Chris Evert (USA)
February 14, 1971 – January 8, 2001
Swoon's Son (USA) x Miss Carmie (USA), by T. V. Lark (USA)
Family 23-b
February 14, 1971 – January 8, 2001
Swoon's Son (USA) x Miss Carmie (USA), by T. V. Lark (USA)
Family 23-b
Named for the great American tennis champion, who was endorsing a line of sportswear for the filly's owner, Chris Evert proved as outstanding in her sport as her namesake was on the tennis court. After a racing career that gained her admission to the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame, she added to her laurels by becoming an important broodmare.
Race record
15 starts, 10 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds, US$679,475
1973:
1974:
1975:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 119 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1973, 2 pounds below champion Talking Picture but second among juvenile fillies.
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1974, 3 pounds above second-rated Miss Musket.
Rated at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1975, 3 pounds below champion Susan's Girl.
As an individual
A lengthy, lop-eared chestnut mare with a deep girth, Chris Evert stood a shade over 16 hands. Determined, game and consistent, she preferred to race on or near the lead but could stalk the pace if her jockey desired. She handled both fast and sloppy surfaces well. As a broodmare, she was generally rather aloof when interacting with humans but enjoyed having her belly scratched.
As a producer
In a broodmare career plagued by reproductive problems, Chris Evert produced five named foals, all fillies, of which four started and three won. All five were of some importance, earning Chris Evert designation as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Chris Evert was bred by Donald and Shirley Lewis Sucher's Echo Valley Horse Farm and was owned by Carl Rosen, who purchased the filly for US$32,000 from the 1972 Keeneland July yearling sale. She was trained by Joseph A. Trovato. Chris Evert was boarded at Three Chimneys Farm during her broodmare career. Pensioned after the 1990 breeding season (she had not produced a live foal since 1981), she was humanely destroyed due to the infirmities of old age on January 8, 2001, and was buried at Three Chimneys.
Pedigree notes
Chris Evert is inbred 3x5x5 to 1943 American champion sire and three-time American champion broodmare sire Bull Dog. She is also inbred 5x5 to 1937 American champion sire The Porter. She is a half sister to stakes winner All Rainbows (by Bold Hour), dam of 1988 American champion 3-year-old filly Winning Colors (by Caro), second dam of 2003 Japan Cup (JPN-G1) winner Tap Dance City (by Pleasant Tap), and third dam of 2018 Gran Premio General San Martín (ARG-G1) winner Tiger Feet, Argentine Group 3 winner Tivoli Park, and French Group 3 winner Indian Maiden. Chris Evert is also a half sister to Barbara Schurgin (by Droll Role), dam of Grade 3 winner Paristo (by Buckpasser); to Social Column (by Vaguely Noble), dam of English Group 2 winner Two Timing (by Blushing Groom) and stakes winner Liaison (also by Blushing Groom; dam of English stakes winner Lagudin, by Eagle Eyed); and to Charmie Carmie (by Lyphard), dam of Peruvian Group 1 winner Faaz (by Fappiano). In addition, Chris Evert is a half sister to Ann Stuart (by Lyphard), dam of English Group 2 winner Beyton (by Alleged); to Search Committee (by Roberto), dam of multiple stakes winner First Stage (by Relaunch); to Missed the Wedding (by Blushing Groom), dam of 1993 Test Stakes (USA-G1) winner Missed the Storm (by Storm Cat) and multiple Grade 3 winner Green Means Go (by Green Dancer); and to Whisper Who Dares (by Green Dancer), dam of 1998 Frizette Stakes (USA-G1) winner Confessional (by Holy Bull) and stakes winner Gossip (by Pleasant Colony).
Chris Evert was produced from the minor stakes winner Miss Carmie, whose dam Twice Over (by Ponder) also produced the minor stakes winner Two Relics (by War Relic) and Phil's Jest (by Jester), dam of stakes winner and multiple stakes producer Twice Foolish (by Native Admiral). Another daughter of Twice Over, Family Fame (by Droll Role), is the dam of 1988 G. P. A. National Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Classic Fame (by Nijinsky II).
