Imperatrice (USA)
May 26, 1938 – August 9, 1972
Caruso (USA) x Cinquepace (USA), by Brown Bud (USA)
Family 2-s
"GENETIC GEM"
May 26, 1938 – August 9, 1972
Caruso (USA) x Cinquepace (USA), by Brown Bud (USA)
Family 2-s
"GENETIC GEM"
The fact that Imperatrice was based in Virginia for much of her producing career kept her from consideration as a possible Broodmare of the Year (under the rules for the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners' and Breeders' Association award, only mares based in Kentucky are eligible), but she has had a far greater influence on American racing and breeding than many of the matrons who have gained that title. The dam of six stakes winners (most of them by sires that were second-tier at best), she is even better remembered for her good producing daughters—especially Somethingroyal, the 1973 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year and the dam of the immortal Secretariat.
Race record
31 starts, 11 wins, 7 seconds, 2 thirds, US$17,255
1941:
1942:
As an individual
A muscular, short-coupled dark bay mare with slightly upright pasterns, Imperatrice had a sharply sloping rump, a trait she passed to many of her descendants. She was an influence for speed.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Imperatrice produced 16 named foals, of which 13 started and 10 were winners. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled at Hop Creek Farm in New Jersey, Imperatrice was bred and owned by William H. LaBoyteaux. She was trained by George Odom. Following LaBoyteaux's death in 1947, Imperatrice was purchased by Christopher T. Chenery for US$30,000 from the dispersal of LaBoyteaux's stock and spent the remainder of her life at his Meadow Stud in Virginia. She was pensioned after being reported barren in 1962 and was humanely destroyed due to the infirmities of old age in 1972.
Pedigree notes
Imperatrice is inbred 5x5 to 1888 One Thousand Guineas winner Briar-Root. Sired by the good juvenile and sprinter Caruso (by Polymelian), she is one of only three foals produced from unraced Cinquepace, whose sire Brown Bud won the 1927 Travers Midsummer Derby but was a bad sire. Cinquepace is a half sister to Estoril (by Stimulus), who produced stakes winner St. Hugo (by Woodchuck) and is the second dam of stakes winner Trumpet. Another half sister to Cinquepace, Axiom (by Sky Raider) is the dam of stakes winner Merryman (by Radiotherapy), while a third half sister, Boola (by Boojum), is the second dam of stakes winner Fish House.
Cinquepace is out of the unraced Teddy mare Assignation, whose stakes-placed half sister Gentle Tryst (by Teddy's great sire son Sir Gallahad III) produced 1941 Ladies' Handicap winner Up the Hill (by Jacopo) and 1953 Narragansett Special winner Sailed Away (by War Admiral) and is the second dam of six stakes winners including 1948 Arlington Lassie Stakes winner Pail of Water and 1960 Everglades Stakes winner Moslem Chief. Another half sister to Assignation, Twilight Tryst (by Sir Gallahad III's champion son Gallant Fox), is the dam of multiple Mexican stakes winner Tupinamba (by Jean Valjean) and is the second dam of juvenile stakes winners Bank Account (by Shut Out) and Doc Eggers (by Royal Gem II). Assignation and her sisters, in turn, are out of 1927 Irish Oaks winner Cinq a Sept (by Roi Herode).
Books and media
Imperatrice is one of 24 important American broodmares profiled in Edward Bowen's Matriarchs: Great Mares of the 20th Century (1999, 2000, The Blood-Horse).
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. Taken at the finish of the 1942 Fall Highweight Handicap; Imperatrice is on the right. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: January 14, 2024
Race record
31 starts, 11 wins, 7 seconds, 2 thirds, US$17,255
1941:
- Won Test Stakes (USA, 7FD, Saratoga)
- Won New Rochelle Handicap (USA, 5.75FD, Jamaica)
- Won New England Oaks (USA, 8.5FD, Narragansett Park)
- 2nd Beldame Handicap (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Scarsdale Handicap (USA, 8f+70yD, Empire City)
1942:
- Won Fall Highweight Handicap (USA, 6FD, Belmont)
- Also finished second in the Correction Handicap (USA, 6FD, Jamaica) but was disqualified.
As an individual
A muscular, short-coupled dark bay mare with slightly upright pasterns, Imperatrice had a sharply sloping rump, a trait she passed to many of her descendants. She was an influence for speed.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Imperatrice produced 16 named foals, of which 13 started and 10 were winners. Her important foals are as follow:
- Imperieuse (1944, by Jack High) is the dam of stakes winner Hi-Sag (by Saggy).
- Scattered (1945, by Whirlaway) won the 1948 Coaching Club American Oaks and Pimlico Oaks. She is the dam of 1957 Alabama Stakes winner Here and There and 1961 Hempstead Handicap winner Disperse (both by Middleground) and the second dam of stakes winner Sly Grin.
