Groupie Doll (USA)
April 14, 2008 – Living
Bowman’s Band (USA) x Deputy Doll (USA), by Silver Deputy (CAN)
Family 4-d
April 14, 2008 – Living
Bowman’s Band (USA) x Deputy Doll (USA), by Silver Deputy (CAN)
Family 4-d
Some horses make their own pedigrees, and Groupie Doll was one of them. The modestly bred filly improved steadily with maturity and earned two titles as America’s champion female sprinter before retiring to the paddocks as a member of Whisper Hill Farm’s elite broodmare band. So far, she has not been nearly as successful as a producer as she was as a racer.
Race record
23 starts, 12 wins, 4 seconds, 4 thirds, US$2,648,850
2011:
2012:
2013:
2014:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion female sprinter (2012, 2013)
Assessments
Rated at 121 pounds in the Sprint category on the 2012 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, 19 pounds below overall highweight Frankel (the European Horse of the Year) but rated as the top female on dirt.
Rated at 115 pounds in the Sprint category on the 2013 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, 15 pounds below the overall highweight, Australian Horse of the Year Black Caviar and 6 pounds below the top female on dirt, American champion 3-year-old filly Beholder.
As an individual
An attractive chestnut mare with exceptionally powerful hindquarters, Groupie Doll did not race as a 2-year-old. She seemed to have a problem with mental focus at 3 and early in her 4-year-old season but became much more focused and professional after blinkers were added to her equipment.
As a producer
As of May 16, 2024, Groupie Doll has produced six named foals of racing age; four have started and won.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Groupie Doll was bred and owned by the father-and-son team of Fred and William "Buff" Bradley (Indian Ridge Farm), who raced the mare in partnership with Brent Burns and Carl Hurst. She was trained by Buff Bradley and was regularly ridden by Rajiv Maragh during her championship seasons. Following her second Breeders' Cup win, Groupie Doll was sent to the 2013 Keeneland November mixed sale and sold for $3.1 million to Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm. She started twice more before her retirement.
Pedigree notes
Groupie Doll is inbred 3x5x5 to the great international sire Northern Dancer, the 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and American champion 3-year-old male. She is out of Deputy Doll, a winning half sister to listed stakes winner Russellthemussell (by American Standard). Deputy Doll is also a half sister to Slick Baby (by Northern Baby), dam of Grade 2-placed restricted stakes winner Aristotle (by Two Punch).
Deputy Doll is out of the unraced Best Turn mare Slick Turn, a full sister to Grade 2-placed stakes winner Turn Bold and a half sister to 1989 Demoiselle Stakes (USA-G1) winner Rootentootenwooten (by Diesis), dam of Grade 3 winner Kulkulcan (by Cox’s Ridge) and second dam of Grade 3 winners It’s Tea Time and Ultra Brat. Slick Turn is also a half sister to Berta Flora (by Roberto), dam of stakes winner Smart Too (by Smarten).
Slick Turn, in turn, was produced from the winner Bold Flora, whose sire Bold Favorite (by Bold Ruler) won six stakes races including the 1968 Illinois Derby and two editions of the Clark Handicap. Produced from Bellerose Handicap winner Floral Park (Alibhai x Flower Bed, by Beau Pere), Bold Flora is a half sister to Mugwumpery (by Assemblyman), dam of juvenile stakes winner Muckraker (by Judger), and to Patriotic Petunia, second dam of four stakes winners including 1989 Derby Italiano (ITY-G1) winner Prorutori and Australian Group 3 winner Stormy Regent.
Books and media
Footage of Groupie Doll’s win in the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgLsCJIQchc.
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photo taken by Jessica Morgan at the 2013 Keeneland November sale. Used by permission.
