Little Current (USA)
April 5, 1971 – January 19, 2003
Sea-Bird (FR) x Luiana (USA), by My Babu (FR)
Family 16-h
April 5, 1971 – January 19, 2003
Sea-Bird (FR) x Luiana (USA), by My Babu (FR)
Family 16-h
Little Current won only four of his 16 starts, but two of those wins were emphatic victories in the Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) and Belmont Stakes (USA-G1), leading observers to speculate as to what might have happened had the colt not encountered serious traffic trouble in the Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) (in which he finished fifth). He proved a moderately successful stallion after an ankle injury brought his racing career to an end in September of his 3-year-old season.
Race record
16 starts, 4 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third, US$374,705
1974:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old male (1974)
Assessments
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1974, 3 pounds above Agitate and Holding Pattern.
As an individual
A long-bodied, lanky chestnut with a high head carriage, Little Current had an excellent shoulder. He stood 16 hands. Although he possessed a strong turn of foot, he was a deep closer and was vulnerable to traffic problems because of his running style. He handled fast and sloppy surfaces equally well. He was badly beaten in the Lawrence Realization, his only start on turf, but was injured during the running, leaving his turf form as a question mark.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Little Current sired 327 winners (61.4%) and 33 stakes winners (6.2%) from 533 named foals. The Blood-Horse credits Little Current with 35 stakes winners (6.6%).
Notable progeny
Current Hope (USA), Prize Spot USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Little Current was bred and owned by John Galbreath of Darby Dan Farm. He was trained by Lou Rondinello. He was retired after chipping an ankle in the 1974 Lawrence Realization Stakes, which ended plans to send him to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Syndicated for US$4 million immediately after his second-place finish in the 1974 Travers Stakes (Galbreath retained a 25 perent interest), Little Current initially stood in Kentucky at Darby Dan Farm, later moving to Buck Pond Farm after the farm's owners, Doug and Karen Arnold, acquired an interest in him. From there, Little Current moved to Good Guys Farm in Louisiana and finally to Ann and Mark Hansen's Maverick Farm, Washington, where he was pensioned after the 1996 breeding season. Lovingly cared for by the Hansens, who are both veterinarians, he was the oldest winner of a Triple Crown race at the time of his death from colic on January 19, 2003. Autopsy revealed that the stallion had been suffering from an intestinal tumor at the time of his death. Little Current's remains were returned to Buck Pond Farm for burial.
Pedigree notes
Little Current is inbred 4x3 to 1945 Preakness Stakes winner Polynesian and 4x5 to Polynesian's paternal grandsire Sickle, a two-time American champion sire. He is a half brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Prayers'n Promises (by Foolish Pleasure), dam of French Group 3 winner Nabeel Dancer (by Northern Dancer) and listed stakes winner Anjiz (by Nureyev), second dam of Grade 3 winner Buffalo Berry, and third dam of Grade 3 winner Chattahoochee War. He is also a half brother to stakes winner Water Dance (by Nijinsky II), second dam of Grade 2 winner Magic Storm and the third dam of 2014 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (JPN-G1) winner Lachesis, 2011 Del Mar Futurity (USA-G1) winner Drill, and 2017 Yasuda Kinen (JPN-G1) winner Satono Aladdin. In addition, Little Current is a half brother to Darbyvail (by Roberto), whose stakes-winning daughter Turkish Tryst (by Turkoman) is the dam of 2007 King's Bishop Stakes (USA-G1) winner and good sire Hard Spun (by Danzig). Darbyvail is also the third dam of Argentine Group 2 winner Rival Dan.
Little Current is out of Luiana, whose other foals include Luv Luiana, dam of Australian Group 3 winner Almazyoon (by Danehill) and second dam of Australian Group 3 winner El Maze, and Fair Renown (by Stage Door Johnny), second dam of English Group 3 winner Cutting Blade. Luiana is a half sister to 1962 American champion handicap female Primonetta (by Swaps), who earned Kentucky Broodmare of the Year honors in 1978 after producing multiple Grade 1 winner Cum Laude Laurie (by Hail to Reason), 1975 Florida Derby (USA-G1) winner Prince Thou Art (by Hail to Reason), 1971 Gallinule Stakes (IRE-G2) winner Grenfall (by Graustark), and 1974 Gazelle Handicap (USA-G2) winner Maud Muller (by Graustark). Primonetta is also the second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Dance O'My Life.
Also a half sister to 1963 American champion 3-year-old male Chateaugay (by Swaps), Luiana is out of the juvenile stakes winner Banquet Bell, whose half sister Desert (by Heliopolis) is the dam of juvenile stakes winner Never More (by Berseem). Also a half sister to Countess Albie (by Pet Bully), dam of English Group 2 winner Otha (by Ribot), multiple English stakes winner Sky Rocket (by Warfare), and Irish stakes winner Octavo (by Roberto), Banquet Bell is out of the Pot au Feu mare Dinner Horn, a half sister to 1945 Selima Stakes and 1946 Modesty Stakes winner Athene (by Heliopolis). The last-named mare is, in turn, the dam of 1954 San Juan Capistrano Handicap winner By Zeus (by Count Fleet) and 1956 Camino Real Handicap winner Lychnus (by Ardan).
