Devil Diver (USA)

March 11, 1939 – November 16, 1961

St. Germans (GB) x Dabchick (USA), by Royal Minstrel (IRE)

Family 13-c

From the private collection of Dale Wyatt. Used by permission.

Devil Diver was one of the equine heroes of the World War II era. Considered a sprinter-miler early in his career, he later stretched out over longer distances effectively and was a notable weight carrier in spite of a congenitally deformed foot that gave him constant trouble. He was moderately successful at stud.


Race record

47 starts, 22 wins, 12 seconds, 3 thirds, US$261,064

1941:

• Won Breeders' Futurity (USA, 6FD, Keeneland)
• Won Hopeful Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Saratoga)
• Won Sanford Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
• 2nd Futurity Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Belmont)
• 2nd Pimlico Futurity (USA, 8.5FD, Pimlico)
• 2nd Remsen Handicap (USA, 6FD, Jamaica)
• 3rd Grand Union Hotel Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)

1942:

• Won Phoenix Handicap (USA, 6FD, Keeneland)
• 2nd Vosburgh Handicap (USA, 7FD, Belmont)
• 3rd Jerome Handicap (USA, 8FD, Belmont)

1943:

• Won Brooklyn Handicap (USA, 10FD, Aqueduct)
• Won Metropolitan Handicap (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
• Won Carter Handicap (USA, 7FD, Aqueduct)
• Won Toboggan Handicap (USA, 6FD, Belmont)

1944:

• Won Whitney Stakes (USA, 10FD, Belmont)
• Won Wilson Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
  
• Won Metropolitan Handicap (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
• Won Manhattan Handicap (USA, 12FD, Belmont)
• Won Paumonok Handicap (USA, 6FD, Jamaica)
• Won American Legion Handicap (USA, 7FD, Belmont)
• Won Toboggan Handicap (USA, 6FD, Belmont)
• 2nd Pimlico Special (USA, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
• 3rd Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA, 16FD, Belmont)

1945:

• Won Suburban Handicap (USA, 10FD, Belmont)
• Won Metropolitan Handicap (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
• Won Paumonok Handicap (USA, 6FD, Jamaica)
• 2nd Brooklyn Handicap (USA, 10FD, Belmont)
• 2nd Toboggan Handicap (USA, 6FD, Belmont)

Honors

• National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1980)
  
• Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1977)
• American co-champion handicap male (1943)
• American champion handicap male (1944)

Assessments

Devil Diver was rated #55 among the top 100 American racehorses of the 20th century by a panel of experts assembled by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005).

Ranked sixth among American juveniles of 1941 by The Blood-Horse.

Ranked third among American older males of 1945 by The Blood-Horse.


As an individual

A bay horse, Devil Diver had a malformed right foot that was vulnerable to injury. He was a versatile horse who could run well over any track conditions and could either set the pace or stalk.


As a stallion

According to Jockey Club records, Devil Diver sired 208 winners (74.0%) and 17 stakes winners (6.1%) from 281 named foals; The Blood-Horse credits him with 18 stakes winners (6.4%).


Connections

Devil Diver was bred and owned by Greentree Stable. He was trained by John M. Gaver. He entered stud at Greentree in 1946. He was humanely destroyed at The Stallion Station near Lexington, Kentucky, after breaking his left hind leg on November 16, 1961.


Pedigree notes

Devil Diver is inbred 4x5 to Isinglass. His second dam Ruddy Duck (by Touch Me Not) is a half sister to Bryonia (by St. Germans), dam of stakes winners Spanish Moss (by Chicle) and Nancy Bayne (by Eternal Bull).


Fun facts:

• Devil Diver is the only horse to have won the Metropolitan Handicap three consecutive times. In 1944, he won while carrying 134 pounds, the highest weight ever successfully carried in the “Met Mile.”
  
• Both “devil diver” and “dabchick” are names for the grebe, a type of water bird.