Fast Line (USA)
April 8, 1958 – 1983
Mr. Busher (USA) x Throttle Wide (USA), by Flying Heels (USA)
Family 4-m
April 8, 1958 – 1983
Mr. Busher (USA) x Throttle Wide (USA), by Flying Heels (USA)
Family 4-m
Fast Line showed speed early in her career but may have been hurt in her second start as she was out of action for five months afterward. Whatever form she had possessed was gone when she returned and she scored only once, this against a very moderate field of maidens. She was a far better producer than runner, earning recognition as a modern foundation mare.
Race record
8 starts, 1 win, 1 second, 0 third, US$2,350
As an individual
A bay mare, Fast Line was somewhat back at the knee but was otherwise correct. According to Taylor Hardin, she stood 15.1 or 15.2 hands. She tended to pass on her knees and her small size.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Fast Line produced 18 named foals, of which 11 started and six won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Fast Line was bred by Dr. and Mrs. R. Smiser West. She was owned by Elmendorf Farm. She was trained by Walter A. Kelley, who purchased her for US12,500 as the agent for Elmendorf at the 1949 Keeneland July yearling sale. In 1965, she was purchased privately by Taylor Hardin for US$40,000 and became the foundation mare for his Newstead Farm in Virginia. She died in 1983.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1948 Arlington Futurity winner Mr. Busher (a full brother to 1945 Horse of the Year Busher), Fast Line is outcrossed through five generations. She is a half sister to 1948 American champion 3-year-old filly Miss Request (by Requested), second dam of 1972 Nassau County Handicap winner Towzie Tyke and third dam of multiple Puerto Rican champion Moment of True. She is also a half sister to Nimble Feet (by Spy Song), dam of multiple stakes winner Big Tim (by Tim Tam); second dam of 1983 Apple Blossom Handicap (USA-G1) winner Miss Huntingdon, French Group 3 winner Black Sulphur and English Group 3 winner Tecorno; and third dam of 1993 Gran Criterium (ITY-G1) winner Torrismondo and 1997 Cigar Mile Handicap (USA-G1) winner Devious Course. In addition, Fast Line is a half sister to Peridot (by Balladier), dam of stakes winner Flying Chief (by Chief Barker).
Fast Line and her siblings were produced from the minor stakes winner Throttle Wide, a daughter of 1929 Pimlico Futurity winner Flying Heels (by Flying Ebony). Throttle Wide, in turn, is out of the non-winning Pataud mare Let Her Fly, a half sister to stakes winners Houston (by Theo. Cook) and Lady Hannibal (by Hannibal) and to Mary's Last (by Terry), dam of multiple stakes winner Kewey Dee (by Okapi). The next dam in the tail-female line, the Fatherless mare Mary King, is out of Merry Maid (by Eolus), a half sister to multiple stakes winner Eonic (by Eon; dam of stakes winner Penn, by Cunard) and a daughter of the St. Blaise mare Mermaid.
Books and media
Fast Line is profiled in Chapter 22 of John Sparkman's Foundation Mares: How Outstanding Female Families Shaped America's Breeding Industry (2008, Thoroughbred Times Books).
Fun facts
Last updated: May 6, 2020
Race record
8 starts, 1 win, 1 second, 0 third, US$2,350
As an individual
A bay mare, Fast Line was somewhat back at the knee but was otherwise correct. According to Taylor Hardin, she stood 15.1 or 15.2 hands. She tended to pass on her knees and her small size.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Fast Line produced 18 named foals, of which 11 started and six won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Fairway Fun (1962, by Prince John) won three stakes races at 2 and 3. She is the dam of 1974 Diana Handicap (USA-G2) winner Fairway Flyer (by Nashua), 1974 Paumonok Handicap (USA-G3) winner Torsion (by Never Bend), and Grade 3-placed stakes winners Fairway Fable and Fun Forever, both by Never Bend. She is the second dam of Grade 2 winner Devil's Cup and Grade 3 winner Northern Fable. She is also the third dam of Grade 3 winner Adhocracy and English Group 3 winner Majmu.
- Day Line (1963, by Day Court) was unplaced in her only start but produced 1973 Coaching Club American Oaks (USA-G1) winner Magazine (by Prince John), dam of English Group 3 winner Martha Stevens and second dam of Grade 2 winner Wait Til Monday and Irish Group 3 winner Token Gesture. Through other daughters, Day Line is also the third dam of Grade 2 winner Lazer Show and Grade 3 winner Argyle Lake.
