Grey Flight (USA)
April 3, 1945 – 1974
Mahmoud (FR) x Planetoid (USA), by Ariel (USA)
Family 5-f
"GENETIC GEM"
April 3, 1945 – 1974
Mahmoud (FR) x Planetoid (USA), by Ariel (USA)
Family 5-f
"GENETIC GEM"
A quick juvenile filly, Grey Flight failed to improve on her 2-year-old form but was sound and durable enough to make 21 starts at 3. Incredibly, her record of nine stakes winners from 15 foals, including one champion, was not enough to earn her Kentucky Broodmare of the Year honors, but her long-term influence far outstrips that of most of the mares who did earn that title. Her family had a tremendous influence on the prestigious Wheatley Stable and Phipps breeding programs and continues to make its mark on Thoroughbred breeding.
Race record
35 starts, 12 wins, 9 seconds, 6 thirds, US$68,990
1947:
Assessments
Ranked fourth on the Experimental Free Handicap among American juvenile fillies of 1947.
As an individual
A gray mare, Grey Flight was small but very attractive and was commonly held to bear a close resemblance to her sire, Mahmoud. Neatly made, well-balanced and close-coupled with a feminine head, she had a good shoulder and powerful hindquarters. Trainer "Sunny Jim" Fitzsimmons clearly considered her a pure sprinter, starting her only once at a distance beyond six furlongs.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Grey Flight produced 15 named foals. All of her foals started and 14 won. Her important foals were as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Grey Flight was bred by J. T. Taylor, who sold her privately as a weanling to Abram S. Hewitt. Hewitt, in turn, consigned the filly to the Saratoga yearling sale, where she was purchased for US$35,000 (the sale-topping price for a filly) by Mrs. Henry Carnegie Phipps for her Wheatley Stable. Grey Flight was trained by James “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons.
Pedigree notes
Grey Flight is inbred 5x4 to Roi Herode. She is a half sister to Just-a-Minute (by Can't Wait), dam of 1950 Del Mar Futurity winner Patch (by Dogpatch), 1956 Las Flores Handicap winner On the Move (by Mafosta) and 1953 La Jolla Handicap winner Threesome (by Dogpatch). She is also a half sister to Planetrix (by Ambiorix), dam of the minor stakes winner Son Duke (by Marcador) and second dam of Grade 2 winner Soft Victory and Grade 3 winner He's Vivacious.
Grey Flight's dam Planetoid is one of four stakes winners produced from the excellent broodmare La Chica (by Sweep). A full sister to 1940 Tremont Stakes winner Chicuelo and to stakes producer La Rhumba, she is a half sister to 1938 American champion 2-year-old male El Chico (by John P. Grier) and to 1937 Autumn Day Stakes winner Miyako (by John P. Grier), dam of the good steeplechaser Columbus (by Discovery) and second dam of the great Native Dancer. Planetoid is also a half sister to Chelita (by Sir Gallahad III), dam of stakes winners Travertine (by Nordlicht) and Scansion (by Heliodorus) and second dam of Irish Group 3 winner Misty Bend, and to La Chicuela (by Blenheim II), dam of 1957 Firenze Handicap winner Gay Life (by Eight Thirty).
La Chica herself never raced. A half sister to Danise M. (by Épinard), dam of the good juvenile filly Incidentally (by Mr. Busher) and second dam of 1961 New Orleans Handicap winner Greek Star, she is out of the unraced Roi Herode mare La Grisette.
Books and media
Photo credit
Grey Flight, undated. Photo by Joel Clyne Meadors. From the Keeneland Library Meadors Collection; used by permission. Please contact the Keeneland Library with any questions regarding use or licensure of this photo.
Last updated: May 9, 2024
Race record
35 starts, 12 wins, 9 seconds, 6 thirds, US$68,990
1947:
- Won Autumn Day Stakes (USA, 6FD, Empire City)
- 2nd Frizette Stakes (USA, 6FD, Jamaica)
- 2nd Astarita Stakes (USA, 6FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Astoria Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Rosedale Stakes (USA, 5FD, Jamaica)
- 3rd Fashion Stakes (USA, 4.5FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Spinaway Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
Assessments
Ranked fourth on the Experimental Free Handicap among American juvenile fillies of 1947.
As an individual
A gray mare, Grey Flight was small but very attractive and was commonly held to bear a close resemblance to her sire, Mahmoud. Neatly made, well-balanced and close-coupled with a feminine head, she had a good shoulder and powerful hindquarters. Trainer "Sunny Jim" Fitzsimmons clearly considered her a pure sprinter, starting her only once at a distance beyond six furlongs.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Grey Flight produced 15 named foals. All of her foals started and 14 won. Her important foals were as follow:
- Full Flight (1951, by Ambiorix; a gelding) won four stakes races including the 1954 Leonard Richards Stakes and Saranac Handicap.
- Misty Morn (1952, by Princequillo) was the American champion 3-year-old filly and co-champion handicap female of 1955. She produced five stakes winners including 1964 American champion 2-year-old male Bold Lad (by Bold Ruler) and 1966 American champion 2-year-old male Successor (by Bold Ruler) and was named the 1963 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. She is the second dam of 1969 Schuylerville Stakes winner Bright Sun and the third dam of multiple Grade 1 winners Dispute and Adjudicating, 1984 Flamingo Stakes (USA-G1) winner Time for a Change, 1990 Hollywood Oaks (USA-G1) winner Patches, Grade 2 winner Red Attack and Grade/Group 3 winners La Dorga, Heron Bay and Squan Song.
- Gray Phantom (1953, by Ambiorix) won three stakes races. He was a fairly useful sire, getting 11 stakes winners from 223 named foals.
