Hatchet Man (USA)
March 30, 1971 – April 17, 1996
The Axe II (USA) x Bebopper (USA), by Tom Fool (USA)
Family 11-g
March 30, 1971 – April 17, 1996
The Axe II (USA) x Bebopper (USA), by Tom Fool (USA)
Family 11-g
Hatchet Man was a later-maturing horse than his half brother Stop the Music and came into his own as a 5-year-old, winning two Grade 1 handicaps while receiving sizable weight advantages. He was a useful stallion perhaps best remembered as the broodmare sire of 2001 American champion sprinter Xtra Heat, 1991 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) winner Strike the Gold and 1992 Breeders' Cup Sprint (USA-G1) winner Thirty Slews.
Race record
32 starts, 10 wins, 6 seconds, 5 thirds, US$359,491
1974:
1975:
1976:
Assessments
Rated at 116 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1974, 10 pounds below champion Little Current.
Rated at 113 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1975, 23 pounds below champion and Horse of the Year Forego.
Rated at 115 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1976, 25 pounds below champion and Horse of the Year Forego.
As an individual
A handsome gray horse of staying type, Hatchet Man had prominent withers, a deep shoulder and a strong, straight hind leg. He was officially registered as a roan. He typically closed from off the pace during his races.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Hatchet Man sired 323 winners (62.5%) and 31 stakes winners (6.0%) from 517 named foals. The Blood-Horse credits Hatchet Man with 35 stakes winners (6.8%).
Notable progeny
Half Iced (USA), Single Blade (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Strike the Gold (USA), Thirty Slews (USA), Xtra Heat (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Hatchet Man was bred by Greentree Stud and raced in the colors of Greentree Stable. He was trained by John M. Gaver, Sr. He died of an apparent heart attack at Win Row Farm in Ohio in 1996.
Pedigree notes
Hatchet Man is inbred 4x5 to two-time American Horse of the Year Equipoise and 5x5 to the important sire Teddy. He is a half brother to 1973 Dwyer Stakes (USA-G2) winner and good sire Stop the Music (by Hail to Reason); to Crazy Music (by Hail to Reason), dam of 1985 Laurel Turf Cup Handicap (USA-G3) winner Crazy Moon (by Stage Door Johnny); and to listed stakes winner Flag Waver (by Hoist the Flag), dam of stakes winner Abidjan (by Sir Ivor), second dam of 1999 Illinois Derby (USA-G2) winner Vision and Verse, and third dam of 2012/13 Ecuadorean Horse of the Year Shamui, 2008 Canadian champion 3-year-old filly Ginger Brew, 2018 Grande Prêmio São Paulo (BRZ-G1) winner Euquemando, 2021 Woodward Stakes (USA-G1) winner Art Collector, Grade 2 winner Bourbon Bay, and Brazilian Group 3 winner First Fighter. In addition, Hatchet Man is a half brother to Boasting (by Bold Lad), second dam of 1996 American champion 3-year-old filly Yanks Music.
Hatchet Man's dam Bebopper is a winning half sister to stakes-placed Stepping High (by No Robbery), dam of 1978 Saranac Stakes (USA-G2) winner and 1985 American champion sire Buckaroo (by Buckpasser) and listed stakes winner Parade Marshal (by Caro), a successful sire in Argentina. She is also a half sister to Clasbio (by Outing Class), dam of restricted stakes winner Genista (by Good Counsel), and to Larceny Gal (by No Robbery), dam of stakes winner Smuggled (by Sham) and second dam of Grade 3 winner Astudillo. The sisters' dam, Bebop II (by 1951 French champion sire Prince Bio) is a stakes-placed half sister to 1954 Oaks Stakes winner Sun Cap (by Sunny Boy) and 1952 Prix Jean Prat winner La Varende (by Blue Moon) and is out of Capellina, by 1923 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) winner Le Capucin.
