Jet Pilot (USA)
March 29, 1944 – March 3, 1967
Blenheim II (GB) x Black Wave (USA), by Sir Gallahad III (FR)
Family 13-c
March 29, 1944 – March 3, 1967
Blenheim II (GB) x Black Wave (USA), by Sir Gallahad III (FR)
Family 13-c
From the private collection of Dale Wyatt. Used by permission.
An expensive auction yearling by the standards of the 1940s, Jet Pilot proved to be an astute purchase for Elizabeth Arden's Maine Chance Farm. Unfortunately, his underpinnings did not equal either his speed or his courage, leading to a relatively short racing career by the standards of his time. He was a fairly successful sire who has lived on in pedigrees though his son Jet Action, sire of the second dam of the great Seattle Slew.
Race record
17 starts, 7 wins, 3 seconds, 2 thirds, US$198,740
1946:
1947:
Assessments
Ranked eighth among American juvenile males of 1946 by The Blood-Horse.
Ranked fifth among American 3-year-old males of 1947 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
An elegantly made chestnut horse with fine gaits, Jet Pilot had a strong hind leg but was tied in below the knee in front and was a little light on bone. He was retired from racing after bowing a tendon during the running of the 1947 Preakness Stakes.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Jet Pilot sired 201 winners (76.1%) and 26 stakes winners (9.8%) from 264 named foals. While these statistics were quite solid, the overall quality of Jet Pilot's stock can be gauged by the fact that he only finished among the top 20 American sires once, this when 18th in 1955.
Notable progeny
Jet Action (USA), Myrtle's Jet (USA), Rose Jet (USA)
Connections
Jet Pilot was bred by Arthur Hancock, Sr., and Mrs. R. A. Van Clief. He was purchased by Elizabeth Arden's Maine Chance Farm for US$41,000 from the 1945 Saratoga yearling sale and was trained by “Silent Tom” Smith (who appears with him in the photograph above). He entered stud in Kentucky in 1948 at Spendthrift Farm..
Pedigree notes
Jet Pilot is inbred 5x5 to the great St. Simon, a nine-time champion sire in England. Produced from Black Wave, he is a full brother to Tides, dam of juvenile stakes winner Guard Rail (by Ambiorix). He is also a full brother to Wave Crest, second dam of four stakes winners including 1968 Canadian champion older female Ice Water.
Black Wave is out of Black Curl (by Friar Rock), who won the Test Srakes in 1927. A very well-bred mare, Black Curl is a half sister to 1936 American champion sprinter and handicap female Myrtlewood (by Blue Larkspur), dam of 1943 American co-champion 2-year-old filly Durazna (by Bull Lea) and 1942 Kentucky Oaks winner Miss Dogwood (by Bull Lea's sire Bull Dog) and a great foundation mare. Black Curl is also a half sister to juvenile stakes wiinners Pairbypair (by Noah) and Crowning Glory (by Black Toney); to Janet Blair (by Sir Martin), dam of 1939 Blue Grass Stakes winner Heather Broom (by The Porter); to Daintiness (by Blue Larkspur), dam of 1942 Hopeful Stakes winner Devil's Thumb (by Grand Slam); and to Bluelarks (by Blue Larkspur), second dam of 1960 Lakes and Flowers Handicap winner Aliwar and third dam of 1965 Wood Memorial Stakes winner Flag Raiser and 1968 Del Mar Derby winner Prince Hemp.
Black Curl and her siblings were produced from Frizeur (by Sweeper II--Frizette, by Hamburg), whose full sister, 1923 Prix de la Nonette winner Ondulation, is the third dam of two-time English Horse of the Year Dahlia. Frizeur is also a half sister to 1913 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner Banshee (by Irish Lad), dam of 1920 Grand Criterium and 1921 Prix Vermeille winner Durban and Prix du Couvert winner Heldifann (both by Durbar II) and second dam of French Classic winner and three-time champion sire Tourbillon; to 1920 Prix Morny and Prix de la Forêt winner Durzetta (by Durbar II); and to stakes winners Frizzle (by Biniou) and Mary Maud (by Irish Lad). In addition, Frizeur is a half sister to Princess Palatine, whose stakes-placed daughter Valkyr founded a flourishing branch of Frizette's family, and to Frizelle (by Durbar II), second dam of 1938 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) winner Cillas and third dam of 1952 Prix du Jockey Club winner Auriban.
Fun facts
Race record
17 starts, 7 wins, 3 seconds, 2 thirds, US$198,740
1946:
- Won Pimlico Futurity (USA, 8.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Tremont Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Aqueduct)
- Won National Stallion Stakes (USA, 5FD, Belmont)
- Won Pimlico Nursery Stakes (USA, 5FD, Pimlico)
- 2nd Arlington Futurity (USA, 6FD, Arlington Park)
- 2nd Commonwealth Stakes (USA, 8FD, Suffolk)
- 3rd Futurity Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Champagne Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
1947:
- Won Kentucky Derby (USA, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Jamaica Handicap (USA, 6FD, Jamaica)
Assessments
Ranked eighth among American juvenile males of 1946 by The Blood-Horse.
