Speedy but not terribly sound, Bellesoeur was one of the better juvenile fillies of her year. She was a good broodmare, producing two stakes winners as well as the surprisingly good sire Beau Gar, and her daughters bred on well.
Race record
6 starts, 4 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, US$41,375
1947:
Assessments
Rated at 117 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1947 4 pounds below topweighted filly and official divisional champion Bewitch.
As an individual
A dark bay or brown mare; no further information available.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Bellesoeur produced 14 named foals, of which 12 started and 11 won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in California, Bellesoeur was bred by Louis B. Mayer. She was owned by Mrs. Laudy Lawrence. As a broodmare, she had passed to the ownership of Harford Stud by 1957. From 1959 on, she was owned by Mrs. Royal J. Firman Jr. and G. M. Humphrey. The last report on her was as barren for the third consecutive year in 1969.
Pedigree notes
Bellesoeur is inbred 4x5 to Bay Ronald, an important sire in England and Franch. She is also inbred 5x5 to 1889 Derby Stakes and St. Leger Stakes winner Donovan. She is a half sister to 1946 Arlington Classic winner The Dude (by Alibhai) and Canadian stakes winner Biscayne (by Faultless).
Bellesoeur is out of unraced Donatrice, whose full sister Donavol is the dam of the good California stakes winner Alidon (by Alibhai). Donatrice is also a half sister to Rarity (by Fiterari), a high-class stakes winner in France, and to Vixen Hole (by Foxhunter), third dam of 1970 Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini winner Snow Figure. Donatrice and her sisters are out of 1929 Prix Maurice de Gheest and Prix d’Astarte winner Tivoli II (by Teddy), a half sister to French stakes winner Emir d’Iran (by Épinard).
Tivoli II, in turn, was produced from Tiara (by Flying Orb), whose dam Donnetta won the Duke of York Stakes and the Great Jubilee Handicap. Donnetta, an excellent producer, also foaled 1917 One Thousand Guineas winner Diadem (by Orby), Great Jubilee Handicap and Liverpool Autumn Cup winner Diadumenos (by Orby), 1918 Irish St. Leger winner Dionysos (by Llangibby), and 1924 Two Thousand Guineas winner Diophon (by Grand Parade).
Fun facts
Last updated: August 8, 2022
Race record
6 starts, 4 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, US$41,375
1947:
- Won Astarita Stakes (USA, 6FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Spinaway Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Demoiselle Stakes (USA, 6FD, Empire City)
- 2nd Schuylverville Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Saratoga)
Assessments
Rated at 117 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1947 4 pounds below topweighted filly and official divisional champion Bewitch.
As an individual
A dark bay or brown mare; no further information available.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Bellesoeur produced 14 named foals, of which 12 started and 11 won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Beau Gar (1950, by Count Fleet) suffered a back injury when young and did not race at 2 or 3 as a result. He won four of 15 starts while racing at 4 and 5. As a sire at Jack Dreyfus’s Hobeau Farm, he did better than expected, his 24 stakes winners from 363 named foals including the high-class horses Beau Purple and Handsome Boy.
- Jabneh (1952, by Bimelech) won the 1957 Hialeah Turf Handicap. He sired only 73 named foals and no stakes winners were among them.
- Beau Diable (1953, by Devil Diver) won the 1959 Display Handicap and the 1960 Pimlico Cup. He was exported to New Zealand for stallion duty and sired three stakes winners from 51 named foals.
- Jolie Deja (1954, by Djeddah) won three of her 10 races. She is the dam of 1970 Stars and Stripes Handicap and Tidal Handicap winner Mr. Leader (by Hail to Reason; a good sire) and 1964 Diana Handicap winner Prodana Neviesta (by Reneged). She is the second dam of Grade 2 winner Prod and Grade 3 winner Nijana and the third dam of 1981 Panamanian champion older female Poquita Fe, 1984 Hollywood Oaks (USA-G1) winner Moment to Buy, and Grade 3 winners Estate, Lech, and Savina.
- Quillobelle (1961, by Princequillo) won three of her 30 starts. She is the dam of 1976 American Derby (USA-G2) winner Fifth Marine (by Hoist the Flag) and Grade 2-placed stakes winner Halloween Queen (by Hatchet Man), the second dam of multiple English Group 3 winner Leap Lively, and the third dam of 1986 English champion 2-year-old filly Forest Flower, multiple Grade 2 winner Miss Golden Circle, and Swedish Group 3 winner Harbour Dues.
- Belle Musique (1963, by Tudor Minstrel) won two of her 14 starts. She is the second dam of 1979 Italian Horse of the Year Maria Waleska, 1978 Benson & Hedges Gold Cup (ENG-G1) winner Hawaiian Sound, and English Group 3 winner Sonus. She is also the third dam of 1994 Santa Anita Handicap (USA-G1) winner Stuka (a champion sire in Chile), 1991 Carroll Foundation July Cup (ENG-G1) winner Polish Patriot, and Australian Group 3 winner Hawaiian Rain.
- Bold Belle (1964, by Bold Ruler) won two of her eight starts. She is the dam of Grade 3-placed stakes winner King Celebrity (by Personality), the second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Belle’s Gold, and the third dam of Argentine Group 2 winner Two Parades.
Connections
Foaled in California, Bellesoeur was bred by Louis B. Mayer. She was owned by Mrs. Laudy Lawrence. As a broodmare, she had passed to the ownership of Harford Stud by 1957. From 1959 on, she was owned by Mrs. Royal J. Firman Jr. and G. M. Humphrey. The last report on her was as barren for the third consecutive year in 1969.
Pedigree notes
Bellesoeur is inbred 4x5 to Bay Ronald, an important sire in England and Franch. She is also inbred 5x5 to 1889 Derby Stakes and St. Leger Stakes winner Donovan. She is a half sister to 1946 Arlington Classic winner The Dude (by Alibhai) and Canadian stakes winner Biscayne (by Faultless).
Bellesoeur is out of unraced Donatrice, whose full sister Donavol is the dam of the good California stakes winner Alidon (by Alibhai). Donatrice is also a half sister to Rarity (by Fiterari), a high-class stakes winner in France, and to Vixen Hole (by Foxhunter), third dam of 1970 Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini winner Snow Figure. Donatrice and her sisters are out of 1929 Prix Maurice de Gheest and Prix d’Astarte winner Tivoli II (by Teddy), a half sister to French stakes winner Emir d’Iran (by Épinard).
Tivoli II, in turn, was produced from Tiara (by Flying Orb), whose dam Donnetta won the Duke of York Stakes and the Great Jubilee Handicap. Donnetta, an excellent producer, also foaled 1917 One Thousand Guineas winner Diadem (by Orby), Great Jubilee Handicap and Liverpool Autumn Cup winner Diadumenos (by Orby), 1918 Irish St. Leger winner Dionysos (by Llangibby), and 1924 Two Thousand Guineas winner Diophon (by Grand Parade).
Fun facts
- Bellesoeur’s name means “sister-in-law” in French.
Last updated: August 8, 2022