A.P. Indy (USA)
March 31, 1989 – February 21, 2020
Seattle Slew (USA) x Weekend Surprise (USA), by Secretariat (USA)
Family 3-l
March 31, 1989 – February 21, 2020
Seattle Slew (USA) x Weekend Surprise (USA), by Secretariat (USA)
Family 3-l
One of the few yearling sales toppers to excel as both a racehorse and a breeding animal, the regally bred A.P. Indy was a huge success in every facet of the Thoroughbred industry. He is also the primary modern conduit for the male line descending from the great Bold Ruler to Seattle Slew and has become an important broodmare sire.
Race record
11 starts, 8 wins, 0 seconds, 1 third, US$2,979,815
1991:
1992:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 122 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile males of 1991, 8 pounds below champion Arazi but tied for third overall.
Highweighted at 127 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1992, 3 pounds above second-rated Pine Bluff.
As an individual
A dark bay or brown ridgling, A.P. Indy matured into an extremely handsome, correct racehorse with a deep girth and powerful quarters. He was slightly wide in front. At racing speed, he recalled his maternal grandsire Secretariat with his low-headed, efficient gait. His one weakness was having rather shelly feet. As a stallion, he developed the dipped topline typical of the Seattle Slew tribe. He had a white-rimmed left eye that gave him a rather wild appearance. According to trainer Neil Drysdale, A.P. Indy was a very strong-willed horse and “a bit of a bully” while in his barn. Nonetheless, he developed an affectionate relationship with his longtime groom, Asa Haley.
As a stallion
A.P. Indy is an Intermediate/Classic chef-de-race in the Roman dosage system. He typically passed on a deep shoulder, a strong body and a good hip. Records maintained by The Jockey Club credit A.P. Indy with 693 winners (56.6%) and 156 stakes winners (12.7%) from 1224 named foals.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
Per The Blood-Horse:
Per El Turf (www.elturf.com):
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Per Thoroughbred Times:
Notable progeny
Aptitude (USA), Bernardini (USA), Catch the Thrill (CAN), Dreaming of Julia (USA), Flatter (USA), Girolamo (USA), Golden Missile (USA), Eye of the Leopard (CAN), Festival of Light (USA), Honor Code (USA), Jilbab (USA), Love and Pride (USA), Malibu Moon (USA), Marchfield (CAN), Mineshaft (USA), Music Note (USA), Pulpit (USA), Rags to Riches (USA), Royal Indy (USA), Runup the Colors (USA), Secret Status (USA), Serenading (USA), Stephen Got Even (USA), Take Charge Indy (USA), Tempera (USA), Tomisue's Delight (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Artemis Agrotera (USA), Bolt d'Oro (USA), Cloud Computing (USA), Game Winner (USA), Global Campaign (USA), Idol (USA), Igor (MEX), Improbable (USA), Malathaat (USA) (USA), Mystic Guide (USA), Nest (USA), Obay (GB), Rhett Butler (IRE), Royal Delta (USA), Secret Spice (USA), Senga (USA), Super Saver (USA), Zulu Alpha (USA)
Connections
A.P. Indy was bred in Kentucky by William S. Farish III & W. S. Kilroy. He was owned by by Tomonori Tsurumaki, who purchased the colt for US$2.9 million from the 1990 Keeneland July sale. Farish, Kilroy, and Harold Goodman later purchased interests in the colt midway through the animal's 3-year-old season. A.P. Indy was trained by Neil Drysdale. He entered stud in Kentucky in 1993 at Lane's End Farm and remained there throughout his stud career. He was pensioned at Lane's End in April 2011 after failing to impregnate any of his mates that spring. He died due to the infirmities of old age in February 2020.
Pedigree notes
A.P. Indy is inbred 4x3 to Bold Ruler, 5x5x4 to Bold Ruler's sire Nasrullah, 5x4 to Princequillo and 5x5 to Turn-To. He is a full brother to Grade 1-placed Weekend in Seattle, dam of Grade 1-placed stakes winner Mambo in Seattle (by Kingmambo) and second dam of Grade 3 winner Sky Kingdom and Japanese Group 3 winner Stay in Seattle. He is also a half brother to 1990 Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) winner Summer Squall (by Storm Bird), Grade 3 winner Welcome Surprise (by Seeking the Gold; second dam of 2024 Personal Ensign Stakes, USA-G1, winner Raging Sea and Grade 3 winner Guest Suite), listed stakes winner Eavesdropper (by Kingmambo), and Grade 3-placed Honor Grades (by Danzig), a useful sire. A.P. Indy's Storm Cat half brother Tiger Ridge also had some success at stud, and his Storm Bird half sister Weekend Storm produced four stakes winners including multiple Grade 1 winner Court Vision (by Gulch) and Canadian Grade 3 winner Smart Surprise (by Smart Strike; dam of 2018 Canadian champion female sprinter Moonlit Promise, by Malibu Moon). Another half sister to A.P. Indy, Amirati (by Danzig), is the second dam of Grade 1-winning steeplechaser Surprising Soul, who earned his top-level brackets in the 2019 Lonesome Glory Handicap, and the third dam of Australian Group 3 winner Honesty Prevails. Finally, A.P. Indy is a half brother to Leslie's Legacy (by Deputy Minister), second dam of 2020 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (USA-G1) winner Happy Saver, and to Mystery Trip (by Belong to Me), second dam of English Group 3 winner Chemical Charge.