Ranked fifth among American 3-year-old males of 1947 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
An elegantly made chestnut horse with fine gaits, Jet Pilot had a strong hind leg but was tied in below the knee in front and was a little light on bone. He was retired from racing after bowing a tendon during the running of the 1947 Preakness Stakes.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Jet Pilot sired 201 winners (76.1%) and 26 stakes winners (9.8%) from 264 named foals. While these statistics were quite solid, the overall quality of Jet Pilot's stock can be gauged by the fact that he only finished among the top 20 American sires once, this when 18th in 1955.
Notable progeny
Jet Action (USA), Myrtle's Jet (USA), Rose Jet (USA)
Connections
Jet Pilot was bred by Arthur Hancock, Sr., and Mrs. R. A. Van Clief. He was purchased by Elizabeth Arden's Maine Chance Farm for US$41,000 from the 1945 Saratoga yearling sale and was trained by “Silent Tom” Smith (who appears with him in the photograph above). He entered stud in Kentucky in 1948 at Spendthrift Farm..
Pedigree notes
Jet Pilot is inbred 5x5 to the great St. Simon, a nine-time champion sire in England. Produced from Black Wave, he is a full brother to Tides, dam of juvenile stakes winner Guard Rail (by Ambiorix). He is also a full brother to Wave Crest, second dam of four stakes winners including 1968 Canadian champion older female Ice Water.
Black Wave is out of Black Curl (by Friar Rock), who won the Test Srakes in 1927. A very well-bred mare, Black Curl is a half sister to 1936 American champion sprinter and handicap female Myrtlewood (by Blue Larkspur), dam of 1943 American co-champion 2-year-old filly Durazna (by Bull Lea) and 1942 Kentucky Oaks winner Miss Dogwood (by Bull Lea's sire Bull Dog) and a great foundation mare. Black Curl is also a half sister to juvenile stakes wiinners Pairbypair (by Noah) and Crowning Glory (by Black Toney); to Janet Blair (by Sir Martin), dam of 1939 Blue Grass Stakes winner Heather Broom (by The Porter); to Daintiness (by Blue Larkspur), dam of 1942 Hopeful Stakes winner Devil's Thumb (by Grand Slam); and to Bluelarks (by Blue Larkspur), second dam of 1960 Lakes and Flowers Handicap winner Aliwar and third dam of 1965 Wood Memorial Stakes winner Flag Raiser and 1968 Del Mar Derby winner Prince Hemp.
Black Curl and her siblings were produced from Frizeur (by Sweeper II--Frizette, by Hamburg), whose full sister, 1923 Prix de la Nonette winner Ondulation, is the third dam of two-time English Horse of the Year Dahlia. Frizeur is also a half sister to 1913 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner Banshee (by Irish Lad), dam of 1920 Grand Criterium and 1921 Prix Vermeille winner Durban and Prix du Couvert winner Heldifann (both by Durbar II) and second dam of French Classic winner and three-time champion sire Tourbillon; to 1920 Prix Morny and Prix de la Forêt winner Durzetta (by Durbar II); and to stakes winners Frizzle (by Biniou) and Mary Maud (by Irish Lad). In addition, Frizeur is a half sister to Princess Palatine, whose stakes-placed daughter Valkyr founded a flourishing branch of Frizette's family, and to Frizelle (by Durbar II), second dam of 1938 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) winner Cillas and third dam of 1952 Prix du Jockey Club winner Auriban.
Fun facts
- Jet Pilot broke his maiden by nine lengths on the undercard of the 1946 Kentucky Derby. Press reports later quoted Leslie Combs II (then an adviser to Ms. Arden regarding Maine Chance Farm) as turning to a friend and stating, “There is next year's Derby winner.” He was right, and later had the satisfaction of standing the horse at his Spendthrift Farm.
- Jet Pilot's maiden victory was fortuitous for more than Combs' spur-of-the-moment prophecy. While he was at Churchill Downs with Maine Chance's Derby horses, a fire broke out in the barn housing Maine Chance Farm's 2-year-olds at Arlington Park, killing 22 of them.
- According to TIME magazine, Jet Pilot concluded Derby Day by kicking an unwary police officer in the seat of the pants, a feat probably more comical to the onlookers than to the bruised officer.
- During the Preakness Stakes, veteran sports announcer Clem McCarthy committed a famous boner, confusing the eventual winner, Faultless, with Jet Pilot during the stretch run and calling Faultless as “Jet Pilot” throughout. The problem was caused by a mass of spectators standing on the starting gate, who collectively blocked McCarthy's vision for about two seconds; during that brief time, Jet Pilot bore out and began dropping back while Faultless moved into the place he had occupied. McCarthy's problem was compounded by the fact that the two colts' racing silks were both primarily red.
- Jet Pilot's Kentucky Derby trophy was auctioned through Skinner, Inc, on June 7, 2009. Consigned by a grand-nephew of Elizabeth Arden, the trophy sold privately to Houston collector Charles Grichar for US$59,250 after failing to fetch its estimated value of US$60,000 to US$80,000.