Gambetta was the first of Rough Shod II's four stakes winners and was the only one sired by a stallion other than Nantallah. Her appearance relatively early in Rough Shod II's broodmare career was fortunate, as the mare managed to produce only three foals of little account during the next six years. Without Gambetta, Rough Shod II might well have been sold off as a cull, losing her access to Claiborne Farm's stallions (of which Nantallah was one). Gambetta herself made a substantial contribution to Rough Shod II's reputation as a great foundation mare, producing three-time American champion filly Gamely and becoming the granddam of the crack turf mare Drumtop and the great-granddam of the good sire Topsider.
Race record
12 starts, 6 wins, 1 second, 1 third, US$28,738
1954:
Assessments
Rated at 107 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1954, 10 pounds below champion juvenile filly High Voltage.
As an individual
A bay mare, Gambetta was racy-looking and more refined than her dam. She showed good form over sprint distances as a juvenile but failed to progress from there.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Gambetta produced seven named foals, of which six started and won. Her important foals were as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Gambetta was bred and owned by Thomas Girdler, who bred her first four foals. She was trained by K. Noe. She was acquired by Claiborne Farm after the birth of her 1960 foal, the Tulyar gelding Terminator. She died in 1965.
Pedigree notes
Gambetta is inbred 4x3 to three-time English leading sire Blandford and 5x5x4 to Blandford's sire Swynford, who won the 1910 St. Leger Stakes and led the English general sire list in 1923. She is a half sister to 1961 American co-champion 2-year-old colt Ridan; to the good stakes winner Lt. Stevens; and to 1965 American champion 2-year-old filly and co-Horse of the Year Moccasin, all by Nantallah. Moccasin, in turn, is the dam of seven stakes winners include 1971 English and Irish champion 2-year-old male Apalachee (by Round Table) and 1982 Irish champion older male and sprinter Belted Earl (by Damascus). In addition, Gambetta is a half sister to Thong (by Nantallah), dam of 1972 Irish champion juvenile male and 1973 English champion miler Thatch (by Forli), multiple Grade 1 winner King Pellinore (by Round Table) and 1974 Coronation Stakes (ENG-2) winner Lisadell (by Forli). Through her daughter Special (by Forli), Thong is the second dam of Nureyev and the third dam of Sadler's Wells and Fairy King, all by Northern Dancer and all notable sires.
Produced from 1934 Yorkshire Oaks winner Dalmary (by Blandford), Gambetta's dam Rough Shod II is a half sister to 1948 Leicestershire Oaks winner Corinacy (by Mieuxcé) and to Gold Mary (by Solario), dam of the stakes-winning Nearco fillies Flying Slipper and Nectarine and their multiple stakes-producing full sister Sarie. Gold Mary is also the dam of Spring Light (by Signal Light), dam of 1961 Irish Two Thousand Guineas winner Light Year (by Chamier). Rough Shod II is also a half sister to stakes-placed Jennydang (by Colombo), whose stakes-winning son Pewter Platter (by Owen Tudor) became a good sire in Brazil, and to Miss Know All (by Rhodes Scholar), sire of the good stakes winner Le Sage (by Chamossaire).
Last updated: September 19, 2020
Race record
12 starts, 6 wins, 1 second, 1 third, US$28,738
1954:
- Won Debutante Stakes (USA, 6FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Susan Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Thistledown)
- 3rd Pollyanna Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Arlington Park)
Assessments
Rated at 107 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1954, 10 pounds below champion juvenile filly High Voltage.
As an individual
A bay mare, Gambetta was racy-looking and more refined than her dam. She showed good form over sprint distances as a juvenile but failed to progress from there.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Gambetta produced seven named foals, of which six started and won. Her important foals were as follow:
- Staretta (1957, by Dark Star) won the 1960 Miss Woodford Stakes and the 1961 Colonial Handicap. She is the dam of 1966 National Stallion Stakes winner Lady Brilliance (by Globemaster) and the second dam of 1987 Matriarch Stakes (USA-G1) winner Asteroid Field.
