Desert Vixen (USA)
April 19, 1970 – September 25, 1982
In Reality (USA) x Desert Trial (USA), by Moslem Chief (USA)
Family 2-c
April 19, 1970 – September 25, 1982
In Reality (USA) x Desert Trial (USA), by Moslem Chief (USA)
Family 2-c
A rather ordinary juvenile, Desert Vixen blossomed at 3 and became a two-time American champion. Sadly, she had only a short broodmare career but left behind Real Shadai, a son of Roberto who was a Group 2 winner in France and a champion sire in Japan. Her prowess as a race mare also helped procure a decent opportunity at stud for her full brother Valid Appeal, who became a perennial leading sire in Florida and was a good sire of broodmares as well.
Race record
28 starts, 13 wins, 6 seconds, 3 thirds, US$421,538
1973:
1974:
Honors
Assessments
Highweighted at 131 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1973, 10 pounds above Kentucky Oaks (USA-G2) winner Bag of Tunes and Coaching Club American Oaks (USA-G1) winner Magazine (who were tied for second).
Highweighted at 128 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American older females of 1974, 4 pounds above second-rated Twixt.
As an individual
A neat, well-balanced dark bay or brown filly standing about 15.2 hands at the end of her 3-year-old season and weighing about 850 pounds, Desert Vixen was somewhat upright in the shoulder but had a deep girth and a long, well-sloped pelvis. Her hocks were slightly out behind her. A filly of “airy grace” in action in the words of Daily Racing Form writer Charles Hatton, she was a front runner by preference. She could act over any surface. She had a pleasant disposition and was eager to train and race. She was hampered by illness and injury during the spring and summer of her 4-year-old season and did not return to her best form until September.
As a producer
Desert Vixen produced four named foals, of which three raced. Her only winner was Real Shadai (by Roberto), winner of the 1982 Grand Prix de Deauville (FR-G2) and the Japanese champion sire of 1993.
Connections
Foaled in Florida, Desert Vixen was bred by Muriel Vanderbilt Adams and was owned by Harry T. Mangurian Jr., who bought the filly as a 2-year old from Adams’s estate at a price of US$40,000 (her valuation as part of a US$150,000 package deal that included her dam and her half brother by Vertex). She was trained by Thomas F. “Tommy” Root. She died in 1982 and was buried at Breckinridge Farm near Lexington, Kentucky.
Pedigree notes
Desert Vixen is outcrossed through five generations. She is a full sister to 1975 Dwyer Stakes (USA-G2) winner and good sire Valid Appeal. She is also a full sister to the minor stakes winners Court Trial and Classic Trial and a half sister to Desert Royal (by Rexson), dam of Royal Med (by Medieval Man; dam of multiple New Zealand Group 2 winner Millennium).
Desert Trial, the dam of Desert Vixen, was a good stakes winner at 3 and 4. She is a half sister to 1970 Monmouth Oaks winner Kilts n Kapers (by National; dam of 1977 Sorority Stakes, USA-G1, winner Stub, by In Reality) and stakes winner Memory Garden (by Bold Bidder). Desert Trial is also a half sister to stakes-placed Secret Verdict (by Clandestine), dam of Grade 3 winner Remote Ruler (by King Emperor) and stakes winners A Realgirl (by In Reality) and Secret's Out (by Royal Saxon). In addition, she is a half sister to Summer Legend (by Raise a Native), dam of Canadian Grade 3 winner Legarto (by Roberto) and stakes winners Lean Cuisine (by In Reality) and Nafees (by Raja Baba). The dam of Desert Trial, Scotch Verdict (by Alsab), is an unraced daughter of stakes winner Glen Arvis (by Attention), a half sister to stakes winner Iswas (by War Jeep).
