A champion in a very good juvenile filly division in 1954, High Voltage came very close to championship form at 3 as well, ranking behind only stablemate Misty Morn in 1955. Her form tailed off after her 3-year-old season, but she found her way back to prominence as a successful broodmare.
Race record
45 starts, 13 wins, 5 seconds, 7 thirds, US$362,240
1954:
1955:
1956:
Honors
American champion 2-year-old filly (1954)
Assessments
Topweighted among juvenile fillies on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1954 with 117 pounds, 1 pound above Delta and Myrtle's Jet.
Rated at 125 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American fillies and mares of 1955, 1 pound below champion 3-year-old filly Misty Morn.
As an individual
An attractive gray mare who stood about 15.3 hands at the end of her juvenile season, High Voltage was short-coupled, well-rounded and muscular. She was sickle-hocked but was correct in front with an excellent shoulder. She had an excellent disposition while racing.
As a producer
High Voltage produced 10 named foals, of which eight started and six won. Her important foals were as follow:
Connections
Foaled at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky, High Voltage was bred and owned by Wheatley Stable. She was trained by James “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons.
Pedigree notes
High Voltage is inbred 4x4 to Phalaris and 5x5 to Chaucer through the stallions Pharos and Pharamond II, who were bred on the same cross of Phalaris to Chaucer mares. She is out of the winning Menow mare Dynamo, making her a full sister to stakes-placed Magneto, dam of 1967 Whitney Stakes winner Stupendous (by Bold Ruler) and third dam of English Group 2 winner Imperial Bailiwick, and a half sister to Coastal Trade (by Coastal Traffic), dam of 1968 Flamingo Stakes winner Wise Exchange (by Promised Land). High Voltage is also a half sister to Beguiling (by Nasrullah), dam of 1964 Vagrancy Handicap winner No Resisting (by Ambiorix), second dam of Grade 2 winner Rhoman Rule (by Stop the Music), and third dam of multiple Australian Grade 1 winner Tempest Morn.
Dynamo, in turn, is a half sister to multiple stakes winner Stronghold (by Hard Tack) and is out of stakes-placed Bransome (by Royal Minstrel), a half sister to 1940 Pimlico Futurity winner Bold Irishman (by Sir Gallahad III), 1942 Interborough Handicap winner Eire (by Hard Tack), and 1935 Fashion Stakes winner Mag Mell (by Pompey). Produced from 1930 Gazelle Stakes winner Erin (by Transmute), Bransome is also a half sister to Bold Irish (by Fighting Fox), whose branch of the family includes champions Ruffian, Castle Forbes, Green Forest, and Epitome as well as Classic winners Fusaichi Pegasus and Pine Bluff and the fine sire Icecapade.
Books and media
High Voltage is profiled in Chapter 8 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: August 4, 2022
Race record
45 starts, 13 wins, 5 seconds, 7 thirds, US$362,240
1954:
- Won Selima Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Laurel)
- Won Matron Stakes (USA, 6FD, Belmont)
- Won Colleen Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Monmouth)
- Won National Stallion Stakes (Fillies) (USA, 5FD, Belmont)
- Won Rosedale Stakes (USA, 5FD, Jamaica)
- 2nd Astarita Stakes (USA, 6FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Fashion Stakes (USA, 4.5FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Spinaway Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
1955:
- Won Acorn Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Coaching Club American Oaks (USA, 11FD, Belmont)
- Won Vineland Handicap (USA, 9FD, Garden State)
- Won Delaware Oaks (USA, 9FD, Delaware)
- Won Black Eyed Susan Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Pimlico)
- 2nd Jersey Belle Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Garden State)
- 3rd Gazelle Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Aqueduct)
1956:
- 2nd Columbiana Handicap (USA, 7FD, Hialeah)
- 3rd Black Helen Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hialeah)
Honors
American champion 2-year-old filly (1954)
Assessments
Topweighted among juvenile fillies on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1954 with 117 pounds, 1 pound above Delta and Myrtle's Jet.
Rated at 125 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American fillies and mares of 1955, 1 pound below champion 3-year-old filly Misty Morn.
As an individual
An attractive gray mare who stood about 15.3 hands at the end of her juvenile season, High Voltage was short-coupled, well-rounded and muscular. She was sickle-hocked but was correct in front with an excellent shoulder. She had an excellent disposition while racing.
As a producer
High Voltage produced 10 named foals, of which eight started and six won. Her important foals were as follow:
- Charged (1959, by Princequillo) produced stakes winner Prince of Gold (by Fast Hilarious).
- Bold Commander (1960, by Bold Ruler) won the 1963 Chesapeake Stakes. From 405 named foals, he sired 30 stakes winners headed by 1970 Kentucky Derby winner Dust Commander.
- Impressive (1963, by Court Martial) was the American champion sprinter of 1966. From 500 named foals, he sired 23 stakes winners.
- Great Power (1964, by Bold Ruler) won the 1966 Sapling Stakes. He died as a 4-year-old.
- Irradiate (1966, by Ribot) was stakes-placed on the track. She is the dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Majestic Light (by Majestic Prince), a successful sire; of multiple Grade 2 winner Fluorescent Light (by Herbager); and of 1973 Colleen Stakes (USA-G3) winner Celestial Lights (by Bold Ruler).
- Overpowering (1967, by Bold Ruler) produced multiple Grade 3 winner Proctor, multiple French stakes winner Al Rahib, and stakes winner Over Your Shoulder, all by Graustark. She is the second dam of four stakes winners.
- Flood Light (1968, by Bold Lad) produced stakes winner Swift Bird (by Northern Dancer). She is the second dam of multiple Spanish champion Eowyn and the third dam of Grade 3 winner R Friar Tuck.
Connections
Foaled at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky, High Voltage was bred and owned by Wheatley Stable. She was trained by James “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons.
Pedigree notes
High Voltage is inbred 4x4 to Phalaris and 5x5 to Chaucer through the stallions Pharos and Pharamond II, who were bred on the same cross of Phalaris to Chaucer mares. She is out of the winning Menow mare Dynamo, making her a full sister to stakes-placed Magneto, dam of 1967 Whitney Stakes winner Stupendous (by Bold Ruler) and third dam of English Group 2 winner Imperial Bailiwick, and a half sister to Coastal Trade (by Coastal Traffic), dam of 1968 Flamingo Stakes winner Wise Exchange (by Promised Land). High Voltage is also a half sister to Beguiling (by Nasrullah), dam of 1964 Vagrancy Handicap winner No Resisting (by Ambiorix), second dam of Grade 2 winner Rhoman Rule (by Stop the Music), and third dam of multiple Australian Grade 1 winner Tempest Morn.
Dynamo, in turn, is a half sister to multiple stakes winner Stronghold (by Hard Tack) and is out of stakes-placed Bransome (by Royal Minstrel), a half sister to 1940 Pimlico Futurity winner Bold Irishman (by Sir Gallahad III), 1942 Interborough Handicap winner Eire (by Hard Tack), and 1935 Fashion Stakes winner Mag Mell (by Pompey). Produced from 1930 Gazelle Stakes winner Erin (by Transmute), Bransome is also a half sister to Bold Irish (by Fighting Fox), whose branch of the family includes champions Ruffian, Castle Forbes, Green Forest, and Epitome as well as Classic winners Fusaichi Pegasus and Pine Bluff and the fine sire Icecapade.
Books and media
High Voltage is profiled in Chapter 8 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: August 4, 2022