Harlan was late to find his best form and managed only one stakes win, but he made it a good one, taking the 1994 Vosburgh Stakes (USA-G1) over some of the country’s best sprinters. His opportunities were rather limited in terms of both quality and quantity of mares and his stud career was regrettably short, but he made two significant contributions to Thoroughbred breeding: Menifee, called the “Sunday Silence of Korea” for his dominant performance as a stallion in that country, and Harlan’s Holiday, a good sire in his own right and sire of two-time American champion sire Into Mischief.
Race record
30 starts, 9 wins, 5 seconds, 1 third, US$403,174
1993:
1994:
Assessments
Rated at 118 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American sprinters of 1994, 4 pounds below champion Cherokee Run.
As an individual
A rather rough-looking, coarse dark bay or brown horse who bore a distinct resemblance to his maternal grandsire Halo, Harlan was strongly made with prominent withers and short cannons.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, Harlan sired 60 winners (58.8%) and 6 stakes winners (5.9%) from 102 named foals of racing age.
Notable progeny
Harlan’s Holiday (USA), Menifee (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Harlan was bred and owned by Arthur B. Hancock III and William T. Young (Overbrook Farm). He was trained by D. Wayne Lukas. Harlan entered stud in 1995 in Kentucky at Hancock's Stone Farm. He died in 1999.
Pedigree notes
Harlan is inbred 5x4 to the modern American foundation mare Almahmoud. He is a half brother to Firey Romance (by Explodent), dam of multiple listed stakes winner Swearingen (by Deposit Ticket) and third dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Pomeroys Pistol and Grade 3 winner Toowindytohaulrox. He is also a half brother to Romanticat (by Gato del Sol), dam of 1999 Spinaway Stakes (USA-G1) winner Things Change (by Stalwart) and listed stakes winner Dinner Break (by Tale of the Cat) and second dam of Grade 2 winner Hero of Order.
Harlan was produced from Country Romance, who won five stakes events in western Canada and was third in the 1979 Canadian Oaks. A half sister to multiple stakes winner Kirkland Park (by Vice Regent), she is out of the winning Gun Bow mare Sweet Romance, a half sister to Grade 2 winner Our Suiti Pie (by Cougar II). The next dam in Harlan’s tail-female line, the Argentine import Suiti (by Richer), won the 1962 Premio Comparacion and Premio Chile and is a full sister to Exelmans, dam of Argentine stakes winner Ellenore (by El Centauro II) and second dam of 1992 Gran Premio I. Municipalidad de Santiago (CHI-G1), multiple Argentine Group 2 winner Quartz, and Argentine Group 3 winners Exactly and Phone Call.
Fun facts
Last updated: September 6, 2023
Race record
30 starts, 9 wins, 5 seconds, 1 third, US$403,174
1993:
- 2nd Forego Handicap (USA-G2, 7FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Firecracker Handicap (USA-L, 8FT, Churchill Downs)
1994:
- Won Vosburgh Stakes (USA-G1, 7FD, Belmont)
Assessments
Rated at 118 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American sprinters of 1994, 4 pounds below champion Cherokee Run.
As an individual
A rather rough-looking, coarse dark bay or brown horse who bore a distinct resemblance to his maternal grandsire Halo, Harlan was strongly made with prominent withers and short cannons.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, Harlan sired 60 winners (58.8%) and 6 stakes winners (5.9%) from 102 named foals of racing age.
Notable progeny
Harlan’s Holiday (USA), Menifee (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Harlan was bred and owned by Arthur B. Hancock III and William T. Young (Overbrook Farm). He was trained by D. Wayne Lukas. Harlan entered stud in 1995 in Kentucky at Hancock's Stone Farm. He died in 1999.
Pedigree notes
Harlan is inbred 5x4 to the modern American foundation mare Almahmoud. He is a half brother to Firey Romance (by Explodent), dam of multiple listed stakes winner Swearingen (by Deposit Ticket) and third dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Pomeroys Pistol and Grade 3 winner Toowindytohaulrox. He is also a half brother to Romanticat (by Gato del Sol), dam of 1999 Spinaway Stakes (USA-G1) winner Things Change (by Stalwart) and listed stakes winner Dinner Break (by Tale of the Cat) and second dam of Grade 2 winner Hero of Order.
Harlan was produced from Country Romance, who won five stakes events in western Canada and was third in the 1979 Canadian Oaks. A half sister to multiple stakes winner Kirkland Park (by Vice Regent), she is out of the winning Gun Bow mare Sweet Romance, a half sister to Grade 2 winner Our Suiti Pie (by Cougar II). The next dam in Harlan’s tail-female line, the Argentine import Suiti (by Richer), won the 1962 Premio Comparacion and Premio Chile and is a full sister to Exelmans, dam of Argentine stakes winner Ellenore (by El Centauro II) and second dam of 1992 Gran Premio I. Municipalidad de Santiago (CHI-G1), multiple Argentine Group 2 winner Quartz, and Argentine Group 3 winners Exactly and Phone Call.
Fun facts
- Harlan is the name of both a small town and a county in southeastern Kentucky. The county and the town (which is the county seat) were named for Silas Harlan, an early Kentucky pioneer.
Last updated: September 6, 2023