Louis Quatorze (USA)
March 13, 1993 – February 17, 2017
Sovereign Dancer (USA) x On to Royalty (USA), by On to Glory (USA)
Family 3-m
March 13, 1993 – February 17, 2017
Sovereign Dancer (USA) x On to Royalty (USA), by On to Glory (USA)
Family 3-m
Louis Quatorze earned his first stakes win and only Grade 1 victory in a big way, turning in one of the most impressive performances of the year in the Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) after an inexplicable flop in the Kentucky Derby (USA-G1). He added three more graded stakes wins and five Grade 1 placings to his resume before retiring to stud, where he was only modestly successful.
Race record
18 starts, 7 wins, 4 seconds, 1 third, US$2,054,434
1995:
1996:
1997:
Assessments
Rated at 121 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile males of 1995, 5 pounds below co-highweights Maria's Mon (the official divisional champion) and Unbridled's Song.
As an individual
An elegant, beautifully balanced bay horse with a look of great quality, Louis Quatorze stood 16.2 hands. He had an excellent shoulder and powerful hindquarters with muscling extending well down into his gaskins.
As a stallion
Louis Quatorze sired 615 winners (60.4%) and 36 stakes winners (3.4%) from 1018 named foals per records maintained by The Jockey Club.
Notable progeny
Bushfire (USA), French Academy (TRI), Ivan C (USA), Mr. Carrea (USA), Surf Point (ARG)
Notable progeny of daughters
El Margot (ARG), Lange (ARG), Puerto Escondido (ARG)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Louis Quatorze was bred by Georgia E. Hofmann, who co-owned the colt with William Condren and Joseph Cornacchia after buying him back for US$225,000 from the 1994 Keeneland July select yearling sale. He was trained by Nick Zito and was ridden to his Preakness score by Pat Day. He entered stud in Kentucky in 1998 at Ashford Stud as the property of a syndicate and shuttled to Argentina for four seasons. He was purchased by Allen and Audrey Murray and was moved to their Murmur Farm in Maryland prior to the 2004 Northern Hemisphere breeding season. He died of an apparent heart attack in February 2017 and was buried at Murmur Farm.
Pedigree notes
Louis Quatorze is inbred 3x4 to 1957 American Horse of the Year and eight-time American champion sire Bold Ruler, 4x4 to two-time American Horse of the Year Native Dancer, 3x5 to the remarkable blue hen Grey Flight, and 4x5x5x5 to Bold Ruler's sire Nasrullah, a five-time American champion sire. He is a half brother to 1997 Gazelle Handicap (USA-G1) winner Royal Indy (by A.P. Indy) and to Deputy Royal (by Deputy Minister), dam of stakes winner Royal Saint (by Saint Ballado).
Louis Quatorze is out of 1988 Bonnie Miss Stakes (USA-G2) winner On to Royalty (by On to Glory), a full sister to 1994 Boojum Handicap (USA-G2) winner Meritocrat and a half sister to stakes winner Silk Stocks (by Medieval Man), dam of listed stakes winner Razor (by Concorde's Tune) and restricted stakes winner Soaring Stocks (by Trippi) and second dam of three stakes winners. On to Royalty is also a half sister to stakes-placed Regal Ties (by Royal and Regal), dam of listed stakes winner Kings Command (by Montbrook) and second dam of three stakes winners; to Thwack (by Fight Over), dam of multiple Grade 2 winner J J'sdream.(by Glitterman) and second dam of 2010 Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap (USA-G1) winner Awesome Gem; and to Mighty Intimate (by Mighty Appealing), dam of Grade 3-placed listed stakes winner Compendium (by Notebook) and second dam of four stakes winners including Grade 3 winner Yesby Jimminy. In addition, On to Royalty is a half sister to Penniless Heiress (by Pentelicus), dam of 2004 Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash Stakes (USA-G1) winner Wildcat Heir (by Forest Wildcat), Grade 3 winner Forest Heiress (by Forest Wildcat), multiple listed stakes winner Forest Heir (by Forest Wildcat), and restricted stakes winner The Hunk (by Speightstown).
On to Royalty is out of the Distinctive mare Royal Ties, a half sister to 1974 American Derby (USA-G1) winner Determined King (by Determined Man). The next dam in Louis Quatorze's tail-female lineage, New Love (by Pardal), is a winning half sister to French Group 2 winner Wittgenstein (by Roi Dagobert) and is out of Stavroula (by Nasrullah), a full sister to 1955 American Horse of the Year Nashua and a half sister to 1953 Alabama Stakes winner Sabette (by Alsab).
Books and media
Fun facts
Last updated: July 15, 2024
Race record
18 starts, 7 wins, 4 seconds, 1 third, US$2,054,434
1995:
- 2nd Futurity Stakes (USA-G1, 7FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Hopeful Stakes (USA-G1, 7FD, Saratoga)
1996:
- Won Preakness Stakes (USA-G1, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Jim Dandy Stakes (USA-G2, 12FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Breeders' Cup Classic (CAN-G1, 10FD, Woodbine)
- 2nd Travers Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Keeneland)
- 3rd Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont)
1997:
- Won Ben Ali Stakes (USA-G3, 9FD, Keeneland)
- Won Creme Fraiche Handicap (USA-G3, 8FD, Gulfstream Park)
Assessments
Rated at 121 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile males of 1995, 5 pounds below co-highweights Maria's Mon (the official divisional champion) and Unbridled's Song.
