Be Faithful (USA)
1942 – After Spring 1965
Bimelech (USA) x Bloodroot (USA), by Blue Larkspur (USA)
Family 19-b
1942 – After Spring 1965
Bimelech (USA) x Bloodroot (USA), by Blue Larkspur (USA)
Family 19-b
Classy, hard-knocking and tough, Be Faithful was the best daughter of 1946 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Bloodroot on the track. While her sister Bimlette had the better production record, Be Faithful was also the most important daughter of Bloodroot in terms of long-range influence. Her greatest influence on pedigrees has been through her high-class grandsons Never Bend and Bold Reason: the former sired the great Mill Reef, the fine racehorse and sire Riverman, and the remarkable broodmare Courtly Dee among other good stock, while the latter is the broodmare sire of 13-time English leading sire Sadler's Wells and his brother Fairy King, a champion sire in France.
Race record
59 starts, 14 wins, 10 seconds, 12 thirds, US$189,040
1945:
1946:
1947:
Assessments
Ranked second among American older females of 1946 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A strapping brown mare, Be Faithful was tough and durable but could be faulted for sickle hocks.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Be Faithful produced eight named foals, of which five started and four were winners. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Be Faithful was bred and owned by Colonel Edward Riley Bradley's Idle Hour Stock Farm. She was sold to Louis B. Mayer in 1945 and in the spring of 1947 was resold to Mrs. E. E. Dale Schaffer. She was trained by G. Philpot.
Pedigree notes
Be Faithful is inbred 2x4 to Black Toney and 5x4 to 1899 Ascot Gold Cup winner Cyllene. Produced from 1946 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Bloodroot, she is a full sister to 1946 Frizette Stakes winner Bimlette, dam of 1960 Wood Memorial Stakes winner and useful sire No Robbery (by Swaps), 1954 Everglades Handicap winner Maharajah (by Mahmoud), and stakes winner Strong Point (by Menow). Bimlette is also the second dam of Grade 2 winner Woodchopper, multiple stakes winner Acknowledge, and 1969 Lakeside Handicap winner Court Fool and is the third dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Putting Green. Be Faithful is also a full sister to Turmeric, dam of stakes winners Point of Order (by Menow) and Jove (by Bold Ruler; a steeplechaser). In addition, Be Faithful is a half sister to 1959 American champion steeplechaser Ancestor (by Challedon); to 1945 San Juan Capistrano Handicap winner Bric a Bac (by War Admiral); to Betty Johnson (by Cohort), dam of multiple stakes winner Silver State (by War Relic); and to Puccoon (by Bull Lea), dam of 1966 American champion steeplechaser Mako (by Tulyar) and the stakes-winning steeplechaser Landscaping (by Bimelech), second dam of 1970 American Derby winner The Pruner and multiple Irish Group 3 winner Dapper and third dam of Grade 2 winner Rivalero.
Knockaney Bridge, the dam of Bloodroot, was a minor winner and bred four non-winning foals in Ireland before being imported to the United States by Colonel Bradley in 1924. Produced from the Carbine mare Sunshot, she is a half sister to 1924 Gimcrack Stakes winner Game Shot (by Marten II) and to Sunbridge, dam of 1923 Irish Two Thousand Guineas winner Soldumeno (by Diadumenos), 1926 Irish One Thousand Guineas and Irish Oaks winner Resplendent (by By George!; dam of 1934 Derby Stakes and St. Leger Stakes winner Windsor Lad, by Blandford), 1937 Irish One Thousand Guineas and Irish Oaks winner Sol Speranza (by Ballyferis), and 1935 Cheveley Park Stakes winner Ferrybridge. Knockaney Bridge is also a half sister to Sunbird (by Missel Thrush), dam of stakes winners Sama (by Havresac II) and Sigfrido (by Kibwesi).
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: October 1, 2020
Race record
59 starts, 14 wins, 10 seconds, 12 thirds, US$189,040
1945:
- 2nd Alabama Stakes (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Pimlico Oaks (USA, 8.5FD, Pimlico)
1946:
- Won Beverly Handicap (USA, 9FD, Washington Park; new track record 1:49-2/5)
- Won Vanity Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
- 2nd Misty Isle Stakes (USA, 8FD, Washington Park)
- 3rd Santa Margarita Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Argonaut Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
- Also set a new track record of 2:15-1/5 for 11 furlongs on dirt at Santa Anita.
