Northern Dancer Herd

Teofilo beat Holy Roman Emperor again by a head in the October 14 $460,000 Darley Dewhurst Stakes (GR 1), probably cementing his position as champion European 2YO colt in 2006. As was detailed in an earlier posting, his great granddam, Victorian Queen, was a Windfields-bred champion in her own right, from the Compensate family. There's always more to recall in these stories, and in discussing Victorian Queen I neglected to lay out her great accomplishment as a broodmare, a producer of three Grade one winners.

The best was Judge Angelucci, a colt by Honest Pleasure, winner of three grade ones in California and earner of over $1,500,000. Then there was the bay colt, War, a son of Majestic Light and winner of the Blue Grass Stakes (GR 1) over subsequent Kentucky Derby winner, Alysheba. Finally there was the Naskra colt, Peace, winner of the Grade 1 John Henry Hdcp.

Embossed, a dkb/br r 4YO by Mark of Esteem from L Way First, by Vision from Lacey Brief, by Roi Dagobert from Mizzen, by New Providence out of Reply won the $200,000 Kentucky Cup Turf Stakes (GR 111T) at twelve furlongs on September 26, 2006. Lacey Brief produced a brood of minor SW and stakesplaced runners, but it is her dam Mizzen who is of most interest to Windfields fans. You may recall the analysis I did of the Reply family in connection with Holy Roman Emperor. I mentioned a number of Reply's daughters at the time but not Mizzen. Her sire, the Taylor bred New Providence, is best known as the broodmare sire of Storm Bird.

New Providence was a son of Bull Page from Fair Colleen, by Preciptic. Fair Colleen won the One Thousand Guineas Trial (ENG - 111) and was stakes placed in Britain. New Providence won 10 races from 2 to 5, including the Canadian Triple Crown. His full sibling, the filly Maid O'North, won the Canadian Oaks, but died later in her 3YO year. Grand Galop, a gelding by Victoria Park from Fair Colleen, had 20 wins from 2 to 8, and placed in 12 stakes.

Own Colleen, a winning chestnut beauty by Taylor stallion, Queen's Own, would become Fair Colleen's most important daughter. She produced two minor Sws, Winlord and Ice Palace, but it is her daughter, Royal Colleen, by Taylor bred Northern Dancer stallion, Viceregal, who is most valuable here. Her son, Beau Genius, by Bold Ruckus, won 19 races and over $1,000,000, including the Philip H Iselin H. (GR 1). Royal Colleen also produced Kathie's Colleen, by Woodman, who won the Monmouth Oaks (GR 11).

Kathie's Colleen is dam of Wando, a big, magnificent chestnut son of Langfuhr who was Canadian Horse of the Year in 2003 after winning the Triple Crown and over $2,500,000. His younger full sister, Six Sexy Sisters, was an Ontario SW at two.

So, we have Compensate, Reply, Fair Colleen - legendary broodmares from the Windfields band, continuing to take their place in the contemporary spotlight.

Discreet Cat, looking very impressive, as usual, won the October 1, 2006, $100,000 Jerome Breeders Cup Hdcp (GR 11) at eight furlongs by ten lengths to remain undefeated in five races, which also included the UAE Derby. He has won over $1,300,000. He is a son of Forestry from Pretty Discreet, by Private Account out of Pretty Persuasive, by Believe It from Bury the Hatchet, by Tom Rolfe - Christmas Wishes. Pretty Discreet won the Alabama (GR 1) and is also the dam of Pretty Wild, a colt by Wild Again, a SW of $398,000 plus and twice GR 1 placed.. Pretty Persuasive was unplaced in her only start. Bury the Hatchet was unraced.

Christmas Wishes, 1967, was a bay daughter of Northern Dancer from Happy Mood, by Mahmoud. She was a winner and placed in turf stakes. Her SW offspring were Mr. Nutcracker a bay colt 1983 by Mr. Prospector, and Rydin and Wishin a chestnut colt 1986 by Red Ryder.

Christmas Wishes was a member of Northern Dancer's second crop. Her stakes-winning full sister, the blazefaced, very red chestnut Cool Mood, was from his first. Happy Mood was by Mahmoud from La Reigh, by Count Gallahad. Cool Mood won the Canadian Oaks in an upset.

