Kentucky Derby fillies as broodmares

One might assume that only top fillies would dare contest a Kentucky Derby – and one would be correct in that assumption. As broodmares, these 40 classic distaffers went on to comprise a pretty solid group of matrons, with 18 of them producing stakes winners and several exerting a notable-to-profound influence on the American Thoroughbred.

Although a stakes producer, Regret was far from the most important future broodmare to emerge from the Derby. More impressive was the sextet of Cleopatra (15th in 1920), Prudery (third, 1921), Alcibiades (10th, 1930), Nellie Flag (fourth, 1935), Althea (19th, 1984), and Serena’s Song (16th, 1995).

Cleopatra produced juvenile champion Pompey. Alcibiades produced juvenile champion Menow, the sire of Hall of Famer Tom Fool, and is an ancetress of international racehorse and sire Sir Ivor. Prudery was that rarest of rare gems – a mare capable of producing two American classic winners – Whiskery (who avenged his dam in the 1927 Derby) and Victorian (1928 Preakness).

The best of Nellie Flag’s stakes-winning trio were champion mare Mar-Kell and Kentucky Oaks victress Nellie L., and she subsequently traced in the bottom line to the great Forego and 1976 Kentucky Derby winner Bold Forbes. Althea’s four stakes winners would include a Japanese champion, while her descendants numbered Grade 1 winner/top American sire Arch. Serena’s Song, produced five stakes winners and is the third dam of 2015 Gulfstream Park Handicap winner Honor Code.

But heartbreak and disappointment has been over-represented in this group.

Genuine Risk famously produced just two unraced foals in 18 years of trying; Misweet never produced a foal, Ben Machree only one. Cupecoy’s Joy was plenty fertile, but her offspring were abysmal – three winners from 12 foals, not one a stakes winner.

The last four Derby fillies have especially sad stories. Excellent Meeting died during colic surgery at age 8 in 2006, while same-crop cohort Three Ring suffered a fatal skull fracture after flipping in the Belmont Park paddock six weeks after the Derby; Eight Belles broke down catastrophically in both fore ankles immediately after finishing second in 2008; and Devil May Care – 10th in 2010 – was euthanized the following year due to cancer.

Fillies in the Derby
1875 Ascension 10th; Gold Mine 15th
1876 Lizzie Stone 6th; Marie Michon 7th
1877 Early Light 8th
1879 Ada Glenn 7th
Wissahickon 9th
1883 Pike’s Pride 6th
1906 Lady Navarre 2nd
1911 Round the World 6th
1912 Flamma 3rd
1913 Gowell 3rd
1914 Bronzewing 3rd; Watermelon 7th
1915 REGRET 1st
1918 Viva America 3rd
1919 Regalo 9th
1920 Cleopatra 15th
1921 Prudery 3rd&; Careful 5th
1922 Startle 8th
1929 Ben Machree 18th
1930 Alcibiades 10th
1932 Oscillation 13th
1934 Mata Hari 4th; Bazaar; 9th
1935 Nellie Flag 4th
1936 Gold Seeker 9th
1945 Misweet 12th
1959 Silver Spoon 5th
1980 GENUINE RISK 1st
1982 Cupecoy’s Joy 10th
1984 Life’s Magic 8th, Althea 19th
1988 WINNING COLORS 1st
1995 Serena’s Song 16th
1999 Excellent Meeting 5th; Three Ring 19th
2008 Eight Belles 2nd
2010 Devil May Care 10th

1906 – Lady Navarre suffered backstretch interference but closed to finish second, beaten two lengths by favored Sir Huon.
1912 – Flamma acted up at the start and got away poorly, but closed well for third, beaten a neck and five lengths.
1913 – Gowell, at 87-1, came from behind to finish third, two lengths back of 91-1 winner Donerail. It took a new track record to beat her.
1914 – Bronzewing raced last for half a mile, before closing for third, beaten 9 1/2 lengths by Old Rosebud.
1918 – Viva America tired at 29-1 after leading for nearly half the race on a muddy track. She was overhauled in the stretch and beaten eight lengths by the only horse with longer odds, Exterminator.
1921 – Prudery, part of a favored H.P. Whitney entry, stalked the pace, went wide into the stretch, and finished third behind E.R. Bradley’s entry of Behave Yourself and Black Servant, beaten six lengths by the winner.
2008 – After a world of trouble, Eight Belles found a clear path in the stretch to finish second by 4 3/4 lengths behind favored Big Brown. She broke down fatally pulling up on the clubhouse turn.

Derby Fillies as Broodmares

1875 – Ascension, stakes producer.
1876 – Lizzie Stone, dam of three stakes winners, including important handicap stars Ten Stone and Sabine.
1879 – Ada Glenn, stakes producer.
1911 – Round the World, dam of major stakes winner and 1920s $154,000-earner Golden Prince.
1914 – Bronzewing, stakes producer.
1915 – Regret, dam of stakes winner Revenge; ancestress of First Fiddle.
1918 – Viva America, dam of Arlington Futurity winner Toro Nancy.
1919 – Regalo, stakes producer.
1920 – Cleopatra, dam of three stakes winners, including champion Pompey. Ancestress of Hall of Fame champion Tom Fool.
1921 – Prudery, dam of three stakes winners, including champion and 1927 Kentucky Derby winner Whiskery and 1928 Preakness winner Victorian.
1921 – Careful, ancestress of champion Dedicate.
1930 – Alcibiades, dam of four stakes winners, including champion Menow. Ancestress of champion Sir Ivor.
1934 – Mata Hari, dam of major stakes winner and sire Spy Song.
1934 – Bazaar, stakes producer.
1945 – Nellie Flag, dam of champion Mar-Kell and ancestress of champions Forego and Bold Forbes.
1959 – Silver Spoon, stakes producer.
1984 – Althea, dam of four stakes winners, including champion Yamanin Paradise. Ancestress of Grade 1 winner and sire Arch.
1995 – Serena’s Song, dam of five stakes winners, including Group 1 winner Sophisticat. Ancestress of 2015 graded stakes winner Honor Code.