3 million. Trained by the former private detective Eric Kruljac, he's a great story, and surely making new fans on a circuit that has done a fabulous job in enabling our community to go back out and face Main Street with a clear conscience.

But perhaps this horse can also remind those who treat the racetrack as a means, rather than an end, that precocity is too often conflated by commercial breeders with elite speed. Sure, he romped on his juvenile debut (albeit on Dec. 27). But it's actually in maturity, as in his own Grade I breakout last summer, that speed validly signposts class.

Classic racing is itself considered instructive for breeders precisely because it requires the adolescent Thoroughbred to carry speed into tasks only within the compass of a strengthening physique. And, even round a single turn, we've just awarded yet another Horse of the Year trophy to one that was anything but precocious.

In that context, it's a shame that The Chosen Vron can't recycle his exceptional dash, character and soundness. True, he would never have introduced us to those qualities but for the discovery that a displaced testicle was interfering with his athleticism. But his late sire Vronsky, who died three years ago, deserved to leave a male heir.

That's not just because Vronsky had a proven ability to pass on wholesome genes: his 2018 crop, comprising no more than 43 live foals, includes not only The Chosen Vron but another indefatigable millionaire in four-time Grade II winner Closing Remarks; while his first Grade I winner, What a View, spread his eight-for-31 career across six campaigns. It's also because there's no mystery whatsoever where Vronsky found such prowess.

With only a modestly competent track career, featuring a maiden and a couple of allowance wins, he instead owed his chance at stud to pedigree and physique. Consigned by co-breeder Arthur Hancock of Stone Farm, he'd been a seven-figure Keeneland September yearling in 2000, his inherent appeal–as a son of Danzig out of multiple turf stakes scorer Words of War (Lord At War {Arg})–having been enhanced just days previously by the GI Del Mar Oaks success of his half-sister No Matter What (Nureyev). But his family tree would subsequently go into full bloom.

First the foal between No Matter What and Vronsky, a $1.35-million yearling by Mr. Prospector, as E Dubai ran second in the GI Travers S. and won the GII Suburban H. Then a full-sister to Words of War, the graded stakes winner Ascutney, became dam of GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Raven's Pass, while No Matter What produced Rainbow View (Dynaformer) to become a dual Group 1 winner in Europe, besides three other graded/group winners.

On paper Vronsky didn't have much to work with in The Chosen Vron's dam, Tiz Molly (Tiz Wonderful). She had cost Kruljac $25,000 as a yearling and was retained at just $1,200 when offered at a breeding stock sale, despite having meanwhile won twice in a career cut short by injury. But she did have some blood behind her, her mother being half-sister to Canadian champion Delightful Mary (Limehouse) and GII Ohio Derby winner Delightful Kiss (Kissin Kris), as well as to the dam of Wilson Tesoro (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), a Group 1 runner-up in Japan last year.

We'll never know whether The Chosen Vron might have been an effective conduit for genes that have functioned so well on the track. But even his “page” won't ever be his sire's best–because that will always be found among those that make Count Vronsky's dramatic steeplechase scene, in Anna Karenina, one of the most famous in Russian literature.

Another Noble Family Denied an Outlet

In a horrible shock, last weekend also reduced a young stallion to a legacy only marginally beyond that available to the gelding whose more cheerful headlines we've just been celebrating. And the loss of Improbable felt all the more poignant because he, too, represented a family loaded with just the kind of genetic assets that the modern breed most requires.

For it can hardly be a coincidence that a page with Hard Spun front and center should have given us a horse whose juvenile Grade I success turned out only to be a downpayment for what he would achieve in maturity, when a hat-trick of elite scores qualified Improbable as champion older horse.

Hard Spun is half-brother to the second dam of Improbable, their mother Turkish Tryst (Turkoman) in turn being out of Darbyvail, a Roberto half-sister to champion Little Current (Sea-Bird {Fr}). Can't miss the Darby Dan flavors here and, sure enough, the next dam is the farm's matriarch Banquet Bell (Polynesian), who delivered two champions by Swaps in Primonetta and Chateaugay.

