Wistful (horse)
Encyclopedia
Wistful was an American Thoroughbred
filly
racehorse
. The daughter of Sun Again and granddaughter of Sun Teddy is best remembered for wins in the Kentucky Oaks
, the Coaching Club American Oaks
, the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
at Pimlico Race Course
. In 1949, she was voted by the country's top sports writers as the American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly.
, being bred, reared and raced by the industry's standard bearer. She therefore ran her races with her jockeys wearing the "Devil Red Silks" of Calumet. Wistful never ran as a two year-old.
at Aqueduct Racetrack
in March. Then she placed second in the grade one Ashland Stakes
at Keeneland
in April, losing to a longshot named Tall Weeds. She ran so well in those three races that her connections decided to enter her in the first two jewels of America's defacto Filly Triple Crown: the Kentucky Oaks and the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes. She ran a gritty race and went on to win the Kentucky Oaks
over The Fat Lady and Lady Dorimar in a strong field of ten fillies. She continued her sharp performances in the grade two Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
at "Old Hilltop" in Baltimore, Maryland. Wistful rode away with the win, dominating her foes in a field of nine fillies that day at Pimlico Race Course
.
Throughout her three year-old season, she performed admirably with strong, consistent runs. In June, she ran a disappointing third in the Cleopatra Stakes at Arlington Park
in Chicago, Illinois. In August, she won the grade one Coaching Club American Oaks
at 1-3/8 mile on the dirt at Belmont Park
. Later that year, she was turned out for the winter and freshened for her four-year-old season. During that spirited 1949 campaign, she did more than enough to win over fans and voters, as the nation's sportswriters voted her American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly.
and ran third in the Cleopatra Handicap, both at Arlington Park
in Chicago. She also won the Clang Handicap and placed third in the prestigious grade one Beldame Stakes
at Belmont Park
in New York.
In the spring of her five year-old season, Wistful won the Ben Ali Stakes
at Keeneland
, less than one mile from where she was born and raised on Versailles Road in Lexington, Kentucky
. Most of the success that she achieved late in her career happened during the summers in California
. In successive years, she ran in both the Vanity Handicap
and the Beverly Handicap in 1950 and 1951 at Hollywood Park. She placed second in 1951 to Bewitch and third in 1952 to her own stablemate and champion Two Lea
in the grade one Vanity. She won and placed second in the Beverly in back to back runnings. She also ran third in the San Mateo Handicap at Bay Meadows Racetrack just outside San Francisco in 1951. During that time, she also shipped east and placed in the Ladies Handicap
, the oldest stakes race in the U.S. exclusively for fillies and mares, losing to Next Move
.
The biggest win in the twilight of her career came at the end of her five year-old season, when she stunned the males in November 1951 and won the grade two Clark Handicap
at Churchill Downs
in Louisville, Kentucky
. At the time, she was preparing to retire and was listed on the morning line as a long shot. She turned the tables on the boys under jockey Douglas Dodson
and won the nine furlong race in 1:44.00.
Her first foal was Gen. Duke
, a 1954 colt by Bull Lea
, who won the 1957 Florida Derby
and finished with a 12-5-5-2 record and total earnings of $142,020.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
filly
Filly
A filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
. The daughter of Sun Again and granddaughter of Sun Teddy is best remembered for wins in the Kentucky Oaks
Kentucky Oaks
The Kentucky Oaks is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies staged annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. The race currently covers 1⅛ miles at Churchill Downs; the horses carry 121 pounds . The Kentucky Oaks is held on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby each year...
, the Coaching Club American Oaks
Coaching Club American Oaks
The Coaching Club American Oaks is a race for thoroughbred three-year old fillies and the second leg of the Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing. Originally run at Belmont Park, the Grade I $250,000 stakes race was moved to Saratoga Race Course in 2010....
, the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
The Black-Eyed Susan Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. The race is open to three-year-old fillies willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the dirt and currently offers a purse of $250,000...
at Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course is a horse racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, most famous for hosting the Preakness Stakes. Its name is derived from the 1660s when English settlers named the area where the facility currently stands in honor of Olde Ben Pimlico's Tavern in London...
. In 1949, she was voted by the country's top sports writers as the American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly.
