While Bold Reason did not have quite the raw speed of his champion half brother Never Bend, he stayed better and was very close to championship class at 3. He was not as successful as Never Bend at stud but made one exceedingly important contribution to his breed in his daughter Fairy Bridge, dam of 13-time English/Irish leading sire Sadler's Wells and his full brother Fairy King, a champion sire in France. Bold Reason also sired 1976 Canadian champion juvenile male Sound Reason, a champion sire and broodmare sire in New Zealand.
Race record
17 starts, 7 wins, 4 seconds, 2 thirds, US$304,082
1971:
Assessments
Co-highweighted with Canonero II (the official divisional champion) at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1971. The pair were weighted at 2 pounds above the four colts sharing third place (Executioner, Jim French, Pass Catcher and Tinajero).
As an individual
A bay horse, Bold Reason retired from racing due to knee problems.
As a stallion
According to statistics kept by The Jockey Club, Bold Reason sired 185 winners (53.9%) and 20 stakes winners (5.8%) from 343 named foals. Peerage of Racehorses (1994, Ulbrich) credits him with 21 stakes winners.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Notable progeny
Castilla (USA), Fairy Bridge (USA), Sound Reason (CAN), The Liberal Member (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Bold Run (FR), Fairy King (USA), Indudable (VEN), Luv Me Luv Me Not (USA), Sadler's Wells (USA), Tate Gallery (USA)
Connections
Bold Reason was bred by Captain Harry F. Guggenheim. He was owned by William A. Levin, who purchased the colt for US$52,000 at the 1969 dispersal of Guggenheim's Cain Hoy Stable, and was trained by Angel Penna. He was syndicated for US$3.2 million following his win in the 1971 American Derby. Bold Reason entered stud in 1972 at Robin's Nest Farm near Ocala, Florida. He relocated to Claiborne Farm in Kentucky in 1974. He eventually moved to Gold Mill Farms near Old Westbury, New York, where he died in 1985.
Pedigree notes
Bold Reason is inbred 4x4 to Blue Larkspur and 5x5x5 to Teddy. He is a half brother to 1962 American champion 2-year-old male and 1971 English leading sire Never Bend (by Nasrullah). He is also a half brother to She Alone (by Nasrullah), dam of stakes winners Strawberry Drive (by Dark Star) and Majestic Belle (by Majestic Prince); to Class Is Class (by Graustark), second dam of Chilean Group 2 winner Douce and Chilean Group 3 winner Ile St. Louis; and to Fabled (by Illustrious), dam of New Zealand stakes winner Katemurr, second dam of multiple stakes winner Lou's Bucks, and third dam of 2003 Premio Estrellas Distaff (ARG-G1) winner Potra Fabulous.
Bold Reason's dam Lalun won the 1955 Kentucky Oaks and is a half sister to Be Ambitious (by Ambiorix), dam of stakes winners Artists Proof (by Ribot) and Nanticious (by Nantallah) and second dam of eight stakes winners including 1975 Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA-G1) winner Group Plan and 1977 William Hill Futurity (USA-G1) winner Dactylographer. Lalun is also a half sister to Farullah (by Nasrullah), second dam of Grade 2 winner Bailrullah; to In My Fashion (by Ambiorix), second dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Az Igazi; and to Be Graceful (by Gray Phantom), dam of stakes winner Graceful Lady (by Noble Commander). Lalun is out of Be Faithful (by Bimelech), winner of the Vanity Handicap against her own sex and the Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap against males and one of several good producers bred from 1946 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Bloodroot (by Blue Larkspur).
Last updated: January 19, 2024
Race record
17 starts, 7 wins, 4 seconds, 2 thirds, US$304,082
1971:
- Won American Derby Handicap (USA, 9FT, Arlington Park)
- Won Hollywood Derby (USA, 10FD, Hollywood)
- Won Travers Stakes (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
- Won Lexington Handicap (USA, 9.5FT, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Kentucky Derby (USA, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- 3rd Belmont Stakes (USA, 12FD, Belmont)
Assessments
Co-highweighted with Canonero II (the official divisional champion) at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1971. The pair were weighted at 2 pounds above the four colts sharing third place (Executioner, Jim French, Pass Catcher and Tinajero).
As an individual
A bay horse, Bold Reason retired from racing due to knee problems.
As a stallion
According to statistics kept by The Jockey Club, Bold Reason sired 185 winners (53.9%) and 20 stakes winners (5.8%) from 343 named foals. Peerage of Racehorses (1994, Ulbrich) credits him with 21 stakes winners.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- Led the combined English/Irish broodmare sire list in 1984.
Notable progeny
Castilla (USA), Fairy Bridge (USA), Sound Reason (CAN), The Liberal Member (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Bold Run (FR), Fairy King (USA), Indudable (VEN), Luv Me Luv Me Not (USA), Sadler's Wells (USA), Tate Gallery (USA)
Connections
Bold Reason was bred by Captain Harry F. Guggenheim. He was owned by William A. Levin, who purchased the colt for US$52,000 at the 1969 dispersal of Guggenheim's Cain Hoy Stable, and was trained by Angel Penna. He was syndicated for US$3.2 million following his win in the 1971 American Derby. Bold Reason entered stud in 1972 at Robin's Nest Farm near Ocala, Florida. He relocated to Claiborne Farm in Kentucky in 1974. He eventually moved to Gold Mill Farms near Old Westbury, New York, where he died in 1985.
Pedigree notes
Bold Reason is inbred 4x4 to Blue Larkspur and 5x5x5 to Teddy. He is a half brother to 1962 American champion 2-year-old male and 1971 English leading sire Never Bend (by Nasrullah). He is also a half brother to She Alone (by Nasrullah), dam of stakes winners Strawberry Drive (by Dark Star) and Majestic Belle (by Majestic Prince); to Class Is Class (by Graustark), second dam of Chilean Group 2 winner Douce and Chilean Group 3 winner Ile St. Louis; and to Fabled (by Illustrious), dam of New Zealand stakes winner Katemurr, second dam of multiple stakes winner Lou's Bucks, and third dam of 2003 Premio Estrellas Distaff (ARG-G1) winner Potra Fabulous.
Bold Reason's dam Lalun won the 1955 Kentucky Oaks and is a half sister to Be Ambitious (by Ambiorix), dam of stakes winners Artists Proof (by Ribot) and Nanticious (by Nantallah) and second dam of eight stakes winners including 1975 Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA-G1) winner Group Plan and 1977 William Hill Futurity (USA-G1) winner Dactylographer. Lalun is also a half sister to Farullah (by Nasrullah), second dam of Grade 2 winner Bailrullah; to In My Fashion (by Ambiorix), second dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Az Igazi; and to Be Graceful (by Gray Phantom), dam of stakes winner Graceful Lady (by Noble Commander). Lalun is out of Be Faithful (by Bimelech), winner of the Vanity Handicap against her own sex and the Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap against males and one of several good producers bred from 1946 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Bloodroot (by Blue Larkspur).
Last updated: January 19, 2024