Primonetta proceeded to become a Broodmare of the Year, as dam of two Grade I winners and another pair at Grade II/Group 2 level. Yet her branch of the dynasty has faded, while Darbyvail's modest record both on the track and in the paddocks would instead be relieved by a daughter of Turkoman, of all horses. In much the same way, Hard Spun's brilliance found little reflection in his siblings. A filly by Stravinsky named Our Rite of Spring did win a stakes race, however, earning her early chances with top stallions including A.P. Indy. By the time the latter's daughter had produced Improbable, however, Our Rite of Spring had been sold for just $5,000 to finish her career in Colorado.

Obviously his damsire A.P. Indy can only have contributed usefully to Improbable, and likewise his own late sire, City Zip–whose prospects of salvaging the Carson City line now appear to be divided between the very promising Collected (three Grade II winners from his first sophomores last year, and now a leading GI Kentucky Oaks prospect in Lemon Muffin) and the three crops granted to poor Improbable.

His imminent first runners will represent a crop of 127 live foals; the next comprised 99; and presumably the last full one will be rather less. Overall that gives Improbable only a fleeting window of opportunity, and our hearts go out to the WinStar team, who first committed to the horse all the way back as a Keeneland September yearling.

Thankfully the royal Darby Dan genes that brand his family still have a priceless outlet through Danzig's parting gift, Hard Spun. Except he's not priceless, of course. At $35,000, Hard Spun remains among the very best value in Kentucky–where he now has four young sons (Silver State, Aloha West, Two Phil's and Spun to Run) competing to redress this weekend's tragic loss to a family that has condensed toughness as well as brilliance.

…And Another Hardy Perennial

On 15 April 2018, barely two weeks after The Chosen Vron was foaled in California, on the opposite coast a colt by Munnings slithered into the straw on a small Maryland farm. His mother, Listen Boy (After Market), had been stakes-placed in a fairly light career for her breeders at neighboring Sagamore, but was culled from that program for just $25,000 at the 2015 Keeneland November Sale. Earlier that year she had delivered her first foal, a son of First Defence (whose purchasers showed macabre humor–remember the mare is called Listen Boy–in naming him Nuclear Option) who would go on to prove a hardy 11-for-59 campaigner.

A couple of years later the mare's purchasers, Leonard and Patricia Pineau of Three Pines Farm, shrewdly sent her to Munnings who was then still building his reputation at $25,000. (The Ashford sire, albeit seemingly in perennial vogue, stands on the brink of fresh momentum with his forthcoming yearlings conceived at $85,000, more than double the previous crop.)

The resulting colt was sold at Keeneland September for $80,000, proving a solid pinhook for Grassroots Training & Sales at $140,000 at OBS the following April. Named Jaxon Traveler by purchasers West Point Thoroughbreds, he was precocious enough to be an unbeaten stakes winner at two, but his GIII Whitmore S. success confirms him to be better than ever in his fifth campaign. That makes him an apt winner of the race honoring an evergreen sprinter who, in his own career, similarly reminded us that Thoroughbreds tend not to approach their physical prime until long after the age when the best are often retired.

The big difference between Jaxon Traveler and Whitmore or The Chosen Vron, of course, is that he retains the equipment required for a second career. So perhaps he'll emulate his grandsire Speightstown as a late starter at stud somewhere.

For a dual Grade I winner by a sire of sires out of Tranquility Lake (Rahy), After Market was a disappointing stallion and ended up in Turkey. But his daughter has here been skilfully managed to produce some very sound stock by modern standards, an aspiration that has turned out to be very much our theme of the week.

Heard the Buzz?

The group of sires about to send a third crop of juveniles into the fray is proving a very competitive one, among others featuring Justify, Good Magic and Bolt d'Oro, plus several who appear to be seizing a much narrower chance. The busiest sires in the intake, studmates Mendelssohn and Justify, have so far had 262 and 216 starters, respectively, whereas Army Mule, Girvin and Oscar Performance have muscled into the top 10 (by cumulative earnings) with between 112 and 115 starters apiece.

But not even these can match the ratio of stakes winners quietly assembled by Bee Jersey, whose son Beeline became his sixth black-type scorer from just 48 starters in the Hutcheson S. last weekend.

Beeline | Ryan Thompson

Beeline is typical of the atypical program that bred him. His third dam is one of its foundation mares, a twice-raced daughter of Secretariat named Ball Chairman, whose foals included Canadian champion Perfect Soul (Ire) (Sadler's Wells). Their owner Chuck Fipke runs an extraordinary stable, largely comprising not only homebreds, but homebreds by homebred stallions. He sends valuable mares to sires that you or I can hire at bargain fees. And it keeps paying off.