A.P. Indy's dam Weekend Surprise is the 1992 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year and is a Grade 3-winning half sister to English highweight sprinter Wolfhound (by Nureyev) and two other stakes winners. She was produced from Grade 3 winner Lassie Dear (by Buckpasser), a half sister to 1979 French champion older male Gay Mecene and two other stakes winners.
Books and media
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photo taken by Jessica Morgan at Lane's End Farm in 2007. Used by permission.
Last updated: August 23, 2024
Race record
11 starts, 8 wins, 0 seconds, 1 third, US$2,979,815
1991:
- Won Hollywood Futurity (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
1992:
- Won Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1, 10FD, Gulfstream Park)
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
- Won Santa Anita Derby (USA-G1, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- Won San Rafael Stakes (USA-G2, 8FD, Arlington Park)
- Won Peter Pan Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 2000)
- Eclipse Award, American Horse of the Year (1992)
- Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old male (1992)
Assessments
Rated at 122 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile males of 1991, 8 pounds below champion Arazi but tied for third overall.
Highweighted at 127 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1992, 3 pounds above second-rated Pine Bluff.
As an individual
A dark bay or brown ridgling, A.P. Indy matured into an extremely handsome, correct racehorse with a deep girth and powerful quarters. He was slightly wide in front. At racing speed, he recalled his maternal grandsire Secretariat with his low-headed, efficient gait. His one weakness was having rather shelly feet. As a stallion, he developed the dipped topline typical of the Seattle Slew tribe. He had a white-rimmed left eye that gave him a rather wild appearance. According to trainer Neil Drysdale, A.P. Indy was a very strong-willed horse and “a bit of a bully” while in his barn. Nonetheless, he developed an affectionate relationship with his longtime groom, Asa Haley.
As a stallion
A.P. Indy is an Intermediate/Classic chef-de-race in the Roman dosage system. He typically passed on a deep shoulder, a strong body and a good hip. Records maintained by The Jockey Club credit A.P. Indy with 693 winners (56.6%) and 156 stakes winners (12.7%) from 1224 named foals.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- Led the American general sire list in 2003; 2nd in 2000 and 2004; 3rd in 2005; 8th in 2008; 10th in 1999.
- 5th on the American broodmare sire list in 2010.
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
- 2nd on the North American general sire list in 2009.
- Led the North American broodmare sire list in 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, and 2020; 2nd in 2011, 2014, 2017, and 2018; 3rd in 2012; 5th in 2010; 8th in 2021; 9th in 2022.
Per The Blood-Horse:
- Led the American general sire list in 2003 and 2006; 2nd in 2007; 3rd in 2001 and 2004; 4th in 2005; 5th in 2009; 8th in 2002; 9th in 2008
- Led the American broodmare sire list in 2015 and 2021; 2nd in 2013 and 2014; 3rd in 2016; 4th in 2011 and 2017-2019; 5th in 2012; 8th in 2010
Per El Turf (www.elturf.com):
- Led the Mexican broodmare sire list in 2019.
- 5th on the Peruvian broodmare sire list in 2011; 10th in 2013
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- Led the American general sire list in 2003; 2nd in 2004; 3rd in 2000 and 2001; 4th in 2005; 8th in 1998 and 2002.
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the American general sire list in 2003 and 2006.
