Flaring Top was nothing remarkable as a race mare, but after her acquisition by E. P. Taylor, she became one of the foundation mares of his breeding program. The dam of four stakes winners including a Canadian champion, she bred on through multiple daughters and has several good stallions among her descendants.
Race record
14 starts, 3 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, US$5,020
As an individual
A big, slab-sided chestnut mare, Flaring Top had a deep shoulder. She tended to pass pigeon toes to her progeny, and many of her descendants were temperamental and aggressive.
As a producer
A Reine-de-Course as designated by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Flaring Top produced 11 named foals, all of which started and won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Flaring Top was bred by A. B, Hancock, Sr. at his Claiborne Farm. She was purchased by E. P. Taylor for US$8,500 from the 1948 Keeneland July yearling sale. She was trained by Bert Alexandra at 2 and by Gordon “Pete” McCann at 3. She spent her broodmare career as the property of E. P. Taylor.
Pedigree notes
Flaring Top is inbred 4x4 to the good speed sire Ultimus. She is a half sister to two-time American champion filly Doubledogdare (by Double Jay), second dam of French Group 2 winner Full of Stars. She is also a half sister to stakes winners Top Double (by Double Jay) and Illuminable (by Sun Again). In addition, Flaring Top is also a half sister to Way to Go (by Olympia), dam of stakes winners Toward (by Bagdad) and Transportation (by Sir Gaylord).
Flaring Top and her siblings are out of Flaming Top, a half sister to 1937 Widener Challenge Cup Handicap winner Columbiana (by Petee-Wrack; dam of the good stakes winners Ocean Wave and Free America, both by Blenheim II) and to stakes winner Red Vulcan (by Pompey). In addition, Flaming Top is a half sister to Red Top (by Sir Gallahad III), dam of multiple Canadian stakes winner Kentario (by Whirlaway), and to Snow Flame (by Blenheim II), dam of stakes winners Early England (by Etonian) and Anglo (by Etonian).
The next dam in Flaring Top’s tail-female line, Firetop (by Man o’ War), was produced from the Ultimus mare Summit and is a half sister to 1936 American champion 2-year-old filly Apogee (by Pharamond II), dam of 1946 Carter Handicap winner Flood Town (by Johnstown) and juvenile stakes winners Acoma (by Johnstown) and Sofarsogood (by Revoked). Apogee is also the second dam of 1974 Sussex Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Ace of Aces, 1970 Discovery Handicap winner Burd Alane, and 1969 Derby Mexicano winner Decoma. Returning to Firetop, she is also a half sister to 1934 Schuylerville Stakes winner Uppermost (by Cohort), dam of 1944 Canadian champion 2-year-old male and 1945 King’s Plate winner Uttermost (by Soleil du Midi) and Canadian stakes winners Sayoonara (by Sweepster) and Ascendant (by Filisteo); to Scally (by Brown Prince II), dam of juvenile stakes winner Puchero (by Pot Au Feu); and to Maharanee (by Brown Prince II), dam of 1934 Alabama Stakes winner Hindu Queen (by Sickle) and multiple stakes winner Clarify (by Chatterton).
Books and media
Flaring Top is one of 51 important broodmares profiled in John Sparkman’s Foundation Mares: How Outstanding Female Families Shaped America’s Breeding Industry (Thoroughbred Times Books, 2008).
Last updated: December 30, 2022
Race record
14 starts, 3 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, US$5,020
As an individual
A big, slab-sided chestnut mare, Flaring Top had a deep shoulder. She tended to pass pigeon toes to her progeny, and many of her descendants were temperamental and aggressive.
As a producer
A Reine-de-Course as designated by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Flaring Top produced 11 named foals, all of which started and won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Gleam (1952, by Tournoi) won two of five starts. She is the dam of stakes winner Evening Bag (by Bagdad) and the second dam of 1976 Laurel Futurity (USA-G1) winner Royal Ski. She is also the third dam of multiple Grade/Group 1 winner Allez Milord.
- Top Tourn (1953, by Tournoi) won five Canadian stakes races among his 28 victories from 103 starts; he also set track records at Fort Erie and Old Woodbine. He was of no importance as a sire.
- Flaming Wind (1955, by Windfields) won three of twelve starts. She is the dam of stakes winner French Wind (by Ménétrier) and the second dam of multiple Venezuelan champion Blondy. She is also the third dam of 1990 Phoenix Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Mac’s Imp and multiple Grade 3 winner An Empress.