Jersey Town admittedly arrived in utero, with his $700,000 dam, and went on to win the GI Cigar Mile. Retired to stud, Fipke sent him a mare whose fourth dam is matriarch Lassie Dear (Buckpasser), and the result was Bee Jersey, lightning-fast winner of the stallion-making GI Met Mile.

Bee Jersey's first sophomores last year included three runners-up in graded stakes, all naturally bred by Fipke. Perhaps Beeline, sold as a 2-year-old at OBS last June to Bradley Thoroughbreds for $70,000, can give his sire a breakout score at that level. It's plainly only a matter of time, and you can't say that of too many $5,000 covers.

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Four Supplemented To Keeneland’s Book 1 September Yearling Sale

Keeneland will supplement four horses to Book 1 of the September Yearling Sale, which begins Monday, Sept. 11, the organization said in a release Thursday.

Opening day of the sale will include a daughter of American Pharoah out of Pushkinskaya (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (hip 190), consigned by Highgate Sales, agent, who is a full sister to European Champion 2-year-old filly Maybe (Ire).

Four Star Sales, agent, consigns a colt by Uncle Mo (hip 191) and a half-brother to GISP Conquest Panthera (Kitten's Joy) and MGSW Happy Like a Fool (Distorted Humor).

The first supplement on Day 2 is a colt by Gun Runner out of Special Event (hip 391), consigned by Gainesway, agent. He is from the family of Champion older mare and MGISW Queena (Mr. Prospector).

Highgate Sales, agent, also consigns a filly by American Pharoah (hip 392) out of GISP Stopshoppingmaria (More Than Ready).

Click here for the online catalog.

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The Week in Review: Fusaichi Pegasus, Horse of Many Firsts

There were a lot of “firsts” associated with Fusaichi Pegasus, the 2000 GI Kentucky Derby winner who was euthanized at Ashford Stud May 23 due to old-age infirmities that had accumulated over his 26 years.

As the first Derby winner of the 2000s decade, this high-spirited, headstrong son of Mr. Prospector had commanded a $4-million price tag at Keeneland July, then the highest price paid for a yearling at that sale in 13 years. And to this day, that auction price remains as the highest ever paid for any starter in, let alone winner of, the Derby.

At 2.3-1 odds, Fusaichi Pegasus was the first favorite to win the Derby since Spectacular Bid in 1979. At the dawn of the 21st Century, recall that the Derby was mired in a deep drought of well-backed losers. At the time, its streak of losing favorites (since 1979) was almost as long as the span back to the sport's last Triple Crown champ (in 1978).

Although it wasn't evident at the time, beyond the numbers, the Derby victory by Fusaichi Pegasus would become a benchmark in the globalization of the sport.

Fusao Sekiguchi, who owned about 80 horses in Japan, became the first horse owner from that country to campaign a Kentucky Derby winner. Japanese connections have yet to win a second Derby, but horses based in Japan now have a points-based qualifying path to get into the Derby each year, and Japanese-campaigned horses have steadily been making their presence felt in other elite American races like the Breeders' Cup.

“FuPeg” got pounded to 3-10 favoritism for the GI Preakness S., but was upset by Red Bullet on a wet track, finishing 3 3/4 lengths behind in second. He was pointed for the GI Belmont S., but a minor foot injury kept him from starting. In an era when top contenders were still more or less expected to dance every dance in the Triple Crown series, his defection in 2000 meant that it was the first time since 1970 that neither the winner of the Derby nor the Preakness contested the Belmont.

Sekiguchi sold Fusaichi Pegasus to Coolmore Stud in June 2000 in a deal that was widely reported (but never officially confirmed) to be in the neighborhood of $60-70 million. At the time, that was the highest price ever paid for a racehorse.

The sale called for Sekiguchi to control FuPeg's racing for the rest of that sophomore season. Under the care of trainer Neil Drysdale, the colt won the then-GII Jerome H. at Belmont Park on Sept. 23, missed the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup with another foot ailment, and finished sixth as the beaten 6-5 favorite in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic to close out his career.

