Christmas Past (USA)
April 15, 1979 – December 13, 2008
Grey Dawn II (FR) x Yule Log (USA), by Bold Ruler (USA)
Family 9-c
April 15, 1979 – December 13, 2008
Grey Dawn II (FR) x Yule Log (USA), by Bold Ruler (USA)
Family 9-c
Although trainer Angel Penna described Christmas Past as “a somewhat fragile filly,” the cleverly named filly was anything but fragile when it came to her talent and stamina. The best North American runner of her age and sex at 3, she defeated older females and raced well in her lone try against males. At 4, she lasted long enough to join the select group of fillies and mares capable of winning a Grade 1 race against males in the handicap ranks before she retired to the paddocks. Unfortunately, she was not a success as a broodmare.
Race record
15 starts, 8 wins, 2 seconds, 3 thirds, US$563,670
1982:
1983:
Honors:
Assessments
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1982, 3 pounds above second-rated Cupecoy's Joy.
Rated at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1983, 2 pounds below highweighted Sangue and 1 pound below the official divisional champion, Ambassador of Luck.
As an individual
A big, lengthy gray mare of good size and substance with an attractive head, Christmas Past did not have a very robust constitution. She had a history of respiratory bleeding. She did her best running from off the pace. She was retired a week after winning the 1983 Gulfstream Park Handicap due to an assortment of minor physical ailments. Although she was basically sound for racing, her connections expected that she would have to carry high weights in further handicap races against her own sex and that her physical issues would increase the chance of a breakdown.
As a producer
Christmas Past produced 10 named foals, of which seven started and five won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Christmas Past was bred and owned by Cynthia Phipps and passed to Phipps' estate on her death. She was pensioned from broodmare duty in 2002 after weaning her last foal, the 2002 Out of Place colt Wrapped. She was humanely destroyed due to the infirmities of old age in December 2008 and was buried at Claiborne Farm's Marchmont division.
Pedigree notes
Christmas Past is inbred 4x5x5 to 1930 Derby Stakes winner and 1941 American champion sire Blenheim II and 5x5 to 1923 English champion 2-year-old filly Mumtaz Mahal. She is also inbred 5x5 to two-time American champion Blue Larkspur. Her dam Yule Log bred nothing else of significance but is a full sister to the good juvenile Plum Bold, the South African champion sire of 1980/1981. Yule Log is also a full sister to multiple Grade 2 winner Sugar Plum Time, dam of stakes winner Christmas Bonus (by Key to the Mint), second dam of 2002 Oaklawn Handicap (USA-G1) winner Kudos and multiple Grade 3 winner Christmas Gift, and third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Grand Slam, 2007 Ashland Stakes (USA-G1) winner Christmas Kid and Canadian Grade 3 winner Officer Cherrie. In addition, Yule Log is a half sister to 1977 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Sweet Tooth (by On-and-On); to Plum Plum (by On-and-On), dam of Grade 3 winner Pruneplum (by Olden Times); and to Sultans Favorite (by Bagdad), third dam of 2010 Ecuadoran champion imported sprinter El Carite.
Yule Log is out of the stakes-winning Ponder mare Plum Cake, a half sister to 1968 Golden Rod Stakes winner Spring Sunshine (by Nashua). The dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Raise a Cup (by Raise a Native) and 1987 Juvenile Stakes (USA-G3) winner Lucky So n' So (by Alydar), Spring Sunshine is also the second dam of Grade 2 winner Dazzle Me Jolie and the third dam of Grade 3 winners Bright Again and Rare Pick. Returning to Plum Cake, she is also a half sister to stakes winner No Fooling (by Tom Fool) and to Heliolight (by Helioscope), dam of 1971 Sport Page Handicap winner Lonesome River (by Rough'n Tumble); second dam of Grade 2 winner Eminency and Grade 3 winner Katonka; and third dam of 1980 Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) winner Codex, multiple Grade 2 winners Give Me Strength and Talakeno and Grade 3 winners Smooth Runner and Hidden Assets.
Plum Cake's dam Real Delight (Bull Lea--Blue Delight, by Blue Larkspur) was the American champion 3-year-old filly and handicap female of 1952. She is a full sister to 1953 Kentucky Oaks winner Bubbley, second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Who Duzzit. She is also a full sister to the stakes-winning colts All Blue and Kentucky Pride and a half sister to 1956 Kentucky Oaks winner Princess Turia (by Heliopolis), dam of 1968 American co-champion 3-year-old male Forward Pass (by On-and-On) and Grade 2 winner Turn to Turia (by Best Turn). In addition, Real Delight is a half sister to Whirling Lark (by Whirlaway), dam of 1955 Gotham Stakes winner Go Lightly (by Faultless) and third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner El Senor, Grade 2 winner Carry the Banner and Grade 3 winners Jamila Kadir and Strawberry Wine.
