Lizzie Dwyer (USA)
1882 – November 13, 1886
King Alfonso (USA) x Lilly Duke (USA), by Lexington (USA)
Family 9-c
1882 – November 13, 1886
King Alfonso (USA) x Lilly Duke (USA), by Lexington (USA)
Family 9-c
The third and best of three Kentucky Oaks winners sired by King Alfonso, Lizzie Dwyer was rated highly enough by Western horsemen that many considered her the equal or superior of her year's Kentucky Derby winner, Joe Cotton. Unfortunately, she was injured during the running of the St. Louis Fair Derby on June 6, 1885, and was never as consistent at 4 as she had been at 2 and 3. She died of pneumonia late in 1886.
Race record
32 starts, 13 wins, 7 seconds, 4 thirds
1884:
1885:
1886:
As an individual
A chestnut standing 15.3 hands, Lizzie was described by the Louisville Courier-Journal of May 17, 1885, as “a grand filly in every particular.”
Connections
Lizzie Dwyer was bred by A. J. Alexander at Woodburn Stud and was owned by Ed Corrigan, who purchased her for US$425 or $450 (depending on the source) as a yearling. She was trained by John W. Rogers at 2 and 3 (with interludes during which she was officially trained by her owner) and by Abraham Perry at 4. She died of pneumonia on November 13, 1886, just eight days after her last race.
Pedigree notes
Lizzie Dwyer is inbred 4x4 to 1832 St. Leger Stakes winner Margrave. She is a full sister to Water Lily, winner of the 1884 Jerome Handicap and second dam of 1902 Saratoga Handicap winner Francesco. She is also a full sister to Red Dress, dam of 1904 California Oaks winner Cap and Gown (by Wadsworth), and a half sister to Rose (by Falsetto), dam of multiple stakes winner Wild Thyme (by Ben Brush).
Lilly Duke, the dam of Lizzie Dwyer, is a full sister to 1868 Belmont Stakes winner General Duke and stakes winner Chilicothe. She is also a full sister to Lemonade, dam of 1881 Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes winner Saunterer (by Leamington) and 1878 Hopeful Stakes winner Idler (by Leamington; second dam of the multiple stakes-winning juvenile Dr. Eichberg) and second dam of 1902 California Oaks winner Muresca.
Lilly Duke and her siblings were produced from the Yorkshire mare Lilla, whose half sister Vandalia (by Vandal) produced juvenile stakes winner Ceylon (by Asteroid). Another half sister to Lilla, Zaidee (by Belshazzar), produced 1874 Withers Stakes winner Dublin (by Kentucky). Lilla is out of Victoire, by Margrave out of the Bertrand mare Argentile.
Fun facts
Last updated: August 11, 2022
Race record
32 starts, 13 wins, 7 seconds, 4 thirds
1884:
- Won Saratoga Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- Won Kentucky Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- Won Zoo Zoo Stakes (USA, 6FD, Latonia)
- Won Virginia Stakes (USA, 5FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Flatbush Stakes (USA, 7FD, Sheepshead Bay)
- 3rd Tennessee Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
1885:
- Won Kentucky Oaks (USA, 12FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Moet and Chandon Stakes (USA, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Glidelia Stakes (USA, 10FD, Latonia)
- 2nd Ashland Oaks (USA, 10FD, Lexington)
1886:
- Won Boulevard Stakes (USA, 10FD, Washington Park)
- Won Competition Stakes (USA, 12FD, Washington Park)
- 2nd Coney Island Stakes (USA, 9FD, Sheepshead Bay)
- 2nd Oakwood Handicap (USA, 9FD, Washington Park)
- 2nd Columbia Stakes (USA, 14FD, Washington Park)
As an individual
A chestnut standing 15.3 hands, Lizzie was described by the Louisville Courier-Journal of May 17, 1885, as “a grand filly in every particular.”
Connections
Lizzie Dwyer was bred by A. J. Alexander at Woodburn Stud and was owned by Ed Corrigan, who purchased her for US$425 or $450 (depending on the source) as a yearling. She was trained by John W. Rogers at 2 and 3 (with interludes during which she was officially trained by her owner) and by Abraham Perry at 4. She died of pneumonia on November 13, 1886, just eight days after her last race.
Pedigree notes
Lizzie Dwyer is inbred 4x4 to 1832 St. Leger Stakes winner Margrave. She is a full sister to Water Lily, winner of the 1884 Jerome Handicap and second dam of 1902 Saratoga Handicap winner Francesco. She is also a full sister to Red Dress, dam of 1904 California Oaks winner Cap and Gown (by Wadsworth), and a half sister to Rose (by Falsetto), dam of multiple stakes winner Wild Thyme (by Ben Brush).
Lilly Duke, the dam of Lizzie Dwyer, is a full sister to 1868 Belmont Stakes winner General Duke and stakes winner Chilicothe. She is also a full sister to Lemonade, dam of 1881 Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes winner Saunterer (by Leamington) and 1878 Hopeful Stakes winner Idler (by Leamington; second dam of the multiple stakes-winning juvenile Dr. Eichberg) and second dam of 1902 California Oaks winner Muresca.
Lilly Duke and her siblings were produced from the Yorkshire mare Lilla, whose half sister Vandalia (by Vandal) produced juvenile stakes winner Ceylon (by Asteroid). Another half sister to Lilla, Zaidee (by Belshazzar), produced 1874 Withers Stakes winner Dublin (by Kentucky). Lilla is out of Victoire, by Margrave out of the Bertrand mare Argentile.
Fun facts
- Lizzie Dwyer's victory in the 1885 Kentucky Oaks, coupled with Joe Cotton's win in the Kentucky Derby two days earlier, made King Alfonso the first stallion to complete the Derby/Oaks double in the same year. It has been done only three times since then: by McGee, who sired the 1918 Derby winner Exterminator and the 1918 Oaks winner Viva America; by Bull Lea, who sired 1952 Derby winner Hill Gail and 1952 Oaks winner Real Delight; and by Native Dancer, who sired 1966 Derby winner Kauai King and 1966 Oaks winner Native Street.
- Lizzie Dwyer was the third and last of three Kentucky Oaks winners for King Alfonso. The others were Katie Creel (1882) and Vera (1883).
- Lizzie Dwyer was the third of six Kentucky Oaks winners produced from daughters of Lexington, the most successful broodmare sire in the history of the race. The others were Lucy May (1881), Katie Creel (1882), Vera (1883), Pure Rye (1886), and Miss Hawkins (1891).
- One of the sensations of the 1886 racing season in Chicago was a reported plot to poison Lizzie Dwyer prior to the running of the Competition Stakes on August 6. Four arrests were made by William “Billy” Pinkerton, who had succeeded his father Allen Pinkerton as the head of the Pinkerton's private detective and security agency, but because Corrigan was not able to remain in Chicago to press charges, the alleged perpetrators were merely fined US$200 each for disorderly conduct.
Last updated: August 11, 2022