Fusaichi Pegasus went on to sire six champions worldwide, and his Grade I winners included Roman Ruler, Champ Pegasus, Haradasun (Aus) and Bandini. Southern Hemisphere stints at Haras Don Alberto and Haras Philipson yielded champion older horse Bronzo (Chi). Fusaichi Pegasus was pensioned in 2020 and had been living in retirement at Ashford.

Now nearly a full generation (human, not horse) has passed since that 2000 Derby. The official chart of the race reads like a Who's Who of A-list jockeys and trainers.

In fact, the 1-2-3-4 jockeys from that 2000 Derby (Kent Desormeaux, Alex Solis, Craig Perret, John Velazquez) are now all inductees in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. So too are the top four trainers (Drysdale, Bobby Frankel, and Todd Pletcher, who ran third and fourth). Fellow Hall-of-Famers Jerry Bailey, Chris McCarron, Pat Day, D. Wayne Lukas and Bob Baffert rounded out an impressive list of also-rans in FuPeg's Derby.

Pletcher's Understatement…

That 2000 Derby was the first for Pletcher. He saddled Impeachment (third), More Than Ready (fourth), Trippi (11th) and Graeme Hall (eased to last). Then 32, he said post-race with a positive vibe, “We showed we belonged here.”

Now fast-forward 23 years. Two Derby wins and four scores later in the Belmont S., Pletcher looks loaded for this year's edition of the third leg of the Triple Crown, with 'TDN Rising Stars' Forte (Violence) and Tapit Trice (Tapit) vying for favoritism.

Forte, the 2-year-old champ, is two breezes back after being scratched as the morning-line favorite for the Derby with a bruised right front foot on the morning of the race. He'll attempt 12 furlongs off a 10-week break.

According to DRF's Formulator, Pletcher has won at a 21% clip (45-for-217) with all starters who were off between nine and 11 weeks over the last five years. Within that group, his strike rate dips to 1-for-12 (8%) in just Grade I races with the same layoff parameters.

Tapit Trice may end up attracting more pari-mutuel attention, simply by the virtue that his running style begs for 1 1/2 miles over a vast, expansive oval like Belmont's.

Although seventh in the Derby after yet another characteristically slow break and some backstretch momentum loss, that poor result masks a decent middle move that is also emblematic of Tapit Trice's way of going.

It takes this burly gray quite a while to fully uncoil, and in both the Derby and in his previous win, in the GI Blue Grass S., he launched his bid from six furlongs out, which is something no other contender on the Triple Crown trail has been able to do with any degree of success this season.

Pletcher also said that GII Louisiana Derby winner Kingsbarns (Uncle Mo), 14th in the Derby, will bypass the Belmont after demonstrating signs of colic Friday morning. The colt did not need surgery and is recovering after treatment with fluids.

Derby winner and Preakness third Mage (Good Magic) is being freshened for a run at the GI Runhappy Travers S. in August. Derby runner-up Two Phil's (Hard Spun) will reportedly take aim at the June 24 GIII Ohio Derby.

Wire-to-wire Preakness victor National Treasure (Quality Road) is listed as probable for the Belmont, as are deep-closing Derby third Angel of Empire (Classic Empire), Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}), Il Miracolo (Gun Runner), Raise Cain (Violence) and Red Route One (Gun Runner).

Belmont “possibles” include Arabian Lion (Justify), Arcangelo (Arrogate), Prove Worthy (Curlin) and Reincarnate (Good Magic).

Meanwhile, on the Left Coast…

Santa Anita's top colts all had to opt out of this year's Derby because of illness. Two of them are back on the work tab and being considered for the $100,000 Affirmed S. at 1 1/16 miles June 4, according to that track's notes team.

Geaux Rocket Ride, (Candy Ride {Arg}), who was scratched from the GI Santa Anita Derby Apr. 8 with an elevated temperature, worked seven furlongs in 1:26.40 (1/1) Friday for trainer Richard Mandella in preparation for the Affirmed.

In just two lifetime starts, Geaux Rocket Ride has paired 92 and 96 Beyer Speed Figures. He was narrowly favored in the betting for the GII San Felipe S. in just his second lifetime try and first around two turns. A speed-centric threat, he gamely forced the issue on the front end of a high-tempo pace, yet still managed to finish determinedly in the final furlong to hold second when faced with a fresh challenge from a more experienced winner.

