Oatsee, dam of Shackleford, delivers Frankel filly

Oatsee, the 2011 Broodmare of the Year, delivered a filly from the first crop of unbeaten champion Frankel on Thursday, March 27 at Darby Dan Farm in Lexington, Ky.

The 17-year-old Unbridled mare is boarded at Darby Dan for Leonard Riggio’s My Meadowview LLC, which purchased her for $1.55 million at the 2008 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. The mare was shipped to England to be covered by Frankel, who stands at owner-breeder Juddmonte’s Banstead Manor Stud near Newmarket, England.

Darby Dan described the mare’s new foal, born at 3:30 a.m. on Thursday, as a chestnut filly with a large white blaze.

“Oatsee has made her mark as one of the very finest producers in the world, and her mating to a stallion like Frankel, who carries the highest of reputations, had us all eager of the foal’s arrival,” general manager Robert Hammond said. “You always feel like you’re going to get a special individual out of her any way, and this filly was everything we hoped for and more. I’m happy to report that mom and foal are doing fantastic.”

Oatsee, a stakes-placed winner, is the dam of five stakes horses from eight runners, including 2011 Preakness Stakes winner Shackleford. The three-time Grade 1 winner earned just over $3 million, and now stands at Darby Dan.

Oatsee is also the dam of 2007 Alabama Stakes winner Lady Joanne; Grade 2 winner Afleeting Lady, Grade 3 winner Baghdaria, and stakes winner Stephanoatsee.

Frankel’s first foals began arriving in January. The son of Galileo won all 14 starts, including 10 Group 1 stakes, earning over $4.7 million and twice receiving the Cartier Award as Europe’s Horse of the Year. Oatsee was part of a star-studded first book for Frankel, which also included British Broodmare of the Year honorees Arrive and Binche; champion and classic producer Zomaradah; Eclipse Award winners Lahudood, Stacelita and Zagora; Stacelita’s dam, Soignee; champions Divine Proportions, Ramruma, Sariska, and Finsceal Beo; Musical Treat, dam of Finsceal Beo; classic winners Light Shift and Elusive Wave; French classic producer Lady Vettori; Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Danedream; multiple Grade/Group 1 winners Dar Re Mi, Heat Haze, and Midday; Midday’s dam, Midsummer; and Grade 1 winner Balance, a half-sister to Zenyatta.

Oatsee is booked to WinStar Farm sire Distorted Humor for 2014.