Twice Over, in turn, is out of multiple stakes winner Twosy (by Bull Lea), a full sister to two-time American champion Two Lea (dam in turn of 1958 American champion 3-year-old male Tim Tam, by Tom Fool, and 1960 Brooklyn Handicap winner On-and-On, by Nasrullah) and to 1954 California Derby winner Miz Clementine, second dam of 1970 Vosburgh Handicap winner and good sire Best Turn. The sisters' dam Two Bob (by The Porter) won the 1936 Kentucky Oaks.
Books and media
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: November 9, 2022
Race record
15 starts, 10 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds, US$679,475
1973:
- Won Demoiselle Stakes (USA-G3, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Golden Rod Stakes (USA-G3, 7FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Frizette Stakes (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont)
1974:
- Won Acorn Stakes (second division) (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Mother Goose Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- Won Coaching Club American Oaks (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
- Won Hollywood Special Stakes (match race with Miss Musket) (USA, 10FD, Hollywood)
- 2nd Alabama Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Travers Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Comely Stakes (USA-G3, 7FD, Aqueduct)
1975:
- Won La Canada Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1988)
- Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old filly (1974)
Assessments
Rated at 119 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1973, 2 pounds below champion Talking Picture but second among juvenile fillies.
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1974, 3 pounds above second-rated Miss Musket.
Rated at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1975, 3 pounds below champion Susan's Girl.
As an individual
A lengthy, lop-eared chestnut mare with a deep girth, Chris Evert stood a shade over 16 hands. Determined, game and consistent, she preferred to race on or near the lead but could stalk the pace if her jockey desired. She handled both fast and sloppy surfaces well. As a broodmare, she was generally rather aloof when interacting with humans but enjoyed having her belly scratched.
As a producer
In a broodmare career plagued by reproductive problems, Chris Evert produced five named foals, all fillies, of which four started and three won. All five were of some importance, earning Chris Evert designation as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker.
- Six Crowns (1976, by Secretariat) won the 1979 Meadow Queen Stakes, a minor stakes race at The Meadowlands. She is the dam of 1984 American champion 2-year-old male and successful sire Chief's Crown (by Danzig) and of multiple Grade 1 winner Classic Crown (by Mr. Prospector). She is also the third dam of 2016 Gran Premio Ciudad de Montevideo (URU-G1) winner Giulia, Grade 2 winners Bourbon Courage and Who's the Star, Japanese Group 2 winner Reach the Crown, and Group 3 winners A Shin G Line and Flying Visit.
- Tournament Star (1978, by Nijinsky II) was stakes-placed on the track. She is the second dam of three stakes winners including Grade 3 winner Delay of Game.
- Wimbledon Star (1979, by Hoist the Flag) won a division of the 1979 Trevose Stakes, a minor stakes race at Keystone Park. She is the second dam of Chilean Group 2 winner Quiet Call and the third dam of 2012 Premio Copa de Plata-Italo Traverso Pasqualetti (CHI-G1) winner Querido Machito, of 2007 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (USA-G1) winner Dominican, and of multiple Peruvian Grade 2 winner Dr Action, the champion imported Peruvian 3-year-old male of 2012/13.
- Nijinsky Star (1980, by Nijinsky II) never raced but is the dam of 1992 Tidal Handicap (USA-G2) winner Revasser (by Riverman), Grade 1-placed listed stakes winner Hometown Queen (by Pleasant Colony), and Group 3-placed French stakes winner Viviana (by Nureyev). Niijinsky Star is also the second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Sightseek, 2003 Yellow Ribbon Stakes (USA-G1) winner Tates Creek, 2003 Prix de la Forêt (FR-G1) winner Etoile Montante, and Grade 2 winner Bowman's Band. In addition, she is the third dam of 2010 One Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1) winner Special Duty and 2019 Turnbull Stakes (AUS-G1) winner Kings Will Dream; Grade 2 winners Bonny South, Obligatory, Pollard's Vision, and Starformer; Grade/Group 3 winners Fulsome, Glaswegian, and Spirit Ridge; and 2017 Spanish champion male sprinter Presidency.
- Center Court Star (1981, by Secretariat) failed to win in five tries but produced 1997 Sharp Electronics Cup (SAF-G1) winner Lambent Light (by Capote) and restricted stakes winner Best Star (by Seattle Slew).
