Aspidistra (USA)
March 25, 1954 – 1978
Better Self (USA) x Tilly Rose (USA), by Bull Brier (USA)
Family 1-r
"GENETIC GEM"
March 25, 1954 – 1978
Better Self (USA) x Tilly Rose (USA), by Bull Brier (USA)
Family 1-r
"GENETIC GEM"
A 70th birthday gift from the employees of the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Corporation to company owner William L. McKnight, Aspidistra never amounted to much as a racehorse and could have been claimed for US$6,500 in her last start. Fortunately for McKnight, no one else wanted her, and she became a foundation mare for his Tartan Farms. The dam of American champions Dr. Fager and Ta Wee, she was one of the most influential broodmares ever based in the state of Florida.
Race record
14 starts, 2 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds, US$5,115
As an individual
A bay mare, Aspidistra was described by Daily Racing Form writer Charles Hatton as having "frightful knees," which Tartan Farms manager John Nerud said were the result of knee chips that could not be surgically removed by veterinary care available in the mid-1950s. The survivor of a barn fire when she was a yearling, Aspidistra may also have had damaged lungs. In spite of her bad knees, she was otherwise correct and was a good-looking mare with plenty of substance. She typically showed early speed in her races but usually gave way after about half a mile. She was rather highly strung, to the point that Nerud recalled her as being “chicken-hearted,” and tended to pass her nerves to her progeny. She also tended to pass on a susceptibility to colic.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Aspidistra produced 13 named foals, of which 11 started and 10 were winners. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Aspidistra was bred in Kentucky by the King Ranch. She began her racing career in January 1957 as the property of E. H. Lane, later passing to the ownership of her trainer, Monte Preston. In September 1957, she was purchased by trainer John Sceusa for US$6,500 on behalf of a group of 3-M employees who wanted to buy a racehorse as a birthday gift for their employer, William McKnight. Aspidistra died in 1978.
Pedigree notes
Aspidistra is inbred 4x4 to Teddy, the leading French sire of 1923 and an important sire in the United States. She is also inbred 5x5 to two-time leading American sire Sweep, whose victories as a racehorse include the 1910 Belmont Stakes. She is the only foal produced by Tilly Rose, a winner of two sprint stakes and one of only two stakes winners sired by Bull Brier, a stakes-placed son of Bull Dog. Tilly Rose is out of Tilly Kate, a minor stakes winner by the undistinguished Wildair horse Draymont and out of Teak (by Tea Caddy, a stakes-winning son of Rock Sand), a stakes winner of similar merit. Teak is a half sister to Bostonian Lady (by Bostonian), whose son Boston Moon (by Hunter's Moon IV) won the 1949 Tijuana Handicap.
Books and media
Fun facts
Last updated: January 20, 2024
Race record
14 starts, 2 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds, US$5,115
As an individual
A bay mare, Aspidistra was described by Daily Racing Form writer Charles Hatton as having "frightful knees," which Tartan Farms manager John Nerud said were the result of knee chips that could not be surgically removed by veterinary care available in the mid-1950s. The survivor of a barn fire when she was a yearling, Aspidistra may also have had damaged lungs. In spite of her bad knees, she was otherwise correct and was a good-looking mare with plenty of substance. She typically showed early speed in her races but usually gave way after about half a mile. She was rather highly strung, to the point that Nerud recalled her as being “chicken-hearted,” and tended to pass her nerves to her progeny. She also tended to pass on a susceptibility to colic.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Aspidistra produced 13 named foals, of which 11 started and 10 were winners. Her important foals are as follow:
- A. Deck (1961, by First Cabin) won a minor stakes at 3.
- Chinatowner (1962, by Needles) won the 1967 Canadian Turf Handicap. He died in 1968.
- Dr. Fager (1964, by Rough'n Tumble) won five American championship titles including Horse of the Year honors in 1968. One of the fastest horses ever seen in America, he died of colic at age 12 but led the American general sire list posthumously in 1977.