Fun facts
Last updated: April 3, 2023
Race record
28 starts, 13 wins, 6 seconds, 3 thirds, US$421,538
1973:
- Won Beldame Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont; equaled track record 1:46-1/5)
- Won Alabama Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- Won Delaware Oaks (USA-G1, 9FD, Delaware Park)
- Won Gazelle Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Belmont)
- Won Monmouth Oaks (USA-G1, 9FD, Monmouth)
- Won Post-Deb Stakes (USA-G3, 8f+70y, Monmouth; equaled track record 1:40-1/5)
- Won Test Stakes (first division) (USA-G2, 7FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Miss Woodford Stakes (USA-G3, 6FD, Monmouth)
1974:
- Won Matchmaker Stakes (USA-G1, 9.5FD, Atlantic City; equaled track record 1:55-1/5)
- Won Beldame Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Washington D.C. International Stakes (USA-G1, 12FT, Laurel)
- 2nd Spinster Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Keeneland)
- Also finished first in the Maskette Stakes (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont) but was disqualified.
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1979)
- Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old filly (1973)
- Eclipse Award, American champion older female (1974)
Assessments
Highweighted at 131 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1973, 10 pounds above Kentucky Oaks (USA-G2) winner Bag of Tunes and Coaching Club American Oaks (USA-G1) winner Magazine (who were tied for second).
Highweighted at 128 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American older females of 1974, 4 pounds above second-rated Twixt.
As an individual
A neat, well-balanced dark bay or brown filly standing about 15.2 hands at the end of her 3-year-old season and weighing about 850 pounds, Desert Vixen was somewhat upright in the shoulder but had a deep girth and a long, well-sloped pelvis. Her hocks were slightly out behind her. A filly of “airy grace” in action in the words of Daily Racing Form writer Charles Hatton, she was a front runner by preference. She could act over any surface. She had a pleasant disposition and was eager to train and race. She was hampered by illness and injury during the spring and summer of her 4-year-old season and did not return to her best form until September.
As a producer
Desert Vixen produced four named foals, of which three raced. Her only winner was Real Shadai (by Roberto), winner of the 1982 Grand Prix de Deauville (FR-G2) and the Japanese champion sire of 1993.
Connections
Foaled in Florida, Desert Vixen was bred by Muriel Vanderbilt Adams and was owned by Harry T. Mangurian Jr., who bought the filly as a 2-year old from Adams’s estate at a price of US$40,000 (her valuation as part of a US$150,000 package deal that included her dam and her half brother by Vertex). She was trained by Thomas F. “Tommy” Root. She died in 1982 and was buried at Breckinridge Farm near Lexington, Kentucky.
Pedigree notes
Desert Vixen is outcrossed through five generations. She is a full sister to 1975 Dwyer Stakes (USA-G2) winner and good sire Valid Appeal. She is also a full sister to the minor stakes winners Court Trial and Classic Trial and a half sister to Desert Royal (by Rexson), dam of Royal Med (by Medieval Man; dam of multiple New Zealand Group 2 winner Millennium).
Desert Trial, the dam of Desert Vixen, was a good stakes winner at 3 and 4. She is a half sister to 1970 Monmouth Oaks winner Kilts n Kapers (by National; dam of 1977 Sorority Stakes, USA-G1, winner Stub, by In Reality) and stakes winner Memory Garden (by Bold Bidder). Desert Trial is also a half sister to stakes-placed Secret Verdict (by Clandestine), dam of Grade 3 winner Remote Ruler (by King Emperor) and stakes winners A Realgirl (by In Reality) and Secret's Out (by Royal Saxon). In addition, she is a half sister to Summer Legend (by Raise a Native), dam of Canadian Grade 3 winner Legarto (by Roberto) and stakes winners Lean Cuisine (by In Reality) and Nafees (by Raja Baba). The dam of Desert Trial, Scotch Verdict (by Alsab), is an unraced daughter of stakes winner Glen Arvis (by Attention), a half sister to stakes winner Iswas (by War Jeep).
Fun facts
- Desert Vixen’s rating of 131 pounds on the DRF's Free Handicap for 3-year-old fillies of 1974 was the highest ever assigned in that division up to that time. Her 10-pound margin over the nearest of her contemporaries was also a record.
- The Desert Vixen Stakes is part of the Florida Sire Stakes series for Florida-bred 2-year-old fillies. It is run annually at Gulfstream Park.
Last updated: April 3, 2023