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Chris Evert was bred by Donald and Shirley Lewis Sucher's Echo Valley Horse Farm and was owned by Carl Rosen, who purchased the filly for US$32,000 from the 1972 Keeneland July yearling sale. She was trained by Joseph A. Trovato. Chris Evert was boarded at Three Chimneys Farm during her broodmare career. Pensioned after the 1990 breeding season (she had not produced a live foal since 1981), she was humanely destroyed due to the infirmities of old age on January 8, 2001, and was buried at Three Chimneys.
Pedigree notes
Chris Evert is inbred 3x5x5 to 1943 American champion sire and three-time American champion broodmare sire Bull Dog. She is also inbred 5x5 to 1937 American champion sire The Porter. She is a half sister to stakes winner All Rainbows (by Bold Hour), dam of 1988 American champion 3-year-old filly Winning Colors (by Caro), second dam of 2003 Japan Cup (JPN-G1) winner Tap Dance City (by Pleasant Tap), and third dam of 2018 Gran Premio General San Martín (ARG-G1) winner Tiger Feet, Argentine Group 3 winner Tivoli Park, and French Group 3 winner Indian Maiden. Chris Evert is also a half sister to Barbara Schurgin (by Droll Role), dam of Grade 3 winner Paristo (by Buckpasser); to Social Column (by Vaguely Noble), dam of English Group 2 winner Two Timing (by Blushing Groom) and stakes winner Liaison (also by Blushing Groom; dam of English stakes winner Lagudin, by Eagle Eyed); and to Charmie Carmie (by Lyphard), dam of Peruvian Group 1 winner Faaz (by Fappiano). In addition, Chris Evert is a half sister to Ann Stuart (by Lyphard), dam of English Group 2 winner Beyton (by Alleged); to Search Committee (by Roberto), dam of multiple stakes winner First Stage (by Relaunch); to Missed the Wedding (by Blushing Groom), dam of 1993 Test Stakes (USA-G1) winner Missed the Storm (by Storm Cat) and multiple Grade 3 winner Green Means Go (by Green Dancer); and to Whisper Who Dares (by Green Dancer), dam of 1998 Frizette Stakes (USA-G1) winner Confessional (by Holy Bull) and stakes winner Gossip (by Pleasant Colony).
Chris Evert was produced from the minor stakes winner Miss Carmie, whose dam Twice Over (by Ponder) also produced the minor stakes winner Two Relics (by War Relic) and Phil's Jest (by Jester), dam of stakes winner and multiple stakes producer Twice Foolish (by Native Admiral). Another daughter of Twice Over, Family Fame (by Droll Role), is the dam of 1988 G. P. A. National Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Classic Fame (by Nijinsky II).
Twice Over, in turn, is out of multiple stakes winner Twosy (by Bull Lea), a full sister to two-time American champion Two Lea (dam in turn of 1958 American champion 3-year-old male Tim Tam, by Tom Fool, and 1960 Brooklyn Handicap winner On-and-On, by Nasrullah) and to 1954 California Derby winner Miz Clementine, second dam of 1970 Vosburgh Handicap winner and good sire Best Turn. The sisters' dam Two Bob (by The Porter) won the 1936 Kentucky Oaks.
Books and media
- Chris Evert is profiled in Chapter 10 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
- Chris Evert is one of the older Thoroughbreds profiled in essays and photos in Barbara Livingston's Old Friends: Visits With My Favorite Thoroughbreds (2002, The Blood-Horse, Inc.).
Fun facts
- Following in the hoof prints of Dark Mirage (1968) and Shuvee (1969), Chris Evert became the third filly to sweep the New York Triple Tiara series of the Acorn Stakes, Mother Goose Stakes and Coaching Club American Oaks. She was followed by Ruffian (1975), Davona Dale (1979), Mom's Command (1985), Open Mind (1989), and Sky Beauty (1993).
- Chris Evert won her 1974 match race with Miss Musket by an official margin of 50 lengths.
- Chris Evert's first mating was to the great Secretariat. The resulting filly was given the name “Six Crowns” in honor of her parents' sweeps of the Triple Crown and Triple Tiara. While Six Crowns was not nearly as talented as either parent, she did become a stakes winner and was an important broodmare.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: November 9, 2022