One of her winning daughters, Moody Maiden, became the dam of Nothing Special, SW of over $260,000. A placed daughter, Princess Laika, by Blushing Groom, was dam of SW Cool Gold Mood, winner of over $290,000. Princess Laika is granddam of GR 111 winner, First Blush, as well as SW Golden Path and SW Chamul. Another daughter of Princess Laika, Lady Laika, unplaced, was by Gone West. When bred to Boston Harbor, Lady Laika foaled a daughter, Healthy Addiction, 2001, who was a GR 1 winner in California this year. Lady Laika gave us Arch Lady, 2000, by Arch who also was a SW.

Cool Mood has given us much more. Her only SW, daughter Passing Mood, by Buckpasser, was Broodmare of the Year 1989 in Canada. This was through the efforts of her grey son by Caro, With Approval, who won the Canadian Triple Crown, with earnings of over $2,800,000 and Horse of the Year and best 3YO in Canada. He was a GR 11T winner in the USA, as well as GR 1 placed. Passing Mood next gave us Belmont Stakes (GR 1) winner and good sire, Touch Gold, by Deputy Minister. Then came Bar U Mood, a SW filly by Saratoga Six. Then came Daijin, a filly by Deputy Minister, a GR 1 placed SW and dam of SW Handpainted, winner of over $430,000. Passing Mood's last SW was Sweeping Change, a son of Secretariat.

Cool Mood was not finished. Another of her daughters, the unraced Shy Spirit, by Personality, was Canadian Broodmare of the Year in 1990. Her grey son by Icecapade, Izvestia, also won the Canadian Triple Crown and was Horse of the Year, champion 3YO colt and champion turf male. He won over $2,70,000. Another son, Key Spirit, was a GR 111 SW of over $775,000. Two other sons were Sws, Introspective and Unduplicated. Shy Spirit was granddam of Avalon Gold, Endlessly, Electron and Play All Day.

It is rare to see two daughters of the same mare awarded the prize, Broodmare of the Year, in the same jurisdiction. Cool Mood was special, as were many of the first crop of Northern Dancer. I shall be looking at that crop in detail shortly.

Murani, a 4YO chestnut filly, won the $100,000 Flaming Page Stakes at Woodbine over 12 furlongs of turf on September 24, 2006. She is a daughter of Distorted Humor from Grand Splash, who is by Bucksplasher.

Bucksplasher is a compact, blazefaced chestnut son of Buckpasser from the Windfields-bred Ontario mare Victoria Star. This mare sold for $160,000 at Saratoga as a yearling daughter of Northern Dancer from Solometeor, by Victoria Park from Solar Display. Victoria Star, an April 20, 1972 foal, was a winner at two.

Her early foals included Bucksplasher, a stakes placed winner; Potentiate, a colt by Foolish Pleasure, a grade one placed winner; and Cogency, another colt by Buckpasser who was grade one placed as well. Victoria Star's daughter, Starstruck Gal, by Stage Door Johnny, was a winner and eventual dam of Starry Val, a grade two winner in Canada and earner of over $400,000.

In 1986, to the cover of Roberto, Victoria Star foaled Stellaria, who would become a SW in England. When bred to Distant View, Stellaria gave us the chestnut colt, Observatory, who became a champion 3YO in England and was a winner of over $530,000 over three years racing in Britain and France, with six wins from ten starts.

When bred to Quest for Fame, Stellaria produced High Praise, a group three winning filly at two in 2002 in France.

Bucksplasher was Victoria Star's most successful son at stud. His most noted son was the gelding, Buck's Boy 1993, from the Verbatim mare, Molly's Colleen. As a 5YO, Buck's Boy won six stakes with two stakes placings and one stakes showing from ten starts. He won over $1,870,000 with victories in the Breeders Cup Turf (GR - 1T), Turf Classic Invitational (GR - 1T), and Pan American H. (GR - 11T), setting a NCR over 12 furlongs.

