Honor Grades (USA)
March 21, 1988 – May 31, 2002
Danzig (USA) x Weekend Surprise (USA), by Secretariat (USA)
Family 3-l
March 21, 1988 – May 31, 2002
Danzig (USA) x Weekend Surprise (USA), by Secretariat (USA)
Family 3-l
One of Weekend Surprise's lesser sons on the race track, Honor Grades still had enough talent to warrant a reasonable trial at stud. While he did not achieve the level of success of his half-brothers A.P. Indy and Summer Squall, he proved quite useful enough to justify his opportunities and was a Grade/Group 1 sire in both the United States and New Zealand.
Race record
24 starts, 5 wins, 3 seconds, 5 thirds, US$173,953
1990:
1991:
Assessments
Rated at 108 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1991, 18 pounds below champion Hansel.
As an individual
A bay horse, Honor Grades was a heavy-bodied animal with suspect knees. He stood 16 hands. He was said to have had a kind disposition.
As a stallion
According to statistics kept by The Jockey Club, Honor Grades sired 413 winners (56.3%) and 32 stakes winners (4.4%) from 734 foals of racing age.
Notable progeny
Adoration (USA), Honor Babe (NZ), Honor Bound (NZ), Honor Glide (USA), Honor Lap (NZ)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Honor Grades was bred by William S. Farish III and William S. Kilroy. He initially raced for his breeders and was later owned by a partnership between Bruce McNall's Summa Stable, hockey legend Wayne Gretzky and basketball star Magic Johnson. Honor Grades entered stud in 1993 in Florida at Bonnie Heath Farm and shuttled to Haunui Farm in New Zealand in 1993-1997. Following his return from the 1997 Southern Hemisphere breeding season, he transferred to Darby Dan Farm in Kentucky, where he remained for the rest of his life. He was found dead in his paddock on March 31, 2002.
Pedigree notes
Honor Grades is inbred 4x5 to two-time English leading sire Nearco, an unbeaten champion on the race course. He is a full brother to Amirati, second dam of the Grade 1-winning steeplechaser Surprising Soul and third dam of Australian Group 3 winner Honesty Prevails. He is a half brother to 1992 American Horse of the Year and two-time American leading sire A.P. Indy (by Seattle Slew), to 1990 Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) winner Summer Squall (by Storm Bird), to Grade 3 winner Welcome Surprise (by Seeking the Gold; second dam of 2024 Personal Ensign Stakes (USA-G1) winner Raging Sea and Grade 3 winner Guest Suite), and to listed stakes winner Eavesdropper (by Kingmambo). He is also a half brother to Weekend Storm (by Storm Bird), dam of four stakes winners including multiple Grade 1 winner Court Vision (by Gulch) and Canadian Grade 3 winner Smart Surprise (by Smart Strike; dam of 2018 Canadian champion female sprinter Moonlit Promise, by Malibu Moon); to Tiger Ridge (by Storm Cat), a better sire than racehorse in the United States and South Africa; and to Grade 1-placed Weekend in Seattle (by Seattle Slew), dam of Grade 1-placed stakes winner Mambo in Seattle (by Kingmambo) and second dam of Grade 3 winner Sky Kingdom and Japanese Group 3 winner Stay in Seattle. Finally, he is a half brother to Lassie's Legacy (by Deputy Minister), second dam of 2020 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (USA-G1) winner Happy Saver, and to Mystery Trip, second dam of English Group 3 winner Chemical Charge.
Honor Grades' dam Weekend Surprise is the 1992 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year and is a Grade 3-winning half sister to English highweight sprinter Wolfhound (by Nureyev) and two other stakes winners. She is also a half sister to Al Mufti (by Roberto), a champion sire in South Africa, and to Charming Lassie (by Seattle Slew), dam of 2000 American champion older male Lemon Drop Kid (by Kingmambo), Grade 2 winner Brulay (by Rubiano; dam of Grade 2 winner Neko Bay, by Giant's Causeway), and English Group 3 winner Statue of Liberty (by Storm Cat). Weekend Surprise is out of Grade 3 winner Lassie Dear (by Buckpasser), a half sister to 1979 French champion older male Gay Mecene and two other stakes winners. The female line is one of the best in the American Stud Book and entered the United States via 1941 Irish Oaks winner Uvira II.
