Caveat (USA)
March 16, 1980 – February 21, 1995
Cannonade (USA) x Cold Hearted (USA), by The Axe II (USA)
Family 3-n
March 16, 1980 – February 21, 1995
Cannonade (USA) x Cold Hearted (USA), by The Axe II (USA)
Family 3-n
A classic one-run horse, Caveat needed distance and a favorable pace scenario to get the job done but was always dangerous when these conditions materialized. Unfortunately, the 1983 Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) became both his most important victory and his swan song, as he emerged from a roughly run race with a strained ligament in his right foreleg. After his retirement, Caveat became a successful regional sire in Maryland in a stud career cut short by his early death at age 15.
Race record
21 starts, 6 wins, 6 seconds, 4 thirds, US$542,190
1982:
1983:
Assessments
Rated at 119 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1982, 7 pounds below co-highweights Roving Boy (the official champion) and Copelan.
Rated at 125 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1983, 2 pounds below champion Slew o' Gold.
As an individual
A dark bay or brown horse, Caveat was short-coupled with a good shoulder and strong hindquarters but was light on bone below the knee. He had a straight, strong hind leg. He did his best running from far off the pace. He was fractious and nervous in the paddock during the early part of his 3-year-old campaign, which took place in Florida, but settled down and began acting in a more mature fashion after being transferred to Hot Springs for the Arkansas Derby.
As a stallion
Caveat led the Maryland regional sire list in 1991 through 1993. According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Caveat sired 300 winners (70.8%) and 35 stakes winners (8.2%) from 424 named foals. Like him, his progeny tended to be stretch-running stayers.
Notable progeny
Awad (USA), Ops Smile (USA), Timely Writer (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Cavonnier (USA), Editor's Note (USA), Hold That Tiger (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Maryland, Caveat was bred at James P. Ryan's Ryehill Farm. He raced for a partnership consisting of Ryan, August Belmont IV, and Robert Kirkham. He was trained by Woody Stephens and was ridden throughout his juvenile season by Eddie Maple; Laffit Pincay Jr. had the mount on the colt for the Belmont Stakes. Retired from racing in August 1983, he was syndicated at a valuation of US$7 million and stood at Windfields Farm's Maryland Division, remaining there when it became Northview Stallion Station, He died there of an apparent heart attack in February 1995 and was buried at the Windfield Farms Equine Cemetery at Northview Stallion Station.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1974 Kentucky Derby winner Cannonade, Caveat is inbred 5x3 to 1936 Derby Stakes winner and 1946 American champion sire Mahmoud. He is also inbred 5x5 to two-time English champion sire Nearco, an unbeaten champion on the race course. He is a full brother to multiple Grade 3 winner Dew Line and a half brother to multiple listed stakes winner Baltic Chill (by Danzig). In addition, Caveat is a half brother to Grade 2-placed Winters' Love (by Danzig), dam of 2000 Yellow Ribbon Stakes (USA-G1) winner Tranquility Lake (by Rahy) and multiple Grade 2 winner Benchmark (by Alydar); second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner After Market, 2001 Shoemaker Mile Stakes (USA-G1) winner Courageous Cat, and Group 2 winner Jalil; and third dam of Japanese Group 2 winners Sound of Heart and Cafe Brilliance. Finally, Caveat is a half brother to Gold Hearted (by Mr. Prospector), second dam of Argentine Group 2 winner Golden Success.
Cold Hearted, the dam of Caveat, was a stakes winner at 3. Sired by the top turf horse The Axe II, she is a half sister to Mary P. (by Pronto), dam of Puerto Rican stakes winner Nortack (by Norcliffe) and second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Groscar, and to North Angle (by Quadrangle), dam of restricted stakes winner North Watch (by Cannonade).
Cold Hearted and her siblings were produced from the winning Turn-to mare Turn to North, who is a half sister to 1960 King's Stand Stakes winner Sound Track (by Whistler) and the English juvenile stakes winners Flyover (by Denturius) and Magic Carpet (by The Phoenix). Produced from the Mustang mare Bridle Way, Turn to North is also a half sister to Bridle Path (by Pall Mall), dam of Grade 2 winner Peregrinator (by Upper Case) and stakes winners Sacred Way (by Milesian) and Native Bride (by Native Prince). In addition, Turn to North is a half sister to stakes-placed Pillar of Fire (by Luminary II), dam of English juvenile stakes winner Great Love (by High Hat), and to Emerald Isle (by Kelly), second dam of 1981 Prix Robert Papin (FR-G1) winner Maelstrom Lake, Irish Group 3 winner Irish Memory, and Spanish Group 3 winner Estigia.
Books and media
Caveat is profiled in Chapter 11 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Last updated: May 6, 2023
Race record
21 starts, 6 wins, 6 seconds, 4 thirds, US$542,190
1982:
- Won Prince John Stakes (USA, 8.5FT, Belmont)
- 2nd Breeders' Futurity (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Keeneland)
- 2nd Pilgrim Stakes (USA-G3, 9FT, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Churchill Downs)
- 3rd Maryland Juvenile Championship Stakes (USA-R, 8.5FD, Laurel)
1983:
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
- Won Derby Trial Stakes (USA-L, 8FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Arkansas Derby (USA-G1, 9FD, Oaklawn)
- 2nd Tropical Park Derby (USA-G2, 9FT, Calder)
- 3rd Kentucky Derby (USA-G1, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
Assessments
Rated at 119 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1982, 7 pounds below co-highweights Roving Boy (the official champion) and Copelan.
