Elocutionist (USA)
March 4, 1973 – 1995
Gallant Romeo (USA) x Strictly Speaking (USA), by Fleet Nasrullah (USA)
Family 2-s
March 4, 1973 – 1995
Gallant Romeo (USA) x Strictly Speaking (USA), by Fleet Nasrullah (USA)
Family 2-s
When Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) winner Bold Forbes and Honest Pleasure (the beaten Derby favorite) got into a suicidal speed duel in the 1976 Preakness Stakes (USA-G1), it was Elocutionist who picked up the pieces and came through for the win. The consistent Elocutionist also won the 1976 Arkansas Derby (USA-G2) but did not pick up enough big-name wins to contend for the divisional championship, which ended up going to Bold Forbes after Elocutionist suffered a career-ending injury while training for the Belmont Stakes (USA-G1). He was a useful stallion whose best runner was 1980 French co-champion juvenile male Recitation.
Race record
12 starts, 9 wins, 1 second, 2 thirds, US$343,150
1975:
1976:
Assessments
Rated at 116 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1975, 10 pounds below champion Honest Pleasure.
Rated at 125 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1976, 1 pound below co-highweights Bold Forbes (the official divisional champion) and Honest Pleasure and tied with Majestic Light.
As an individual
A bay horse, Elocutionist was undefeated as a juvenile although he did not make his first start until October 13, 1975. He was long-bodied and had somewhat sickled hocks. He had a calm, professional temperament. He typically came from off the pace.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Elocutionist sired 315 winners (62.4%) and 28 stakes winners (5.5%) from 505 named foals.
Notable progeny
Demons Begone (USA), Prima Voce (USA), Recitation (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Kotashaan (FR)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Elocutionist was bred by Pin Oak Stud. He was owned by Eugene Cashman, who bought the colt for his Greenlight Farm for US$15,000 from the 1974 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky yearling sale. Elocutionist was trained by Paul Adwell and ridden to all his major wins by John Lively.
Pedigree notes
Sired by the top sprinter Gallant Romeo, Elocutionist is inbred 3x4 to 1943 American Horse of the Year and 1951 American champion sire Count Fleet. He is also inbred 5x5 to 1930 Derby Stakes winner and 1941 American champion sire Blenheim II. He is a full brother to Love Words, third dam of multiple French Group 3 winner Di Moi Oui.
Elocutionist's dam Strictly Speaking was unplaced in her only start but is a half sister to Grade 3 winner Right On (by Never Bend) and to stakes winners Salesman Prior (by Royal Charger), Pure and Simple (by Nashua), and Kanumera (by Native Dancer). She is also a half sister to Advise (by Turn-to), dam of 1971 Wilshire Stakes winner New Leaf (by Blue Prince); to Plausible (by Nashua), dam of stakes winner Suicide Sue (by Gallant Romeo); and to Quick to Learn (by Pronto), dam of French Group 3 winner Act One (by Stage Door Johnny).
Strictly Speaking and her siblings were produced from the winning Alibhai mare Believe Me, a full sister to 1960 Everglades Stakes winner Moslem Chief and a half sister to 1948 Arlington Lassie Stakes winner Pail of Water (by Jack High). Believe Me is also a half sister to Tumbling (by War Admiral), dam of stakes winners Falling Evidence (by Prove It) and Proud Kenn (by Lt. Stevens) and stakes-placed Tumble Lark (by T. V. Lark; a three-time champion sire in Brazil) and second dam of 1971 Benjamin F. Lindheimer Handicap winner Princess Pout, dam in turn of the great Alleged. Tumbling is also the second dam of 1981 Japan Cup (JPN-G1) winner Mairzy Doates.
Up the Hill (by Jacopo), the dam of Believe Me and her siblings, also produced stakes-placed Jet Girl (by Jet Pilot), dam of stakes winner Open Flow (by Gallant Man). Produced from the Sir Gallahad III mare Gentle Tryst, Up the Hill won the 1941 Ladies' Handicap and is a half sister to 1953 Narragansett Special winner Sailed Away (by War Admiral).