Last updated: August 23, 2024
Race record
24 starts, 5 wins, 3 seconds, 5 thirds, US$173,953
1990:
- 3rd Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Churchill Downs)
- 3rd Iroquois Stakes (USA-G3, 8FD, Churchill Downs)
1991:
- 2nd Derby Trial Stakes (USA-G3, 8FD, Churchill Downs)
Assessments
Rated at 108 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1991, 18 pounds below champion Hansel.
As an individual
A bay horse, Honor Grades was a heavy-bodied animal with suspect knees. He stood 16 hands. He was said to have had a kind disposition.
As a stallion
According to statistics kept by The Jockey Club, Honor Grades sired 413 winners (56.3%) and 32 stakes winners (4.4%) from 734 foals of racing age.
Notable progeny
Adoration (USA), Honor Babe (NZ), Honor Bound (NZ), Honor Glide (USA), Honor Lap (NZ)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Honor Grades was bred by William S. Farish III and William S. Kilroy. He initially raced for his breeders and was later owned by a partnership between Bruce McNall's Summa Stable, hockey legend Wayne Gretzky and basketball star Magic Johnson. Honor Grades entered stud in 1993 in Florida at Bonnie Heath Farm and shuttled to Haunui Farm in New Zealand in 1993-1997. Following his return from the 1997 Southern Hemisphere breeding season, he transferred to Darby Dan Farm in Kentucky, where he remained for the rest of his life. He was found dead in his paddock on March 31, 2002.
Pedigree notes
Honor Grades is inbred 4x5 to two-time English leading sire Nearco, an unbeaten champion on the race course. He is a full brother to Amirati, second dam of the Grade 1-winning steeplechaser Surprising Soul and third dam of Australian Group 3 winner Honesty Prevails. He is a half brother to 1992 American Horse of the Year and two-time American leading sire A.P. Indy (by Seattle Slew), to 1990 Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) winner Summer Squall (by Storm Bird), to Grade 3 winner Welcome Surprise (by Seeking the Gold; second dam of 2024 Personal Ensign Stakes (USA-G1) winner Raging Sea and Grade 3 winner Guest Suite), and to listed stakes winner Eavesdropper (by Kingmambo). He is also a half brother to Weekend Storm (by Storm Bird), dam of four stakes winners including multiple Grade 1 winner Court Vision (by Gulch) and Canadian Grade 3 winner Smart Surprise (by Smart Strike; dam of 2018 Canadian champion female sprinter Moonlit Promise, by Malibu Moon); to Tiger Ridge (by Storm Cat), a better sire than racehorse in the United States and South Africa; and to Grade 1-placed Weekend in Seattle (by Seattle Slew), dam of Grade 1-placed stakes winner Mambo in Seattle (by Kingmambo) and second dam of Grade 3 winner Sky Kingdom and Japanese Group 3 winner Stay in Seattle. Finally, he is a half brother to Lassie's Legacy (by Deputy Minister), second dam of 2020 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (USA-G1) winner Happy Saver, and to Mystery Trip, second dam of English Group 3 winner Chemical Charge.
Honor Grades' dam Weekend Surprise is the 1992 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year and is a Grade 3-winning half sister to English highweight sprinter Wolfhound (by Nureyev) and two other stakes winners. She is also a half sister to Al Mufti (by Roberto), a champion sire in South Africa, and to Charming Lassie (by Seattle Slew), dam of 2000 American champion older male Lemon Drop Kid (by Kingmambo), Grade 2 winner Brulay (by Rubiano; dam of Grade 2 winner Neko Bay, by Giant's Causeway), and English Group 3 winner Statue of Liberty (by Storm Cat). Weekend Surprise is out of Grade 3 winner Lassie Dear (by Buckpasser), a half sister to 1979 French champion older male Gay Mecene and two other stakes winners. The female line is one of the best in the American Stud Book and entered the United States via 1941 Irish Oaks winner Uvira II.
Last updated: August 23, 2024