Delta (USA)
March 29, 1952 – 1974
Nasrullah (IRE) x Bourtai (USA), by Stimulus (USA)
Family 9-f
"GENETIC GEM"
March 29, 1952 – 1974
Nasrullah (IRE) x Bourtai (USA), by Stimulus (USA)
Family 9-f
"GENETIC GEM"
Delta was a different kettle of fish from her staying half sisters Levee and Bayou, but she was quite close to them in class. One of the better juvenile fillies of 1952, she was also one of the best female sprinters of 1954 and could just stretch her speed to a mile in good company. She became the first of two daughters of the great matron Bourtai to earn Kentucky Broodmare of the Year honors, gaining that title in 1968.
Race record
33 starts, 16 wins, 4 seconds, 2 thirds, US$269,215
1954:
1955:
1956:
Honors
Kentucky Broodmare of the Year (1968)
Assessments
Rated at 116 pounds on the 1954 Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1954, 1 pound below champion High Voltage.
Rated at 121 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for fillies and mares 3 and up of 1956, 5 pounds below champion handicap female Blue Sparkler.
As an individual
A bay, Delta had a beautifully laid shoulder and the prominent withers of her sire Nasrullah. She had good hindquarters and strong muscling down through her gaskins but her hocks were slightly out behind her.
As a producer
A Reine-de-Course as designated by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Delta produced 10 named foals. All 10 started and nine were winners. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Delta was bred and owned by Claiborne Farm. She was trained by Moody Jolley.
Pedigree notes
Delta is inbred 5x5 to 1906 Derby Stakes winner Spearmint. She is a full sister to the stakes-winning hurdler Ambassador and a half sister to 1956 Coaching Club American Oaks winner and 1970 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Levee (by Hill Prince). Delta is also a half sister to 1957 American champion 3-year-old filly Bayou (by Hill Prince), whose daughter Batteur (by Bold Ruler) won six good stakes races at ages 4 through 6. Bayou is the second dam of two-time American champion Slew o' Gold, 1979 Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) winner Coastal, 1987 Flower Bowl Handicap (USA-G1) winner Slew's Exceller and Grade 3 winner Flag Officer and is the third dam of 1980 Turf Classic Invitational Handicap (USA-G1) winner Anifa, 1995 Hollywood Oaks (USA-G1) winner Sleep Easy, multiple Grade 1 winner Aptitude, and Grade 3 winner Country Light.
Returning to Delta, she is also a half sister to 1954 Correction Handicap winner Banta (by Some Chance), dam of 1962 Golden Gate Handicap winner Mandate (by Prince John) and second dam of 1973 American champion 2-year-old filly Talking Picture and 1966 Grey Lag Handicap winner Selari. Banta is also the third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Big Spruce, 1988 Goffs Irish Two Thousand Guineas (IRE-G1) winner Trusted Partner, and the top-class mare Manta. In addition, she is the third dam of Italian Group 2 winner Easy to Copy and Grade 3 winner Low Key Affair.
Delta's dam Bourtai is a stakes-placed full sister to multiple juvenile stakes winner Strange Device, dam of stakes winners Abstract (by Isolater) and Metal Mike (by Pilate). Bourtai is also a half sister to 1937 Kentucky Oaks winner Mars Shield (by Diavolo), dam of 1954 Jersey Belle Stakes winner Turf Sun (by Sun Again); to stakes winner By Far (by Bold Gallant); and to stakes-placed Demolition (by Foray II), second dam of 1962 American co-champion 2-year-old filly Smart Deb, 1970 Manhattan Handicap winner Shelter Bay and 1964 Swaps Handicap winner Cap Size. Bourtai and her siblings are out of 1930 Alabama Stakes winner Escutcheon (by Sir Gallahad III), herself one of four stakes winners produced from the Isidor mare Affection.
Books and media
Along with her dam Bourtai, Delta is profiled in Chapter 46 of John Sparkman's Foundation Mares: How Outstanding Female Families Shaped America's Breeding Industry (2008, Thoroughbred Times Books).
Photo credit
Delta, taken by Joel Clyne Meadors at Claiborne Farm, undated. From the Keeneland Library Meadors Collection; used by permission. Please contact the Keeneland Library with any questions related to use or licensure of this photo.
Last updated: May 9, 2024
Race record
33 starts, 16 wins, 4 seconds, 2 thirds, US$269,215
1954:
- Won Arlington Lassie Stakes (USA, 6FD, Arlington Park)
- Won Princess Pat Stakes (USA, 6FD, Washington Park)
- 2nd Arlington Futurity (USA, 6FD, Arlington Park)
- 2nd National Stallion Stakes (Fillies) (USA, 5FD, Belmont)
1955:
- 3rd Jasmine Stakes (USA, 6FD, Hialeah)
1956:
- Won Arlington Matron Handicap (USA, 8FD, Arlington Park)
- Won Clang Handicap (USA, 7FD, Washington Park)
- Won La Salle Handicap (USA, 6FD, Balmoral)
- Won Myrtlewood Handicap (USA, 6FD, Arlington Park)
- Also set a new track record of 1:09-3/5 for 6 furlongs in an allowance race at Churchill Downs
Honors
Kentucky Broodmare of the Year (1968)
Assessments
Rated at 116 pounds on the 1954 Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1954, 1 pound below champion High Voltage.
Rated at 121 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for fillies and mares 3 and up of 1956, 5 pounds below champion handicap female Blue Sparkler.
As an individual
A bay, Delta had a beautifully laid shoulder and the prominent withers of her sire Nasrullah. She had good hindquarters and strong muscling down through her gaskins but her hocks were slightly out behind her.
