Alablue (USA)
April 11, 1945 – 1963
Blue Larkspur (USA) x Double Time (USA), by Sir Gallahad III (FR)
Family 4-m
"GENETIC GEM"
April 11, 1945 – 1963
Blue Larkspur (USA) x Double Time (USA), by Sir Gallahad III (FR)
Family 4-m
"GENETIC GEM"
A tough, durable mare who stayed up to 1¼ miles well, Alablue was a good stakes runner but proved even more valuable as a broodmare. She is one of the major modern conduits for the family of the great matron Maggie B. B.
Race record
50 starts, 8 wins, 10 seconds, 6 thirds, US$81,825
1947:
1948:
1949:
1950:
Assessments
Rated at 110 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1947, 11 pounds below champion juvenile filly Bewitch.
As an individual
An elegant, racy-looking bay mare of the staying type, Alablue had an excellent shoulder and strong quarters with good muscling extending down into her gaskins. She improved substantially from 2 to 3.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Alablue produced 14 named foals, of which 10 started and eight won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Alablue was bred by Walter J. Salmon at his Mereworth Farm. She was sold to A. C. Ernst for US$24,000 at the 1946 Keeneland summer yearling sale. She was trained by Jack Skirvin, who campaigned her in his own colors at the 1948 Saratoga meeting following Ernst's death and won the Test Stakes with her. In between the Test Stakes and the Alabama Stakes, the filly was auctioned off as part of the dispersal of Ernst's horses, going to Mrs. Barclay K. Douglas's Mill River Stable for US$72,000, and was transferred to the barn of Horatio Luro. After producing her first foal, In the Blue, Alablue went to the auction block again when Mill River dispersed its horses in September 1952 and was purchased for US$37,000 by E. Barry Ryan for his Normandy Farm. She remained at Normandy Farm for the rest of her life and was buried there after her death in 1963.
Pedigree notes
Alablue is outcrossed through five generations. She is a half sister to Duplication (by Diavolo), second dam of 1950 Arlington Lassie Stakes winner Shawnee Squaw, 1957 Derby Mexicano winner Asombro, and stakes winner Gary Dear; to Volotime (by Diavolo), dam of stakes winners Blue Dart and Blue Volt (both by Blue Swords); and to Great Hurry (by Hard Tack), dam of the stakes-winning steeplechaser Proceed (by Star Beacon). She is also a half sister to Speed Up (by Snark), second dam of 1963 Jockey Club Cup Handicap winner Mr. Sometime and 1964 Fountain of Youth Stakes winner Dandy K., and to Scherzo (by Vezzano), dam of stakes winner Mike Hudson, Jr. (by Good Shot) and second dam of stakes winner Scherzo's Last.
Double Time, the dam of Alablue, is a full sister to Maradadi, dam of stakes winners Ellis (by Chrysler II), Brabancon (by Quatre Bras II), and Outland (by Bahram) and second dam of 1954 Blue Grass Stakes winner Goyamo and juvenile stakes winners The Diver and Gray Flank. She is a half sister to stakes winners Single Foot (by Wrack), Canter (by Wildair), Teufel (by Diavolo), and Single Step (by Wrack).
Books and media
Alablue is profiled in Chapter 23 of John Sparkman's Foundation Mares: How Outstanding Female Families Shaped America's Breeding Industry (2008, Thoroughbred Times Books).
Last updated: January 7, 2024
Race record
50 starts, 8 wins, 10 seconds, 6 thirds, US$81,825
1947:
- Equaled the track record for 3FD at Hialeah in a maiden race
1948:
- Won Test Stakes (USA, 7FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Alabama Stakes (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Acorn Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Cleopatra Handicap (USA, 8FD, Arlington Park)
- 3rd Prioress Stakes (USA, 6FD, Jamaica)
1949:
- Won C. J. Fitzgerald Handicap (USA, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Santa Margarita Handicap (USA, 7FD, Santa Anita)
1950:
- 3rd Colonial Handicap (USA, 6FD, Garden State)
Assessments
Rated at 110 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1947, 11 pounds below champion juvenile filly Bewitch.
As an individual
An elegant, racy-looking bay mare of the staying type, Alablue had an excellent shoulder and strong quarters with good muscling extending down into her gaskins. She improved substantially from 2 to 3.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Alablue produced 14 named foals, of which 10 started and eight won. Her important foals are as follow:
- In the Blue (1952, by Rico Monte) produced stakes winner Man of Men (by Knightly Manner).