1947:
- Won Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap (USA, 10FD, Hawthorne)
- Won Beverly Handicap (USA, 8FD, Washington Park)
- 2nd Hawthorne Autumn Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Hawthorne)
- 3rd Santa Margarita Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Misty Isle Stakes (USA, 7FD, Washington Park)
- 3rd C. W. Bidwill Memorial Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hawthorne)
- 3rd Louisville Handicap (USA, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
- 3rd Top Flight Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Falls City Handicap (USA, 8FD, Churchill Downs)
Assessments
Ranked second among American older females of 1946 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A strapping brown mare, Be Faithful was tough and durable but could be faulted for sickle hocks.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Be Faithful produced eight named foals, of which five started and four were winners. Her important foals are as follow:
- Lalun (1952, by Djeddah) won the 1955 Kentucky Oaks. She is the dam of 1962 American champion 2-year-old male and 1971 English leading sire Never Bend and of 1971 Travers Stakes winner Bold Reason, second-rated among American 3-year-old males of 1971. She is also the second dam of New Zealand stakes winner Katemurr, the third dam of Chilean Group 2 winner Douce and Chilean Group 3 winner Ile St. Louis, and the fourth dam of 2003 Premio Estrellas Distaff (ARG-G1) winner Potra Fabulous.
- Farullah (1954, by Nasrullah) is the second dam of Grade 2 winner Bailrullah.
- In My Fashion (1957, by Ambiorix) is the second dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Az Igazi.
- Be Ambitious (1958, by Ambiorix) produced 1967 Durazna Stakes winner Nanticious (by Nantallah) and 1969 Pocahontas Stakes winner Artists Proof (by Ribot). She is the second dam of Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA-G1) winner Group Plan, 1977 William Hill Futurity (ENG-G1) winner Dactylographer, Grade 2 winner Cut Class, and Grade 3 winners Balletomane and Niccolo Polo. Her descendants also include 1997 Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1) winner Blushing K. D. and 2002 Hong Kong Horse of the Year Electronic Unicorn.
- Be Graceful (1964, by Gray Phantom) produced stakes winner Graceful Lady (by Noble Commander).
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Be Faithful was bred and owned by Colonel Edward Riley Bradley's Idle Hour Stock Farm. She was sold to Louis B. Mayer in 1945 and in the spring of 1947 was resold to Mrs. E. E. Dale Schaffer. She was trained by G. Philpot.
Pedigree notes
Be Faithful is inbred 2x4 to Black Toney and 5x4 to 1899 Ascot Gold Cup winner Cyllene. Produced from 1946 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Bloodroot, she is a full sister to 1946 Frizette Stakes winner Bimlette, dam of 1960 Wood Memorial Stakes winner and useful sire No Robbery (by Swaps), 1954 Everglades Handicap winner Maharajah (by Mahmoud), and stakes winner Strong Point (by Menow). Bimlette is also the second dam of Grade 2 winner Woodchopper, multiple stakes winner Acknowledge, and 1969 Lakeside Handicap winner Court Fool and is the third dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Putting Green. Be Faithful is also a full sister to Turmeric, dam of stakes winners Point of Order (by Menow) and Jove (by Bold Ruler; a steeplechaser). In addition, Be Faithful is a half sister to 1959 American champion steeplechaser Ancestor (by Challedon); to 1945 San Juan Capistrano Handicap winner Bric a Bac (by War Admiral); to Betty Johnson (by Cohort), dam of multiple stakes winner Silver State (by War Relic); and to Puccoon (by Bull Lea), dam of 1966 American champion steeplechaser Mako (by Tulyar) and the stakes-winning steeplechaser Landscaping (by Bimelech), second dam of 1970 American Derby winner The Pruner and multiple Irish Group 3 winner Dapper and third dam of Grade 2 winner Rivalero.
Knockaney Bridge, the dam of Bloodroot, was a minor winner and bred four non-winning foals in Ireland before being imported to the United States by Colonel Bradley in 1924. Produced from the Carbine mare Sunshot, she is a half sister to 1924 Gimcrack Stakes winner Game Shot (by Marten II) and to Sunbridge, dam of 1923 Irish Two Thousand Guineas winner Soldumeno (by Diadumenos), 1926 Irish One Thousand Guineas and Irish Oaks winner Resplendent (by By George!; dam of 1934 Derby Stakes and St. Leger Stakes winner Windsor Lad, by Blandford), 1937 Irish One Thousand Guineas and Irish Oaks winner Sol Speranza (by Ballyferis), and 1935 Cheveley Park Stakes winner Ferrybridge. Knockaney Bridge is also a half sister to Sunbird (by Missel Thrush), dam of stakes winners Sama (by Havresac II) and Sigfrido (by Kibwesi).
Fun facts
- Be Faithful's victory in the Hawthorne Gold Cup was quite possibly the narrowest in the race's history. It took some 10 minutes before the stewards studying the photo of the finish declared her the winner by a nose over Letmenow.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: October 1, 2020