Per Thoroughbred Times:
- Led the American general sire list in 2006; 2nd in 2003
Notable progeny
Aptitude (USA), Bernardini (USA), Catch the Thrill (CAN), Dreaming of Julia (USA), Flatter (USA), Girolamo (USA), Golden Missile (USA), Eye of the Leopard (CAN), Festival of Light (USA), Honor Code (USA), Jilbab (USA), Love and Pride (USA), Malibu Moon (USA), Marchfield (CAN), Mineshaft (USA), Music Note (USA), Pulpit (USA), Rags to Riches (USA), Royal Indy (USA), Runup the Colors (USA), Secret Status (USA), Serenading (USA), Stephen Got Even (USA), Take Charge Indy (USA), Tempera (USA), Tomisue's Delight (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Artemis Agrotera (USA), Bolt d'Oro (USA), Cloud Computing (USA), Game Winner (USA), Global Campaign (USA), Idol (USA), Igor (MEX), Improbable (USA), Malathaat (USA) (USA), Mystic Guide (USA), Nest (USA), Obay (GB), Rhett Butler (IRE), Royal Delta (USA), Secret Spice (USA), Senga (USA), Super Saver (USA), Zulu Alpha (USA)
Connections
A.P. Indy was bred in Kentucky by William S. Farish III & W. S. Kilroy. He was owned by by Tomonori Tsurumaki, who purchased the colt for US$2.9 million from the 1990 Keeneland July sale. Farish, Kilroy, and Harold Goodman later purchased interests in the colt midway through the animal's 3-year-old season. A.P. Indy was trained by Neil Drysdale. He entered stud in Kentucky in 1993 at Lane's End Farm and remained there throughout his stud career. He was pensioned at Lane's End in April 2011 after failing to impregnate any of his mates that spring. He died due to the infirmities of old age in February 2020.
Pedigree notes
A.P. Indy is inbred 4x3 to Bold Ruler, 5x5x4 to Bold Ruler's sire Nasrullah, 5x4 to Princequillo and 5x5 to Turn-To. He is a full brother to Grade 1-placed Weekend in Seattle, dam of Grade 1-placed stakes winner Mambo in Seattle (by Kingmambo) and second dam of Grade 3 winner Sky Kingdom and Japanese Group 3 winner Stay in Seattle. He is also a half brother to 1990 Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) winner Summer Squall (by Storm Bird), Grade 3 winner Welcome Surprise (by Seeking the Gold; second dam of 2024 Personal Ensign Stakes, USA-G1, winner Raging Sea and Grade 3 winner Guest Suite), listed stakes winner Eavesdropper (by Kingmambo), and Grade 3-placed Honor Grades (by Danzig), a useful sire. A.P. Indy's Storm Cat half brother Tiger Ridge also had some success at stud, and his Storm Bird half sister Weekend Storm produced four stakes winners including multiple Grade 1 winner Court Vision (by Gulch) and Canadian Grade 3 winner Smart Surprise (by Smart Strike; dam of 2018 Canadian champion female sprinter Moonlit Promise, by Malibu Moon). Another half sister to A.P. Indy, Amirati (by Danzig), is the second dam of Grade 1-winning steeplechaser Surprising Soul, who earned his top-level brackets in the 2019 Lonesome Glory Handicap, and the third dam of Australian Group 3 winner Honesty Prevails. Finally, A.P. Indy is a half brother to Leslie's Legacy (by Deputy Minister), second dam of 2020 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (USA-G1) winner Happy Saver, and to Mystery Trip (by Belong to Me), second dam of English Group 3 winner Chemical Charge.
A.P. Indy's dam Weekend Surprise is the 1992 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year and is a Grade 3-winning half sister to English highweight sprinter Wolfhound (by Nureyev) and two other stakes winners. She was produced from Grade 3 winner Lassie Dear (by Buckpasser), a half sister to 1979 French champion older male Gay Mecene and two other stakes winners.
Books and media
- A.P. Indy is profiled in Chapter 12 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
- The New York Racing Association's footage of A.P. Indy's victory in the 1992 Belmont Stakes can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55JJpt1TEWs.
Fun facts
- A.P. Indy's time of 2:26 for the Belmont Stakes is tied with Easy Goer's 1989 mark as the second-fastest Belmont Stakes in history behind Secretariat's monumental time of 2:24.
- The only jockey who ever rode A.P. Indy in a race was Eddie Delahoussaye, also a member of the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame.
- A.P. Indy is part of the only three-generation sequence of Belmont Stakes winners in American racing history. He is by 1977 winner Seattle Slew and is the sire of 2007 winner Rags to Riches.
- A.P. Indy got his 100th stakes winner on March 31, 2007, when his son A. P. Arrow won the Skip Away Handicap (USA-G3) at Gulfstream Park. The win made A.P. Indy the 25th stallion to join the “Century Club” of sires with 100 or more stakes winners.
- A statue of A.P. Indy stands just outside the stallion complex at Lane's End.
- A.P. Indy's name alludes to Autopolis, an international auto racing facility opened in Japan in 1990 by A.P. Indy's owner Tomonori Tsurumaki. The facility (which has been through several changes of ownership) has hosted races in a number of motor sport divisions but has never hosted Formula One events as Tsurumaki had hoped.
Photo credit
Photo taken by Jessica Morgan at Lane's End Farm in 2007. Used by permission.
Last updated: August 23, 2024