Clear Ceiling (USA)
April 13, 1968 – 1991
Bold Ruler (USA) x Grey Flight (USA), by Mahmoud (FR)
Family 5-f
April 13, 1968 – 1991
Bold Ruler (USA) x Grey Flight (USA), by Mahmoud (FR)
Family 5-f
Clear Ceiling did not win a stakes race as did her full sisters Bold Princess and Bold Queen but certainly fit in the “New York allowance filly” category that has yielded some very good broodmares for the Phipps family's breeding program. Clear Ceiling is one of them, producing a European Classic winner during her own broodmare career and founding a branch of Grey Flight's family that includes three American champions.
Race record
17 starts, 5 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third, US$41,575
Assessments
Rated at 109 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1970, 9 pounds below champion Forward Gal.
As an individual
A bay mare; no further information available.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Clear Ceiling produced 14 named foals, of which 10 started and eight won. Her important foals were as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Clear Ceiling was bred by Wheatley Stable. After the death of Wheatley Stable owner Gladys Mills Phipps, Clear Ceiling passed into the ownership of Mrs. Phipps' son, Ogden Mills Phipps.
Pedigree notes
Clear Ceiling is inbred 4x3 to 1930 Derby Stakes winner and 1941 American champion sire Blenheim II and 4x4 to 1923 English champion 2-year-old filly Mumtaz Mahal through the three-quarters sister and brother Mumtaz Begum (dam of Bold Ruler's sire Nasrullah) and Mahmoud. She is a full or half sister to nine stakes winners produced from the excellent matron Grey Flight. Her full brother What a Pleasure won the 1967 Hopeful Stakes and is a two-time American champion sire, and her full sister Bold Princess won the 1962 Schuylerville Stakes and became a first-class broodmare, producing multiple Grade 1 winner Intrepid Hero (by Forli), 1969 Selima Stakes winner Predictable (by Tatán), stakes winner Primed (by Pronto), and the good sire Sovereign Dancer (by Northern Dancer). Clear Ceiling is also a full sister to 1964 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes winner Bold Queen and to Pleasant Flight, dam of Grade 2 winner Flitalong (by Herbager).
Grey Flight also produced two-time American champion Misty Morn (by Princequillo), the 1963 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year, and stakes winners Full Flight (by Ambiorix), Gray Phantom (by Ambiorix), Misty Flight (by Princequillo), Misty Day (by Nasrullah), and Signore (by Ribot). Grey Flight herself was a juvenile stakes winner and is a half sister to Just-a-Minute (by Can't Wait), dam of 1950 Del Mar Futurity winner Patch (by Dogpatch), 1956 Las Flores Handicap winner On the Move (by Mafosta) and 1953 La Jolla Handicap winner Threesome (by Dogpatch). Grey Flight is also a half sister to Planetrix (by Ambiorix), dam of the minor stakes winner Son Duke (by Marcador) and second dam of Grade 2 winner Soft Victory and Grade 3 winner He's Vivacious.
Grey Flight's dam Planetoid (by Ariel) is one of four stakes winners produced from the excellent broodmare La Chica (by Sweep). A full sister to 1940 Tremont Stakes winner Chicuelo and to stakes producer La Rhumba, she is a half sister to 1938 American champion 2-year-old male El Chico (by John P. Grier) and to 1937 Autumn Day Stakes winner Miyako (by John P. Grier), dam of the good steeplechaser Columbus (by Discovery) and second dam of the great Native Dancer. Planetoid is also a half sister to Chelita (by Sir Gallahad III), dam of stakes winners Travertine (by Nordlicht) and Scansion (by Heliodorus) and second dam of Irish Group 3 winner Misty Bend, and to La Chicuela (by Blenheim II), dam of 1957 Firenze Handicap winner Gay Life (by Eight Thirty).
Last updated: May 6, 2023
Race record
17 starts, 5 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third, US$41,575
Assessments
Rated at 109 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1970, 9 pounds below champion Forward Gal.
As an individual
A bay mare; no further information available.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Clear Ceiling produced 14 named foals, of which 10 started and eight won. Her important foals were as follow:
- Quick as Lightning (1977, by Buckpasser) won the 1980 One Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1). She died without issue.