As an individual
An elegant, beautifully balanced bay horse with a look of great quality, Louis Quatorze stood 16.2 hands. He had an excellent shoulder and powerful hindquarters with muscling extending well down into his gaskins.
As a stallion
Louis Quatorze sired 615 winners (60.4%) and 36 stakes winners (3.4%) from 1018 named foals per records maintained by The Jockey Club.
Notable progeny
Bushfire (USA), French Academy (TRI), Ivan C (USA), Mr. Carrea (USA), Surf Point (ARG)
Notable progeny of daughters
El Margot (ARG), Lange (ARG), Puerto Escondido (ARG)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Louis Quatorze was bred by Georgia E. Hofmann, who co-owned the colt with William Condren and Joseph Cornacchia after buying him back for US$225,000 from the 1994 Keeneland July select yearling sale. He was trained by Nick Zito and was ridden to his Preakness score by Pat Day. He entered stud in Kentucky in 1998 at Ashford Stud as the property of a syndicate and shuttled to Argentina for four seasons. He was purchased by Allen and Audrey Murray and was moved to their Murmur Farm in Maryland prior to the 2004 Northern Hemisphere breeding season. He died of an apparent heart attack in February 2017 and was buried at Murmur Farm.
Pedigree notes
Louis Quatorze is inbred 3x4 to 1957 American Horse of the Year and eight-time American champion sire Bold Ruler, 4x4 to two-time American Horse of the Year Native Dancer, 3x5 to the remarkable blue hen Grey Flight, and 4x5x5x5 to Bold Ruler's sire Nasrullah, a five-time American champion sire. He is a half brother to 1997 Gazelle Handicap (USA-G1) winner Royal Indy (by A.P. Indy) and to Deputy Royal (by Deputy Minister), dam of stakes winner Royal Saint (by Saint Ballado).
Louis Quatorze is out of 1988 Bonnie Miss Stakes (USA-G2) winner On to Royalty (by On to Glory), a full sister to 1994 Boojum Handicap (USA-G2) winner Meritocrat and a half sister to stakes winner Silk Stocks (by Medieval Man), dam of listed stakes winner Razor (by Concorde's Tune) and restricted stakes winner Soaring Stocks (by Trippi) and second dam of three stakes winners. On to Royalty is also a half sister to stakes-placed Regal Ties (by Royal and Regal), dam of listed stakes winner Kings Command (by Montbrook) and second dam of three stakes winners; to Thwack (by Fight Over), dam of multiple Grade 2 winner J J'sdream.(by Glitterman) and second dam of 2010 Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap (USA-G1) winner Awesome Gem; and to Mighty Intimate (by Mighty Appealing), dam of Grade 3-placed listed stakes winner Compendium (by Notebook) and second dam of four stakes winners including Grade 3 winner Yesby Jimminy. In addition, On to Royalty is a half sister to Penniless Heiress (by Pentelicus), dam of 2004 Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash Stakes (USA-G1) winner Wildcat Heir (by Forest Wildcat), Grade 3 winner Forest Heiress (by Forest Wildcat), multiple listed stakes winner Forest Heir (by Forest Wildcat), and restricted stakes winner The Hunk (by Speightstown).
On to Royalty is out of the Distinctive mare Royal Ties, a half sister to 1974 American Derby (USA-G1) winner Determined King (by Determined Man). The next dam in Louis Quatorze's tail-female lineage, New Love (by Pardal), is a winning half sister to French Group 2 winner Wittgenstein (by Roi Dagobert) and is out of Stavroula (by Nasrullah), a full sister to 1955 American Horse of the Year Nashua and a half sister to 1953 Alabama Stakes winner Sabette (by Alsab).
Books and media
- Louis Quatorze is profiled in Chapter 12 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
- Footage of Louis Quatorze’s Preakness Stakes win can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wP3PEgSmq34.
Fun facts
- Louis Quatorze (“Louis the Fourteenth” in French) was named for the French monarch Louis XIV. Also known as “The Sun King,” Louis XIV consolidated the absolute power of the monarchy in France and was a major factor in Europe's wars and politics throughout his lifetime. His reign was known for its opulence.
- Louis Quatorze ran the first six furlongs of the Preakness Stakes faster than any other Preakness winner up to that time, getting the first six panels in 1:09-4/5. His final time of 1:53-2/5 equaled what was then believed to be the stakes record set by Tank's Prospect, though review of Secretariat's performance in 1973 eventually led to his being an awarded a revised time and stakes record of 1:53.
- Pat Day was available to ride Louis Quatorze in the Preakness solely because D. Wayne Lukas had relieved him of the mount on his Prince of Thieves. Day's victory on Louis Quatorze ended a six-race winning streak in Triple Crown races for Lukas, while Prince of Thieves finished seventh under Jerry Bailey.
- With his Preakness win, Louis Quatorze earned the distinction of the biggest Preakness turnaround ever from a losing Kentucky Derby effort. He had finished 16th in the Run for the Roses, beaten over 23 lengths.
Last updated: July 15, 2024