One of a remarkable brood produced by the great matron Bourtai, Levee was a high-class staying race mare and was not much short of the class displayed by her full sister Bayou, the American champion 3-year-old filly of 1957. She was still better as a broodmare, emulating her half sister Delta by becoming a Kentucky Broodmare of the Year.
Race record
40 starts, 8 wins, 6 seconds, 7 thirds, $223,505
1955:
1956:
Assessments
Rated at 110 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1955, 6 pounds below co-champions Doubledogdare and Nasrina.
Rated at 120 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1956, 6 pounds below champion handicap female Blue Sparkler and 3 pounds below champion 3-year-old filly Doubledogdare.
As an individual
A chestnut, Levee was a big, rangy, substantial mare who could be faulted for being a bit wide in the fork in front.
As a producer
The 1970 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year and a Reine-de-Course as designated by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Levee produced 11 named foals, of which nine started and seven won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Levee was bred by Claiborne Farm. She was initially trained by Moody Jolley. Partway through her juvenile season, she and two other fillies were traded to Edith Cardy (Mrs. Vernon G. Cardy) in exchange for the English stakes winner Kerkeb. Following the trade, Levee was trained by Noel McLeod.
After breeding Levee's first two foals in partnership with Greif Raible and her third, Royal Gunner, in partnership with Raible's Pebblebrook Farm, Mrs. Cardy dissolved the partnership in the mare by selling Levee for US$150,000 to Whitney Stone's Morven Farm. Levee remained in the Morven Stud broodmare band for the remainder of her producing career.
Pedigree notes
Levee is inbred 5x3 to Ultimus. She is a full sister to 1957 American champion 3-year-old filly Bayou, whose daughter Batteur (by Bold Ruler) won six good stakes races at ages 4 through 6. Bayou is the second dam of two-time American champion Slew o' Gold, 1979 Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) winner Coastal, 1987 Flower Bowl Handicap (USA-G1) winner Slew's Exceller and Grade 3 winner Flag Officer and the third dam of 1980 Turf Classic Invitational Handicap (USA-G1) winner Anifa, 1995 Hollywood Oaks (USA-G1) winner Sleep Easy, multiple Grade 1 winner Aptitude and Grade 3 winner Country Light. Levee is also a half sister to Delta (by Nasrullah), a major stakes winner at 2 and 4 and the 1968 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year; to 1954 Correction Handicap winner Banta (by Some Chance), dam of 1962 Golden Gate Handicap winner Mandate (by Prince John), second dam of 1973 American champion 2-year-old filly Talking Picture and 1966 Grey Lag Handicap winner Selari and third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Big Spruce, 1988 Goffs Irish One Thousand Guineas (IRE-G1) winner Trusted Partner, and the top-class mare Manta; and to the stakes-winning hurdler Ambassador (by Nasrullah).
Levee's dam Bourtai is a stakes-placed full sister to multiple juvenile stakes winner Strange Device, dam of stakes winners Abstract (by Isolater) and Metal Mike (by Pilate). Bourtai is also a half sister to 1937 Kentucky Oaks winner Mars Shield (by Diavolo), dam of 1954 Jersey Belle Stakes winner Turf Sun (by Sun Again); to stakes winner By Far (by Bold Gallant); and to stakes-placed Demolition (by Foray II), second dam of 1962 American co-champion 2-year-old filly Smart Deb, 1970 Manhattan Handicap winner Shelter Bay and 1964 Swaps Handicap winner Cap Size. Bourtai and her siblings are out of 1930 Alabama Stakes winner Escutcheon (by Sir Gallahad III), herself one of four stakes winners produced from the Isidor mare Affection.
Books and media
Fun facts
Photo credit
Levee winning the 1956 Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont Park, H. J. Woodhouse up. Photo by Bert Morgan, taken June 8, 1956. From the Keeneland Library Morgan Collection; used by permission. Please contact the Keeneland Library with any questions regarding use or licensure of this photo.
Last updated: May 9, 2024
Race record
40 starts, 8 wins, 6 seconds, 7 thirds, $223,505
1955:
- Won Selima Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Laurel)
- 2nd Adirondack Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Astarita Stakes (USA, 6FD, Aqueduct)
1956:
- Won Coaching Club American Oaks (USA, 11FD, Belmont)
- Won Monmouth Oaks (USA, 9FD, Monmouth; new track record 1:48-4/5)
- Won Beldame Handicap (USA, 9FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Delaware Oaks (USA, 9FD, Delaware)
- 3rd Acorn Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Alabama Stakes (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Prioress Stakes (USA, 6FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Test Stakes (USA, 7FD, Saratoga)
Assessments
Rated at 110 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1955, 6 pounds below co-champions Doubledogdare and Nasrina.
Rated at 120 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1956, 6 pounds below champion handicap female Blue Sparkler and 3 pounds below champion 3-year-old filly Doubledogdare.
As an individual
A chestnut, Levee was a big, rangy, substantial mare who could be faulted for being a bit wide in the fork in front.
