Blame’s pedigree is steeped in the history of Claiborne Farm, and he proved to be one of the best performers turned out by the farm’s breeding program. He was a good 3-year-old during the late summer and fall of 2009 before coming into his own as a 4-year-old. That year, he won three Grade 1 races and handed the great mare Zenyatta the only defeat of her career in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (USA-G1), giving Claiborne one of its most memorable wins ever in the year of its 100th anniversary. In the pattern of his grandsire, Kris S., and his sire, Arch, Blame has never been particularly fashionable as a sire but has turned out a steady stream of good performers.
Race record
13 starts, 9 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds, US$4,368,214
2009:
2010:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 129 pounds on the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2010, 6 pounds below overall highweight Harbinger but second overall and tops among North American runners.
As an individual
A big-boned, rugged-looking bay horse typical of his male line, Blame stands 16.1 hands but appears higher at the point of the hips than at the withers. He was unable to compete in the 2009 Triple Crown series due to a foot problem. His stud groom, Kevin Lay, has described him as “intelligent and kind” but also “proud and confident.” A “charming” horse whose friendly disposition may have been bequeathed from his dam, Liable, he enjoys peppermints as treats.
As a stallion
Blame has proven to be a versatile sire, capable of getting both speedsters and stayers and both dirt and turf runners. His progeny are typically better with increasing maturity.
Notable progeny
Abscond (USA), Fault (USA), Marley’s Freedom (USA), Nadal (USA), Senga (USA), Wet Paint (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
And One More Time (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Blame was bred and owned by Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider. He was trained by Al Stall Jr. and was ridden to his Breeders’ Cup Classic win by Garrett Gomez. He entered stud in Kentucky in 2011 at Claiborne Farm.
Pedigree notes
Blame is inbred 4x4 to 1963 Canadian Horse of the Year and American champion 3-year-old male Northern Dancer, a great international sire. He is also inbred 5x4 to 1963 American co-champion 2-year-old male Raise a Native and 5x5 to 1955 American Horse of the Year Nashua. He is a half brother to listed stakes winner Tend (by Dynaformer). He is also a half brother to Apt (by A.P. Indy), dam of 2014 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (USA-G3) winner Carve (by First Samurai), English listed stakes winner Sloane Avenue (by Candy Ride), and Grade 1-placed stakes winner Apropos (by First Samurai).
Blame is out of listed stakes-placed Liable, a half sister to 2008 Queen Elizabeth II Cup Stakes (HK-G1) winner Archipenko (by Kingmambo) and Grade 3-placed listed stakes winner Limit (by Cox’s Ridge), dam of listed stakes winners Total (by Forest Wildcat) and Cease (by War Chant) and second dam of Grade 3 winner Size. Liable is also a half sister to Pent (by Mr. Prospector), dam of UAE listed stakes winner Pentagonal (by Dynaformer), and to Sakura Fubuki (by Forty Niner), second dam of Japanese Group 2 winner Asian Winds.
Liable and her siblings are out of listed stakes winner Bound (by Nijinsky II), whose full sister Number was a multiple Grade 2 winner and is the dam of 1989 CIGA Grand Criterium (FR-G1) winner Jade Robbery (by Mr. Prospector) and Grade 3 winners Numerous (by Mr. Prospector) and Chequer (by Mr. Prospector), the second dam of Irish Group 2 winner Lizard Island, and the third dam of 2007 Metropolitan Handicap (USA-G1) winner Corinthian, Grade 2 winner Desert Hero, and Irish Group 3 winner Six of Hearts. Produced from the Forli mare Special, Bound is also a full sister to Durrah, third dam of 2011 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (USA-G1) winner Wrote, 2013 Gran Premio Estrellas Sprint (ARG-G1) winner She’s Happy, and Argentine Group 2 winner Super Number. In addition, Bound is a half sister to 1980 French champion Nureyev (by Northern Dancer), a champion sire in England/Ireland and France, and to 1977 Irish champion 2-year-old filly Fairy Bridge (by Bold Reason), dam of multiple Group 1 winner and 14-time English/Irish champion sire Sadler’s Wells (by Northern Dancer), 1985 BBA Ireland-Goffs National Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Tates Gallery (by Northern Dancer), Irish Group 3 winner Fairy Gold (by Northern Dancer), French listed stakes winner Puppet Dance (by Northern Dancer), and 1996 French champion sire Fairy King (by Northern Dancer) and third dam of Peruvian Group 3 winner Amir Beirut. Finally, Bound is a half sister to Kilavea (by Hawaii), dam of English Group 3 winner Kiliniski (by Niniski), second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Bienamado, and third dam of 2014 British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Madame Chiang, Brazilian Group 3 winner Hot Thong, and 2007 Turkish champion stayer Arsenic.
Books and media
Coverage of Blame’s defeat of Zenyatta in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Et15M6wsPo.
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photo taken at Claiborne Farm in 2011 by Jessica Morgan. Used by permission.