- Merry and Bright (1956, by Ménétrier) is the dam of stakes winner Fanfaron (by Victoria Park) and is the third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Cheval Volant and multiple Grade 3 winner Chaldea.
- Quintain (1957, by Tournoi) won the Continental Handicap as a 6-year-old.
- Flashing Top (1958, by Ménétrier) won the 1960 Shady Well Stakes. She produced six winners from six foals (including four stakes-placed runners).
- Flaming Page (1959, by Bull Page), the Canadian champion 3-year-old filly of 1962, won that year’s Canadian Oaks and Queen’s Plate and was second in the Kentucky Oaks. She produced 1970 English Triple Crown winner and English Horse of the Year Nijinsky II, an excellent sire, and 1970 Irish champion 2-year-old male Minsky, both by Northern Dancer. Through her only daughter, Fleur (by Victoria Park), she is the second dam of 1977 English Horse of the Year The Minstrel (a very good sire) and French Group 3 winner Far North.
- Flaming Victress (1963, by Victoria Park) won three of her 11 starts. She is the dam of stakes winner All for Victory (by One for All) and the second dam of 1987 Canadian champion 2-year-old filly Phoenix Factor, Grade 3 winner Wasatch, and the good Canadian sire Cool Victor.
- Friendly Relations (1966, by Nearctic) won one of her 12 starts. She is the dam of stakes winner Viendra (by Raise a Native) and second dam of 1997 Goodwood Handicap (AUS-G1) wnner Bellzevir and Grade 3 winners Morning Frolic, Endow, and Irish Forever. She is also the third dam of multiple Japanese Group 2 winner Super Hornet, Grade 2 winner Biding Time, and Grade 3 winner Be Cool.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Flaring Top was bred by A. B, Hancock, Sr. at his Claiborne Farm. She was purchased by E. P. Taylor for US$8,500 from the 1948 Keeneland July yearling sale. She was trained by Bert Alexandra at 2 and by Gordon “Pete” McCann at 3. She spent her broodmare career as the property of E. P. Taylor.
Pedigree notes
Flaring Top is inbred 4x4 to the good speed sire Ultimus. She is a half sister to two-time American champion filly Doubledogdare (by Double Jay), second dam of French Group 2 winner Full of Stars. She is also a half sister to stakes winners Top Double (by Double Jay) and Illuminable (by Sun Again). In addition, Flaring Top is also a half sister to Way to Go (by Olympia), dam of stakes winners Toward (by Bagdad) and Transportation (by Sir Gaylord).
Flaring Top and her siblings are out of Flaming Top, a half sister to 1937 Widener Challenge Cup Handicap winner Columbiana (by Petee-Wrack; dam of the good stakes winners Ocean Wave and Free America, both by Blenheim II) and to stakes winner Red Vulcan (by Pompey). In addition, Flaming Top is a half sister to Red Top (by Sir Gallahad III), dam of multiple Canadian stakes winner Kentario (by Whirlaway), and to Snow Flame (by Blenheim II), dam of stakes winners Early England (by Etonian) and Anglo (by Etonian).
The next dam in Flaring Top’s tail-female line, Firetop (by Man o’ War), was produced from the Ultimus mare Summit and is a half sister to 1936 American champion 2-year-old filly Apogee (by Pharamond II), dam of 1946 Carter Handicap winner Flood Town (by Johnstown) and juvenile stakes winners Acoma (by Johnstown) and Sofarsogood (by Revoked). Apogee is also the second dam of 1974 Sussex Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Ace of Aces, 1970 Discovery Handicap winner Burd Alane, and 1969 Derby Mexicano winner Decoma. Returning to Firetop, she is also a half sister to 1934 Schuylerville Stakes winner Uppermost (by Cohort), dam of 1944 Canadian champion 2-year-old male and 1945 King’s Plate winner Uttermost (by Soleil du Midi) and Canadian stakes winners Sayoonara (by Sweepster) and Ascendant (by Filisteo); to Scally (by Brown Prince II), dam of juvenile stakes winner Puchero (by Pot Au Feu); and to Maharanee (by Brown Prince II), dam of 1934 Alabama Stakes winner Hindu Queen (by Sickle) and multiple stakes winner Clarify (by Chatterton).
Books and media
Flaring Top is one of 51 important broodmares profiled in John Sparkman’s Foundation Mares: How Outstanding Female Families Shaped America’s Breeding Industry (Thoroughbred Times Books, 2008).
Last updated: December 30, 2022