Blitey (USA)
May 8, 1976 – November 26, 2004
Riva Ridge (USA) x Lady Pitt (USA), by Sword Dancer (USA)
Family 20-b
May 8, 1976 – November 26, 2004
Riva Ridge (USA) x Lady Pitt (USA), by Sword Dancer (USA)
Family 20-b
Although she was not quite the equal of her champion dam Lady Pitt on the track, Blitey was talented, honest and consistent. She proved still better as a broodmare, and her family has played an integral role in the continued success of the Phipps family's breeding program.
Race record
23 starts, 8 wins, 5 seconds, 5 thirds, US$297,746
1979:
1980:
Assessments
Rated at 117 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1979, 9 pounds below champion Davona Dale.
Rated at 113 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1980, 15 pounds below champion Glorious Song.
As an individual
A bay mare, Blitey was well-made and clean-legged, although she had a short neck and a plain head. She had a deep shoulder and a notably straight hind leg. Her pelvis was long and sloping.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Blitey produced 14 named foals, of which 12 started and won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Blitey was bred and owned by Ogden Phipps. She was trained by Angel Penna. She was pensioned from breeding in 2000 and was humanely destroyed in November 2004 due to the infirmities of old age. She was buried at Claiborne Farm's Marchmont division.
Pedigree notes
Blitey is outcrossed through five generations. She is a half sister to 1979 Brooklyn Handicap (USA-G1) winner The Liberal Member (by Bold Reason) and to Queen Pot (by Buckpasser), dam of 1985 Premio Emilio Turati (ITY-G1) winner King of Clubs (by Mill Reef) and the good Chilean-based sire Gallantsky (by Nijinsky II). She is also a half sister to Bank of England (by Buckpasser), dam of Grade 3 winner Comptroller (by Reviewer) and third dam of 1996 Buick Meadowlands Gold Cup Handicap (USA-G1) winner Dramatic Gold and Grade 3 winner Reba's Gold.
Lady Pitt, the American champion 3-year-old filly of 1966, was much the best of four stakes winners produced from the Whirlaway mare Rock Drill, herself a minor stakes winner. The others were Doug's Serenade (by Royal Serenade), Rocky Link (by Sailor), and Gunite (by Crozier), dam of stakes winner My Sweet Baby (by In Reality). Lady Pitt is also a half sister to Dash'n Home (by Decathlon), dam of Grade 2 winner Cathy's Reject (by Best Turn), and to Predrill (by Pretense), third dam of 2004 Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes (USA-G1) winner Nothing to Lose.
Last updated: December 10, 2023
Race record
23 starts, 8 wins, 5 seconds, 5 thirds, US$297,746
1979:
- Won Test Stakes (first division) (USA-G2, 7FD, Saratoga)
- Won Maskette Handicap (USA-G2, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Ballerina Stakes (USA, 7FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Ruffian Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
1980:
- Won Imp Stakes (USA, 9FD, Belmont)
- Won Twilight Tear Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Hempstead Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Promise Stakes (USA, 7FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 3rd Top Flight Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Delaware Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Delaware)
- 3rd Shuvee Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Belmont)
Assessments
Rated at 117 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1979, 9 pounds below champion Davona Dale.
Rated at 113 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1980, 15 pounds below champion Glorious Song.
As an individual
A bay mare, Blitey was well-made and clean-legged, although she had a short neck and a plain head. She had a deep shoulder and a notably straight hind leg. Her pelvis was long and sloping.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Blitey produced 14 named foals, of which 12 started and won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Home Leave (1983, by Alydar) is the dam of multiple listed stakes winner Extend (by Unbridled's Song). She is the second dam of 2004/2005 Chilean champion 3-year-old male We Can Seek, 2007/2008 Chilean champion 3-year-old filly Weekend Trip, and Grade 2 winner Warning Zone and is the third dam of 2015/2016 Chilean champion 3-year-old filly Wapi and 2023 Premio Tanteo de Potrillos (CHI-G1) winner Soqui.
- Dancing All Night (1984, by Nijinsky II) won the 1988 Long Island Handicap (USA-G2) and is the second dam of 2017 United Nations Handicap (USA-G1) winner Bigger Picture.
- Dancing Spree (1985, by Nijinsky II) won the 1989 Breeders' Cup Sprint (USA-G1) and Suburban Handicap (USA-G1) and the 1990 Carter Handicap (USA-G1) but was a stud failure.
- Fantastic Find (1986, by Mr. Prospector) won the 1990 Hempstead Handicap (USA-G1) and is the dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Finder's Fee (by Storm Cat) and the good steeplechaser Tax Ruling (by Dynaformer). She is also the second dam of Grade 2 winner T. D. Vance and multiple Grade 3 winner Optimizer and the third dam of multiple Group1 winner Junko and Grade/Group 3 winners Feathered, Doña True, and Cellist.
- Oh What a Dance (1987, by Nijinsky II) never raced but produced 1994 American champion 3-year-old filly Heavenly Prize and 1998 Matron Stakes (USA-G1) winner Oh What a Windfall, both by Seeking the Gold. She is the second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Good Reward, 2008 Manhattan Handicap (USA-G1) winner Dancing Forever, and Grade 2 winner Pure Prize (a two-time champion sire in Argentina) and is the third dam of 2010 Personal Ensign Stakes (USA-G1) winner Persistently, 2020 Manhattan Stakes (USA-G1) winner Instilled Regard, and Grade 3 winner Carrumba.
- Loping Along (1993, by Easy Goer) is the second dam of Grade 2 winner Quiet Temper.
- Furlough (1994, by Easy Goer) won the 1999 Ballerina Stakes (USA-G1) and is the dam of Grade 3 winner Happy Hunting (by Seeking the Gold) and stakes winner Pardon (by Elusive Quality). She is the second dam of Grade 2 winners Annual Report and Thoughtfully .
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Blitey was bred and owned by Ogden Phipps. She was trained by Angel Penna. She was pensioned from breeding in 2000 and was humanely destroyed in November 2004 due to the infirmities of old age. She was buried at Claiborne Farm's Marchmont division.
Pedigree notes
Blitey is outcrossed through five generations. She is a half sister to 1979 Brooklyn Handicap (USA-G1) winner The Liberal Member (by Bold Reason) and to Queen Pot (by Buckpasser), dam of 1985 Premio Emilio Turati (ITY-G1) winner King of Clubs (by Mill Reef) and the good Chilean-based sire Gallantsky (by Nijinsky II). She is also a half sister to Bank of England (by Buckpasser), dam of Grade 3 winner Comptroller (by Reviewer) and third dam of 1996 Buick Meadowlands Gold Cup Handicap (USA-G1) winner Dramatic Gold and Grade 3 winner Reba's Gold.
Lady Pitt, the American champion 3-year-old filly of 1966, was much the best of four stakes winners produced from the Whirlaway mare Rock Drill, herself a minor stakes winner. The others were Doug's Serenade (by Royal Serenade), Rocky Link (by Sailor), and Gunite (by Crozier), dam of stakes winner My Sweet Baby (by In Reality). Lady Pitt is also a half sister to Dash'n Home (by Decathlon), dam of Grade 2 winner Cathy's Reject (by Best Turn), and to Predrill (by Pretense), third dam of 2004 Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes (USA-G1) winner Nothing to Lose.
Last updated: December 10, 2023