- Ta Wee (1966, by Intentionally) was the American champion sprinter of 1969 and 1970. She produced 1978 Paumonok Handicap (USA-G3) winner Great Above, a good regional sire in Florida whose best runner was 1994 American Horse of the Year Holy Bull. She also produced the stakes winners Tweak (by Secretariat), Tax Holiday (by What a Pleasure), and Entropy (by What a Pleasure) as well as Thill (by Iron Ruler), dam of stakes winner Cintula (by Ramsinga). Ta Wee is the third dam of Canadian Grade 3 winner Zanetti. Her more distant descendants include multiple Grade 1 winner Liam's Map; Grade 3 winners Class Included, Miss Macy Sue, and Not This Time; 2011 Saudi Arabian champion 3-year-old colt Alnajim Almodeea; and 2009 Ecuadorian champion imported 2-year-old filly Carla.
- Magic (1969, by Buckpasser) never raced but produced the stakes-winning filly Magnificence (by Graustark) and Magaro (by Caro), dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Coolawin (by Nodouble) and 1995 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) winner Tayasu Tsuyoshi (by Sunday Silence) and second dam of English Group 3 winner Silver Rhapsody. Magic also produced Charedi (by In Reality), dam of sprint stakes winner and useful Florida sire Pentelicus (by Fappiano) and second dam of 1990 American champion 3-year-old male Unbridled and 1991 Wood Memorial Invitational Stakes (USA-G1) winner Cahill Road, and Mazurka (by Northern Dancer), second dam of 1996 Santa Anita Derby (USA-G1) winner Cavonnier and Chilean Group 3 winner Out Law. Magic's more distant descendants include 2011 Polla de Potrillos (Peruvian Two Thousand Guineas, PER-G1) winner Mr. Dany; Grade/Group 2 winners Dando Amor, De Marina, and Princess Warrior; and Grade/Group 3 winners Dzik, Grande Compuestito, Roll of the Dice, and Terrain.
- Quit Me Not (1973, by Bold Reason) is the second dam of 1995 Fayette Handicap (USA-G2) winner Judge T C, 2004 VRC St. Leger (AUS-G3) winner Desert Clearance, and stakes winner Miss Prospector. She is the third dam of 2007 Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes (USA-G1) winner Purim. Quit Me Not's more distant descendants include Grade 2 winner Distinta, Australian Group 3 winner Soxagon, and Belleza, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2014 in the Dominican Republic.
Connections
Aspidistra was bred in Kentucky by the King Ranch. She began her racing career in January 1957 as the property of E. H. Lane, later passing to the ownership of her trainer, Monte Preston. In September 1957, she was purchased by trainer John Sceusa for US$6,500 on behalf of a group of 3-M employees who wanted to buy a racehorse as a birthday gift for their employer, William McKnight. Aspidistra died in 1978.
Pedigree notes
Aspidistra is inbred 4x4 to Teddy, the leading French sire of 1923 and an important sire in the United States. She is also inbred 5x5 to two-time leading American sire Sweep, whose victories as a racehorse include the 1910 Belmont Stakes. She is the only foal produced by Tilly Rose, a winner of two sprint stakes and one of only two stakes winners sired by Bull Brier, a stakes-placed son of Bull Dog. Tilly Rose is out of Tilly Kate, a minor stakes winner by the undistinguished Wildair horse Draymont and out of Teak (by Tea Caddy, a stakes-winning son of Rock Sand), a stakes winner of similar merit. Teak is a half sister to Bostonian Lady (by Bostonian), whose son Boston Moon (by Hunter's Moon IV) won the 1949 Tijuana Handicap.
Books and media
- Aspidistra is one of 24 important North American broodmares profiled in Edward L. Bowen's Matriarchs: Great Mares of the 20th Century (1999, 2000, Eclipse Press).
- “Aspidistra” is the 41st chapter of John Sparkman's Foundation Mares: How Outstanding Female Families Shaped America's Breeding Industry (2008, Thoroughbred Times Company Inc.).
Fun facts
- Aspidistra is named for a genus of Asiatic flowering plants grown primarily for their handsome foliage.
Last updated: January 20, 2024