Early career
Wistful was born in 1946 in Kentucky. She was born in the glory days of old Calumet FarmCalumet Farm
Calumet Farm is a Thoroughbred breeding and training farm established in 1924 in Lexington, Kentucky, United States by William Monroe Wright, founding owner of the Calumet Baking Powder Company. Calumet is located in the heart of Lexington's blue grass country, the finest horse breeding region in...
, being bred, reared and raced by the industry's standard bearer. She therefore ran her races with her jockeys wearing the "Devil Red Silks" of Calumet. Wistful never ran as a two year-old.
Three year-old season
Wistful showed up big in her first three stakes races as a three year-old. She ran against three year-old colts and won in the Whirlaway StakesWhirlaway Stakes
The Whirlaway Stakes is a race for Thoroughbred horses held in February at Aqueduct Racetrack. The Whirlaway Stakes is open to three-year-olds willing to race one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt. It is an ungraded event offering a purse of $100,000 added...
at Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:...
in March. Then she placed second in the grade one Ashland Stakes
Ashland Stakes
The Ashland Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early April at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, United States. It and the Ashland Oaks, the Kentucky Association racetrack's predecessor race, were named for Ashland, the homestead and breeding farm of statesman...
at Keeneland
Keeneland
Keeneland is a Thoroughbred horse racing facility and sales complex in Lexington, Kentucky, USA. Operated by the Keeneland Association, Inc., it is also known for its reference library on the sport, which contains more than 10,000 volumes, an extensive videocassette collection, and a substantial...
in April, losing to a longshot named Tall Weeds. She ran so well in those three races that her connections decided to enter her in the first two jewels of America's defacto Filly Triple Crown: the Kentucky Oaks and the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes. She ran a gritty race and went on to win the Kentucky Oaks
Kentucky Oaks
The Kentucky Oaks is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies staged annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. The race currently covers 1⅛ miles at Churchill Downs; the horses carry 121 pounds . The Kentucky Oaks is held on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby each year...
over The Fat Lady and Lady Dorimar in a strong field of ten fillies. She continued her sharp performances in the grade two Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
The Black-Eyed Susan Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. The race is open to three-year-old fillies willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the dirt and currently offers a purse of $250,000...
at "Old Hilltop" in Baltimore, Maryland. Wistful rode away with the win, dominating her foes in a field of nine fillies that day at Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course is a horse racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, most famous for hosting the Preakness Stakes. Its name is derived from the 1660s when English settlers named the area where the facility currently stands in honor of Olde Ben Pimlico's Tavern in London...
.
Throughout her three year-old season, she performed admirably with strong, consistent runs. In June, she ran a disappointing third in the Cleopatra Stakes at Arlington Park
Arlington Park
Arlington Park is a horse race track in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, Illinois. Horse racing in the Chicago region has been a popular sport since the early days of the city in the 1830s, and at one time Chicago had more horse racing tracks than any other major metropolitan area...
in Chicago, Illinois. In August, she won the grade one Coaching Club American Oaks
Coaching Club American Oaks
The Coaching Club American Oaks is a race for thoroughbred three-year old fillies and the second leg of the Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing. Originally run at Belmont Park, the Grade I $250,000 stakes race was moved to Saratoga Race Course in 2010....
at 1-3/8 mile on the dirt at Belmont Park
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...
. Later that year, she was turned out for the winter and freshened for her four-year-old season. During that spirited 1949 campaign, she did more than enough to win over fans and voters, as the nation's sportswriters voted her American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly.
Four- and five year-old seasons
At age four, Wistful continued to show strong runs. She campaigned all over the country, from the northeast in New York to the deep southwest in Southern California. In 1950, she won the Arlington Matron HandicapArlington Matron Handicap
The Arlington Matron Handicap is an American Grade III flat horse race for Thoroughbred fillies and mares, aged three years and upward. Raced over a distance of 9 furlongs on the dirt at Arlington Park, Arlington Heights, Illinois every spring, it offers a purse of $150,000.Inaugurated in 1930,...
and ran third in the Cleopatra Handicap, both at Arlington Park
Arlington Park
Arlington Park is a horse race track in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, Illinois. Horse racing in the Chicago region has been a popular sport since the early days of the city in the 1830s, and at one time Chicago had more horse racing tracks than any other major metropolitan area...
in Chicago. She also won the Clang Handicap and placed third in the prestigious grade one Beldame Stakes
Beldame Stakes
The Beldame Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares three-years-old and up. Inaugurated in 1939, it was run as a handicap prior to 1960...
at Belmont Park
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...
in New York.
