From the private collection of Dale Wyatt. Used by permission.
If Faultless did not quite live up to his name, he was still a good racehorse of close to championship caliber at his best, and he could hardly be faulted for the quality of his pedigree. Unfortunately, like most sons of Bull Lea, he was a disappointment at stud.
Race record
46 starts, 13 wins, 5 seconds, 6 thirds, US$304,945
1946:
1947:
1948:
1949:
Assessments
Ranked second among American 3-year-old males of 1947 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A short-necked brown horse with the sickle hocks and rather long back typical of his sire's progeny, Faultless typically did his best running from off the pace but could set his own pace if needed.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Faultless sired 129 winners (65.8%) and 10 stakes winners (5.1%) from 196 named foals. None approached his own talent.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Faultless was bred and owned by Calumet Farm. He was trained by Horace “Jimmy” Jones.
Pedigree notes
Faultless is inbred 3x4 to Teddy and Plucky Liege through the full brothers Bull Dog and Sir Gallahad III. He is a full brother to Tige O'Myheart, dam of two-time American champion filly Idun, 1959 Saratoga Special winner Irish Lancer, and minor stakes winner Honor Bright, all by Royal Charger. Tige O'Myheart is the second dam of four stakes winners including 1970 Laurance Armour Handicap winner Indian Emerald.
Faultless was produced from 1939 American co-champion 3-year-old filly Unerring, a full sister to 1938 Kentucky Derby winner Lawrin and to 1940 Kentucky Oaks winner Inscolassie. Unerring is also a half sister to stakes winners Lawley (by Sir Martin) and Modern Times (by Pataud) and to Spring Glory (by Bow to Me), dam of the minor stakes winner Glory Glory (by War Glory).
Unerring and her siblings were produced from Margaret Lawrence, a half sister to 1914 Futurity Stakes winner Trojan and a half sister to Pyrope (by Sir Wilfred), dam of the minor stakes winner Undercover (by Under Fire). The next dam in Unerring's tail-female line, Bohemia (by Wagner), won two stakes races and is a full sister to multiple stakes winner Colonel Wagner. Their dam Mattie T., in turn, is by Billet out of Jaconet and, thus, is a full sister to 1888 American co-champion 3-year-old male Sir Dixon and the good stakes winner Belvedere. Mattie T. is also a half sister to The Niece (by Alarm), dam of the good racer and sire Uncle (by Star Shoot), and to Lady Pepper (by Hindoo), dam of 1902 Alabama Stakes winner Par Excellence (by Kantaka).
Books and media
Faultless is profiled in Chapter 9 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Last updated: March 16, 2021
Race record
46 starts, 13 wins, 5 seconds, 6 thirds, US$304,945
1946:
- 2nd Walden Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Pimlico)
- 3rd Sagamore Stakes (USA, 6FD, Pimlico)
1947:
- Won Flamingo Stakes (USA, 9FD, Hialeah)
- Won Blue Grass Stakes (USA, 9FD, Keeneland)
- Won Derby Trial Stakes (USA, 8FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Preakness Stakes (USA, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Withers Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Kentucky Derby (USA, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
1948:
- Won Gallant Fox Handicap (USA, 9.5FD, Jamaica)
- 2nd Edward Burke Handcap (USA, 8.5FD, Havre de Grace)
- 3rd Damon Runyon Handicap (USA, 6FD, Tropical Park)
1949:
- Won Tropical Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Tropical Park)
- 2nd McLennan Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hialeah)
- 3rd Widener Handicap (USA, 10FD, Hialeah)
- 3rd Royal Palm Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hialeah)
- 3rd Philadelphia Handicap (USA, 6FD, Havre de Grace)
Assessments
Ranked second among American 3-year-old males of 1947 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A short-necked brown horse with the sickle hocks and rather long back typical of his sire's progeny, Faultless typically did his best running from off the pace but could set his own pace if needed.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Faultless sired 129 winners (65.8%) and 10 stakes winners (5.1%) from 196 named foals. None approached his own talent.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Faultless was bred and owned by Calumet Farm. He was trained by Horace “Jimmy” Jones.
Pedigree notes
Faultless is inbred 3x4 to Teddy and Plucky Liege through the full brothers Bull Dog and Sir Gallahad III. He is a full brother to Tige O'Myheart, dam of two-time American champion filly Idun, 1959 Saratoga Special winner Irish Lancer, and minor stakes winner Honor Bright, all by Royal Charger. Tige O'Myheart is the second dam of four stakes winners including 1970 Laurance Armour Handicap winner Indian Emerald.
Faultless was produced from 1939 American co-champion 3-year-old filly Unerring, a full sister to 1938 Kentucky Derby winner Lawrin and to 1940 Kentucky Oaks winner Inscolassie. Unerring is also a half sister to stakes winners Lawley (by Sir Martin) and Modern Times (by Pataud) and to Spring Glory (by Bow to Me), dam of the minor stakes winner Glory Glory (by War Glory).
Unerring and her siblings were produced from Margaret Lawrence, a half sister to 1914 Futurity Stakes winner Trojan and a half sister to Pyrope (by Sir Wilfred), dam of the minor stakes winner Undercover (by Under Fire). The next dam in Unerring's tail-female line, Bohemia (by Wagner), won two stakes races and is a full sister to multiple stakes winner Colonel Wagner. Their dam Mattie T., in turn, is by Billet out of Jaconet and, thus, is a full sister to 1888 American co-champion 3-year-old male Sir Dixon and the good stakes winner Belvedere. Mattie T. is also a half sister to The Niece (by Alarm), dam of the good racer and sire Uncle (by Star Shoot), and to Lady Pepper (by Hindoo), dam of 1902 Alabama Stakes winner Par Excellence (by Kantaka).
Books and media
Faultless is profiled in Chapter 9 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- Faultless is one of a record eight Preakness Stakes winners for Calumet Farm. The others are Whirlaway (1941), Pensive (1944), Citation (1948), Fabius (1956), Tim Tam (1958), Forward Pass (1968) and Oxbow (2013).
- Faultless was the third top horse from his immediate family to be trained by the famous father-and-son training team of Ben A. Jones and Horace “Jimmy” Jones. His “uncle” Lawrin (a full brother to his dam) was the first of the senior Jones's six official Derby winners, and his dam Unerring was the American co-champion 3-year-old filly of 1939.
- During the Preakness Stakes, veteran sports announcer Clem McCarthy committed a famous boner, confusing Faultless with Kentucky Derby winner Jet Pilot during the stretch run and calling Faultless as “Jet Pilot” throughout. The problem was caused by a mass of spectators standing on the starting gate, who collectively blocked McCarthy's vision for about two seconds; during that brief time, Jet Pilot bore out and began dropping back while Faultless moved into the place he had occupied. McCarthy's problem was compounded by the fact that the two colts' racing silks were both primarily red.
Last updated: March 16, 2021