- Trick Chick (1966, by Prince John) never raced but is the dam of 1984 French Horse of the Year Northern Trick (by Northern Dancer; dam of French listed stakes winner Onda Nova, by Keos), 1977 Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA-G1) winner On the Sly (by Roi Dagobert), and stakes winners Sweet Slew (by Seattle Slew) and Trick Question (by Lyphard). She is the third dam of two-time Brazilian champion Jeune-Turc, 1999 Tattersalls Gold Cup (IRE-G1) winner Shiva, 2007 Oaks Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Light Shift, 2005 Grande Prêmio ABCPCC (BRZ-G1) winner Nonno Luigi; Grade/Group 2 winners Limnos and Clark Street; and English Group 3 winner Chicmond.
- Near Lyn (1969, by Nearctic) never raced. She is the dam of Grade 3-placed stakes winner Near the Limit (by Garthorn) and the second dam of Grade 3 winner Autobot. She is also the third dam of 2003 Indian champion miler Palazzio and Grade 2 winner Carlsbad.
- Filiberto (1970, by Ribot) won the 1972 Prix Morny (FR-G1). A speedy but unsound horse who tended to transmit his physical issues, he was not a success at stud.
- Saratoga Trunk (1972, by Raise a Native) won two of her nine starts. She is the second dam of Brazilian Group 2 winner Gregoriano.
- Mlle. Vitesse (1974, by Tom Rolfe) is the third dam of 2001 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (FR-G1) winner Mirio, German Group 3 winner Marine Bleue and Grade 3 winner Montemiro.
- White Star Line (1975, by Northern Dancer) won the 1978 Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1), Delaware Oaks (USA-G1) and Alabama Stakes (USA-G1). She is the dam of 1990 Prix de Pomone (FR-G2) winner Whitehaven (by Top Ville) and stakes winner Native Wizard (by In Reality). She is the second dam of 1995 Oaks d'Italia (ITY-G1) winner Valley of Gold, 1999 Moyglare Stud Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Preseli, Group 2 winner Harland, and Group 3 winners Dublin, Capricho, Musis Amica and Kong She is also the third dam of 2003 Deutches Derby (GER-G1) and Credit Suisse Private Banking-Pokal (GER-G1) winner Dai Jin, 2010 Derby Italiano (ITY-G2) and Premio Parioli (Italian Two Thousand Guineas, ITY-G3) winner Worthadd; Group 2 winners Duff and Samara Dancer; and Group 3 winners Splendid Era, Cap O'Rushes and Eclair Big Bang.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Fast Line was bred by Dr. and Mrs. R. Smiser West. She was owned by Elmendorf Farm. She was trained by Walter A. Kelley, who purchased her for US12,500 as the agent for Elmendorf at the 1949 Keeneland July yearling sale. In 1965, she was purchased privately by Taylor Hardin for US$40,000 and became the foundation mare for his Newstead Farm in Virginia. She died in 1983.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1948 Arlington Futurity winner Mr. Busher (a full brother to 1945 Horse of the Year Busher), Fast Line is outcrossed through five generations. She is a half sister to 1948 American champion 3-year-old filly Miss Request (by Requested), second dam of 1972 Nassau County Handicap winner Towzie Tyke and third dam of multiple Puerto Rican champion Moment of True. She is also a half sister to Nimble Feet (by Spy Song), dam of multiple stakes winner Big Tim (by Tim Tam); second dam of 1983 Apple Blossom Handicap (USA-G1) winner Miss Huntingdon, French Group 3 winner Black Sulphur and English Group 3 winner Tecorno; and third dam of 1993 Gran Criterium (ITY-G1) winner Torrismondo and 1997 Cigar Mile Handicap (USA-G1) winner Devious Course. In addition, Fast Line is a half sister to Peridot (by Balladier), dam of stakes winner Flying Chief (by Chief Barker).
Fast Line and her siblings were produced from the minor stakes winner Throttle Wide, a daughter of 1929 Pimlico Futurity winner Flying Heels (by Flying Ebony). Throttle Wide, in turn, is out of the non-winning Pataud mare Let Her Fly, a half sister to stakes winners Houston (by Theo. Cook) and Lady Hannibal (by Hannibal) and to Mary's Last (by Terry), dam of multiple stakes winner Kewey Dee (by Okapi). The next dam in the tail-female line, the Fatherless mare Mary King, is out of Merry Maid (by Eolus), a half sister to multiple stakes winner Eonic (by Eon; dam of stakes winner Penn, by Cunard) and a daughter of the St. Blaise mare Mermaid.
Books and media
Fast Line is profiled in Chapter 22 of John Sparkman's Foundation Mares: How Outstanding Female Families Shaped America's Breeding Industry (2008, Thoroughbred Times Books).
Fun facts
- Fast Line ran for a US$10,000 claiming tag in February 1961 but was not taken.
Last updated: May 6, 2020