Althea (USA)
May 20, 1981 – 1995
Alydar (USA) x Courtly Dee (USA), by Never Bend (USA)
American Family 4
May 20, 1981 – 1995
Alydar (USA) x Courtly Dee (USA), by Never Bend (USA)
American Family 4
Althea in training. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
A brilliant 2-year-old, Althea trained on to defeat males in the 1984 Arkansas Derby (USA-I), equaling the track record into the bargain. That performance made her the favorite (as an entry with stablemate Life's Magic) for the 1984 Kentucky Derby (USA-I), but the filly had apparently peaked too soon as she ran next to last behind Swale. She started only once more, again failing to show any of her earlier form, and was retired. As a broodmare her career was short but very productive: the dam of four stakes winners from five foals, she suffered fatal injuries in a paddock collision with another broodmare in 1995.
Race record
15 starts, 8 wins, 4 seconds, 0 thirds, US$1,275,255
1983:
1984:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 2-year-old filly (1983)
As an individual
An attractive, strongly-made chestnut mare with powerful hindquarters, Althea preferred to control her races from the front end.
As a producer
Althea produced five named foals, four of which started and won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Althea was bred and owned by the partnership of Helen Groves (daughter of King Ranch founder Robert Kleberg, Jr.), Helen Alexander (Groves' daughter). She was trained by D. Wayne Lukas.
Pedigree notes
Althea is inbred 4x3 to Nasrullah. She is out of 1983 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Courtly Dee and is a full sister to Grade II winners Aishah and Aquilegia, both multiple stakes producers. Courtly Dee also produced 1976 Sapling Stakes (USA-I) winner Ali Oop (by Al Hattab), 1985 Cowdin Stakes (USA-I) winner Ketoh (by Exclusive Native), multiple Grade II winner Twining (by Forty Niner), multiple Grade III winner Native Courier (by Exclusive Native) and Grade III-placed stakes winner Princess Oola (by Al Hattab). In addition, through daughters other than Althea, Courtly Dee is the second dam of 1993 Sydney Cup (AUS-I) winner Azzaam, 1996 Norcros July Cup (ENG-I) winner Green Desert (an important sire), 1998 Go for Wand Handicap (USA-I) winner Aldiza and 2002 Satsuki Sho (Japanese Two Thousand Guineas) winner No Reason and is the third dam of 2014 Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-I) winner Bayern.
Courtly Dee is a half sister to Grade II winner Tom Tulle (by Tom Rolfe) and stakes winner Auhsan (by Nashua). She is also a half sister to Tutu Tulle (by Crazy Kid), dam of Grade III winner Tutu Tobago (by Play On). Tulle, in turn, is a half sister to 1955 Arlington Lassie Stakes winner Judy Rullah (by Nasrullah), dam of the good stakes winners Creme dela Creme (by Olympia), Rhubarb (by Barbizon) and Juke Joint (by Raise a Native), and to Princess Matoaka (by Princequillo), dam of 1968 Remsen Stakes winner Palauli (by Pago Pago) and second dam of four stakes winners including 1977 American champion older female Cascapedia.
Fun facts
Race record
15 starts, 8 wins, 4 seconds, 0 thirds, US$1,275,255
1983:
- Won Hollywood Starlet Stakes (USA-II, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
- Won Del Mar Futurity (USA-II, 8FD, Del Mar)
- Won Del Mar Debutante Stakes (USA-II, 8FD, Del Mar)
- Won Hollywood Juvenile Championship Stakes (USA-II, 6FD, Hollywood)
- 2nd Oak Leaf Stakes (USA-I, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Landaluce Stakes (USA-II, 6FD, Hollywood)
- 2nd Anoakia Stakes (USA-III, 7FD, Santa Anita)
1984:
- Won Arkansas Derby (USA-I, 9FD, Oaklawn Park; equaled track record 1:46-4/5)
- Won Santa Susana Stakes (USA-I, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Las Virgenes Stakes (USA-L, 8FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Fantasy Stakes (USA-I, 8.5FD, Oaklawn Park)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 2-year-old filly (1983)
As an individual
An attractive, strongly-made chestnut mare with powerful hindquarters, Althea preferred to control her races from the front end.