Books and media
Little Current is profiled in Chapter 10 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Last updated: December 3, 2020
Race record
16 starts, 4 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third, US$374,705
1974:
- Won Preakness Stakes (USA-G1, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
- Won Everglades Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Hialeah)
- 2nd Monmouth Invitational Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Monmouth)
- 2nd Travers Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old male (1974)
Assessments
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1974, 3 pounds above Agitate and Holding Pattern.
As an individual
A long-bodied, lanky chestnut with a high head carriage, Little Current had an excellent shoulder. He stood 16 hands. Although he possessed a strong turn of foot, he was a deep closer and was vulnerable to traffic problems because of his running style. He handled fast and sloppy surfaces equally well. He was badly beaten in the Lawrence Realization, his only start on turf, but was injured during the running, leaving his turf form as a question mark.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Little Current sired 327 winners (61.4%) and 33 stakes winners (6.2%) from 533 named foals. The Blood-Horse credits Little Current with 35 stakes winners (6.6%).
Notable progeny
Current Hope (USA), Prize Spot USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Little Current was bred and owned by John Galbreath of Darby Dan Farm. He was trained by Lou Rondinello. He was retired after chipping an ankle in the 1974 Lawrence Realization Stakes, which ended plans to send him to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Syndicated for US$4 million immediately after his second-place finish in the 1974 Travers Stakes (Galbreath retained a 25 perent interest), Little Current initially stood in Kentucky at Darby Dan Farm, later moving to Buck Pond Farm after the farm's owners, Doug and Karen Arnold, acquired an interest in him. From there, Little Current moved to Good Guys Farm in Louisiana and finally to Ann and Mark Hansen's Maverick Farm, Washington, where he was pensioned after the 1996 breeding season. Lovingly cared for by the Hansens, who are both veterinarians, he was the oldest winner of a Triple Crown race at the time of his death from colic on January 19, 2003. Autopsy revealed that the stallion had been suffering from an intestinal tumor at the time of his death. Little Current's remains were returned to Buck Pond Farm for burial.
Pedigree notes
Little Current is inbred 4x3 to 1945 Preakness Stakes winner Polynesian and 4x5 to Polynesian's paternal grandsire Sickle, a two-time American champion sire. He is a half brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Prayers'n Promises (by Foolish Pleasure), dam of French Group 3 winner Nabeel Dancer (by Northern Dancer) and listed stakes winner Anjiz (by Nureyev), second dam of Grade 3 winner Buffalo Berry, and third dam of Grade 3 winner Chattahoochee War. He is also a half brother to stakes winner Water Dance (by Nijinsky II), second dam of Grade 2 winner Magic Storm and the third dam of 2014 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (JPN-G1) winner Lachesis, 2011 Del Mar Futurity (USA-G1) winner Drill, and 2017 Yasuda Kinen (JPN-G1) winner Satono Aladdin. In addition, Little Current is a half brother to Darbyvail (by Roberto), whose stakes-winning daughter Turkish Tryst (by Turkoman) is the dam of 2007 King's Bishop Stakes (USA-G1) winner and good sire Hard Spun (by Danzig). Darbyvail is also the third dam of Argentine Group 2 winner Rival Dan.
Little Current is out of Luiana, whose other foals include Luv Luiana, dam of Australian Group 3 winner Almazyoon (by Danehill) and second dam of Australian Group 3 winner El Maze, and Fair Renown (by Stage Door Johnny), second dam of English Group 3 winner Cutting Blade. Luiana is a half sister to 1962 American champion handicap female Primonetta (by Swaps), who earned Kentucky Broodmare of the Year honors in 1978 after producing multiple Grade 1 winner Cum Laude Laurie (by Hail to Reason), 1975 Florida Derby (USA-G1) winner Prince Thou Art (by Hail to Reason), 1971 Gallinule Stakes (IRE-G2) winner Grenfall (by Graustark), and 1974 Gazelle Handicap (USA-G2) winner Maud Muller (by Graustark). Primonetta is also the second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Dance O'My Life.
Also a half sister to 1963 American champion 3-year-old male Chateaugay (by Swaps), Luiana is out of the juvenile stakes winner Banquet Bell, whose half sister Desert (by Heliopolis) is the dam of juvenile stakes winner Never More (by Berseem). Also a half sister to Countess Albie (by Pet Bully), dam of English Group 2 winner Otha (by Ribot), multiple English stakes winner Sky Rocket (by Warfare), and Irish stakes winner Octavo (by Roberto), Banquet Bell is out of the Pot au Feu mare Dinner Horn, a half sister to 1945 Selima Stakes and 1946 Modesty Stakes winner Athene (by Heliopolis). The last-named mare is, in turn, the dam of 1954 San Juan Capistrano Handicap winner By Zeus (by Count Fleet) and 1956 Camino Real Handicap winner Lychnus (by Ardan).
Books and media
Little Current is profiled in Chapter 10 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- Little Current was named for a town on Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada, where John Galbreath and his wife had a summer retreat.
- Analysis of television footage of the 1974 Kentucky Derby indicated that Little Current had been forced to check no less than five times during the running and went extremely wide on the final turn. In spite of his nightmare trip, he appeared to be running fastest of all at the end.
- Little Current received a visit from Queen Elizabeth II in 1984 when Her Majesty came to Darby Dan. She was sufficiently impressed that she actually booked some of her own mares to him.
Last updated: December 3, 2020