The late-developing Skinner (Curlin), who was third in the Santa Anita Derby for trainer John Shirreffs, shipped to Louisville and was entered in the Kentucky Derby. Then he, too, missed a start with a fever.

Skinner has returned with three works at Santa Anita since then, including five eighths in 1:02.20 (33/44) on Sunday, with the Affirmed as his next possible target.

Practical Move (Practical Joke), who beat both Geaux Rocket Ride and Skinner at Santa Anita, has yet to post a published workout since a fever caused him to be scratched from the Derby two days before the race.

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Background Check: Kentucky Oaks

In this continuing series, we examine the past winners of significant filly/mare races by the lasting influence they've had on the breed. Up today is the GI Kentucky Oaks, second only in stature at Churchill Downs to the GI Kentucky Derby.

The Derby isn't alone as the oldest continuously held major sporting event in the U.S. The Oaks is right there with it, having been held every year, without interruption for wars or pandemics, since racing first began at Churchill in 1875 when the Louisville oval was known as the Louisville Jockey Club. Although the 'Lilies for the Fillies' is somewhat of a prelude to the big event in the public consciousness, it's also a special Classic all on its own. Whether it was Silverbulletday's popular win as the shortest-priced favorite in Oaks history or Rachel Alexandra's 20 1/4-length tour de force or D. Wayne Lukas's record-tying fifth Oaks score last year with Secret Oath, the race has provided so many wonderful moments.

With 149 Kentucky Oaks winners (including two victresses from a 1959 split division), following are highlights of some of the most important by what impact they've had on the sport through their sons and daughters.

Lemons Forever (2003, Lemon Drop Kid–Critikola {Arg}, by Tough Critic), bred by Farfellow Farms Ltd.: The only Kentucky Oaks winner to be officially honored as Broodmare of the Year, she produced champion Forever Unbridled (Unbridled's Song) and additional GISW Unbridled Forever (Unbridled's Song). Her daughters are young and she still has a few more in the pipeline herself, so more could be in her future.

2006 winner Lemons Forever is the only Oaks winner
to be named a Broodmare of the Year | Horsephotos

Seaside Attraction (1987, Seattle Slew–Kamar, by Key to the Mint), bred by Hermitage Farm, Inc., A. G. Clay, and Robert N. Clay: She only had five foals, but four of them were graded winners, including champion Golden Attraction (Mr. Prospector) and GISW Cape Town (Seeking the Gold). Both of her daughters are dams of two or more stakes winners apiece, with French champion Desert Lord (GB) (Green Desert) among their offspring.

Blush With Pride (1979, Blushing Groom {Fr}–Best in Show, by Traffic Judge), bred by Mr. & Mrs. Darrell Brown: Broodmare of the Year Better Than Honour (Deputy Minister), dam of GI Belmont S. winners Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy) (also a champion and Kentucky Oaks winner) and Jazil (Seeking the Gold), is one of her daughters. Other top runners tracing to her to date are European champion Peeping Fawn (Danehill) and GISWs Thewayyouare (Kingmambo), Streaming (Smart Strike), and Paris Lights (Curlin).

Hidden Talent (1956, Dark Star–Dangerous Dame {GB}, by Nasrullah {GB}), bred by Harry F. Guggenheim: Dam of Broodmare of the Year Too Bald (Bald Eagle), her descendants include U.S. champion Capote (Seattle Slew), Canadian champion Lake Country (Caucasus), plus MGISWs Exceller (Vaguely Noble {Ire}) and Broad Brush (Ack Ack).

Lalun (1952, Djeddah {Fr}–Be Faithful, by Bimelech), bred by H. F. Guggenheim: Her two top sons were champion Never Bend (Nasrullah {GB}) and Travers winner Bold Reason (Hail to Reason). Both hit the board in the Kentucky Derby and both had significant influence on the breed.

Real Delight (1949, Bull Lea–Blue Delight, by Blue Larkspur), bred by Calumet Farm: This mare produced three black-type winners, but it's the next generations through her daughters that will keep her in pedigrees. Among the legions of top-class horses descending from her are Hall of Famer and leading sire Alydar (Raise a Native), Broodmare of the Year Sweet Tooth (On-and-On), champions Our Mims (Herbager {Fr}) and Christmas Past (Grey Dawn II {Fr}), and GISWs Sugar and Spice (Key to the Mint), Codex (Arts and Letters), and Grand Slam (Gone West).