- Zonah (1958, by Nasrullah) was stakes-placed. She is the dam of 1975 Observer Gold Cup (ENG-G1) winner Take Your Place and the crack turf mare Drumtop, both by Round Table. She is the second dam of 1982 Hollywood Derby (USA-G1) winner Victory Zone, Grade 3 winner Surely Georgie's, French Group G3 winner Brogan and the sprint stakes winner and good stallion Topsider. In addition, Zonah is the third dam of German and Irish Group 2 winner George Augustus, German Group 2 winner Mongol Warrior (who was rated the champion imported 3-year-old male of 1996 in Spain), multiple French Group 3 winner New Frontier, Irish Group 3 winner Chimes at Midnight, Grade 3 winner Tank and the useful speed sire Storm Boot.
- Aphonia (1962, by Dunce) produced stakes winners George Spelvin (by Nantallah), Messina (by Secretariat) and Sitzmark (by J. O. Tobin). She is also the dam of Cutlass (by Damascus), who proved a useful regional sire in Florida. She is the second dam of multiple stakes winners Regal Rumor and Table the Rumor and the third dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Grand Jewel, Japanese Group 2 winner Telegnosis and Canadian Grade 3 winner Elektraline.
- Gamely (1964, by Bold Ruler) won American titles as 1967 co-champion 3-year-old filly and 1968 and 1969 champion handicap female. She is the dam of 1973 Dewhurst Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Cellini (by Round Table), who proved virtually sterile when tried at stud. She is also the third dam of Brazilian Group 2 winner Lancesca and Brazilian Group 3 winner Fuero Juzgo.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Gambetta was bred and owned by Thomas Girdler, who bred her first four foals. She was trained by K. Noe. She was acquired by Claiborne Farm after the birth of her 1960 foal, the Tulyar gelding Terminator. She died in 1965.
Pedigree notes
Gambetta is inbred 4x3 to three-time English leading sire Blandford and 5x5x4 to Blandford's sire Swynford, who won the 1910 St. Leger Stakes and led the English general sire list in 1923. She is a half sister to 1961 American co-champion 2-year-old colt Ridan; to the good stakes winner Lt. Stevens; and to 1965 American champion 2-year-old filly and co-Horse of the Year Moccasin, all by Nantallah. Moccasin, in turn, is the dam of seven stakes winners include 1971 English and Irish champion 2-year-old male Apalachee (by Round Table) and 1982 Irish champion older male and sprinter Belted Earl (by Damascus). In addition, Gambetta is a half sister to Thong (by Nantallah), dam of 1972 Irish champion juvenile male and 1973 English champion miler Thatch (by Forli), multiple Grade 1 winner King Pellinore (by Round Table) and 1974 Coronation Stakes (ENG-2) winner Lisadell (by Forli). Through her daughter Special (by Forli), Thong is the second dam of Nureyev and the third dam of Sadler's Wells and Fairy King, all by Northern Dancer and all notable sires.
Produced from 1934 Yorkshire Oaks winner Dalmary (by Blandford), Gambetta's dam Rough Shod II is a half sister to 1948 Leicestershire Oaks winner Corinacy (by Mieuxcé) and to Gold Mary (by Solario), dam of the stakes-winning Nearco fillies Flying Slipper and Nectarine and their multiple stakes-producing full sister Sarie. Gold Mary is also the dam of Spring Light (by Signal Light), dam of 1961 Irish Two Thousand Guineas winner Light Year (by Chamier). Rough Shod II is also a half sister to stakes-placed Jennydang (by Colombo), whose stakes-winning son Pewter Platter (by Owen Tudor) became a good sire in Brazil, and to Miss Know All (by Rhodes Scholar), sire of the good stakes winner Le Sage (by Chamossaire).
Last updated: September 19, 2020