Books and media
Fun facts
Last updated: September 10, 2020
Race record
15 starts, 8 wins, 2 seconds, 3 thirds, US$563,670
1982:
- Won Ruffian Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- Won Coaching Club American Oaks (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
- Won Monmouth Oaks (USA-G1, 9FD, Monmouth)
- Won Poinsettia Stakes (USA-G3, 9FD, Hialeah)
- Won Bonnie Miss Stakes (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 2nd Mother Goose Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont)
1983:
- Won Gulfstream Park Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Gulfstream Park)
Honors:
- Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1983)
- Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old filly (1982)
Assessments
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1982, 3 pounds above second-rated Cupecoy's Joy.
Rated at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1983, 2 pounds below highweighted Sangue and 1 pound below the official divisional champion, Ambassador of Luck.
As an individual
A big, lengthy gray mare of good size and substance with an attractive head, Christmas Past did not have a very robust constitution. She had a history of respiratory bleeding. She did her best running from off the pace. She was retired a week after winning the 1983 Gulfstream Park Handicap due to an assortment of minor physical ailments. Although she was basically sound for racing, her connections expected that she would have to carry high weights in further handicap races against her own sex and that her physical issues would increase the chance of a breakdown.
As a producer
Christmas Past produced 10 named foals, of which seven started and five won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Be Bright (1986, by Majestic Light) never raced but is the second dam of multiple Chilean champion sprinter Capo Grosso.
- Christmas List (1995, by Out of Place) was Christmas Past's best runner, winning four of her 11 starts and earning US$125,070. She produced listed stakes winner Check It Twice (by Repent).
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Christmas Past was bred and owned by Cynthia Phipps and passed to Phipps' estate on her death. She was pensioned from broodmare duty in 2002 after weaning her last foal, the 2002 Out of Place colt Wrapped. She was humanely destroyed due to the infirmities of old age in December 2008 and was buried at Claiborne Farm's Marchmont division.
Pedigree notes
Christmas Past is inbred 4x5x5 to 1930 Derby Stakes winner and 1941 American champion sire Blenheim II and 5x5 to 1923 English champion 2-year-old filly Mumtaz Mahal. She is also inbred 5x5 to two-time American champion Blue Larkspur. Her dam Yule Log bred nothing else of significance but is a full sister to the good juvenile Plum Bold, the South African champion sire of 1980/1981. Yule Log is also a full sister to multiple Grade 2 winner Sugar Plum Time, dam of stakes winner Christmas Bonus (by Key to the Mint), second dam of 2002 Oaklawn Handicap (USA-G1) winner Kudos and multiple Grade 3 winner Christmas Gift, and third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Grand Slam, 2007 Ashland Stakes (USA-G1) winner Christmas Kid and Canadian Grade 3 winner Officer Cherrie. In addition, Yule Log is a half sister to 1977 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Sweet Tooth (by On-and-On); to Plum Plum (by On-and-On), dam of Grade 3 winner Pruneplum (by Olden Times); and to Sultans Favorite (by Bagdad), third dam of 2010 Ecuadoran champion imported sprinter El Carite.
Yule Log is out of the stakes-winning Ponder mare Plum Cake, a half sister to 1968 Golden Rod Stakes winner Spring Sunshine (by Nashua). The dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Raise a Cup (by Raise a Native) and 1987 Juvenile Stakes (USA-G3) winner Lucky So n' So (by Alydar), Spring Sunshine is also the second dam of Grade 2 winner Dazzle Me Jolie and the third dam of Grade 3 winners Bright Again and Rare Pick. Returning to Plum Cake, she is also a half sister to stakes winner No Fooling (by Tom Fool) and to Heliolight (by Helioscope), dam of 1971 Sport Page Handicap winner Lonesome River (by Rough'n Tumble); second dam of Grade 2 winner Eminency and Grade 3 winner Katonka; and third dam of 1980 Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) winner Codex, multiple Grade 2 winners Give Me Strength and Talakeno and Grade 3 winners Smooth Runner and Hidden Assets.
Plum Cake's dam Real Delight (Bull Lea--Blue Delight, by Blue Larkspur) was the American champion 3-year-old filly and handicap female of 1952. She is a full sister to 1953 Kentucky Oaks winner Bubbley, second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Who Duzzit. She is also a full sister to the stakes-winning colts All Blue and Kentucky Pride and a half sister to 1956 Kentucky Oaks winner Princess Turia (by Heliopolis), dam of 1968 American co-champion 3-year-old male Forward Pass (by On-and-On) and Grade 2 winner Turn to Turia (by Best Turn). In addition, Real Delight is a half sister to Whirling Lark (by Whirlaway), dam of 1955 Gotham Stakes winner Go Lightly (by Faultless) and third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner El Senor, Grade 2 winner Carry the Banner and Grade 3 winners Jamila Kadir and Strawberry Wine.
Books and media
- Christmas Past is profiled in Chapter 11 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
- Christmas Past 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
- Christmas Past was only the second filly or mare to win the Gulfstream Park Handicap, one of the top winter events for the handicap division. The first was the tough mare Rampart, who took the 1948 edition.
Last updated: September 10, 2020