- Imperium (1946, by Piping Rock) won the 1950 Bing Crosby Handicap. He sired three stakes winners from 56 named foals.
- Squared Away (1947, by Piping Rock; a gelding) was a good sprinter whose eight stakes wins included the 1953 Paumonok Handicap and the 1955 Sport Page Handicap.
- Queens Moon (1950, by Hunters Moon IV) is the dam of 1968 Spinaway Stakes winner Queen Double (by Double Jay) and stakes winner Lake Chelan (by Bryan G.; dam of stakes winner A Gray Ghost, by Native Charger). Queen's Moon is also the third dam of Grade 3 winner Rexson's Bishop.
- Somethingroyal (1952, by Princequillo) was named the 1973 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. She is the dam of two-time American Horse of the Year and 1992 American champion broodmare sire Secretariat (by Bold Ruler), the good racer and important sire Sir Gaylord (by Turn-to), 1967 Selima Stakes winner Syrian Sea (by Bold Ruler), 1966 Gulfstream Park Handicap winner First Family (by First Landing), and the useful regional sire Somethingfabulous (by Northern Dancer). She is the second dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Alada, Argentine Group 2 winner At Ease and Chilean classic sire Chairman Walker and is the third dam of 1990 John A. Morris Handicap (USA-G1) winner Personal Business.
- Yemen (1955, by Bryan G.) won the 1958 Hutcheson Stakes and set a track record of 1:09-3/5 for 6 furlongs at Belmont. He was of no importance as a sire.
- Imperial Hill (1956, by Hill Prince) won the 1958 Polly Drummond Stakes. She is the second dam of seven stakes winners and is the third dam of French Group 2 winner Spectacular Joke, Italian Group 2 winner Pater Noster and Italian Group 3 winner Miscrown.
- Speedwell (1960, by Bold Ruler) won the 1962 Debutante Stakes and the 1963 Prioress Stakes. She is the dam of Grade 3 winner Lulubo and stakes winner Si Si You (both by Native Charger) and is the second dam of 1980 Laurel Futurity (USA-G1) winner Cure the Blues, a good sire, and of Grade 3 winner Evangelical. In addition, Speedwell is the third dam of Grade 2 winner Sweet Roberta.
Connections
Foaled at Hop Creek Farm in New Jersey, Imperatrice was bred and owned by William H. LaBoyteaux. She was trained by George Odom. Following LaBoyteaux's death in 1947, Imperatrice was purchased by Christopher T. Chenery for US$30,000 from the dispersal of LaBoyteaux's stock and spent the remainder of her life at his Meadow Stud in Virginia. She was pensioned after being reported barren in 1962 and was humanely destroyed due to the infirmities of old age in 1972.
Pedigree notes
Imperatrice is inbred 5x5 to 1888 One Thousand Guineas winner Briar-Root. Sired by the good juvenile and sprinter Caruso (by Polymelian), she is one of only three foals produced from unraced Cinquepace, whose sire Brown Bud won the 1927 Travers Midsummer Derby but was a bad sire. Cinquepace is a half sister to Estoril (by Stimulus), who produced stakes winner St. Hugo (by Woodchuck) and is the second dam of stakes winner Trumpet. Another half sister to Cinquepace, Axiom (by Sky Raider) is the dam of stakes winner Merryman (by Radiotherapy), while a third half sister, Boola (by Boojum), is the second dam of stakes winner Fish House.
Cinquepace is out of the unraced Teddy mare Assignation, whose stakes-placed half sister Gentle Tryst (by Teddy's great sire son Sir Gallahad III) produced 1941 Ladies' Handicap winner Up the Hill (by Jacopo) and 1953 Narragansett Special winner Sailed Away (by War Admiral) and is the second dam of six stakes winners including 1948 Arlington Lassie Stakes winner Pail of Water and 1960 Everglades Stakes winner Moslem Chief. Another half sister to Assignation, Twilight Tryst (by Sir Gallahad III's champion son Gallant Fox), is the dam of multiple Mexican stakes winner Tupinamba (by Jean Valjean) and is the second dam of juvenile stakes winners Bank Account (by Shut Out) and Doc Eggers (by Royal Gem II). Assignation and her sisters, in turn, are out of 1927 Irish Oaks winner Cinq a Sept (by Roi Herode).
Books and media
Imperatrice is one of 24 important American broodmares profiled in Edward Bowen's Matriarchs: Great Mares of the 20th Century (1999, 2000, The Blood-Horse).
Fun facts
- In Italian, “imperatrice” means “empress.”
- Through her daughter Scattered, Imperatrice is the fourth dam of two-time World Champion Quarter Running Horse Dash for Cash, a two-time champion sire of racing Quarter Horses.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. Taken at the finish of the 1942 Fall Highweight Handicap; Imperatrice is on the right. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: January 14, 2024