Books and media
Elocutionist is profiled in Chapter 10 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Last updated: July 10, 2024
Race record
12 starts, 9 wins, 1 second, 2 thirds, US$343,150
1975:
- Won Hawthorne Juvenile Stakes (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Hawthorne)
1976:
- Won Preakness Stakes (USA-G1, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Arkansas Derby (USA-G2, 9FD, Oaklawn)
- 2nd Rebel Handicap (USA, 8F+70y, Oaklawn)
- 3rd Kentucky Derby (USA-G1, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
Assessments
Rated at 116 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1975, 10 pounds below champion Honest Pleasure.
Rated at 125 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1976, 1 pound below co-highweights Bold Forbes (the official divisional champion) and Honest Pleasure and tied with Majestic Light.
As an individual
A bay horse, Elocutionist was undefeated as a juvenile although he did not make his first start until October 13, 1975. He was long-bodied and had somewhat sickled hocks. He had a calm, professional temperament. He typically came from off the pace.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Elocutionist sired 315 winners (62.4%) and 28 stakes winners (5.5%) from 505 named foals.
Notable progeny
Demons Begone (USA), Prima Voce (USA), Recitation (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Kotashaan (FR)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Elocutionist was bred by Pin Oak Stud. He was owned by Eugene Cashman, who bought the colt for his Greenlight Farm for US$15,000 from the 1974 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky yearling sale. Elocutionist was trained by Paul Adwell and ridden to all his major wins by John Lively.
Pedigree notes
Sired by the top sprinter Gallant Romeo, Elocutionist is inbred 3x4 to 1943 American Horse of the Year and 1951 American champion sire Count Fleet. He is also inbred 5x5 to 1930 Derby Stakes winner and 1941 American champion sire Blenheim II. He is a full brother to Love Words, third dam of multiple French Group 3 winner Di Moi Oui.
Elocutionist's dam Strictly Speaking was unplaced in her only start but is a half sister to Grade 3 winner Right On (by Never Bend) and to stakes winners Salesman Prior (by Royal Charger), Pure and Simple (by Nashua), and Kanumera (by Native Dancer). She is also a half sister to Advise (by Turn-to), dam of 1971 Wilshire Stakes winner New Leaf (by Blue Prince); to Plausible (by Nashua), dam of stakes winner Suicide Sue (by Gallant Romeo); and to Quick to Learn (by Pronto), dam of French Group 3 winner Act One (by Stage Door Johnny).
Strictly Speaking and her siblings were produced from the winning Alibhai mare Believe Me, a full sister to 1960 Everglades Stakes winner Moslem Chief and a half sister to 1948 Arlington Lassie Stakes winner Pail of Water (by Jack High). Believe Me is also a half sister to Tumbling (by War Admiral), dam of stakes winners Falling Evidence (by Prove It) and Proud Kenn (by Lt. Stevens) and stakes-placed Tumble Lark (by T. V. Lark; a three-time champion sire in Brazil) and second dam of 1971 Benjamin F. Lindheimer Handicap winner Princess Pout, dam in turn of the great Alleged. Tumbling is also the second dam of 1981 Japan Cup (JPN-G1) winner Mairzy Doates.
Up the Hill (by Jacopo), the dam of Believe Me and her siblings, also produced stakes-placed Jet Girl (by Jet Pilot), dam of stakes winner Open Flow (by Gallant Man). Produced from the Sir Gallahad III mare Gentle Tryst, Up the Hill won the 1941 Ladies' Handicap and is a half sister to 1953 Narragansett Special winner Sailed Away (by War Admiral).
Books and media
Elocutionist is profiled in Chapter 10 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- Elocutionist was one of two colts that owner Eugene Cashman and his trainer/advisor, Paul Adwell, considered buying from the 1974 Keeneland July yearling sale. As Cashman only wanted to buy one of the pair and the two could not agree as to which was the better prospect, they flipped a coin to determine which one they would purchase. The other colt they had been considering was Bold Forbes, who would go on to win the 1976 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) and Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) as well as that year's divisional championship.
Last updated: July 10, 2024