Autobiography (USA)
March 9, 1968 – February 19, 1973
Sky High II (AUS) x King’s Story (USA), by Bold Ruler (USA)
Family 1-x
March 9, 1968 – February 19, 1973
Sky High II (AUS) x King’s Story (USA), by Bold Ruler (USA)
Family 1-x
That Autobiography ever became a major stakes winner, much less a champion, is a testimony to the training skill of Frank “Pancho” Martin. Working with a horse who was essentially unsound throughout his career, Martin managed to get him into stakes-winning form by the end of his 3-year-old season, He then nursed Autobiography through 19 starts as a 4-year-old, culminating in a 15-length runaway in what was then the most prestigious prize of the fall season, the Jockey Club Gold Cup. In a less than stellar year for the handicap division, that effort plus a solid record throughout the season was enough to make Autobiography the champion of the division. Autobiography was slated to compete in defense of his crown in 1973 but broke a leg in his second start of the season and had to be euthanized.
Race record
36 starts, 10 wins, 11 seconds, 4 thirds, US$385,909
1971:
1972:
1973:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion handicap male (1972)
Assessments
Rated at 114 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1971, 12 pounds below co-highweights Canonero II (the official divisional champion) and Bold Reason.
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1972, 2 pounds above second-rated Unconscious.
Rated at 117 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1973, 15 pounds below champion Riva Ridge.
As an individual
A neatly made chestnut horse standing a little over 15.3, Autobiography was strongly coupled and had a downhill build. His shoulder was well laid and he had a strong, straight hind leg. He could be faulted for long pasterns and did not have the best of ankles or knees. He had a strong will to win but was pleasant and businesslike to handle except when being saddled for a race, when he was often anxious and a bit tough.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Autobiography was bred by Wheatley Stable (KY). He was raced as a 2-year-old by Ogden Phipps, who sold the colt to Sigmund Sommer for a price variously reported at US$40,000 or US$50,000 early in Autobiography's 3-year-old season. After his sale, the colt was trained by Frank “Pancho” Martin. Autobiography was euthanized after breaking a leg in the San Luis Obspo Handicap at Santa Anita on February 19, 1973.
Pedigree notes
Sired by two-time Australian champion Sky High II, Autobiography is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half sister to Vita Mia (by Ribot), dam of the minor stakes winner Lots of Fun (by Cornish Prince). Through Lots of Fun, Vita Mia is the second dam of Grade 3 winner Mt. Pleasant (by Vigors) and 1995 Puerto Rican champion imported 3-year-old male Dr Abraham (by Lord Avie).
Autobiography is out of stakes winner King’s Story, whose full sister Diary is the dam of the minor stakes winner Free Up (by In Reality), the second dam of Grade 2 winner Bonshamile and Italian Group 3 winner Prospective Ruler, and the third dam of multiple French Group 2 winner Bright Moon. King’s Story is also a half sister to 1960 Test Stakes winner Brave Pilot (by Jet Pilot) and to Vowed (by Dedicate), dam of 1969 Carter Handicap winner Promise (by The Irishman) and multiple stakes winner Take the Pledge (by Funny Fellow), second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Wedding Party, and third dam of Grade 3 winner Deputation.
King’s Story and her sisters, in turn, were produced from Narrative. Sired by War Relic from Belle Histoire (Blue Larkspur x La Troienne), Narrative is a half sister to the good stakes horse Royal Record (by Nasrullah) and to Fiction (by Devil Diver), dam of juvenile stakes winner Pierpontella (by Royal Coinage). Narrative is also a half sister to Secret Story (by Spy Song), dam of multiple stakes winners Catullus (by Roman) and No Turning (by Never Bend), and to Eastern Tale (by Nasrullah), dam of multiple stakes winner Vuelo (by In Reality) and second dam of Grade 3 winner Now Pending.
Last updated: January 13, 2022
Race record
36 starts, 10 wins, 11 seconds, 4 thirds, US$385,909
1971:
- Won Discovery Handicap (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
1972:
- Won San Fernando Stakes (USA, 9FD, Santa Anita; dead heat with Triple Bend)
- Won Excelsior Handicap (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Westchester Handicap (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA, 16FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Brooklyn Handicap (USA, 9.5FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Gallant Fox Handicap (USA, 13FD, Aqueduct; disqualified from first after tying the track record of 2:41)
- 2nd Governor Stakes (USA, 9FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Woodward Stakes (USA, 12FD, Belmont; from third by disqualification of second-place Summer Guest)
- 2nd Hobson Handicap (USA, 10FD, Liberty Bell)
- 2nd Malibu Stakes (first division) (USA, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Michigan Mile and One-Eighth Handicap (first division) (USA, 9FD, Detroit)
1973:
- 3rd San Pasqual Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion handicap male (1972)
Assessments
Rated at 114 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1971, 12 pounds below co-highweights Canonero II (the official divisional champion) and Bold Reason.
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1972, 2 pounds above second-rated Unconscious.
Rated at 117 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1973, 15 pounds below champion Riva Ridge.
As an individual
A neatly made chestnut horse standing a little over 15.3, Autobiography was strongly coupled and had a downhill build. His shoulder was well laid and he had a strong, straight hind leg. He could be faulted for long pasterns and did not have the best of ankles or knees. He had a strong will to win but was pleasant and businesslike to handle except when being saddled for a race, when he was often anxious and a bit tough.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Autobiography was bred by Wheatley Stable (KY). He was raced as a 2-year-old by Ogden Phipps, who sold the colt to Sigmund Sommer for a price variously reported at US$40,000 or US$50,000 early in Autobiography's 3-year-old season. After his sale, the colt was trained by Frank “Pancho” Martin. Autobiography was euthanized after breaking a leg in the San Luis Obspo Handicap at Santa Anita on February 19, 1973.
Pedigree notes
Sired by two-time Australian champion Sky High II, Autobiography is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half sister to Vita Mia (by Ribot), dam of the minor stakes winner Lots of Fun (by Cornish Prince). Through Lots of Fun, Vita Mia is the second dam of Grade 3 winner Mt. Pleasant (by Vigors) and 1995 Puerto Rican champion imported 3-year-old male Dr Abraham (by Lord Avie).
Autobiography is out of stakes winner King’s Story, whose full sister Diary is the dam of the minor stakes winner Free Up (by In Reality), the second dam of Grade 2 winner Bonshamile and Italian Group 3 winner Prospective Ruler, and the third dam of multiple French Group 2 winner Bright Moon. King’s Story is also a half sister to 1960 Test Stakes winner Brave Pilot (by Jet Pilot) and to Vowed (by Dedicate), dam of 1969 Carter Handicap winner Promise (by The Irishman) and multiple stakes winner Take the Pledge (by Funny Fellow), second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Wedding Party, and third dam of Grade 3 winner Deputation.
King’s Story and her sisters, in turn, were produced from Narrative. Sired by War Relic from Belle Histoire (Blue Larkspur x La Troienne), Narrative is a half sister to the good stakes horse Royal Record (by Nasrullah) and to Fiction (by Devil Diver), dam of juvenile stakes winner Pierpontella (by Royal Coinage). Narrative is also a half sister to Secret Story (by Spy Song), dam of multiple stakes winners Catullus (by Roman) and No Turning (by Never Bend), and to Eastern Tale (by Nasrullah), dam of multiple stakes winner Vuelo (by In Reality) and second dam of Grade 3 winner Now Pending.
Last updated: January 13, 2022