Bloodroot (USA)
1932 – After Spring 1951
Blue Larkspur (USA) x Knockaney Bridge (IRE), by Bridge of Earn (GB)
Family 19-b
1932 – After Spring 1951
Blue Larkspur (USA) x Knockaney Bridge (IRE), by Bridge of Earn (GB)
Family 19-b
Bloodroot had talent as a race mare, but as the pacemaker for her champion stablemate Black Helen, her opportunities to earn laurels of her own were limited. It was as a producer that she moved into the spotlight, becoming the first Kentucky Broodmare of the Year in 1946 and establishing a family that continues to come up with horses at the top level.
Race record
28 starts, 8 wins, 7 seconds, 5 thirds, US$13,100
1935:
Assessments
Ranked third among American 3-year-old fillies of 1935 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A tall, slim, rangy bay filly with high withers, Bloodroot was well enough thought of that she ran in several important races against males and was good enough to perform creditably. She was also second to Black Helen by just a nose in the Coaching Club American Oaks and according to one source was eased to allow Black Helen to win, though it should be noted that Black Helen was conceding her 10 pounds.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Bloodroot produced 13 named foals, of which 11 started and 8 were winners. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Bloodroot was bred and owned by Colonel Edward Riley Bradley's Idle Hour Stock Farm. She was trained by William Hurley. Following Bradley's death in 1946, she passed to the ownership of Ogden Phipps.
Pedigree notes
Bloodroot is inbred 5x4 to 1892 St. James's Palace Stakes winner St. Angelo and 5x5 to 1880 Derby Stakes winner Bend Or. She is a full sister to 1936 Walden Handicap winner Brooklyn and to Bum's Rush, dam of stakes winners Lady Bouncer (by Roman) and Craigwood (by Djeddah) and second dam of 1963 Knickerbocker Handicap winner Hellenic Hero. Bloodroot is also a half sister to multiple stakes winner Brookfield (by Bimelech), who became a useful sire for Harry Isaacs.
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 (by Ballyferis). 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
Pictured with her 1941 War Admiral colt, Bric a Brac. Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: November 12, 2020
Race record
28 starts, 8 wins, 7 seconds, 5 thirds, US$13,100
1935:
- 2nd Maryland Handicap (USA, 10FD, Laurel)
- 2nd Coaching Club American Oaks (USA, 11FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Bahama Handicap (USA)
- 3rd Classic Stakes (USA, 10FD, Arlington Park)
- 3rd Derby Consolation Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Hialeah)
Assessments
Ranked third among American 3-year-old fillies of 1935 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A tall, slim, rangy bay filly with high withers, Bloodroot was well enough thought of that she ran in several important races against males and was good enough to perform creditably. She was also second to Black Helen by just a nose in the Coaching Club American Oaks and according to one source was eased to allow Black Helen to win, though it should be noted that Black Helen was conceding her 10 pounds.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Bloodroot produced 13 named foals, of which 11 started and 8 were winners. Her important foals are as follow:
- Betty Johnson (1940, by Cohort) produced multiple stakes winner Silver State (by War Relic). She is the second dam of stakes winners Admiral Win and Woodie Can and the third dam of five stakes winners, the best of which was probably 1963 Hawthorne Juvenile Stakes winner Count Tario.
- Bric a Bac (1941, by War Admiral) won the 1945 San Juan Capistrano Handicap. He was of no importance as a sire.
- Be Faithful (1942, by Bimelech) won the Beverly Handicap twice as well as the 1946 Vanity Handicap and the 1947 Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap, the latter against males. She produced 1955 Kentucky Oaks winner Lalun (by Djeddah), dam of 1962 American champion juvenile male Never Bend and 1971 Travers Stakes winner Bold Reason, second dam of New Zealand stakes winner Katemurr, and third dam of Chilean Group 2 winner Douce and Chilean Group 3 winner Ile St. Louis. Be Faithful also produced Be Ambitious (by Ambiorix), dam of stakes winners Artists Proof (by Ribot) and Nanticious (by Nantallah) and second dam of six stakes winners including 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. In addition, Be Faithful produced Farullah (by Nasrullah), second dam of Grade 2 winner Bailrullah; In My Fashion (by Ambiorix), second dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Az Igazi; and Be Graceful (by Gray Phantom), dam of stakes winner Graceful Lady (by Noble Commander).
- Bimlette (1944, by Bimelech) won the 1946 Frizette Stakes. She produced 1960 Wood Memorial Stakes winner No Robbery (by Swaps), a useful sire; 1954 Everglades Handicap winner Maharajah (by Mahmoud; a gelding); 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.
- Bim's Best (1945, by Bimelech) is the second dam of stakes winner Wingman and the third dam of multiple stakes winner Market Surge.
- Puccoon (1947, by Bull Lea) is the dam of 1966 American champion steeplechaser Mako (by Tulyar) and the stakes-winning steeplechaser Landscaping (by Bimelech). She is the second dam of 1970 American Derby winner The Pruner, multiple Irish Group 3 winner Dapper, and stakes winner Subtle and is the third dam of Grade 2 winner Rivalero.
- Turmeric (1948, by Bimelech) is the dam of 1957 National Jockey Club Handicap winner Point of Order (by Menow) and the stakes-winning hurdler Jove (by Bold Ruler).
- Ancestor (1949, by Challedon) won the 1952 Discovery Handicap on the flat and was the American champion steeplechaser of 1959.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Bloodroot was bred and owned by Colonel Edward Riley Bradley's Idle Hour Stock Farm. She was trained by William Hurley. Following Bradley's death in 1946, she passed to the ownership of Ogden Phipps.
Pedigree notes
Bloodroot is inbred 5x4 to 1892 St. James's Palace Stakes winner St. Angelo and 5x5 to 1880 Derby Stakes winner Bend Or. She is a full sister to 1936 Walden Handicap winner Brooklyn and to Bum's Rush, dam of stakes winners Lady Bouncer (by Roman) and Craigwood (by Djeddah) and second dam of 1963 Knickerbocker Handicap winner Hellenic Hero. Bloodroot is also a half sister to multiple stakes winner Brookfield (by Bimelech), who became a useful sire for Harry Isaacs.
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 (by Ballyferis). 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
- Bloodroot is a plant historically used by Native Americans for medicinal purposes. It takes its name from its poisonous bright red sap.
Photo credit
Pictured with her 1941 War Admiral colt, Bric a Brac. Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: November 12, 2020