Charon (USA)
May 10, 1987 – April 12, 2009
Mo Exception (USA) x Double Wiggle (USA), by Sir Wiggle (USA)
Family 2-n
May 10, 1987 – April 12, 2009
Mo Exception (USA) x Double Wiggle (USA), by Sir Wiggle (USA)
Family 2-n
While no match for champion Go for Wand (who beat her into second place in all of their three meetings, all in Grade 1 races), Charon far outran her pedigree and was a classy and consistent filly as a racer. Her record as a broodmare was far less satisfactory, but one of her daughters improved on that by becoming the dam of a Japanese champion and multiple Group 1 winner.
Race record
16 starts, 7 wins, 5 seconds, 0 thirds, US$925,200
1990:
1991:
Assessments
Rated at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1990, 7 pounds below champion Go for Wand but second in the division.
As an individual
A tall chestnut mare, Charon was feminine and “rather delicate” in the words of her trainer but seemed to enjoy running and competing. She had an episode of respiratory bleeding as a 4-year-old.
As a producer
Charon produced nine named foals, of which eight started and four won. Her only foal of any importance was her Japanese-bred daughter Sibyl (by Wild Again), dam of 2014 Japanese champion older male Just a Way (by Heart's Cry).
Connections
Foaled in Florida, Charon was bred and owned by Stanley M. Ersoff, who purchased her dam Double Wiggle for just US$800 with Charon in utero. The filly was trained by Eugene Navarro. She went to Fares Farms for US$400,000 at the 1992 Keeneland November mixed sale, in foal to Woodman. In 1998, she passed through the Keeneland November sale again and sold for US$275,000, in foal to Wild Again. She was sent to Japan and produced her Wild Again foal for Shiraoi Farm before becoming the property of Shadai Corporation. She died in 2009 shortly after producing a stillborn foal by Heart's Cry.
Pedigree notes
Much the best runner sired by 1985 Donn Handicap (USA-G2) winner Mo Exception, Charon is outcrossed through five generations. She is a half sister to restricted stakes winner Laurel's Wiggle (by Family Doctor) and to Japanese listed stakes winner Toyo Rainbow (by Deputy Minister). In addition, she is a half sister to stakes-placed Eternal Beat (by Pentelicus), dam of Japanese Group 3 winner Forevermore (by Neo Universe).
A daughter of 1969 Westchester Stakes winner Sir Wiggle (by Sadair, one of the top American juveniles of 1964), Charon's dam Double Wiggle won two of her seven starts. She is a half sister to multiple stakes winner Princess Blue (by Sovereign Don) and is out of the Nodouble mare Blue Double, who placed three times from 13 starts. The next dam in the tail-female lineage, Blue Burst, is an unraced full sister to 1965 Oaklawn Handicap winner Gay Revoke. By the non-winner Blue Gay out of the Revoked mare Rejuvenate (and, thus, inbred 2x3 to Blue Larkspur, sire of Blue Gay and Revoked), Blue Burst is also a half sister to Hold Harmless (by Mongo), dam of restricted stakes winner Special Verdict (by Hawkin's Special)
Books and media
Charon is profiled in Chapter 12 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Last updated: August 15, 2023
Race record
16 starts, 7 wins, 5 seconds, 0 thirds, US$925,200
1990:
- Won Coaching Club American Oaks (USA-G1,10FD, Belmont)
- Won Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Pimlico)
- Won Bonnie Miss Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Gulfstream Park)
- Won Forward Gal Stakes (USA-G3, 7FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 2nd Mother Goose Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Alabama Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Ashland Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Keeneland)
1991:
- Won Rampart Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 2nd Apple Blossom Handicap (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Oaklawn Park)
- 2nd Sixty Sails Handicap (USA-G3, 9FD, Sportsman's Park)
Assessments
Rated at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1990, 7 pounds below champion Go for Wand but second in the division.
As an individual
A tall chestnut mare, Charon was feminine and “rather delicate” in the words of her trainer but seemed to enjoy running and competing. She had an episode of respiratory bleeding as a 4-year-old.
As a producer
Charon produced nine named foals, of which eight started and four won. Her only foal of any importance was her Japanese-bred daughter Sibyl (by Wild Again), dam of 2014 Japanese champion older male Just a Way (by Heart's Cry).
Connections
Foaled in Florida, Charon was bred and owned by Stanley M. Ersoff, who purchased her dam Double Wiggle for just US$800 with Charon in utero. The filly was trained by Eugene Navarro. She went to Fares Farms for US$400,000 at the 1992 Keeneland November mixed sale, in foal to Woodman. In 1998, she passed through the Keeneland November sale again and sold for US$275,000, in foal to Wild Again. She was sent to Japan and produced her Wild Again foal for Shiraoi Farm before becoming the property of Shadai Corporation. She died in 2009 shortly after producing a stillborn foal by Heart's Cry.
Pedigree notes
Much the best runner sired by 1985 Donn Handicap (USA-G2) winner Mo Exception, Charon is outcrossed through five generations. She is a half sister to restricted stakes winner Laurel's Wiggle (by Family Doctor) and to Japanese listed stakes winner Toyo Rainbow (by Deputy Minister). In addition, she is a half sister to stakes-placed Eternal Beat (by Pentelicus), dam of Japanese Group 3 winner Forevermore (by Neo Universe).
A daughter of 1969 Westchester Stakes winner Sir Wiggle (by Sadair, one of the top American juveniles of 1964), Charon's dam Double Wiggle won two of her seven starts. She is a half sister to multiple stakes winner Princess Blue (by Sovereign Don) and is out of the Nodouble mare Blue Double, who placed three times from 13 starts. The next dam in the tail-female lineage, Blue Burst, is an unraced full sister to 1965 Oaklawn Handicap winner Gay Revoke. By the non-winner Blue Gay out of the Revoked mare Rejuvenate (and, thus, inbred 2x3 to Blue Larkspur, sire of Blue Gay and Revoked), Blue Burst is also a half sister to Hold Harmless (by Mongo), dam of restricted stakes winner Special Verdict (by Hawkin's Special)
Books and media
Charon is profiled in Chapter 12 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- In Greek mythology, Charon was the ferryman who took the souls of the dead across the River Styx in his boat.
- Charon was the namesake for a stakes race at Gulfstream Park.
Last updated: August 15, 2023