As a producer
A Reine-de-Course as designated by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Delta produced 10 named foals. All 10 started and nine were winners. Her important foals are as follow:
- Venice (1958, by Princequillo) produced1977 Whitemarsh Handicap (USA-G3) winner Naples (by Graustark) and is the third dam of Australian Group 3 winner Perak Gold.
- Canal (1961, by Round Table; a gelding) won nine turf stakes in a career that lasted eight seasons and 116 starts.
- Theta (1962, by Round Table) is the third dam of Italian Group 3 winner Nil.
- Cabildo (1963, by Round Table) won the 1967 New Orleans Handicap and six other stakes races. He sired six stakes winners from 199 named foals.
- Shore (1964, by Round Table) won a division of the 1966 Bewitch Stakes. She is the second dam of seven stakes winners, including 1999 Prix d'Ispahan (FR-G1) winner Croco Rouge and Zimbabwean Group 3 winner Frogwatch. Through her stakes-winning granddaughter Alidiva, the Irish and Italian Broodmare of the Year for 1997, she is the third dam of multiple Group 1 winner Taipan, 1997 One Thousand Guineas (ENG-1) winner Sleepytime, 1997 Sussex Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Ali-Royal, and multiple Grade 2 winner Oonagh Maccool. In addition, Shore is the third dam of Group 2 winners Great Dane and Centennial and Group 3 winners Royal Millennium and Electric Waves.
- Moss (1965, by Round Table) was stakes-placed at 2 and 3. She is the dam of 1987 French champion sprinter Polonia (by Danzig). She is also the dam of Grade 1-placed stakes winner Peat Moss (by Herbager).
- Dike (1966, by Herbager) won the 1969 Wood Memorial Stakes and was twice Classic-placed. He sired 15 stakes winners from 344 named foals, but none of his runners approached his own class.
- Okavango (1970, by Herbager) won the 1975 San Pasqual Handicap (USA-G2) and was Grade1-placed on both dirt and turf. He was a stud failure.
- Basin (1972, by Tom Rolfe) failed to win in five starts but is the second dam of 1990 Pegasus Handicap (USA-G1) winner Silver Ending, 1993 Charles H. Strub Stakes (USA-G1) winner Siberian Summer, multiple Australian Group 1 winner Champagne (a multiple stakes producer) and multiple New Zealand Group 1 winner St Reims. Basin is also the second dam of English Group 3 winner Magnificient Style, dam of eight stakes winners on the flat including 2004 English co-champion 2-year-old filly Playful Act; 2011 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Nathaniel, a multiple highweight in England and Ireland; and 2012 Irish Oaks (IRE-G1) winner Great Heavens, a highweight in England. Magnificient Style is also the dam of Percussionist, a Group 2 winner on the flat and the winner of the 2010 Grand National Hurdle Stakes (a Group 1 event under National Hunt rules). In addition, Basin is the third dam of Australian Group 2 winner Champagne Harmony.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Delta was bred and owned by Claiborne Farm. She was trained by Moody Jolley.
Pedigree notes
Delta is inbred 5x5 to 1906 Derby Stakes winner Spearmint. She is a full sister to the stakes-winning hurdler Ambassador and a half sister to 1956 Coaching Club American Oaks winner and 1970 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Levee (by Hill Prince). Delta is also a half sister to 1957 American champion 3-year-old filly Bayou (by Hill Prince), whose daughter Batteur (by Bold Ruler) won six good stakes races at ages 4 through 6. Bayou is the second dam of two-time American champion Slew o' Gold, 1979 Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) winner Coastal, 1987 Flower Bowl Handicap (USA-G1) winner Slew's Exceller and Grade 3 winner Flag Officer and is the third dam of 1980 Turf Classic Invitational Handicap (USA-G1) winner Anifa, 1995 Hollywood Oaks (USA-G1) winner Sleep Easy, multiple Grade 1 winner Aptitude, and Grade 3 winner Country Light.
Returning to Delta, she is also a half sister to 1954 Correction Handicap winner Banta (by Some Chance), dam of 1962 Golden Gate Handicap winner Mandate (by Prince John) and second dam of 1973 American champion 2-year-old filly Talking Picture and 1966 Grey Lag Handicap winner Selari. Banta is also the third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Big Spruce, 1988 Goffs Irish Two Thousand Guineas (IRE-G1) winner Trusted Partner, and the top-class mare Manta. In addition, she is the third dam of Italian Group 2 winner Easy to Copy and Grade 3 winner Low Key Affair.
Delta's dam Bourtai is a stakes-placed full sister to multiple juvenile stakes winner Strange Device, dam of stakes winners Abstract (by Isolater) and Metal Mike (by Pilate). Bourtai is also a half sister to 1937 Kentucky Oaks winner Mars Shield (by Diavolo), dam of 1954 Jersey Belle Stakes winner Turf Sun (by Sun Again); to stakes winner By Far (by Bold Gallant); and to stakes-placed Demolition (by Foray II), second dam of 1962 American co-champion 2-year-old filly Smart Deb, 1970 Manhattan Handicap winner Shelter Bay and 1964 Swaps Handicap winner Cap Size. Bourtai and her siblings are out of 1930 Alabama Stakes winner Escutcheon (by Sir Gallahad III), herself one of four stakes winners produced from the Isidor mare Affection.
Books and media
Along with her dam Bourtai, Delta is profiled in Chapter 46 of John Sparkman's Foundation Mares: How Outstanding Female Families Shaped America's Breeding Industry (2008, Thoroughbred Times Books).
Photo credit
Delta, taken by Joel Clyne Meadors at Claiborne Farm, undated. From the Keeneland Library Meadors Collection; used by permission. Please contact the Keeneland Library with any questions related to use or licensure of this photo.
Last updated: May 9, 2024