Solometeor Victoria Star's dam, won the Canadian Oaks and the Princess Elizabeth, the two top races for Canadian bred fillies at three and two, respectively. She foaled Nuclear Pulse, a blazefaced chestnut son of Nijinsky 11, who was a SW in France at three, Solarctic, a chestnut daughter of Briarctic, who became a 2YO SW in Ontario, and Meteor Dancer, another daughter of Northern Dancer, who was multiple stakes placed as a runner in the USA

Solometeor was a daughter of the important Windfields blue hen mare, Solar Display, 1951, an unraced daughter of Sun Again from Dark Display, by Display. The family is important; look at Storm Bird up against Victoria Star. Victoria Star is by Northern Dancer from Solometeor, by Victoria Park - Solar Display. Victoria Park is a son of Chop Chop. Look at Storm Bird, a son of Northern Dancer from South Ocean, by New Providence - Shining Sun, by Chop Chop - Solar Display. I think we get the picture.

One version of what happened next in the Northern Dancer racing saga went like this: After the Queen's Plate, Northern Dancer was shipped back to Belmont Park for training leading up to the important Arlington Classic in Chicago. Luro had arranged for a workout at Belmont on the morning before the horse was to be shipped to catch a plane to Chicago.

That morning it rained. Luro didn't know what to do. He didn't like the idea of working the horse in the rain. On the other hand, if he didn't work him, the whole plan to run him in the Arlington would be off. Luro decided to give him an easy seven furlong work. When the Dancer came back and was being walked to the barn, Horatio looked down and saw there was a little bump on the tendon. It didn't look too serious at the time. Luro hoped that perhaps the Dancer had given himself a little rap with a hoof. But it was serious. It was a bowed tendon. By October the decision was made to send Northern Dancer off to stud.

Another version: "Northern Dancer is expected to run as planned in the Travers Stakes August 22 at Saratoga, even though his training program has been interrupted by a minor injury. The damage - a nick on the right foreleg - forced cancellation of plans to ship the Windfields colt to Chicago for Saturday's Arlington Classic. The swelling had disappeared yesterday and trainer Luro said that, since there was no visible damage, the horse would resume training tomorrow.

A final version: Northern Dancer bowed his left front leg in a workout over a muddy track at Belmont July 30. Luro and Joe Thomas, the stable general manager, thought it was just a rap and the Dancer would be able to run by October. E.P. Taylor thought he was out for the year.

There was discussion among the Canadian press about how well the Dancer would be able to compete if he came back from a tendon injury. In the cases of many such previous injuries, the horse was unable to regain his or her class.

It would have been nice for readers if the racing press could agree on which foreleg the Dancer had injured.

E.P. Taylor was uneasy during the early running of the Queen's Plate. "I'd have hated to have seen him beaten and I didn't think that he'd lose, but I felt a lot better when Hartack made his move".

"Will the horse get a rest now?"

"Rest?" replied Taylor. "If you want to call galloping two or three miles a day resting. There will be no speed work. The rest is up to the trainer".

Luro said his only instruction to Hartack was to be clear and at the outside at the five eighths. "The horse came out fast, but we had to come back off the pace because the horse was full of run and we wanted someone else to make the pace. Don't forget the horse passed six horses in an eighth of a mile when he moved."

Northern Dancer was next scheduled to run in the Travers at Saratoga.

In winning by seven and a half lengths, Hartack said, "It was just too easy". He tapped the Dancer just once on the shoulder "just to make sure he wouldn't loaf. I did not ride him out because I did not have to." He was never boxed in. "It wasn't a case of being boxed in. I chose my position, but found that my horse going at its slowest was overtaking the others. Luro wanted me to win with the least necessary effort".

Sam McComb on the surprising Langcrest who finished second: "My horse ran his best. The winner was too much".

Jim Fitzsimmons, up on the third place Grand Garcon: "He traveled as fast as he could, but when Hartack passed us, he still had the Dancer's head bowed".

Hank Moreno, on Return Trip, the Max Bell colt: "When I asked my horse to run, the Dancer still went by like we were standing still".