Last updated: September 14, 2024
Race record
13 starts, 9 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds, US$4,368,214
2009:
- Won Fayette Stakes (USA-G2, 9FA, Keeneland)
- Won Clark Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Curlin Stakes (USA-R, 9FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Super Derby (USA-G2, 9FD, Louisiana Downs)
2010:
- Won Stephen Foster Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Whitney Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Saratoga)
- Won Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won William Donald Schaefer Stakes (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Pimlico)
- 2nd Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont)
Honors
- Eclipse Award, American champion older male (2010)
- Eclipse Award finalist, American Horse of the Year (2010)
Assessments
Rated at 129 pounds on the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2010, 6 pounds below overall highweight Harbinger but second overall and tops among North American runners.
As an individual
A big-boned, rugged-looking bay horse typical of his male line, Blame stands 16.1 hands but appears higher at the point of the hips than at the withers. He was unable to compete in the 2009 Triple Crown series due to a foot problem. His stud groom, Kevin Lay, has described him as “intelligent and kind” but also “proud and confident.” A “charming” horse whose friendly disposition may have been bequeathed from his dam, Liable, he enjoys peppermints as treats.
As a stallion
Blame has proven to be a versatile sire, capable of getting both speedsters and stayers and both dirt and turf runners. His progeny are typically better with increasing maturity.
Notable progeny
Abscond (USA), Fault (USA), Marley’s Freedom (USA), Nadal (USA), Senga (USA), Wet Paint (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
And One More Time (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Blame was bred and owned by Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider. He was trained by Al Stall Jr. and was ridden to his Breeders’ Cup Classic win by Garrett Gomez. He entered stud in Kentucky in 2011 at Claiborne Farm.
Pedigree notes
Blame is inbred 4x4 to 1963 Canadian Horse of the Year and American champion 3-year-old male Northern Dancer, a great international sire. He is also inbred 5x4 to 1963 American co-champion 2-year-old male Raise a Native and 5x5 to 1955 American Horse of the Year Nashua. He is a half brother to listed stakes winner Tend (by Dynaformer). He is also a half brother to Apt (by A.P. Indy), dam of 2014 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (USA-G3) winner Carve (by First Samurai), English listed stakes winner Sloane Avenue (by Candy Ride), and Grade 1-placed stakes winner Apropos (by First Samurai).
Blame is out of listed stakes-placed Liable, a half sister to 2008 Queen Elizabeth II Cup Stakes (HK-G1) winner Archipenko (by Kingmambo) and Grade 3-placed listed stakes winner Limit (by Cox’s Ridge), dam of listed stakes winners Total (by Forest Wildcat) and Cease (by War Chant) and second dam of Grade 3 winner Size. Liable is also a half sister to Pent (by Mr. Prospector), dam of UAE listed stakes winner Pentagonal (by Dynaformer), and to Sakura Fubuki (by Forty Niner), second dam of Japanese Group 2 winner Asian Winds.
Liable and her siblings are out of listed stakes winner Bound (by Nijinsky II), whose full sister Number was a multiple Grade 2 winner and is the dam of 1989 CIGA Grand Criterium (FR-G1) winner Jade Robbery (by Mr. Prospector) and Grade 3 winners Numerous (by Mr. Prospector) and Chequer (by Mr. Prospector), the second dam of Irish Group 2 winner Lizard Island, and the third dam of 2007 Metropolitan Handicap (USA-G1) winner Corinthian, Grade 2 winner Desert Hero, and Irish Group 3 winner Six of Hearts. Produced from the Forli mare Special, Bound is also a full sister to Durrah, third dam of 2011 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (USA-G1) winner Wrote, 2013 Gran Premio Estrellas Sprint (ARG-G1) winner She’s Happy, and Argentine Group 2 winner Super Number. In addition, Bound is a half sister to 1980 French champion Nureyev (by Northern Dancer), a champion sire in England/Ireland and France, and to 1977 Irish champion 2-year-old filly Fairy Bridge (by Bold Reason), dam of multiple Group 1 winner and 14-time English/Irish champion sire Sadler’s Wells (by Northern Dancer), 1985 BBA Ireland-Goffs National Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Tates Gallery (by Northern Dancer), Irish Group 3 winner Fairy Gold (by Northern Dancer), French listed stakes winner Puppet Dance (by Northern Dancer), and 1996 French champion sire Fairy King (by Northern Dancer) and third dam of Peruvian Group 3 winner Amir Beirut. Finally, Bound is a half sister to Kilavea (by Hawaii), dam of English Group 3 winner Kiliniski (by Niniski), second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Bienamado, and third dam of 2014 British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Madame Chiang, Brazilian Group 3 winner Hot Thong, and 2007 Turkish champion stayer Arsenic.
Books and media
Coverage of Blame’s defeat of Zenyatta in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Et15M6wsPo.
Fun facts
- Blame was a unanimous choice as the best American older male in Eclipse Award voting in 2010, capturing all 238 votes cast. He was also the runner-up to Zenyatta in Horse of the Year voting, getting 102 votes to Zenyatta’s 128.
- Blame became the namesake for a stakes race at Churchill Downs. It was inaugurated in 2020.
- Blame is notorious at Claiborne for his love of rolling in mud. According to Claiborne’s website, he also likes sticking his tongue out at visitors to the farm.
Photo credit
Photo taken at Claiborne Farm in 2011 by Jessica Morgan. Used by permission.
Last updated: September 14, 2024