As a producer
The 1970 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year and a Reine-de-Course as designated by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Levee produced 11 named foals, of which nine started and seven won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Nalee (1960, by Nashua) won the 1963 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes and two other stakes races. She is the dam of 1976 Irish St. Leger (IRE-G1) winner Meneval (by Le Fabuleux) and stakes winners Nalees Man (by Gallant Man) and Nalees Folly (by Tom Fool). She is the second dam of 1987 American champion 3-year-old filly Sacahuista, English Group 2 winner Silk Slippers and Grade 3 winners Foretake and No Bend. Nalee is also the third dam of 1999 Indian Horse of the Year Running Flame; 1995 Premio Pamplona (PER-G1) winner India Brava; 2003 Gran Premio del Jockey Club (ITY-G1) winner Ekraar; Grade/Group 3 winners Forcing Bid, Orense, Dalhart and R. Associate, and seven-time Chilean champion sire Hussonet.
- Royal Gunner (1962, by Royal Charger) won the 1964 Futurity Trial and the 1966 Ak-Sar-Ben Cornhusker Stakes. He left nothing of any significance as a sire.
- Belle Foulee (1964, by Tom Fool) never raced but is the second dam of multiple Italian Group 3 winner Great Boss.
- Shuvee (1966, by Nashua) is the American champion older female of 1970 and 1971. She is the dam of Grade 3 winners Tom Swift (by Tom Rolfe) and Benefice (by Damascus) and stakes winner Shukey (by Key to the Mint), second dam of two-time Puerto Rican champion imported filly Eskiway.
- A. T.'s Olie (1967, by Mongo) won the 1970 Nassau Stakes at Fort Erie. She is the dam of stakes winner Doc Sylvester (by Dr. Fager).
- Sister Shu (1969, by Nashua) failed to win in three starts and placed only once. She is the dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Shudanz (by Danzig Connection) and listed stakes winner Nordance (by Danzig) and the second dam of German Group 2 winner Nicholas and multiple Grade 3 winner Manzotti.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Levee was bred by Claiborne Farm. She was initially trained by Moody Jolley. Partway through her juvenile season, she and two other fillies were traded to Edith Cardy (Mrs. Vernon G. Cardy) in exchange for the English stakes winner Kerkeb. Following the trade, Levee was trained by Noel McLeod.
After breeding Levee's first two foals in partnership with Greif Raible and her third, Royal Gunner, in partnership with Raible's Pebblebrook Farm, Mrs. Cardy dissolved the partnership in the mare by selling Levee for US$150,000 to Whitney Stone's Morven Farm. Levee remained in the Morven Stud broodmare band for the remainder of her producing career.
Pedigree notes
Levee is inbred 5x3 to Ultimus. She is a full sister to 1957 American champion 3-year-old filly Bayou, whose daughter Batteur (by Bold Ruler) won six good stakes races at ages 4 through 6. Bayou is the second dam of two-time American champion Slew o' Gold, 1979 Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) winner Coastal, 1987 Flower Bowl Handicap (USA-G1) winner Slew's Exceller and Grade 3 winner Flag Officer and the third dam of 1980 Turf Classic Invitational Handicap (USA-G1) winner Anifa, 1995 Hollywood Oaks (USA-G1) winner Sleep Easy, multiple Grade 1 winner Aptitude and Grade 3 winner Country Light. Levee is also a half sister to Delta (by Nasrullah), a major stakes winner at 2 and 4 and the 1968 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year; to 1954 Correction Handicap winner Banta (by Some Chance), dam of 1962 Golden Gate Handicap winner Mandate (by Prince John), second dam of 1973 American champion 2-year-old filly Talking Picture and 1966 Grey Lag Handicap winner Selari and third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Big Spruce, 1988 Goffs Irish One Thousand Guineas (IRE-G1) winner Trusted Partner, and the top-class mare Manta; and to the stakes-winning hurdler Ambassador (by Nasrullah).
Levee's dam Bourtai is a stakes-placed full sister to multiple juvenile stakes winner Strange Device, dam of stakes winners Abstract (by Isolater) and Metal Mike (by Pilate). Bourtai is also a half sister to 1937 Kentucky Oaks winner Mars Shield (by Diavolo), dam of 1954 Jersey Belle Stakes winner Turf Sun (by Sun Again); to stakes winner By Far (by Bold Gallant); and to stakes-placed Demolition (by Foray II), second dam of 1962 American co-champion 2-year-old filly Smart Deb, 1970 Manhattan Handicap winner Shelter Bay and 1964 Swaps Handicap winner Cap Size. Bourtai and her siblings are out of 1930 Alabama Stakes winner Escutcheon (by Sir Gallahad III), herself one of four stakes winners produced from the Isidor mare Affection.
Books and media
- Levee is profiled in Chapter 47 of John Sparkman's Foundation Mares: How Outstanding Female Families Shaped America's Breeding Industry (2008, Thoroughbred Times Books).
- Levee is profiled in Chapter 8 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- In hindsight, Bull Hancock considered the deal that sent Levee to Mrs. Cardy one of the worst horse trades he had ever made. While Kerkeb produced only one minor stakes winner, Levee became a high-class racer and producer as outlined above.
Photo credit
Levee winning the 1956 Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont Park, H. J. Woodhouse up. Photo by Bert Morgan, taken June 8, 1956. From the Keeneland Library Morgan Collection; used by permission. Please contact the Keeneland Library with any questions regarding use or licensure of this photo.
Last updated: May 9, 2024