- Stratospheric (1979, by Majestic Light) won the 1981 Waterford Candelabra Stakes (ENG-G3). She died without issue.
- Infinite (1980, by Majestic Light) won a division of the 1983 Garden City Stakes and was Grade 1-placed. She produced stakes winner Polish Treaty (by Danzig) and is the third dam of 2009 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (USA-G1) winner Hot Cha Cha and 2021 Longines Test Stakes (USA-G1) winner Bella Sofia.
- Pure Profit (1982, by Key to the Mint) won four of her five starts but did not earn black type. She is the dam of 1995 American champion older female Inside Information (by Private Account), multiple Grade 1 winner Educated Risk (by Mr. Prospector), and listed stakes winner Diamond (by Mr. Prospector). She is the second dam of six stakes winners including 2005 American champion 3-year-old filly Smuggler and Grade 3 winners Philanthropist, Defer, and Reload and is the third dam of Grade 2 winner Gone Astray.
- How High the Moon (1983, by Majestic Light) won one of her 10 starts. She is the second dam of 2000 American champion sprinter Kona Gold.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Clear Ceiling was bred by Wheatley Stable. After the death of Wheatley Stable owner Gladys Mills Phipps, Clear Ceiling passed into the ownership of Mrs. Phipps' son, Ogden Mills Phipps.
Pedigree notes
Clear Ceiling is inbred 4x3 to 1930 Derby Stakes winner and 1941 American champion sire Blenheim II and 4x4 to 1923 English champion 2-year-old filly Mumtaz Mahal through the three-quarters sister and brother Mumtaz Begum (dam of Bold Ruler's sire Nasrullah) and Mahmoud. She is a full or half sister to nine stakes winners produced from the excellent matron Grey Flight. Her full brother What a Pleasure won the 1967 Hopeful Stakes and is a two-time American champion sire, and her full sister Bold Princess won the 1962 Schuylerville Stakes and became a first-class broodmare, producing multiple Grade 1 winner Intrepid Hero (by Forli), 1969 Selima Stakes winner Predictable (by Tatán), stakes winner Primed (by Pronto), and the good sire Sovereign Dancer (by Northern Dancer). Clear Ceiling is also a full sister to 1964 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes winner Bold Queen and to Pleasant Flight, dam of Grade 2 winner Flitalong (by Herbager).
Grey Flight also produced two-time American champion Misty Morn (by Princequillo), the 1963 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year, and stakes winners Full Flight (by Ambiorix), Gray Phantom (by Ambiorix), Misty Flight (by Princequillo), Misty Day (by Nasrullah), and Signore (by Ribot). Grey Flight herself was a juvenile stakes winner and is a half sister to Just-a-Minute (by Can't Wait), dam of 1950 Del Mar Futurity winner Patch (by Dogpatch), 1956 Las Flores Handicap winner On the Move (by Mafosta) and 1953 La Jolla Handicap winner Threesome (by Dogpatch). Grey Flight is also a half sister to Planetrix (by Ambiorix), dam of the minor stakes winner Son Duke (by Marcador) and second dam of Grade 2 winner Soft Victory and Grade 3 winner He's Vivacious.
Grey Flight's dam Planetoid (by Ariel) is one of four stakes winners produced from the excellent broodmare La Chica (by Sweep). A full sister to 1940 Tremont Stakes winner Chicuelo and to stakes producer La Rhumba, she is a half sister to 1938 American champion 2-year-old male El Chico (by John P. Grier) and to 1937 Autumn Day Stakes winner Miyako (by John P. Grier), dam of the good steeplechaser Columbus (by Discovery) and second dam of the great Native Dancer. Planetoid is also a half sister to Chelita (by Sir Gallahad III), dam of stakes winners Travertine (by Nordlicht) and Scansion (by Heliodorus) and second dam of Irish Group 3 winner Misty Bend, and to La Chicuela (by Blenheim II), dam of 1957 Firenze Handicap winner Gay Life (by Eight Thirty).
Last updated: May 6, 2023