Fun facts
Last updated: November 17, 2023
Race record
32 starts, 10 wins, 6 seconds, 5 thirds, US$359,491
1974:
- Won Dwyer Stakes (USA-G2, 10FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Jim Dandy Stakes (USA-G3, 9FD, Saratoga; from third by disqualification)
1975:
- Won Assault Handicap (USA, 9FD, Belmont)
1976:
- Won Widener Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Hialeah)
- Won Amory L. Haskell Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Monmouth)
- 2nd New Orleans Handicap (USA-G3, 9FD, Fair Grounds)
- 3rd Nassau County Handicap (USA-G3, 9FD, Belmont)
Assessments
Rated at 116 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1974, 10 pounds below champion Little Current.
Rated at 113 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1975, 23 pounds below champion and Horse of the Year Forego.
Rated at 115 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1976, 25 pounds below champion and Horse of the Year Forego.
As an individual
A handsome gray horse of staying type, Hatchet Man had prominent withers, a deep shoulder and a strong, straight hind leg. He was officially registered as a roan. He typically closed from off the pace during his races.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Hatchet Man sired 323 winners (62.5%) and 31 stakes winners (6.0%) from 517 named foals. The Blood-Horse credits Hatchet Man with 35 stakes winners (6.8%).
Notable progeny
Half Iced (USA), Single Blade (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Strike the Gold (USA), Thirty Slews (USA), Xtra Heat (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Hatchet Man was bred by Greentree Stud and raced in the colors of Greentree Stable. He was trained by John M. Gaver, Sr. He died of an apparent heart attack at Win Row Farm in Ohio in 1996.
Pedigree notes
Hatchet Man is inbred 4x5 to two-time American Horse of the Year Equipoise and 5x5 to the important sire Teddy. He is a half brother to 1973 Dwyer Stakes (USA-G2) winner and good sire Stop the Music (by Hail to Reason); to Crazy Music (by Hail to Reason), dam of 1985 Laurel Turf Cup Handicap (USA-G3) winner Crazy Moon (by Stage Door Johnny); and to listed stakes winner Flag Waver (by Hoist the Flag), dam of stakes winner Abidjan (by Sir Ivor), second dam of 1999 Illinois Derby (USA-G2) winner Vision and Verse, and third dam of 2012/13 Ecuadorean Horse of the Year Shamui, 2008 Canadian champion 3-year-old filly Ginger Brew, 2018 Grande Prêmio São Paulo (BRZ-G1) winner Euquemando, 2021 Woodward Stakes (USA-G1) winner Art Collector, Grade 2 winner Bourbon Bay, and Brazilian Group 3 winner First Fighter. In addition, Hatchet Man is a half brother to Boasting (by Bold Lad), second dam of 1996 American champion 3-year-old filly Yanks Music.
Hatchet Man's dam Bebopper is a winning half sister to stakes-placed Stepping High (by No Robbery), dam of 1978 Saranac Stakes (USA-G2) winner and 1985 American champion sire Buckaroo (by Buckpasser) and listed stakes winner Parade Marshal (by Caro), a successful sire in Argentina. She is also a half sister to Clasbio (by Outing Class), dam of restricted stakes winner Genista (by Good Counsel), and to Larceny Gal (by No Robbery), dam of stakes winner Smuggled (by Sham) and second dam of Grade 3 winner Astudillo. The sisters' dam, Bebop II (by 1951 French champion sire Prince Bio) is a stakes-placed half sister to 1954 Oaks Stakes winner Sun Cap (by Sunny Boy) and 1952 Prix Jean Prat winner La Varende (by Blue Moon) and is out of Capellina, by 1923 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) winner Le Capucin.
Fun facts
- In business and political slang, a hatchet man is a person charged with carrying out controversial or unpleasant duties for an employer, such as notifying people that they've been fired or delivering vitriolic verbal attacks against one of the employer's rivals.
Last updated: November 17, 2023