- Alanesian (1954, by Polynesian) was a major stakes winner at 2 and 4, her victories including the 1956 Spinaway Stakes and 1958 New Castle Handicap. She is the dam of 1966 Santa Anita Derby winner Boldnesian (by Bold Ruler), 1968 Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap winner Princessnesian (by Princequillo), and 1969 National Stallion Stakes winner Jackal (by Bold Ruler's son Jacinto). She is also the second dam of 1976 American champion 3-year-old filly Revidere, English Group 2 winner Home Guard, Irish Group 2 winner Lords, Grade 3 winner Lawyer Talk, Irish Group 3 winner Boones Cabin, and Belgian Group 3 winner Forlaurus and is the third dam of 1988 Futurity Stakes (USA-G1) winner Trapp Mountain and 1979 Joe McGrath Memorial Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Fordham.
- Middle Brother (1956, by Hill Prince) won three good handicaps in 1959. He was an indifferent stallion, getting 6 stakes winners from 147 named foals.
- Miss Citation (1957, by Citation) is the dam of the stakes-winning steeplechaser Tall Award (by Nantallah) and is the third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Proper Reality.
- Kind Thought (1958, by Nashua) produced stakes winner Sippican (by Stage Door Johnny). She is the second dam of French Group 3 winner Honeyland and two other stakes winners and the third dam of 1992 Breeders' Cup Sprint (USA-G1) winner Thirty Slews and listed stakes winners Urban Distraction and First Spear.
- Mock Orange (1959, by Dedicate) is the dam of multiple Italian Group 1 winner Duke of Marmalade (by Vaguely Noble), multiple French Group 3 winner Orante (by Bold Bidder), and 1972 Firenze Handicap winner Aladancer (by Northern Dancer). She is the second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Cryptoclearance (USA-G1), 1989 O K Gold Bowl (SAF-G1) winner Vigliotto, 1976 Charles H. Strub Stakes (USA-G1) winner George Navonod, and multiple French Group 3 winner Gaelic Bird. She is also the third dam of 1993 Californian Stakes (USA-G1) winner Latin American, 1989 Priix de la Forêt (FR-G1) winner Gabina, and 1989 Prix Lupin (FR-G1) winner Galetto.
Connections
Alablue was bred by Walter J. Salmon at his Mereworth Farm. She was sold to A. C. Ernst for US$24,000 at the 1946 Keeneland summer yearling sale. She was trained by Jack Skirvin, who campaigned her in his own colors at the 1948 Saratoga meeting following Ernst's death and won the Test Stakes with her. In between the Test Stakes and the Alabama Stakes, the filly was auctioned off as part of the dispersal of Ernst's horses, going to Mrs. Barclay K. Douglas's Mill River Stable for US$72,000, and was transferred to the barn of Horatio Luro. After producing her first foal, In the Blue, Alablue went to the auction block again when Mill River dispersed its horses in September 1952 and was purchased for US$37,000 by E. Barry Ryan for his Normandy Farm. She remained at Normandy Farm for the rest of her life and was buried there after her death in 1963.
Pedigree notes
Alablue is outcrossed through five generations. She is a half sister to Duplication (by Diavolo), second dam of 1950 Arlington Lassie Stakes winner Shawnee Squaw, 1957 Derby Mexicano winner Asombro, and stakes winner Gary Dear; to Volotime (by Diavolo), dam of stakes winners Blue Dart and Blue Volt (both by Blue Swords); and to Great Hurry (by Hard Tack), dam of the stakes-winning steeplechaser Proceed (by Star Beacon). She is also a half sister to Speed Up (by Snark), second dam of 1963 Jockey Club Cup Handicap winner Mr. Sometime and 1964 Fountain of Youth Stakes winner Dandy K., and to Scherzo (by Vezzano), dam of stakes winner Mike Hudson, Jr. (by Good Shot) and second dam of stakes winner Scherzo's Last.
Double Time, the dam of Alablue, is a full sister to Maradadi, dam of stakes winners Ellis (by Chrysler II), Brabancon (by Quatre Bras II), and Outland (by Bahram) and second dam of 1954 Blue Grass Stakes winner Goyamo and juvenile stakes winners The Diver and Gray Flank. She is a half sister to stakes winners Single Foot (by Wrack), Canter (by Wildair), Teufel (by Diavolo), and Single Step (by Wrack).
Books and media
Alablue is profiled in Chapter 23 of John Sparkman's Foundation Mares: How Outstanding Female Families Shaped America's Breeding Industry (2008, Thoroughbred Times Books).
Last updated: January 7, 2024