- Misty Flight (1955, by Princequillo) won the 1957 Remsen Stakes and was ranked fifth among juvenile males of 1957 on the Experimental Free Handicap. He sired 19 stakes winners from 288 named foals and was a very consistent sire of winners as 78 percent of his foals won at some level.
- Misty Day (1958, by Nasrullah) won the 1962 Sport Page Handicap. He sired 18 stakes winners from 377 named foals.
- Bold Princess (1960, by Bold Ruler) won the 1962 Schuylerville Stakes. She is the dam of 1969 Selima Stakes winner Predictable (by Tatán), 1976 United Nations Handicap (USA-G1) winner Intrepid Hero (by Forli) and multiple Irish stakes winner Primed (by Pronto). She is also the dam of Group 3-placed Sovereign Dancer (by Northern Dancer), a good sire whose best runners include 1990 American champion turf male Itsallgreektome, 1984 Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) winner Gate Dancer, 1996 Preakness Stakes winner Louis Quatorze and multiple Group 1 winner Priolo. In addition, Bold Princess is the second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Formal Dinner and the third dam of 1993 Canadian champion older male Cozzene's Prince, 1996 Puerto Rican imported champion 2-year-old male Cmdte Pepe Rios, 2002 Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) winner Caller One, Grade/Group 2 winners Capricorn Belle and Prospect Bay and Grade/Group 3 winners Sharp Appeal, Gillespie and Queen Isolt.
- Bold Queen (1961, by Bold Ruler) won the 1964 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes. She was an extremely disappointing broodmare and had no important producers among her daughters.
- Signore (1962, by Ribot) won the 1966 Saratoga National Hurdle Stakes.
- What a Pleasure (1965, by Bold Ruler) won the 1967 Hopeful Stakes. He was the American champion sire of 1975 and 1976 and sired 50 stakes winners from 498 named foals.
- Quick Flight (1966, by Herbager) is the third dam of 1990 Ascot Gold Cup (ENG-G1) winner Ashal, who was highweighted among German older males of 1990 at 14+ furlongs.
- Clear Ceiling (1968, by Bold Ruler) is the dam of 1980 One Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1) winner Quick as Lightning (by Buckpasser), 1981 Waterford Candelabra Stakes (ENG-G3) winner Stratospheric (by Majestic Light) and Grade 1-placed stakes winner Infinite (by Majestic Light). She is the second dam of 1995 American champion older female Inside Information and multiple Grade 1 winner Educated Risk and is the third dam of 2000 American champion sprinter Kona Gold, 2005 American champion 3-year-old filly Smuggler and Grade 3 winners Defer, Reload and Philanthropist.
- Pleasant Flight (1969, by Bold Ruler) produced 1980 Pan American Handicap (USA-G2) winner Flitalong (by Herbager) and Italian stakes winner On a Cloud (by Val de l'Orne). She is the second dam of Grade 2 winner Soar to the Stars and Grade 3 winner Cassidy and the third dam of multiple Group 1 winner Priolo, a two-time highweight in France.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Grey Flight was bred by J. T. Taylor, who sold her privately as a weanling to Abram S. Hewitt. Hewitt, in turn, consigned the filly to the Saratoga yearling sale, where she was purchased for US$35,000 (the sale-topping price for a filly) by Mrs. Henry Carnegie Phipps for her Wheatley Stable. Grey Flight was trained by James “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons.
Pedigree notes
Grey Flight is inbred 5x4 to Roi Herode. She is a half sister to Just-a-Minute (by Can't Wait), dam of 1950 Del Mar Futurity winner Patch (by Dogpatch), 1956 Las Flores Handicap winner On the Move (by Mafosta) and 1953 La Jolla Handicap winner Threesome (by Dogpatch). She is also a half sister to Planetrix (by Ambiorix), dam of the minor stakes winner Son Duke (by Marcador) and second dam of Grade 2 winner Soft Victory and Grade 3 winner He's Vivacious.
Grey Flight's dam Planetoid is one of four stakes winners produced from the excellent broodmare La Chica (by Sweep). A full sister to 1940 Tremont Stakes winner Chicuelo and to stakes producer La Rhumba, she is a half sister to 1938 American champion 2-year-old male El Chico (by John P. Grier) and to 1937 Autumn Day Stakes winner Miyako (by John P. Grier), dam of the good steeplechaser Columbus (by Discovery) and second dam of the great Native Dancer. Planetoid is also a half sister to Chelita (by Sir Gallahad III), dam of stakes winners Travertine (by Nordlicht) and Scansion (by Heliodorus) and second dam of Irish Group 3 winner Misty Bend, and to La Chicuela (by Blenheim II), dam of 1957 Firenze Handicap winner Gay Life (by Eight Thirty).
La Chica herself never raced. A half sister to Danise M. (by Épinard), dam of the good juvenile filly Incidentally (by Mr. Busher) and second dam of 1961 New Orleans Handicap winner Greek Star, she is out of the unraced Roi Herode mare La Grisette.
Books and media
- Grey Flight is one of 24 important broodmares profiles in Edward Bowen's Matriarchs: Great Mares of the 20th Century (1999, 2000, The Blood-Horse, Inc.).
- Grey Flight is profiled in Chapter 45 of John Sparkman's Foundation Mares: How Outstanding Female Families Shaped the American Breeding Industry (2008, Thoroughbred Times Books).
Photo credit
Grey Flight, undated. Photo by Joel Clyne Meadors. From the Keeneland Library Meadors Collection; used by permission. Please contact the Keeneland Library with any questions regarding use or licensure of this photo.
Last updated: May 9, 2024