Rated at 125 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1983, 2 pounds below champion Slew o' Gold.
As an individual
A dark bay or brown horse, Caveat was short-coupled with a good shoulder and strong hindquarters but was light on bone below the knee. He had a straight, strong hind leg. He did his best running from far off the pace. He was fractious and nervous in the paddock during the early part of his 3-year-old campaign, which took place in Florida, but settled down and began acting in a more mature fashion after being transferred to Hot Springs for the Arkansas Derby.
As a stallion
Caveat led the Maryland regional sire list in 1991 through 1993. According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Caveat sired 300 winners (70.8%) and 35 stakes winners (8.2%) from 424 named foals. Like him, his progeny tended to be stretch-running stayers.
Notable progeny
Awad (USA), Ops Smile (USA), Timely Writer (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Cavonnier (USA), Editor's Note (USA), Hold That Tiger (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Maryland, Caveat was bred at James P. Ryan's Ryehill Farm. He raced for a partnership consisting of Ryan, August Belmont IV, and Robert Kirkham. He was trained by Woody Stephens and was ridden throughout his juvenile season by Eddie Maple; Laffit Pincay Jr. had the mount on the colt for the Belmont Stakes. Retired from racing in August 1983, he was syndicated at a valuation of US$7 million and stood at Windfields Farm's Maryland Division, remaining there when it became Northview Stallion Station, He died there of an apparent heart attack in February 1995 and was buried at the Windfield Farms Equine Cemetery at Northview Stallion Station.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1974 Kentucky Derby winner Cannonade, Caveat is inbred 5x3 to 1936 Derby Stakes winner and 1946 American champion sire Mahmoud. He is also inbred 5x5 to two-time English champion sire Nearco, an unbeaten champion on the race course. He is a full brother to multiple Grade 3 winner Dew Line and a half brother to multiple listed stakes winner Baltic Chill (by Danzig). In addition, Caveat is a half brother to Grade 2-placed Winters' Love (by Danzig), dam of 2000 Yellow Ribbon Stakes (USA-G1) winner Tranquility Lake (by Rahy) and multiple Grade 2 winner Benchmark (by Alydar); second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner After Market, 2001 Shoemaker Mile Stakes (USA-G1) winner Courageous Cat, and Group 2 winner Jalil; and third dam of Japanese Group 2 winners Sound of Heart and Cafe Brilliance. Finally, Caveat is a half brother to Gold Hearted (by Mr. Prospector), second dam of Argentine Group 2 winner Golden Success.
Cold Hearted, the dam of Caveat, was a stakes winner at 3. Sired by the top turf horse The Axe II, she is a half sister to Mary P. (by Pronto), dam of Puerto Rican stakes winner Nortack (by Norcliffe) and second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Groscar, and to North Angle (by Quadrangle), dam of restricted stakes winner North Watch (by Cannonade).
Cold Hearted and her siblings were produced from the winning Turn-to mare Turn to North, who is a half sister to 1960 King's Stand Stakes winner Sound Track (by Whistler) and the English juvenile stakes winners Flyover (by Denturius) and Magic Carpet (by The Phoenix). Produced from the Mustang mare Bridle Way, Turn to North is also a half sister to Bridle Path (by Pall Mall), dam of Grade 2 winner Peregrinator (by Upper Case) and stakes winners Sacred Way (by Milesian) and Native Bride (by Native Prince). In addition, Turn to North is a half sister to stakes-placed Pillar of Fire (by Luminary II), dam of English juvenile stakes winner Great Love (by High Hat), and to Emerald Isle (by Kelly), second dam of 1981 Prix Robert Papin (FR-G1) winner Maelstrom Lake, Irish Group 3 winner Irish Memory, and Spanish Group 3 winner Estigia.
Books and media
Caveat is profiled in Chapter 11 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- Caveat won his Belmont Stakes from the largest field in the race's history, defeating 14 rivals.
- Caveat was one of five consecutive Belmont Stakes winners for National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame trainer Woody Stephens. The others were Conquistador Cielo (1982), Swale (1984), Creme Fraiche (1985) and Danzig Connection (1986).
- Caveat was the first Belmont Stakes winner to be campaigned by a member of the Belmont family (whose progenitor, August Belmont, was the namesake for both Belmont Park and the Belmont Stakes) since August Belmont II won the race with Hourless in 1917.
- Caveat was given his name after co-owner Robert Kirkman watched a speech from U. S. Secretary of State Alexander Haig in which Haig repeatedly used the word “caveat.” After looking up the meaning of the word (“let him beware” in Latin), Kirkman's wife Barbara suggested giving it to the colt.
Last updated: May 6, 2023