As a juvenile, Level Best was equally amenable to whipping males and females, but an increasingly moody disposition took its toll as she aged. There was no question that she was talented, however, and she also proved to be a good broodmare.
Race record
28 starts, 12 wins, 6 seconds, 3 thirds, US$64,230
1940:
1941:
1942:
Honors
American champion 2-year-old filly (1940)
Assessments
Rated second among American 3-year-old fillies of 1941 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A chestnut, Level Best was often fractious at the start and became moodier as she aged, often refusing to extend herself.
As a producer
Level Best produced 10 named foals. All 10 started and eight were winners. Her important foals were as follow:
Connections
Bred in Kentucky by Samuel D. Riddle, Level Best was owned by Crispin Oglebay, who purchased her for US$7,600 from the 1939 Saratoga yearling sale. She was trained by John P. "Doc" Jones. She died in 1963.
Pedigree notes
Level Best is inbred 4x5 to two-time American Horse of the Year and 1907 American champion sire Commando. She is a half sister to Swing Time (by Royal Minstrel), dam of 1953 Demoiselle Stakes winner O'Alison (by Rosemont), second dam of 1959 American Horse of the Year Sword Dancer and third dam of 1969 Bowie Handicap winner Barbs Delight. She is also a half sister to The Sward (by Sickle), second dam of 1965 New Orleans Handicap winner Valiant Man and 1951 California Breeders Championship Stakes winner Big Noise and third dam of 1965 Belmont Stakes winner Hail to All and Grade 3 winner Gold Plated Leader. In addition, Level Best is a half sister to P T Boat (by Trace Call), second dam of the good handicapper Tick Tock and third dam of 1970 Prix de Malleret winner Chatter Box II.
Level Best is out of 1933 Test Stakes winner Speed Boat, a full sister to 1941 Narragansett Special winner War Relic and to 1945 Demoiselle Stakes winner War Kilt, third dam of 1982 American champion 2-year-old male Roving Boy. She is also a full sister to Anchors Ahead, dam of 1944 Spinaway Stakes winner Price Level (by Sickle; dam of multiple stakes winner The Blend, by Blenheim II), multiple stakes winners Ocean Blue (by Blue Larkspur) and Air Hero (by Blenheim II), and multiple stakes producer Honor Bound (by Bull Dog). In addition, Speed Boat is a half brother to Black Carse (by Black Toney), second dam of the high-class filly Queen Hopeful.
Speed Boat's dam Friar's Carse is generally considered the American champion 2-year-old filly of 1925. She is a full sister to multiple stakes winner Flint Stone and a half sister to stakes-placed Afloat (by Man o' War), dam of stakes winner Drifting Maid (by Valdina Orphan) and second dam of 1954 American champion sprinter White Skies. Friar's Carse is also a half sister to stakes-placed Carmanchita (by Sickle), dam of stakes winner Yankee Dandy (by Son O' Battle). The next dam in Level Best's tail-female line, Problem (by Superman), is out of Query (by Voter), a full sister to 1906 Futurity Stakes winner Electioneer and a half sister to juvenile stakes winners Trumpet (by Victory) and Tommy Atkins (by Masetto).
Books and media
Level Best is profiled in Chapter 7 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Last updated: April 18, 2020
Race record
28 starts, 12 wins, 6 seconds, 3 thirds, US$64,230
1940:
- Won Autumn Day Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Empire City)
- Won Old Colony Stakes (USA, 6FD, Narragansett Park)
- Won Demoiselle Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Empire City)
- Won Richard Johnston Stakes (USA, 6FD, Laurel)
- Won Keeneland Special Event (USA, 6FD, Keeneland)
- Won Saratoga Sales Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Eastern Shore Handicap (USA, 6FD, Havre de Grace)
- 2nd Junior Champion Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Spinaway Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
1941:
- Won Coaching Club American Oaks (USA, 11FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Pimlico Oaks (USA, 8.5FD, Pimlico)
- 3rd Delaware Oaks (USA, 9FD, Delaware)
1942:
- Won Top Flight Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Vineland Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Garden State)
- 2nd Colonial Handicap (USA, 6FD, Garden State)
Honors
American champion 2-year-old filly (1940)
Assessments
Rated second among American 3-year-old fillies of 1941 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A chestnut, Level Best was often fractious at the start and became moodier as she aged, often refusing to extend herself.
