Said to have borne a close resemblance to his sire, American Flag was not as precocious but was widely regarded as the best of his generation at 3 in spite of making only four starts during the season. He was hampered by a hoof injury at 4 and retired without adding to his reputation. At stud he was useful rather than great but did sire 1934 American champion 2-year-old filly Nellie Flag, a foundation mare for Calumet Farm, and also begot Lady Glory, second dam of Raise a Native.
Race record
17 starts, 8 wins, 1 second, 1 third, US$82,725
1924:
1925:
1926:
Honors
American champion 3-year-old male (1925)
Assessments
As a 3-year-old, American Flag was rated by eminent handicapper Walter Vosburgh as 11 pounds better than any other member of his crop.
As an individual
A big, handsome chestnut, American Flag had an excellent shoulder, a deep girth and a nice hip with solid bone. As a stallion, his head and neck were so like Man o' War's that visitors reportedly had trouble telling the two apart when they put their heads out of their stalls.
As a stallion
According to statistics kept by The Jockey Club, American Flag sired 109 winners (59.6%) and 16 stakes winners (8.7%) from 183 named foals. His stud career was probably hampered by the fact that he stood alongside his sire at Faraway Farm and at best got second pick of the available mares.
Sire rankings
Per The Blood-Horse:
Notable progeny
Gusto (USA), Nellie Flag (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, American Flag was bred and owned by Samuel Riddle. He was trained by Gwyn R. Tompkins. In 1942, Riddle donated American Flag to the U.S. Army Remount Service. The stallion died that fall at the Remount Service station at Front Royal, Virginia.
Pedigree notes
American Flag is inbred 5x4 to nine-time English champion sire St. Simon and 5x5 to 1873 Derby Stakes winner Doncaster, 1883 Two Thousand Guineas winner Galliard and Rouge Rose (given the official pedigree of Bend Or; see The Mystery of Bend Or). He is a full brother to the minor stakes winner Fleet Flag and the steeplechase stakes winner Ship Executive and is a half brother to Exalted (by High Time), second dam of dual Classic-placed stakes winner Blue Swords (by Blue Larkspur) and ancestress of champions Ajdal, Arazi, Dance Partner, Dance in the Mood, Dance in the Dark, Hero's Love, and Machiavellianism. He is also a half brother to Amourette (by Prince Palatine), second dam of the good English stakes winner Noble Star and third dam of 1953 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner La Sorellina and her high-class half brother Silnet.
Lady Comfey, the dam of American Flag, is a half sister to 1919 Irish Oaks winner Snow Maiden and 1920 St. Leger Stakes winner Caligula, both by Roi Herode's champion son The Tetrarch. She is also a half sister to Eagle Snipe (by White Eagle), dam of the good English sprinter-miler Le Phare (by Phalaris) and the juvenile stakes winner Turtle Soup (by The Tetrarch's champion son Tetratema). Turtle Soup, in turn, is the second dam of 1947 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) winner Sandjar, 1951 Irish St. Leger winner Do Well, and 1952 Irish One Thousand Guineas winner Nashua (registered in the United States as Nashua II after her importation to avoid confusion with the 1955 American Horse of the Year).
Books and media
American Flag is profiled in Chapter 5 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: November 1, 2020
Race record
17 starts, 8 wins, 1 second, 1 third, US$82,725
1924:
- Won Manor Handicap (USA, 8FD, Laurel)
1925:
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA, 11FD, Belmont)
- Won Withers Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Dwyer Stakes (USA, 10.5FD, Aqueduct)
1926:
- 2nd Suburban Handicap (USA, 10FD, Belmont)
Honors
American champion 3-year-old male (1925)
Assessments
As a 3-year-old, American Flag was rated by eminent handicapper Walter Vosburgh as 11 pounds better than any other member of his crop.
As an individual
A big, handsome chestnut, American Flag had an excellent shoulder, a deep girth and a nice hip with solid bone. As a stallion, his head and neck were so like Man o' War's that visitors reportedly had trouble telling the two apart when they put their heads out of their stalls.
As a stallion
According to statistics kept by The Jockey Club, American Flag sired 109 winners (59.6%) and 16 stakes winners (8.7%) from 183 named foals. His stud career was probably hampered by the fact that he stood alongside his sire at Faraway Farm and at best got second pick of the available mares.
Sire rankings
Per The Blood-Horse:
- 3rd on the American general sire list in 1932; 9th in 1934.
Notable progeny
Gusto (USA), Nellie Flag (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, American Flag was bred and owned by Samuel Riddle. He was trained by Gwyn R. Tompkins. In 1942, Riddle donated American Flag to the U.S. Army Remount Service. The stallion died that fall at the Remount Service station at Front Royal, Virginia.
Pedigree notes
American Flag is inbred 5x4 to nine-time English champion sire St. Simon and 5x5 to 1873 Derby Stakes winner Doncaster, 1883 Two Thousand Guineas winner Galliard and Rouge Rose (given the official pedigree of Bend Or; see The Mystery of Bend Or). He is a full brother to the minor stakes winner Fleet Flag and the steeplechase stakes winner Ship Executive and is a half brother to Exalted (by High Time), second dam of dual Classic-placed stakes winner Blue Swords (by Blue Larkspur) and ancestress of champions Ajdal, Arazi, Dance Partner, Dance in the Mood, Dance in the Dark, Hero's Love, and Machiavellianism. He is also a half brother to Amourette (by Prince Palatine), second dam of the good English stakes winner Noble Star and third dam of 1953 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner La Sorellina and her high-class half brother Silnet.
Lady Comfey, the dam of American Flag, is a half sister to 1919 Irish Oaks winner Snow Maiden and 1920 St. Leger Stakes winner Caligula, both by Roi Herode's champion son The Tetrarch. She is also a half sister to Eagle Snipe (by White Eagle), dam of the good English sprinter-miler Le Phare (by Phalaris) and the juvenile stakes winner Turtle Soup (by The Tetrarch's champion son Tetratema). Turtle Soup, in turn, is the second dam of 1947 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) winner Sandjar, 1951 Irish St. Leger winner Do Well, and 1952 Irish One Thousand Guineas winner Nashua (registered in the United States as Nashua II after her importation to avoid confusion with the 1955 American Horse of the Year).
Books and media
American Flag is profiled in Chapter 5 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: November 1, 2020