Not one of the more distinguished winners of the Kentucky Oaks, Fascinator was a stakes winner at both 2 and 3 but was never closer than 10 pounds to the top fillies of her crop. Her broodmare career was largely forgettable, though in fairness her mates were generally undistinguished stallions; she was also hampered by frequent barrenness.
Race record
19 starts, 6 wins, 1 second, 2 thirds, US$68,820
1953:
1954:
Assessments
Rated at 108 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1953, 10 pounds below divisional champion Evening Out (the top-weighted filly).
Rated at 110 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American fillies and mares of 1954, 18 pounds below co-highweights Parlo (the official divisional champion) and Miz Clementine.
As an individual
A bay mare, Fascinator did not care for having her races too closely spaced.
As a producer
Fascinator produced nine named foals, of which four started and won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Fascinator was bred and owned by Maine Chance Farm. She was trained by Eddie Neloy at the time of her Oaks win. She was ridden to her Kentucky Oaks victory by Tony DeSpirito. She produced her first five foals for Maine Chance before passing to the ownership of Rancho Jonata in California.
Pedigree notes
Fascinator is inbred 5x5 to two-time American champion Ben Brush, the champion American sire of 1909. Her sire War Jeep (by War Admiral) won six stakes races, the most important of which was the 1945 Discovery Handicap. Her dam Miracle Sister is a half sister to multiple stakes winner Little Miracle (by Bud Lerner) and is out of Nida, a stakes-winning daughter of Whisk Broom II and the Hamburg mare Beauteous.
Beauteous is a half sister to Wildair (by Broomstick), winner of the 1920 Metropolitan Handicap, and to Greenery (by Broomstick), dam of 1928 Brooklyn Handicap winner Black Panther (by Black Toney). The siblings are out of Verdure (by Peter Pan), a half sister to the great Colin (by Commando) and to Passan (by Hamburg), dam of five stakes winners including 1918 Spinaway Stakes winner Passing Shower (by Ormondale) and 1924 Metropolitan Handicap winner Laurano (by Peter Pan).
Books and media
Fascinator is profiled in Chapter 8 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Last updated: December 8, 2022
Race record
19 starts, 6 wins, 1 second, 2 thirds, US$68,820
1953:
- Won Margate Handicap (USA, 6FD, Atlantic City)
- 2nd National Stallion Stakes (Fillies) (USA, 5FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Adirondack Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Saratoga)
1954:
- Won Kentucky Oaks (USA, 8.5FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Columbiana Handicap (USA, 7FD, Hialeah)
- 3rd Gazelle Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Aqueduct)
Assessments
Rated at 108 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1953, 10 pounds below divisional champion Evening Out (the top-weighted filly).
Rated at 110 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American fillies and mares of 1954, 18 pounds below co-highweights Parlo (the official divisional champion) and Miz Clementine.
As an individual
A bay mare, Fascinator did not care for having her races too closely spaced.
As a producer
Fascinator produced nine named foals, of which four started and won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Jet's Pride (1957, by Jet Pilot) won one of her two starts. She produced stakes winner Second Adventure (by Gun Shot) and is the second dam of three minor stakes winners.
- General Partner (1972, by Understanding) won the Indian Maid Handicap at Hawthorne as a 5-year-old. She produced listed stakes winner El Clipper (by Naskra).
Connections
Fascinator was bred and owned by Maine Chance Farm. She was trained by Eddie Neloy at the time of her Oaks win. She was ridden to her Kentucky Oaks victory by Tony DeSpirito. She produced her first five foals for Maine Chance before passing to the ownership of Rancho Jonata in California.
Pedigree notes
Fascinator is inbred 5x5 to two-time American champion Ben Brush, the champion American sire of 1909. Her sire War Jeep (by War Admiral) won six stakes races, the most important of which was the 1945 Discovery Handicap. Her dam Miracle Sister is a half sister to multiple stakes winner Little Miracle (by Bud Lerner) and is out of Nida, a stakes-winning daughter of Whisk Broom II and the Hamburg mare Beauteous.
Beauteous is a half sister to Wildair (by Broomstick), winner of the 1920 Metropolitan Handicap, and to Greenery (by Broomstick), dam of 1928 Brooklyn Handicap winner Black Panther (by Black Toney). The siblings are out of Verdure (by Peter Pan), a half sister to the great Colin (by Commando) and to Passan (by Hamburg), dam of five stakes winners including 1918 Spinaway Stakes winner Passing Shower (by Ormondale) and 1924 Metropolitan Handicap winner Laurano (by Peter Pan).
Books and media
Fascinator is profiled in Chapter 8 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- In fashion, a fascinator is a form of women's headwear consisting of a large decorative design fastened to a band or clip and worn as a substitute for a hat. Fascinators are popular wear for ladies attending premium horse racing events such as the Kentucky Derby.
Last updated: December 8, 2022