While Banja Luka produced six stakes winners—certainly a noteworthy achievement for any mare—five of them were of modest stature. The sixth was her last foal, 1987 American Horse of the Year Ferdinand, whose exploits earned his dam honors as the 1987 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. Unfortunately, he was a stud failure, and the merit of Banja Luka's further descendants is for the most part more consistent with the talent level of her earlier foals.
Race record
3 starts, 0 wins, 1 seconds, 0 thirds, US$1,440
As an individual
A bay mare; no further information available.
As a producer
Banja Luka produced nine named foals; all nine started and seven won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Banja Luka was bred and owned by Howard B. Keck.
Pedigree notes
Sired by four-time American champion broodmare sire Double Jay, Banja Luka is outcrossed through five generations. She is a half sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Tallahto (by Nasrullah), dam of multiple Grade 1 winners Prince True and Hidden Light (both by Majestic Light) and second dam of 2008 Breeders' Cup Mile (USA-G1) winner Artie Schiller and multiple Grade 3 winner Marcavely. Tallahto is also the third dam of 2015 Cape Fillies Guineas Stakes (SAF-G1) winner Silver Mountain, 2016 S. A. Nursery Stakes (SAF-G1) winner Cloth of Cloud, Japanese Group 2 winner Toho Alan, and Grade/Group 3 winners Munirah, Flirtini, and Theory
Returning to Banja Luka, she is also a half sister to Grade 2 winner Le Cle (by Tom Rolfe), dam of stakes winner Ask Me (by Ack Ack) and third dam of Argentine Group 3 winner Mystify Me; to Jiddu (by Bagdad), dam of Irish stakes winner Five Nations (by Apalachee); and to Star Hawaii (by Hawaii), dam of stakes winners Fappiano's Star and Waikiki Star (both by Fappiano). The sisters are out of the winning Dark Star mare Legato, a half sister to stakes winners Firerullah (by Nasrullah) and Nascania (by Nasrullah; dam of the high-class turf horse Fiddle Isle, by Bagdad). Also a half sister to Cloud Counting (by Outing Class; dam of multiple Canadian stakes winner Bill's Express, by Bagdad) and to Conga (by Sword Dancer; dam of stakes winners Conga Miss, by Dewan, and Chancey Bidder, by Bold Bidder), Legato is out of 1951 Diana Handicap winner Vulcania (by Some Chance), whose dam Vagrancy (the American champion 3-year-old filly of 1942) also produced 1948 English champion 3-year-old male Black Tarquin (by Rhodes Scholar) and the good steeplechaser Hyvania (by Hypnotist II).
Fun facts
Last updated: December 4, 2022
Race record
3 starts, 0 wins, 1 seconds, 0 thirds, US$1,440
As an individual
A bay mare; no further information available.
As a producer
Banja Luka produced nine named foals; all nine started and seven won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Jayston (1974, by Le Fabuleux; a gelding) won the 1980 Apache Trail Handicap at Turf Paradise but was victorious in only seven of his 107 starts.
- Donna Inez (1975, by Herbager) won the 1978 California Jockey Club Handicap at Bay Meadows and the 1978 Torrey Pines Stakes at Del Mar and was third in the 1978 Del Mar Oaks (USA-G3). She is the second dam of English Group 2 Lovers Knot and Grade 3 winner Momentum and the third dam of Argentine Group 2 winner Doña Green and Argentine Group 3 winner Dargreen.
- Ancient Art (1976, by Tell) won the 1979 San Clemente Stakes at Del Mar and the 1979 Market Basket Stakes at Hollywood. She is the third dam of 2006 Jamaican champion imported 3-year-old filly Pure Mud.
- Plinth (1979, by Tom Rolfe) won the listed Speed to Spare Championship Handicap at Northlands Park as a 5-year-old. He became a stallion in British Columbia but had no major successes.
- Castel Cheline (1980, by Avatar) placed three times in 18 starts. She is the dam of multiple Australian Group 1 winner Zacheline (by Zabeel).
- Dancing (1981, by Forli) won the listed Askmenow Stakes at Hollywood as a 3-year-old. She is the dam of multiple Mexican stakes winner Forli's Prince (by Majestic Light).
- Ferdinand (1983, by Nijinsky II) was the 1987 American champion older male and Horse of the Year and was the 1986 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) winner. He sired 8 stakes winners from 339 named foals while standing in the United States and Japan.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Banja Luka was bred and owned by Howard B. Keck.
Pedigree notes
Sired by four-time American champion broodmare sire Double Jay, Banja Luka is outcrossed through five generations. She is a half sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Tallahto (by Nasrullah), dam of multiple Grade 1 winners Prince True and Hidden Light (both by Majestic Light) and second dam of 2008 Breeders' Cup Mile (USA-G1) winner Artie Schiller and multiple Grade 3 winner Marcavely. Tallahto is also the third dam of 2015 Cape Fillies Guineas Stakes (SAF-G1) winner Silver Mountain, 2016 S. A. Nursery Stakes (SAF-G1) winner Cloth of Cloud, Japanese Group 2 winner Toho Alan, and Grade/Group 3 winners Munirah, Flirtini, and Theory
Returning to Banja Luka, she is also a half sister to Grade 2 winner Le Cle (by Tom Rolfe), dam of stakes winner Ask Me (by Ack Ack) and third dam of Argentine Group 3 winner Mystify Me; to Jiddu (by Bagdad), dam of Irish stakes winner Five Nations (by Apalachee); and to Star Hawaii (by Hawaii), dam of stakes winners Fappiano's Star and Waikiki Star (both by Fappiano). The sisters are out of the winning Dark Star mare Legato, a half sister to stakes winners Firerullah (by Nasrullah) and Nascania (by Nasrullah; dam of the high-class turf horse Fiddle Isle, by Bagdad). Also a half sister to Cloud Counting (by Outing Class; dam of multiple Canadian stakes winner Bill's Express, by Bagdad) and to Conga (by Sword Dancer; dam of stakes winners Conga Miss, by Dewan, and Chancey Bidder, by Bold Bidder), Legato is out of 1951 Diana Handicap winner Vulcania (by Some Chance), whose dam Vagrancy (the American champion 3-year-old filly of 1942) also produced 1948 English champion 3-year-old male Black Tarquin (by Rhodes Scholar) and the good steeplechaser Hyvania (by Hypnotist II).
Fun facts
- Banja Luka was named for a city in what was then Yugoslavia. Now the second-largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is known for its gardens, parks, and tree-lined avenues.
Last updated: December 4, 2022