How (1948, Princequillo {GB}–The Squaw II {Fr}, by Sickle {GB}), bred by D. Djordjadze: She is the dam of Broodmare of the Year Pocahontas (Roman), whose five stakes winners included champion and excellent sire Tom Rolfe (Ribot {GB}), as well as good sire Chieftain (Bold Ruler) and the dam of outstanding European sire Alzao (Lyphard).

Nellie L. (1940, Blenheim II {GB}–Nellie Flag, by American Flag), bred by Calumet Farm: Among the Grade I winners of the last 50 years tracing to this 1943 Oaks winner are champion and Kentucky Derby winner Bold Forbes (Irish Castle), who was her grandson, and Life At the Top (Seattle Slew), Saratoga Six (Alydar), Lakeway (Seattle Slew), Jilbab (A.P. Indy), and England's Dunbeath (Grey Dawn II {Fr}).

Miss Dogwood (1939, Bull Dog {Fr}–Myrtlewood, by Blue Larkspur), bred by Brownell Combs: Breed-shaping sire Mr. Prospector (Raise a Native) is a grandson of her daughter Sequence (Count Fleet), who is also the ancestress of GISWs Sewickley (Star de Naskra), Shared Interest (Pleasant Colony), Forestry (Storm Cat), and Cash Run (Seeking the Gold), as well as Canadian Broodmare of the Year Amelia Bearhart (Bold Hour) and her dual Canadian Horse of the Year son Chief Bearhart (Chief's Crown), who was also a U.S. champion.

Breed-shaping sire Mr. Prospector traced to 1942 Oaks winner
Miss Dogwood | Dell Hancock

Two Bob (1933, The Porter–Blessings, by Chicle {Fr}), bred by C. V. Whitney: What a mare. Her Hall of Fame daughter Two Lea (Bull Lea) produced Hall of Famer and 1958 Kentucky Derby winner Tim Tam (Tom Fool), as well as seven-time black-type winner and sire On-and-On. Another daughter founded the Chris Evert (Swoon's Son) line, the latter being a Hall of Famer whose descendants include champion Chief's Crown (Danzig), MGISWs Sightseek (Distant View) and Tates Creek (Rahy), and so many more top horses. Derby winning filly Winning Colors (Caro {Ire}) also is a direct descendant of Two Bob, as is solid sire Best Turn (Turn-to {Ire}), and a slew of other high-caliber horses.

Fiji (1931, Bostonian–O Girl, by Ormondale), bred by Jack S. Young and Tom B. Young: A daughter produced 1953 Kentucky Derby winner Dark Star, the only horse to defeat Native Dancer, and a granddaughter produced 1964 Kentucky Oaks winner Blue Norther.

Alcibiades (1927, Supremus–Regal Roman {GB}, by Roi Herode {Fr}), bred by Hal Price Headley: Four of her eight foals were black-type winners, including champion and influential sire Menow (Pharamond II {GB}). European champion and another influential sire in Sir Ivor (Sir Gaylord) descended from an Alabama-winning daughter, while a slew of other high-class stakes winners trace to her.

Black Maria (1923, Black Toney–Bird Loose {Fr}, by Sardanapale {Fr}), bred by Himyar Stud or Colonel E. R. Bradley (conflicting accounts): She had only one foal, but one was all she needed. Her descendants include Preakness winner and excellent sire Polynesian, of course responsible for Native Dancer.

Audience (1901, Sir Dixon–Sallie McClelland, by Hindoo), bred by Mrs. Byron McClelland): Among her foals were Whisk Broom II (Broomstick), an eventual Hall of Famer who won major races in both the U.S. and England before becoming a top sire, and Matinee, a blue hen for the Whitneys whose descendants include Hall of Famer Top Flight (Dis Donc {Fr}).

Modesty (1881, War Dance–Ballet, by Planet), bred by George H. Clay: A number of stakes winners trace to this grand chestnut, most notably Regret (Broomstick), the first female winner of the Kentucky Derby in 1915. The GIII Modesty S., to be run on the Oaks undercard after moving to Churchill from Arlington, is named after her.

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