Afleet (CAN)
April 10, 1984 – January 22, 2014
Mr. Prospector (USA) x Polite Lady (USA), by Venetian Jester (USA)
Family 1-h
April 10, 1984 – January 22, 2014
Mr. Prospector (USA) x Polite Lady (USA), by Venetian Jester (USA)
Family 1-h
Foaled in a vintage North American foal crop, Afleet was easily the best Canadian racehorse of 1987 and became a Grade 1 winner in the United States as well. He was a useful stallion who continued a branch of the Mr. Prospector sire line through his son Northern Afleet and grandson Afleet Alex.
Race record
15 starts, 7 wins, 4 seconds, 2 thirds, US$995,235
1987:
1988:
Honors
Assessments
Highweighted at 131 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for 3-year-old males of 1987, 8 pounds above second-placed Market Control.
Rated at 120 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1987, 7 pounds below champion Alysheba.
Rated at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American male sprinters of 1988, 2 pounds below American champion sprinter Gulch.
As an individual
A chestnut horse, Afleet was strong and muscular but had rather small, thin-soled feet, which were not helped by his habit of kicking the walls of stalls and other enclosures. He could stretch his speed close to 10 furlongs but was better at shorter distances. His disposition was fiery, though he became calmer and more professional on the racetrack with maturity. He remained a nasty customer around the barn; as his owner said, “Afleet is a real man’s horse. He’s a real rogue.” He did not run well on the turns and often had difficulty with changing leads properly but could deliver a long, devastating drive.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, Afleet sired 993 winners (69.2%) and 66 stakes winners (4.6%) from 1434 named foals of racing age.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per the Japanese Bloodstock Information Systems (www.jbis.jp):
Notable progeny
A Fleets Dancer (USA), Flat Fleet Feet (USA), Northern Afleet (USA), Primo Ordine (JPN), Twist Afleet (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Davide Umbro (ITY), Estrellero (PR), Miracle Painting (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Canada, Afleet was bred and owned by Richard Kennedy; Taylor Made Farm became a partner in the colt after Afleet’s victory in the Jerome Handicap. He was trained by Phil England. His regular jockey was Gary Stahlbaum. Afleet entered stud in Kentucky in 1989 at Taylor Made Farm but in 1990 was exported to Japan, where he stood at Breeders Stallion Station. He was pensioned in 2011 and died in 2014.
Pedigree notes
Afleet is inbred 4x5 to five-time American champion sire Nasrullah (also the champion English/Irish sire of 1951) and to 1943 American champion sire and three-time champion broodmare sire Bull Dog. He is a half brother to Grade 3-placed stakes winner Matter of Honor (by Conquistador Cielo).
Afleet is out of Polite Lady, the 1988 Canadian Broodmare of the Year. Sired by the Tom Fool horse Venetian Jester (who was second in his only start) Polite Lady was a four-time stakes winner at 2 and 3. She is a half sister to Canadian Grade 3 winner Determinant (by Norcliffe) and multiple Canadian stakes winner Lantana Lady (by Vice Regent); the last-named mare is the dam of Grade 3 winner Mineral Wells (by Mr. Prospector) and listed stakes winner Haymaker (by Two Punch). Polite Lady is also a half sister to stakes-placed Friendly Princess (by Irish Dude), second dam of Grade 3 winner Rapid Selection, and to Gregale (by Grey Dawn II), second dam of Brazilian Group 3 winner Venerado. In addition, she is a half sister to Friendly Face (by Star de Naskra), dam of multiple listed stakes winner My Son Bill (by Miswaki).
Polite Lady and her siblings were produced from the winner Friendly Ways, a daughter of 1961 World’s Playground Stakes winner Green Ticket (by Traffic Judge). Friendly Ways is a half sister to Dawn’s Cove (by Donut King), dam of multiple stakes winner King Go Go (by Pago Pago), and to Garden Song (by Dumpty Humpty), dam of Grade 2 winner Clever Song (by Clever Trick) and Grade 3 winner Brownsboro (by Whitesburg). The sisters are out of stakes-placed Ways to Learn (by 1955 Travers Stakes winner Thinking Cap)
Fun facts
Last updated: December 23, 2022
Race record
15 starts, 7 wins, 4 seconds, 2 thirds, US$995,235
1987:
- Won Pennsylvania Derby (USA-G2, 9FD, Philadelphia Park)
- Won Jerome Handicap (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Queenston Stakes (CAN-R, 7FD, Woodbine)
- Won Plate Trial Stakes (CAN-R, 9FD, Woodbine)
- Won Friar Rock Stakes (CAN-L, 6FD, Woodbine)
- 2nd Meadowlands Cup Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, The Meadowlands)
- 2nd Queen's Plate Stakes. (CAN-R, 10FD, Woodbine)
1988:
- Won Toboggan Handicap (USA-G3, 6FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Metropolitan Handicap (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Carter Handicap (USA-G1, 7FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Breeders' Cup Sprint (USA-G1, 6FD, Churchill Downs)
- 3rd Massachusetts Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Suffolk Downs)
Honors
- Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1992)
- Sovereign Award, Canadian Horse of the Year (1987)
- Sovereign Award, Canadian champion 3-year-old male (1987)
Assessments
Highweighted at 131 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for 3-year-old males of 1987, 8 pounds above second-placed Market Control.