In the spring of her five year-old season, Wistful won the Ben Ali Stakes
Ben Ali Stakes
The Ben Ali Stakes is an American race for thoroughbred horses run in the Spring of each year at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. For 4-year-olds and up, it is a Grade III event set at a distance of one mile and one eighth mile on the dirt...
at Keeneland
Keeneland
Keeneland is a Thoroughbred horse racing facility and sales complex in Lexington, Kentucky, USA. Operated by the Keeneland Association, Inc., it is also known for its reference library on the sport, which contains more than 10,000 volumes, an extensive videocassette collection, and a substantial...
, less than one mile from where she was born and raised on Versailles Road in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
. Most of the success that she achieved late in her career happened during the summers in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. In successive years, she ran in both the Vanity Handicap
Vanity Handicap
The Vanity Invitational Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in July at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California....
and the Beverly Handicap in 1950 and 1951 at Hollywood Park. She placed second in 1951 to Bewitch and third in 1952 to her own stablemate and champion Two Lea
Two Lea
Two Lea was an American Thoroughbred Champion racehorse. Born at Calumet Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, her sire was Bull Lea whose progeny were already successful. Her dam was Two Bob, winner of the 1936 Kentucky Oaks....
in the grade one Vanity. She won and placed second in the Beverly in back to back runnings. She also ran third in the San Mateo Handicap at Bay Meadows Racetrack just outside San Francisco in 1951. During that time, she also shipped east and placed in the Ladies Handicap
Ladies Handicap
The Ladies Handicap is a historic American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies three years of age and older that is held annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. Inaugurated at the Jerome Park Racetrack in 1868, it is the oldest stakes race in the U.S. exclusively for fillies and mares...
, the oldest stakes race in the U.S. exclusively for fillies and mares, losing to Next Move
Next Move
Next Move was an American Thoroughbred Champion filly racehorse. Bred and raced by prominent horseman Alfred G. Vanderbilt II, she was sired by Calumet Farm's prepotent sire Bull Lea...
.
The biggest win in the twilight of her career came at the end of her five year-old season, when she stunned the males in November 1951 and won the grade two Clark Handicap
Clark Handicap
The Clark Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in late November/early December at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Among the oldest races in the United States, it was first run in 1875, the year the racetrack opened for business...
at Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs, located in Central Avenue in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States, is a Thoroughbred racetrack most famous for hosting the Kentucky Derby annually. It officially opened in 1875, and held the first Kentucky Derby and the first Kentucky Oaks in the same year. Churchill Downs...
in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
. At the time, she was preparing to retire and was listed on the morning line as a long shot. She turned the tables on the boys under jockey Douglas Dodson
Douglas Dodson
Douglas Allan Dodson was a Champion jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.Douglas Dodson was born in Pickardville, Alberta, Canada, the son of James Floyd and Emma Dodson. His family moved to a ranch in Elk River, Idaho when he was still a child and as a small boy he learned to ride horses...
and won the nine furlong race in 1:44.00.
Retirement
Wistful was retired and sent back to the place it all began for her, "her home" at the venerable Calumet Farm, to breed and live out the rest of her years as the elder matron of the farm.Her first foal was Gen. Duke
Gen. Duke
Gen. Duke was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1957 Florida Derby.-Background:Gen. Duke was sired by Bull Lea, who was by the imported stallion Bull Dog and out of Rose Leaves by Ballot. Gen. Duke's dam was Wistful, a daughter of Sun Again by Sun Teddy...
, a 1954 colt by Bull Lea
Bull Lea
Bull Lea was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who is best known as the foundation sire responsible for making Calumet Farm one of the most successful racing stables in American history...
, who won the 1957 Florida Derby
Florida Derby
The Florida Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses held annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida on the Saturday closest to the end of March or the first of April. Added to the racing schedule in 1952, the Grade 1 race is run at 1⅛ miles on the dirt...
and finished with a 12-5-5-2 record and total earnings of $142,020.