Last updated: June 12, 2024
Race record
23 starts, 12 wins, 4 seconds, 4 thirds, US$2,648,850
2011:
- Won Gardenia Stakes (USA-G3, 8FD, Ellis Park)
- 2nd Charles Town Oaks (USA-L, 7FD, Charles Town)
- 2nd Lexus Raven Run Stakes (USA-G2, 7FD, Keeneland)
2012:
- Won Humana Distaff Stakes (USA-G1, 7F, Churchill Downs: new track record 1:20.44)
- Won Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes. (USA-G2, 6.5FA, Presque Isle Downs)
- Won Vinery Madison Stakes (USA-G1, 7FA, Keeneland)
- Won Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (USA-G1, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (USA-G2, 6FA, Keeneland)
- 2nd NYRA Cigar Mile (USA-G1, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Inside Information Stakes (USA-G2, 7FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 3rd Sabin Stakes (USA-G3, 8FD, Gulfstream Park)
2013:
- Won Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (USA-G1, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes (USA-G2, 6.5FA, Presque Isle Downs)
- 3rd Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (USA-G3, 6FA, Keeneland)
- 3rd Gardenia Stakes (USA-G3, 8FD, Ellis Park)
2014:
- Won Hurricane Bertie Stakes (USA-G3, 6.5FD, Gulfstream Park)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion female sprinter (2012, 2013)
Assessments
Rated at 121 pounds in the Sprint category on the 2012 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, 19 pounds below overall highweight Frankel (the European Horse of the Year) but rated as the top female on dirt.
Rated at 115 pounds in the Sprint category on the 2013 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, 15 pounds below the overall highweight, Australian Horse of the Year Black Caviar and 6 pounds below the top female on dirt, American champion 3-year-old filly Beholder.
As an individual
An attractive chestnut mare with exceptionally powerful hindquarters, Groupie Doll did not race as a 2-year-old. She seemed to have a problem with mental focus at 3 and early in her 4-year-old season but became much more focused and professional after blinkers were added to her equipment.
As a producer
As of May 16, 2024, Groupie Doll has produced six named foals of racing age; four have started and won.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Groupie Doll was bred and owned by the father-and-son team of Fred and William "Buff" Bradley (Indian Ridge Farm), who raced the mare in partnership with Brent Burns and Carl Hurst. She was trained by Buff Bradley and was regularly ridden by Rajiv Maragh during her championship seasons. Following her second Breeders' Cup win, Groupie Doll was sent to the 2013 Keeneland November mixed sale and sold for $3.1 million to Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm. She started twice more before her retirement.
Pedigree notes
Groupie Doll is inbred 3x5x5 to the great international sire Northern Dancer, the 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and American champion 3-year-old male. She is out of Deputy Doll, a winning half sister to listed stakes winner Russellthemussell (by American Standard). Deputy Doll is also a half sister to Slick Baby (by Northern Baby), dam of Grade 2-placed restricted stakes winner Aristotle (by Two Punch).
Deputy Doll is out of the unraced Best Turn mare Slick Turn, a full sister to Grade 2-placed stakes winner Turn Bold and a half sister to 1989 Demoiselle Stakes (USA-G1) winner Rootentootenwooten (by Diesis), dam of Grade 3 winner Kulkulcan (by Cox’s Ridge) and second dam of Grade 3 winners It’s Tea Time and Ultra Brat. Slick Turn is also a half sister to Berta Flora (by Roberto), dam of stakes winner Smart Too (by Smarten).
Slick Turn, in turn, was produced from the winner Bold Flora, whose sire Bold Favorite (by Bold Ruler) won six stakes races including the 1968 Illinois Derby and two editions of the Clark Handicap. Produced from Bellerose Handicap winner Floral Park (Alibhai x Flower Bed, by Beau Pere), Bold Flora is a half sister to Mugwumpery (by Assemblyman), dam of juvenile stakes winner Muckraker (by Judger), and to Patriotic Petunia, second dam of four stakes winners including 1989 Derby Italiano (ITY-G1) winner Prorutori and Australian Group 3 winner Stormy Regent.
Books and media
Footage of Groupie Doll’s win in the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgLsCJIQchc.
Fun facts
- While Groupie Doll was turned out during the spring of 2013 after not training to Buff Bradley’s satisfaction, her pasture buddy was the retired Grade 1-winning gelding Brass Hat, also bred and owned by the Bradleys.
- Groupie Doll defeated two other Eclipse winners in the champion female sprinter category during her career, beating 2011 champion Musical Romance in the 2012 Madison Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint and 2014 champion Judy the Beauty in the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.
- In 2015, Ellis Park renamed its Gardenia Stakes in Groupie Doll’s honor.
Photo credit
Photo taken by Jessica Morgan at the 2013 Keeneland November sale. Used by permission.
Last updated: June 12, 2024