Iron Maiden (USA)
1941 – 1964
War Admiral (USA) x Betty Derr (USA), by Sir Gallahad III (FR)
American Family 4
1941 – 1964
War Admiral (USA) x Betty Derr (USA), by Sir Gallahad III (FR)
American Family 4
Very few Thoroughbreds begin a breeding career, return to the track, and have greater success as racehorses than before their initial retirement to the paddocks. Iron Maiden was one of those rare exceptions to the norm. A winner before being bred to Beau Pere as a 4-year-old, she returned to the track at age 6 and became a stakes winner that year, adding two stakes placings to her resume at age 7 before retiring to the broodmare ranks for good. Adding to the unusual nature of her history, she was a success in both phases of her broodmare career, throwing a Broodmare of the Year before her return to the track and producing three stakes winners—including a Kentucky Derby winner—after her second retirement.
Race record
61 starts, 12 wins, 10 seconds, 10 thirds, US$52,590
1947:
1948:
As an individual
A neatly-made bay mare, Iron Maiden bore a distinct resemblance to her sire, War Admiral.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Iron Maiden produced 12 named foals, of which 10 started and seven won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Iron Maiden was bred by Louis B. Mayer. She raced in the colors of Ellwood B. Johnson and produced her first foal while owned by W. W. Naylor, she later passed to the ownership of Calumet Farm. She was trained by Charles T. Leavitt. She died in 1964 and was buried in the Calumet Farm horse cemetery.
Pedigree notes
Iron Maiden is inbred 5x4 to 1906 Derby Stakes winner Spearmint. She is a half sister to juvenile stakes winners Betty Sweep (by Sweep All) and Judy-Rae (by Beau Pere). The latter mare is the dam of 1955 Arlington Lassie Stakes winner Judy Rullah (by Nasrullah) and the second dam of Grade 2 winner Tom Tulle, 1968 Remsen Stakes winner Paulali and Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Courtly Dee. Iron Maiden is also a half sister to Pacific Maid (by Torchilla), third dam of Teufel, who was the champion imported stayer in Trinidad in 1985.
Iron Maiden and Judy Rae are out of 1931 Latonia Oaks winner Betty Derr, one of five stakes winners produced from the stakes-winning mare Uncle's Lassie (by Uncle). The best of Betty Derr's half siblings, the Man o' War gelding Clyde Van Dusen, won the 1929 Kentucky Derby.
Uncle's Lassie is a full sister to stakes winner Tracksend. She is also a half sister to stakes winner Paavo (by The Finn) and to Queen of the Water (by Waterboy), dam of stakes winners Heeltaps and Salacia (both by Ultimus). Salacia in turn produced Sation (by Galetian), a stakes winner at ages 3 through 6. The dam of Uncle's Lassie, Planutess (by Planudes), won two stakes races and is a half sister to 1918 Gazelle Stakes winner Fairy Wand (by Star Shoot), dam of 1928 Dwyer Stakes winner Genie (by Man o' War) and 1930 Hopeful Stakes winner Epithet (by Épinard).
Fun facts
Last updated: May 12, 2020
Race record
61 starts, 12 wins, 10 seconds, 10 thirds, US$52,590
1947:
- Won Del Mar Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Del Mar)
1948:
- 2nd Vanity Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
- 2nd San Diego Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Del Mar)
As an individual
A neatly-made bay mare, Iron Maiden bore a distinct resemblance to her sire, War Admiral.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Iron Maiden produced 12 named foals, of which 10 started and seven won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Iron Reward (1946, by Beau Pere) was unplaced in eight starts but was named the 1955 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year after her son Swaps (by Khaled) won the 1955 Kentucky Derby and other important races. At 4, Swaps was voted American Horse of the Year honors and later became an important sire. Iron Reward is also the dam of 1958 Cinema Handicap and Del Mar Derby winner The Shoe, stakes winner Like Magic, 1962 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Track Medal, and stakes producers Molly Maid and Iron Age, all by Khaled.
- Trentonian (1952, by Bull Lea) won three stakes races as a juvenile in California. He sired four minor stakes winners from 112 named foals.
- Iron Liege (1954, by Bull Lea) won the 1957 Kentucky Derby and four other stakes races. He stood in France and Japan and is known to have sired at least four stakes winners.
- Miss Grundy (1955, by Bull Lea) was unraced but is the dam of 1965 Michigan Derby winner Reverse (by Turn-to).
- Klondike Katie (1959, by Mark-Ye-Well) won once from seven starts. She is the dam of juvenile stakes winner Fair Ye Well (by Ridan) and the second dam of Grade 3 winner Kodiack.
- Spartan Woman (1962, by Tim Tam) won once from seven starts. She is the second dam of 1981 Puerto Rican champion juvenile male Egregio, Canadian Classic winner Pinafore Park (winner of the 1998 Breeders' Stakes) and multiple Grade 3 winner Iron Courage (by Caro).
- Aczay (1964, by On-and-On) won a division of the 1967 Boardwalk Handicap and placed in two other stakes races. He sired 29 winners from 70 named foals.
Connections
Iron Maiden was bred by Louis B. Mayer. She raced in the colors of Ellwood B. Johnson and produced her first foal while owned by W. W. Naylor, she later passed to the ownership of Calumet Farm. She was trained by Charles T. Leavitt. She died in 1964 and was buried in the Calumet Farm horse cemetery.
Pedigree notes
Iron Maiden is inbred 5x4 to 1906 Derby Stakes winner Spearmint. She is a half sister to juvenile stakes winners Betty Sweep (by Sweep All) and Judy-Rae (by Beau Pere). The latter mare is the dam of 1955 Arlington Lassie Stakes winner Judy Rullah (by Nasrullah) and the second dam of Grade 2 winner Tom Tulle, 1968 Remsen Stakes winner Paulali and Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Courtly Dee. Iron Maiden is also a half sister to Pacific Maid (by Torchilla), third dam of Teufel, who was the champion imported stayer in Trinidad in 1985.
Iron Maiden and Judy Rae are out of 1931 Latonia Oaks winner Betty Derr, one of five stakes winners produced from the stakes-winning mare Uncle's Lassie (by Uncle). The best of Betty Derr's half siblings, the Man o' War gelding Clyde Van Dusen, won the 1929 Kentucky Derby.
Uncle's Lassie is a full sister to stakes winner Tracksend. She is also a half sister to stakes winner Paavo (by The Finn) and to Queen of the Water (by Waterboy), dam of stakes winners Heeltaps and Salacia (both by Ultimus). Salacia in turn produced Sation (by Galetian), a stakes winner at ages 3 through 6. The dam of Uncle's Lassie, Planutess (by Planudes), won two stakes races and is a half sister to 1918 Gazelle Stakes winner Fairy Wand (by Star Shoot), dam of 1928 Dwyer Stakes winner Genie (by Man o' War) and 1930 Hopeful Stakes winner Epithet (by Épinard).
Fun facts
- An iron maiden was a supposed medieval torture or execution device consisting of an iron cabinet with spikes along its interior walls and the inside of the door, the idea being that a victim placed inside would be pierced many times over when the door was closed. Several iron maidens that were constructed during the nineteenth century are still in existence, but the evidence that the device actually dates back to the Middle Ages is scanty at best.
Last updated: May 12, 2020