As a producer
Althea produced five named foals, four of which started and won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Destiny Dance (1986, by Nijinsky II) won the 1990 Sheepshead Bay Handicap (USA-IIIT). She is the dam of 2004 Frizette Stakes (USA-I) winner Balletto (by Timber Country), in turn the dam of Grade I-placed stakes winner Villanesca (by Distorted Humor). Destiny Dance is also the dam of Irish Group III winner Dearly (by Rahy), dam of Grade II-placed stakes winner True Cause (by Storm Cat).
- Aurora (1988, by Danzig) won the listed Aqueduct Breeders' Cup Handicap in 1992 and was Grade III-placed. She is the dam of 1998 Super Derby (USA-I) winner Arch (by Kris S.; a good sire), 2010 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (USA-IA) winner Acoma (by Empire Maker) and 2001 United Arab Emirates Horse of the Year Festival of Light (by A.P. Indy). She is also the dam of listed stakes winner Alisios (by Kris S.) and of Antics (by Unbridled), dam of Japanese Group II winner Albiano (by Harlan's Holiday) and 2019 Longines Test Stakes (USA-I) winner Covfefe (by Into Mischief). In addition, Aurora is the dam of Asian Empress (by Empire Maker), dam of listed stakes winner Tea Time (by Pulpit); of Aztec Pearl (by A.P. Indy), dam of Grade III winner Aztec Sense (by Street Sense); and of Arania (by Dynaformer), dam of Grade III winner Campaign (by Curlin).
- Yamanin Paradise (1992, by Danzig) was the Japanese champion 2-year-old filly of 1994. She is the dam of Japanese stakes winner Yamanin Seraphim (by Sunday Silence).
- Alyssum (1994, by Storm Cat) won the listed Nassau County Stakes as a 3-year-old and was Grade II-placed.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Althea was bred and owned by the partnership of Helen Groves (daughter of King Ranch founder Robert Kleberg, Jr.), Helen Alexander (Groves' daughter). She was trained by D. Wayne Lukas.
Pedigree notes
Althea is inbred 4x3 to Nasrullah. She is out of 1983 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Courtly Dee and is a full sister to Grade II winners Aishah and Aquilegia, both multiple stakes producers. Courtly Dee also produced 1976 Sapling Stakes (USA-I) winner Ali Oop (by Al Hattab), 1985 Cowdin Stakes (USA-I) winner Ketoh (by Exclusive Native), multiple Grade II winner Twining (by Forty Niner), multiple Grade III winner Native Courier (by Exclusive Native) and Grade III-placed stakes winner Princess Oola (by Al Hattab). In addition, through daughters other than Althea, Courtly Dee is the second dam of 1993 Sydney Cup (AUS-I) winner Azzaam, 1996 Norcros July Cup (ENG-I) winner Green Desert (an important sire), 1998 Go for Wand Handicap (USA-I) winner Aldiza and 2002 Satsuki Sho (Japanese Two Thousand Guineas) winner No Reason and is the third dam of 2014 Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-I) winner Bayern.
Courtly Dee is a half sister to Grade II winner Tom Tulle (by Tom Rolfe) and stakes winner Auhsan (by Nashua). She is also a half sister to Tutu Tulle (by Crazy Kid), dam of Grade III winner Tutu Tobago (by Play On). Tulle, in turn, is a half sister to 1955 Arlington Lassie Stakes winner Judy Rullah (by Nasrullah), dam of the good stakes winners Creme dela Creme (by Olympia), Rhubarb (by Barbizon) and Juke Joint (by Raise a Native), and to Princess Matoaka (by Princequillo), dam of 1968 Remsen Stakes winner Palauli (by Pago Pago) and second dam of four stakes winners including 1977 American champion older female Cascapedia.
Fun facts
- In botany, althea (Hibiscus syriacus) is a flowering shrub. The national flower of South Korea, it is widely grown as an ornamental in North America. It is also known as rose of Sharon, rose mallow and St. Joseph's rod.
- The partnership of Groves, Alexander and Aykroyd had luck on their side in becoming Althea's breeders and in retaining her to race. They bought Courtly Dee for US$900,000 at the 1980 Keeneland November breeding stock sale while she was carrying the future champion. Then, in 1982, plans to sell Althea at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky summer yearling sale fell through when the filly became lame shortly before the sale. The problem turned out to be a foot abscess and soon healed.
- Althea was the first filly to start as favorite for the Kentucky Derby since Nellie Flag in 1934.