How the Plate was run:

Northern Dancer, taken in hand and allowed to settle in stride while saving ground early, steadied when blocked entering the backstretch. He moved between horses when clear and rapidly worked his way up on the outside to wrest command midway of the far turn and came away from his opposition at will. He won as his rider pleased.

Langcrest was under light restraint while pressing the issue, attained a narrow advantage midway of the backstretch, and continued gamely when displaced to be easily the best of the others.

Grand Garcon was with the pace to the stretch turn and weakened.

Return Trip was never dangerous.

Pierlou was within easy striking distance of the leaders early, faltered after six furlongs.

Later Mel was never a factor.

Top Ruler displayed speed for six furlongs, then gave way.

All Seasons was finished early.

Final time: 2:02 and one.

"Dancer puts drama into a routine job" went a headline.

Hartack shocked Northern Dancer supporters by allowing his mount to run last down the early part of the backstretch. Once he pushed the button, Northern Dancer picked off the field with a magnificent run around the outside into the far turn.

This writer, then 13 years of age, was at the track that day and can still see in his mind's eye the spectacular sweep of the Dancer around that turn. This all resulted in screaming hysterics of joy.

The Dancer's crew's strategy for the Queen's Plate was to possibly set the pace if it was as slow as what developed in the Belmont. Some writers felt that Northern Dancer on the lead might loaf, as they felt he had done in the Cup and Saucer Stakes as a 2YO when Grand Garcon had caught him. Luro felt that many horses had challenged Northern Dancer on that day after he took the lead and he simply tired. He was giving 11 pounds to Grand Garcon in the race.

Northern Dancer drew post position one. Pierlou was four, Grand Garcon was six and Langcrest eight. Despite the Dancer being a heavy favorite, there would be full win, place and show wagering for the Plate. Luro was not pleased with the draw.

Return Trip, by Mossborough, represented western interests. They were making a lot of noise about his chances, although he only had a maiden win to his credit.

Pierlou was a much quieter horse this year, according to his trainer, and was undefeated in his three starts coming into the race.

Greg Robson was 12 and blind since birth. At the Ontario School for the Blind in Brantford, Greg listened as the Dancer won the Derby, the Preakness and was beaten in the Belmont. He told his mom, "I'd like to meet that horse. I'd like to touch Northern Dancer". He got his wish. He was led to the stall by Horatio Luro and stroked Northern Dancer's muzzle. He fed sugar to the colt and the horse loved it. "I hope he wins the Queen's Plate", Greg said. Luro agreed, "I hope you bring him good luck, Greg".

Northern Dancer's final blow out was a half in :48 and three, with the last eighth in eleven seconds. Luro was pleased.

One of the Toronto Telegram's racing writers picked Pierlou to finish first in the Plate. "He must be kidding" was the reaction of the rest of the department.

"Grand Garcon, Pierlou Outclass Plate Trial Opponents". Grand Garcon finished two and one half lengths ahead of Brockton Boy in the mile and one sixteenth contest run in the slop. Arctic Hills, from Nearctic's first crop, finished eighteen lengths back in third. Grand Garcon was two to five in the odds.

Pierlou was also two to five and finished twelve and one half lengths ahead of Top Ruler. Canadillis finished ten and one half lengths back in third.

Both Pierlou and Grand Garcon were purchased from E.P. Taylor's yearling sale, at $12,500 and $10,000 respectively. Canadian champion jockey, Avelino Gomez, rode both winners. He and the trainers felt they'd be running for second money in the Plate itself, unless, as Gomez put it, Northern Dancer got sick.

A note on Brockton Boy. His trainer advised he would not like the sloppy track, but Brockton Boy came again after being headed by Grand Garcon to retake the lead before giving way at the finish. Brockton Boy was the $25,000 purchase from the Taylor sale who was taken, his purchaser said, instead of Northern Dancer, at the same price.

Seven interests put up $500 to gain the privilege of taking on the Dancer in the Queen's Plate. He was, it was said, in fine fettle. He proved it by attacking Horatio Luro in his stall. Luro was bitten on the shoulder and just missed being trampled.

