Like a number of the progeny of Nashua, Bramalea was moody and could not always be counted on to exert herself in a race. When in the mood, however, she was a classy mare who stayed well. As a broodmare, her great contribution to the breed was her son Roberto, who won the Derby Stakes (ENG-G1) and proved a first-rate sire despite having inherited his dam's temperament.
Race record
38 starts, 8 wins, 7 seconds, 7 thirds, US$192,396
1961:
1962:
1963:
Assessments
Rated at 109 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1961, 9 pounds below champion Cicada.
Rated at 118 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1962, 10 pounds below champion Cicada but tied for third overall.
Rated at 110 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1963, 18 pounds below champion Cicada.
As an individual
A plain, strongly-made, lop-eared dark bay or brown mare with plenty of substance, Bramalea was tough and durable but was unreliable of temperament. On those occasions when inclined to give her best, she was unflinchingly game.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Bramalea produced nine named foals, of which seven started and six won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Bramalea was bred and owned by John W. Galbreath, who raced her in the name of his Darby Dan Farm. She was trained by James Conway.
Pedigree notes
Bramalea is inbred 4x4 to 1914 French champion 3-year-old male and three-time French champion sire Sardanapale. She is out of Rarelea, whose stakes-placed full sister Delta Queen produced the good stakes winners Apatontheback (by Olympia) and Advocator (by Round Table) and is the second dam of the good runner and sire Delta Judge and three other stakes winners. Rarelea is also a half sister to Blue Whirl (by Whirlaway), dam of stakes winner Dip and Whirl (by Big Dipper II).
Rarelea's dam Bleebok (by Blue Larkspur) is a half sister to 1933 Kentucky Derby winner Brokers Tip and stakes winner Billionaire, both by Blue Larkspur's grandsire Black Toney. The siblings were produced from the Sardanapale mare Forteresse, who was imported to the United States in 1926. She was a half sister to 1931 Prix de Royallieu winner Brunhild (by Teddy; third dam of 1955 Argentine Triple Crown winner Tatán) and was produced from the Ossian mare Guerriere, who never raced. The next dam in the tail-female line, Amazone III, was sired by 1894 English dual Classic winner Ladas out of Cross Roads, by 1886 Grand Prix de Paris winner Minting.
Last updated: April 22, 2023
Race record
38 starts, 8 wins, 7 seconds, 7 thirds, US$192,396
1961:
- 3rd Schuylerville Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
1962:
- Won Coaching Club American Oaks (USA, 10FD, Belmont)
- Won Jasmine Stakes (USA, 7FD, Hialeah)
- Won Gazelle Handicap (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Delaware Oaks (USA, 9FD, Delaware)
- 3rd Delaware Handicap (USA, 10FD, Delaware)
1963:
- 2nd Liberty Belle Handicap (USA, 6FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Vagrancy Handicap (USA, 7FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Regret Handicap (USA, 6FD, Monmouth)
Assessments
Rated at 109 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1961, 9 pounds below champion Cicada.
Rated at 118 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1962, 10 pounds below champion Cicada but tied for third overall.
Rated at 110 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1963, 18 pounds below champion Cicada.
As an individual
A plain, strongly-made, lop-eared dark bay or brown mare with plenty of substance, Bramalea was tough and durable but was unreliable of temperament. On those occasions when inclined to give her best, she was unflinchingly game.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Bramalea produced nine named foals, of which seven started and six won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Glorious Spring (1968, by Hail to Reason) won three of 17 starts. She is the dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Low Tolerance (by Proud Truth) and second dam of 1992 Spinaway Stakes (USA-G1) winner Family Enterprize (by Tri Jet) and Grade 2 winners Kyle's Our Man and Aspen Rose. Glorious Spring is also the third dam of Brazilian Group 2 winner Northhorse.
- Roberto (1969, by Hail to Reason) was the Irish champion 2-year-old male of 1971 and the English champion 3-year-old male of 1972. An important stallion in both North America and Europe, he sired 85 stakes winners from 507 named foals.
- Coming Spring (1974, by Graustark) won two of her 13 starts, She is the third dam of 2012 Venezuelan champion 2-year-old filly Taormina.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Bramalea was bred and owned by John W. Galbreath, who raced her in the name of his Darby Dan Farm. She was trained by James Conway.
Pedigree notes
Bramalea is inbred 4x4 to 1914 French champion 3-year-old male and three-time French champion sire Sardanapale. She is out of Rarelea, whose stakes-placed full sister Delta Queen produced the good stakes winners Apatontheback (by Olympia) and Advocator (by Round Table) and is the second dam of the good runner and sire Delta Judge and three other stakes winners. Rarelea is also a half sister to Blue Whirl (by Whirlaway), dam of stakes winner Dip and Whirl (by Big Dipper II).
Rarelea's dam Bleebok (by Blue Larkspur) is a half sister to 1933 Kentucky Derby winner Brokers Tip and stakes winner Billionaire, both by Blue Larkspur's grandsire Black Toney. The siblings were produced from the Sardanapale mare Forteresse, who was imported to the United States in 1926. She was a half sister to 1931 Prix de Royallieu winner Brunhild (by Teddy; third dam of 1955 Argentine Triple Crown winner Tatán) and was produced from the Ossian mare Guerriere, who never raced. The next dam in the tail-female line, Amazone III, was sired by 1894 English dual Classic winner Ladas out of Cross Roads, by 1886 Grand Prix de Paris winner Minting.
Last updated: April 22, 2023