The first stakes winner to carry the colors of Harry Isaacs, Itsabet was one of the better female sprinters of her crop before losing her form midway through her 3-year-old season. After her retirement, she became a foundation mare for Harry Isaacs' Brookfield Farms, reviving an old American family that had fallen off from its past glories.
Race record
34 starts, 10 wins, 9 seconds, 5 thirds, US$106,675
1947:
1948:
Assessments
Rated at 110 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1947, 11 pounds below divisional champion and highweight Bewitch.
As an individual
A chestnut mare, Itsabet was a confirmed front runner.
As a producer
Itsabet produced 10 named foals, of which nine started and won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Itsabet was bred by Lewis J. Tutt. She was owned by Harry Isaacs, who purchased the filly for US$6,100 from the 1946 Keeneland July selected yearling sale and raced her in the name of his Brookfield Farm. Initially trained by Dan Kerns, Itsabet was later trained by T. J. "Tommy" Kelly. She is last listed in available records as not having been covered for 1967.
Pedigree notes
Itsabet's pedigree is outcrossed through five generations. She was produced from the unraced Rolled Stocking mare Jayjean, a half sister to multiple stakes winner Mityme (by Menow), stakes winner Coliseo (by Amphitheatre), and 1954 Ashland Stakes winner Jenjay (by Brookfield), dam of 1963 Myrtlewood Stakes winner Times Roman and 1960 Hawthorne Juvenile Handicap winner On His Metal, both by Roman, and second dam of six stakes winners including 1974 Preis von Europa (GER-G1) winner Days At Sea and multiple Grade 2 winner Double Edge Sword. Jayjean is also a half sister to Genie Ball (by Balladier), dam of stakes winner Bergeruk (by Talon), and to Ragatan (by Questionnaire), dam of stakes winner Natagar (by Your Host).
Jayjean and her siblings were produced from Genevra M., a stakes-placed daughter of Percentage. Genevra M., in turn, was produced from Homebody (by General Thatcher), an unraced half sister to 1929 Tijuana Derby winner Naishapur (by Omar Khayyam); to Farceuse (by Rire Aux Larmes), dam of the minor stakes winner Aboyne (by Mirafel); and to Sugar Bird (by Rolled Stocking), dam of stakes winner Sugar Beet (by Flying Scot). The female line traces back to the pre-Civil War import Emilia, whose son Australian was a successful stallion and founded the male line leading to the great Man o' War.
Books and media
Itsabet is profiled in Chapter 32 of John Sparkman's Foundation Mares: How Outstanding Female Families Shaped America's Breeding Industry (2008, Thoroughbred Times Books).
Last updated: June 20, 2021
Race record
34 starts, 10 wins, 9 seconds, 5 thirds, US$106,675
1947:
- Won Garden State Stakes (USA, 6FD, Garden State)
- 2nd Sapling Stakes (USA, 6FD, MTH)
1948:
- Won Colonial Handicap (USA, 6FD, Garden State)
- Won Prioress Stakes (USA, 6FD, Jamaica)
- Won Wilmington Handicap (USA, 6FD, Delaware)
- 2nd Pimlico Oaks (USA, 8.5FD, Pimlico)
- 2nd Santa Susana Stakes (USA, 7FD, Santa Anita)
Assessments
Rated at 110 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1947, 11 pounds below divisional champion and highweight Bewitch.
As an individual
A chestnut mare, Itsabet was a confirmed front runner.
As a producer
Itsabet produced 10 named foals, of which nine started and won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Ifabody (1952, by Brookfield) included two stakes wins among his 13 victories from 73 starts. He sired two stakes winners from 46 foals.
- Isendu (1955, by Inyureye) won the 1959 Paumonok Handicap. He sired only 17 foals, none of them stakes winners.
- Iaway (1959, by Intent) won three of 23 starts. She is the dam of stakes winner Cracker Bon Bon (by Kirrary) and the second dam of Grade 2 winner Peanut Butter Onit.
- Ironically (1960, by Intent) won two of nine starts. She is the dam of multiple stakes-winning daughter Imsodear (by Chieftain), who in turn produced 1975 American champion 2-year-old filly Dearly Precious (by Dr. Fager) and Grade 3 winner Immense (by Roberto). Through Imsodear, Ironically is the third dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Mariah's Storm, French Group 2 winner Panoramic and Grade 3 winner Mister Modesty. Through another daughter, Isatopper (by Rasper II), Ironically is the second dam of Grade 3 winner I'm On Top and the third dam of 1982 Oaks d'Italia (ITY-G1) winner Ilenia.
- Iaround (1961, by Round Table) won one of her eight starts. She is the dam of stakes winner I'll Be Around (by Isgala) and the second dam of 1977 Irish champion 2-year-old filly Sookera, 1984 Wood Memorial Invitational Stakes (USA-G1) winner Leroy S., 1984 Jerome Handicap (USA-G1) winner Is Your Pleasure, and Grade 3 winner I Enclose. She is also the third dam of multiple Brazilian Group 1 winner Little Baby Bear,1995 Nunthorpe Stakes (ENG-G1) winner So Factual, 2000 Hollywood Starlet Stakes (USA-G1) winner I Believe in You and Grade/Group 3 winners Bold Fact and First American, as well as the important broodmare Kerali.
- Is Certain (1966, by No Robbery) won five of her 13 starts. She is the dam of Grade 3 winner Surely Royal (by Young Emperor) and Grade 2-placed stakes winner In True Form (by Imasmartee). She is also the third dam of 2008 Ancient Title Breeders' Cup Sprint Stakes (USA-G1) winner Cost of Freedom, Grade 2 winner Who Did It and Run and multiple Grade 3 winner Truly a Judge.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Itsabet was bred by Lewis J. Tutt. She was owned by Harry Isaacs, who purchased the filly for US$6,100 from the 1946 Keeneland July selected yearling sale and raced her in the name of his Brookfield Farm. Initially trained by Dan Kerns, Itsabet was later trained by T. J. "Tommy" Kelly. She is last listed in available records as not having been covered for 1967.
Pedigree notes
Itsabet's pedigree is outcrossed through five generations. She was produced from the unraced Rolled Stocking mare Jayjean, a half sister to multiple stakes winner Mityme (by Menow), stakes winner Coliseo (by Amphitheatre), and 1954 Ashland Stakes winner Jenjay (by Brookfield), dam of 1963 Myrtlewood Stakes winner Times Roman and 1960 Hawthorne Juvenile Handicap winner On His Metal, both by Roman, and second dam of six stakes winners including 1974 Preis von Europa (GER-G1) winner Days At Sea and multiple Grade 2 winner Double Edge Sword. Jayjean is also a half sister to Genie Ball (by Balladier), dam of stakes winner Bergeruk (by Talon), and to Ragatan (by Questionnaire), dam of stakes winner Natagar (by Your Host).
Jayjean and her siblings were produced from Genevra M., a stakes-placed daughter of Percentage. Genevra M., in turn, was produced from Homebody (by General Thatcher), an unraced half sister to 1929 Tijuana Derby winner Naishapur (by Omar Khayyam); to Farceuse (by Rire Aux Larmes), dam of the minor stakes winner Aboyne (by Mirafel); and to Sugar Bird (by Rolled Stocking), dam of stakes winner Sugar Beet (by Flying Scot). The female line traces back to the pre-Civil War import Emilia, whose son Australian was a successful stallion and founded the male line leading to the great Man o' War.
Books and media
Itsabet is profiled in Chapter 32 of John Sparkman's Foundation Mares: How Outstanding Female Families Shaped America's Breeding Industry (2008, Thoroughbred Times Books).
Last updated: June 20, 2021