"We didn't lose the war, just one of the battles", was the verdict of Horatio Luro, trainer of Northern Dancer. The Belmont was an agonizing experience for the Dancer. A large clod of dirt was thrown in his mouth and he was still coughing it up fifteen minutes afterwards. For him to finish third under these circumstances was a minor miracle.

Before the Belmont, Luro and Hartack came up with a strategy to track Hill Rise as the only important rival. Hartack assured Luro Quadrangle could not be rated. After the race, Luro felt Northern Dancer was being choked for the first mile, run in very slow time, and was fighting being rated. Both Luro and Hartack expressed reservations about the Dancer getting the Belmont distance. I imagine the Dancer could sense their lack of confidence. The slow early fractions allowed Quadrangle to come home in sizzling time.

Hartack was not disappointed with the Dancer's effort. "The horse ran hard. He just didn't run fast enough." The race turned into a half mile dash, European style. "This horse tried - as he always does". Hartack didn't whip Northern Dancer when he realized he had no horse left.

Northern Dancer came home to Woodbine with just two weeks to go before the Queen's Plate. Various potential rivals were on display. Grand Garcon, left up the track in the Derby Trial by Hill Rise, was pulled up in the six furlong Queenston Stakes because of bleeding, jeopardizing his status for the Plate. In Ontario a second episode of bleeding would ban him from racing for the season.

Pierlou, a Windfields bred son of Nearctic from Windka, by Windfields, won his first start of the year in the mile Friar Rock at 15 - 1. Brockton Boy finished third. Another son of Nearctic, Langcrest, finished seventh.

Folk Dancer, Natalma's older full brother, won the Swynford Stakes.

Pierlou won another, this time a seven furlong allowance. Later Mel, a big chestnut filly with a large blaze, by Rico Monte from Mel Cavano, won the Canadian Oaks, giving her owners the nerve to go in the Plate. The race after the Oaks, a mile on turf, went to Langcrest, making him another probable Plate starter. We see how often the horses ran in the sixties, it seems like another game entirely.

Northern Dancer worked a mile in 1:40 at Woodbine. He had a light bandage on his left rear ankle, which caused some comment. But he had been knocking a small scab off the ankle in previous works, so the bandage was a protection device.

So we move towards the Plate Trials, which would be the final sorting stage for the rivals to Northern Dancer in the Queen's Plate, Canada's premier race for homebreds.

Red Evie, a 3YO filly by Intikhab from Malafemmana, by Nordico, won the September 9, 2006 $317,000 Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes (GR - 1) over 8 furlongs at Leopardstown. She is another of the Nearctic/Northern Dancer cross horses populating the SW columns around the world. Intikhab is by Red Ransom who traces in female family to the Windfields bred Christmas Wind, a daughter of Nearctic. Intikhab's granddam is Zienelle, a daughter of Danzig, one of Northern Dancer's most renowned stallion sons.

Red Evie's damsire is Nordico, a son of Northern Dancer who represents an intriguing inbreeding to Almahmoud. Nordico's dam is the Gallant Man mare, Kennelot, who is from Queen Sucree, dam of Kentucky Derby winner, Cannonade. Queen Sucree is by Ribot from Cosmah, half sister to Natalma, dam of Northern Dancer. Cosmah was by Cosmic Bomb from Almahmoud. Cosmah also gave us the excellent racemare, Tosmah, and Halo, excellent sire of, among others, Sunday Silence, winner of the Kentucky Derby and sire himself of "impossible" monetary numbers in Japan.

Red Evie was unplaced in her only start at two, but, after the Matron was unbeaten in seven races at three.

Couldn't help but notice the Nearctic/Northern Dancer cross in the pedigree of Celtic Innis, a 4YO dkb/br gelding, winner of the $100,000, six furlong, Vincent A. Moscarelli Memorial Stakes at Delaware Park on September 16, 2006.

Celtic Innis is a son of Yarrow Brae, an Illinois Derby winner, from Harp Innis, by Phone Trick. Yarrow Brae is a son of major runner and sire, Deputy Minister, who is a son of Windfields bred Vice Regent, by Northern Dancer. Phone Trick is a son of Clever Trick, by Icecapade, by Nearctic - Shenanigans, by Native Dancer.