Rated at 120 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1987, 7 pounds below champion Alysheba.
Rated at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American male sprinters of 1988, 2 pounds below American champion sprinter Gulch.
As an individual
A chestnut horse, Afleet was strong and muscular but had rather small, thin-soled feet, which were not helped by his habit of kicking the walls of stalls and other enclosures. He could stretch his speed close to 10 furlongs but was better at shorter distances. His disposition was fiery, though he became calmer and more professional on the racetrack with maturity. He remained a nasty customer around the barn; as his owner said, “Afleet is a real man’s horse. He’s a real rogue.” He did not run well on the turns and often had difficulty with changing leads properly but could deliver a long, devastating drive.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, Afleet sired 993 winners (69.2%) and 66 stakes winners (4.6%) from 1434 named foals of racing age.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
- 5th on the Japanese broodmare sire list in 2011; 7th in 2012; 9th in 2013; 10th in 2014.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 4th on the American general sire list in 1996; 6th in 1995 and 1997.
- 4th on the Japanese general sire list in 2001 and 2002; 6th in 2000; 7th in 2003; 8th in 1999 and 2004; 9th in 2005
Per the Japanese Bloodstock Information Systems (www.jbis.jp):
- 4th on the Japanese general sire list in 2001 and 2002; 6th in 2000; 7th in 2003 and 2004; 8th in 1999 and 2005.
- 5th on the Japanese broodmare sire list in 2011; 6th in 2010; 7th in 2012; 9th in 2009 and 2013; 10th in 2014.
Notable progeny
A Fleets Dancer (USA), Flat Fleet Feet (USA), Northern Afleet (USA), Primo Ordine (JPN), Twist Afleet (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Davide Umbro (ITY), Estrellero (PR), Miracle Painting (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Canada, Afleet was bred and owned by Richard Kennedy; Taylor Made Farm became a partner in the colt after Afleet’s victory in the Jerome Handicap. He was trained by Phil England. His regular jockey was Gary Stahlbaum. Afleet entered stud in Kentucky in 1989 at Taylor Made Farm but in 1990 was exported to Japan, where he stood at Breeders Stallion Station. He was pensioned in 2011 and died in 2014.
Pedigree notes
Afleet is inbred 4x5 to five-time American champion sire Nasrullah (also the champion English/Irish sire of 1951) and to 1943 American champion sire and three-time champion broodmare sire Bull Dog. He is a half brother to Grade 3-placed stakes winner Matter of Honor (by Conquistador Cielo).
Afleet is out of Polite Lady, the 1988 Canadian Broodmare of the Year. Sired by the Tom Fool horse Venetian Jester (who was second in his only start) Polite Lady was a four-time stakes winner at 2 and 3. She is a half sister to Canadian Grade 3 winner Determinant (by Norcliffe) and multiple Canadian stakes winner Lantana Lady (by Vice Regent); the last-named mare is the dam of Grade 3 winner Mineral Wells (by Mr. Prospector) and listed stakes winner Haymaker (by Two Punch). Polite Lady is also a half sister to stakes-placed Friendly Princess (by Irish Dude), second dam of Grade 3 winner Rapid Selection, and to Gregale (by Grey Dawn II), second dam of Brazilian Group 3 winner Venerado. In addition, she is a half sister to Friendly Face (by Star de Naskra), dam of multiple listed stakes winner My Son Bill (by Miswaki).
Polite Lady and her siblings were produced from the winner Friendly Ways, a daughter of 1961 World’s Playground Stakes winner Green Ticket (by Traffic Judge). Friendly Ways is a half sister to Dawn’s Cove (by Donut King), dam of multiple stakes winner King Go Go (by Pago Pago), and to Garden Song (by Dumpty Humpty), dam of Grade 2 winner Clever Song (by Clever Trick) and Grade 3 winner Brownsboro (by Whitesburg). The sisters are out of stakes-placed Ways to Learn (by 1955 Travers Stakes winner Thinking Cap)
Fun facts
- Afleet was unable to race at 2 due to repeated bouts with bucked shins. His connections first realized that he had exceptional ability when he was worked against One From Heaven (later the winner of the Canadian Oaks and the year’s Canadian champion 3-year-old filly) and “ripped her head off,” according to Richard Kennedy.
- Trainer Phil England rode Afleet every day during workouts.
Last updated: December 23, 2022