Bird Town (USA)
April 11, 2000– Living
Cape Town (USA) x Dear Birdie (USA), by Storm Bird (CAN)
Family 8-f
April 11, 2000– Living
Cape Town (USA) x Dear Birdie (USA), by Storm Bird (CAN)
Family 8-f
2003 was not a vintage year for 3-year-old fillies in the United States, and Bird Town made enough of an impression during the early part of the season that several second-place finishes in important races—including a second to the top older female Sightseek in the Beldame Stakes (USA-G1)— were enough to keep her at the top of the class. Retired following the Beldame, she has had a moderately successful broodmare career thus far.
Race record
12 starts, 4 wins, 6 seconds, 1 third, US$871,251
2002:
2003:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old filly (2003)
Assessments
Rated at 117 pounds on the 2003 International Classifications, 16 pounds below overall highweight Hawk Wing and 6 pounds below the top female, Azeri, but enough to top the list for 3-year-old fillies on dirt.
As an individual
A deep-bodied bay mare with a short back and strong loin coupling, Bird Town typically ran on or close to the pace but had the determination to come from off the pace after stumbling badly at the start of the Kentucky Oaks.
As a producer
As of January 2023, Bird Town has produced 13 named foals, of which eight have started and four have won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Bird Town was bred and owned by Marylou Whitney. She was trained by Nick Zito and was ridden to her Kentucky Oaks score by Edgar Prado.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1998 Florida Derby (USA-G1) winner Cape Town (a son of Seeking the Gold), Bird Town is inbred 5x4 to 1955 American Horse of the Year Nashua and 5x5 to two-time American Horse of the Year Native Dancer. She is a half sister to 2004 Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) and Travers Stakes (USA-G1) winner Birdstone (by Grindstone). She is also a half sister to Dearest Gulch (by Gulch), third dam of Grade 3 winner Pretty Birdie.
Bird Town was produced from Dear Birdie, the 2004 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. A half sister to listed stakes winner Noactor (by Theatrical), she is out of multiple Grade 2 winner Hush Dear (by Silent Screen), a half sister to multiple stakes winner Plains and Simple (by Twist the Axe). Hush Dear is also a half sister to Go South (by Jean-Pierre), dam of Group 1-placed listed stakes winner Silvino (by Our Native), and to Tommy’s Date (by Tom Rolfe), whose granddaughter Swing By was champion 3-year-old filly in Jamaica in 2006 and Horse of the Year in Trinidad in 2007.
Hush Dear and her sisters are out of 1971 Ashland Stakes winner You All (by Nashua), a full sister to juvenile stakes winner Shoo Dear (dam of listed stakes winner Leprechauns Wish, by Lyphard’s Wish) and a half sister to Hail Hail (by Hail to Reason), dam of French Group 3 winner Reason to Trick (by Clever Trick) and juvenile stakes winner Madame Premier (by Raja Baba; dam of multiple French Group 3 winner Northern Premier, by Northern Baby). Also a half sister to Snow the Judge (by Court Recess), dam of listed stakes winner Bharal (by Forceten), You All is out of 1962 New York Handicap winner Honey Dear, by Counterpoint.
Books and media
Bird Town was one of eight mares followed by the National Museum of Racing’s Foal Patrol in 2018. Videos of her and her 2018 filly (by Empire Maker), can be accessed at https://www.foalpatrol.com/horses/bird-town. (Unfortunately, the filly, dubbed "Bird Patrol," did not survive to be officially registered.)
Fun facts
Last updated: January 30, 2023
Race record
12 starts, 4 wins, 6 seconds, 1 third, US$871,251
2002:
- 3rd Three Rings Stakes (USA-L, 8.5FD, Calder)
2003:
- Won Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Acorn Stakes (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Charon Stakes (USA, 7FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 2nd Beldame Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Test Stakes (USA-G1, 7FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Stonerside Beaumont Stakes (USA-G2, 7FD, Keeneland)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old filly (2003)
Assessments
Rated at 117 pounds on the 2003 International Classifications, 16 pounds below overall highweight Hawk Wing and 6 pounds below the top female, Azeri, but enough to top the list for 3-year-old fillies on dirt.
As an individual
A deep-bodied bay mare with a short back and strong loin coupling, Bird Town typically ran on or close to the pace but had the determination to come from off the pace after stumbling badly at the start of the Kentucky Oaks.
As a producer
As of January 2023, Bird Town has produced 13 named foals, of which eight have started and four have won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Elusive Bird (2006, by Elusive Quality) never raced but is the dam of stakes winner Gorgeous Bird (by Unbridled’s Song).
- Bird Song (2013, by Unbridled’s Song) won the 2017 Alysheba Stakes (USA-G2) and Fred W. Hooper Stakes (USA-G3).
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Bird Town was bred and owned by Marylou Whitney. She was trained by Nick Zito and was ridden to her Kentucky Oaks score by Edgar Prado.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1998 Florida Derby (USA-G1) winner Cape Town (a son of Seeking the Gold), Bird Town is inbred 5x4 to 1955 American Horse of the Year Nashua and 5x5 to two-time American Horse of the Year Native Dancer. She is a half sister to 2004 Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) and Travers Stakes (USA-G1) winner Birdstone (by Grindstone). She is also a half sister to Dearest Gulch (by Gulch), third dam of Grade 3 winner Pretty Birdie.
Bird Town was produced from Dear Birdie, the 2004 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. A half sister to listed stakes winner Noactor (by Theatrical), she is out of multiple Grade 2 winner Hush Dear (by Silent Screen), a half sister to multiple stakes winner Plains and Simple (by Twist the Axe). Hush Dear is also a half sister to Go South (by Jean-Pierre), dam of Group 1-placed listed stakes winner Silvino (by Our Native), and to Tommy’s Date (by Tom Rolfe), whose granddaughter Swing By was champion 3-year-old filly in Jamaica in 2006 and Horse of the Year in Trinidad in 2007.
Hush Dear and her sisters are out of 1971 Ashland Stakes winner You All (by Nashua), a full sister to juvenile stakes winner Shoo Dear (dam of listed stakes winner Leprechauns Wish, by Lyphard’s Wish) and a half sister to Hail Hail (by Hail to Reason), dam of French Group 3 winner Reason to Trick (by Clever Trick) and juvenile stakes winner Madame Premier (by Raja Baba; dam of multiple French Group 3 winner Northern Premier, by Northern Baby). Also a half sister to Snow the Judge (by Court Recess), dam of listed stakes winner Bharal (by Forceten), You All is out of 1962 New York Handicap winner Honey Dear, by Counterpoint.
Books and media
Bird Town was one of eight mares followed by the National Museum of Racing’s Foal Patrol in 2018. Videos of her and her 2018 filly (by Empire Maker), can be accessed at https://www.foalpatrol.com/horses/bird-town. (Unfortunately, the filly, dubbed "Bird Patrol," did not survive to be officially registered.)
Fun facts
- After the death of her husband, Cornelius Vanderbilt “Sonny” Whitney, Marylou Whitney began buying horses with Whitney blood in them to establish her own racing and breeding program. Among them was Dear Birdie, a mare that Mrs. Whitney found “on a little dirt farm” with a case of ulcers and nursed back to health.
- Bird Town claimed her Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old filly by just two votes over 2003 Breeders’ Cup Mile (USA-G1) winner Six Perfections, who started only once in the United States that year.
Last updated: January 30, 2023