As a producer
Level Best produced 10 named foals. All 10 started and eight were winners. Her important foals were as follow:
- Uno Best (1944, by Sir Gallahad III) produced multiple juvenile stakes winner Bright Silver (by Native Dancer), dam in turn of 1969 Juvenile Stakes winner Prize Silver (by Hail to Reason) and second dam of 1975 Kentucky Oaks (USA-G2) winner Sun and Snow. Through another daughter, Nubbin Nugget (by Bandit), Uno Best is the third dam of 1981 Panamanian champion 2-year-old male Sharp Johnny and Panamanian Group G3 winner El Gerarca.
- Top Level (1948, by Blenheim II) was stakes-placed on the track. She is the dam of stakes winner Levelix (by Ambiorix). She is the second dam of three stakes winners including 1972 Del Mar Handicap winner Chrisaway and the third dam of 1984 Premio Simon Bolivar (VEN-I) winner Kabakan.
- Level Lea (1950, by Bull Lea) won the 1953 Jockey Club Gold Cup. He was exported to Argentina in 1960.
- Hot Blood (1952, by Nasrullah) is the dam of Puerto Rican stakes winner Double Speed (by Double Jay) and the second dam of multiple Grade II winner Uniformity. She is also the third dam of multiple Chilean Group II winner Salvatore and Grade III winner Openstock.
- Recite (1956, by Citation) was a stakes winner at 3 and 4. She is the dam of Panamanian stakes winner Royal Medal (by Princequillo).
- Little Hill (1960, by Parnassus) produced juvenile stakes winner Best Level (by Prince John).
Connections
Bred in Kentucky by Samuel D. Riddle, Level Best was owned by Crispin Oglebay, who purchased her for US$7,600 from the 1939 Saratoga yearling sale. She was trained by John P. "Doc" Jones. She died in 1963.
Pedigree notes
Level Best is inbred 4x5 to two-time American Horse of the Year and 1907 American champion sire Commando. She is a half sister to Swing Time (by Royal Minstrel), dam of 1953 Demoiselle Stakes winner O'Alison (by Rosemont), second dam of 1959 American Horse of the Year Sword Dancer and third dam of 1969 Bowie Handicap winner Barbs Delight. She is also a half sister to The Sward (by Sickle), second dam of 1965 New Orleans Handicap winner Valiant Man and 1951 California Breeders Championship Stakes winner Big Noise and third dam of 1965 Belmont Stakes winner Hail to All and Grade 3 winner Gold Plated Leader. In addition, Level Best is a half sister to P T Boat (by Trace Call), second dam of the good handicapper Tick Tock and third dam of 1970 Prix de Malleret winner Chatter Box II.
Level Best is out of 1933 Test Stakes winner Speed Boat, a full sister to 1941 Narragansett Special winner War Relic and to 1945 Demoiselle Stakes winner War Kilt, third dam of 1982 American champion 2-year-old male Roving Boy. She is also a full sister to Anchors Ahead, dam of 1944 Spinaway Stakes winner Price Level (by Sickle; dam of multiple stakes winner The Blend, by Blenheim II), multiple stakes winners Ocean Blue (by Blue Larkspur) and Air Hero (by Blenheim II), and multiple stakes producer Honor Bound (by Bull Dog). In addition, Speed Boat is a half brother to Black Carse (by Black Toney), second dam of the high-class filly Queen Hopeful.
Speed Boat's dam Friar's Carse is generally considered the American champion 2-year-old filly of 1925. She is a full sister to multiple stakes winner Flint Stone and a half sister to stakes-placed Afloat (by Man o' War), dam of stakes winner Drifting Maid (by Valdina Orphan) and second dam of 1954 American champion sprinter White Skies. Friar's Carse is also a half sister to stakes-placed Carmanchita (by Sickle), dam of stakes winner Yankee Dandy (by Son O' Battle). The next dam in Level Best's tail-female line, Problem (by Superman), is out of Query (by Voter), a full sister to 1906 Futurity Stakes winner Electioneer and a half sister to juvenile stakes winners Trumpet (by Victory) and Tommy Atkins (by Masetto).
Books and media
Level Best is profiled in Chapter 7 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Last updated: April 18, 2020