Lt. Stevens (USA)
March 14, 1961 – 1985
Nantallah (USA) x Rough Shod II (GB), by Gold Bridge (FR)
Family 5-h
March 14, 1961 – 1985
Nantallah (USA) x Rough Shod II (GB), by Gold Bridge (FR)
Family 5-h
Lt. Stevens was the second of four full siblings produced by mating Nantallah to Rough Shod II. While not the equal of his elder full brother Ridan, he was still good enough to make it clear that the success of the mating was not a fluke. Following his racing career, he became a good sire of winners but is best remembered today as the broodmare sire of 1988 American Horse of the Year Alysheba and the Group 1 winner and good sire Lear Fan.
Race record
26 starts, 9 wins, 9 seconds, 5 thirds, US$240,949
1964:
1965:
Assessments
Rated at 117 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1964, 11 pounds below champion Northern Dancer.
Rated at 112 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1965, 20 pounds below co-highweights Roman Brother (the American Horse of the Year), Gun Bow, and Kelso.
As an individual
A high-withered bay horse with the Roman nose of his dam Rough Shod II, Lt. Stevens stood 16.3 hands but lacked the power of his brother Ridan and was not quite as precocious and brilliant. He was more lanky and lightly made than either Ridan or his full sister Moccasin.
As a stallion
According to The Jockey Club, Lt. Stevens sired 287 winners (68.0%) and 49 stakes winners (11.6%) from 422 named foals.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Notable progeny
Bel Sheba (USA), Chou Croute (USA), Lieutenant's Lark (USA), Sefa's Beauty (USA), Sky Commander (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Alysheba (USA), Lear Fan (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Lt. Stevens was bred by Claiborne Farm. He was purchased privately as a yearling by Ernest H. Woods.
Pedigree notes
Lt. Stevens is inbred 5x3 to three-time English leading sire Blandford. He is a full brother to 1965 American champion 2-year-old filly and co-Horse of the Year Moccasin, a great producer whose seven stakes winners include 1971 English and Irish champion 2-year-old male Apalachee (by Round Table) and 1982 Irish champion older male and sprinter Belted Earl (by Damascus). He is also a full brother to 1961 American co-champion 2-year-old male Ridan and to stakes-placed Thong, dam of 1972 Irish champion juvenile and 1973 English champion miler Thatch (by Forli), multiple Grade 1 winner King Pellinore (by Round Table), 1974 Coronation Stakes (ENG-G2) winner Lisadell (by Forli), and stakes winner Espadrille (by Damascus). Through her daughter Special (by Forli), Thong is the second dam of 1980 French champion miler Nureyev, a first-rate sire, and the third dam of one of the greatest sires of all time, Sadler's Wells, whose full brother Fairy King was the French champion sire of 1996. Thong is also the second dam of 1985 BBA Ireland-Goffs National Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Tate Gallery, 1989 CIGA Grand Criterium (FR-G1) winner Jade Robbery, 1992 Smurfit National Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Fatherland, and 2008 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (HK-G1) winner Archipenko and the third dam of 2010 American champion older male Blame.
Lt. Stevens is also a half brother to multiple stakes winner Gambetta (by My Babu), dam of three-time American champion Gamely (by Bold Ruler) and stakes winner Staretta (by Dark Star). Gambetta is the second dam of 1971 Dewhurst Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Cellini, 1973 Observer Gold Cup (ENG-G1) winner Take Your Place, and the top-flight turf mare Drumtop.
Produced from 1934 Yorkshire Oaks winner Dalmary (by Blandford), Lt. Stevens' dam Rough Shod II is a half sister to 1948 Leicestershire Oaks winner Corinacy (by Mieuxcé) and to Gold Mary (by Solario), dam of the stakes-winning Nearco fillies Flying Slipper and Nectarine and their multiple stakes-producing full sister Sarie. Gold Mary is also the dam of Spring Light (by Signal Light), dam of 1961 Irish Two Thousand Guineas winner Light Year (by Chamier). Rough Shod II is also a half sister to stakes-placed Jennydang (by Colombo), whose stakes-winning son Pewter Platter (by Owen Tudor) became a good sire in Brazil, and to Miss Know All (by Rhodes Scholar), sire of the good stakes winner Le Sage (by Chamossaire).
Fun facts
Last updated: August 12, 2023
Race record
26 starts, 9 wins, 9 seconds, 5 thirds, US$240,949
1964:
- Won Saranac Handicap (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Jerome Handicap (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd American Derby (USA, 10FD, Arlington Park)
- 2nd Discovery Handicap (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Choice Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Monmouth)
- 2nd Arlington Classic (USA, 8FD, Arlington Park)
- 2nd Lamplighter Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Monmouth)
- 3rd Benjamin Franklin Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Garden State)
- 3rd Princeton Handicap (USA, 6D, Garden State)
1965:
- Won Palm Beach Handicap (USA, 7FD, Hialeah)
- Won John B. Campbell Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Bowie)
- 2nd Valley Forge Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Garden State)
- 2nd Fayette Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Keeneland)
- 3rd Donn Handicap (USA, 9FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 3rd Grey Lag Handicap (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
Assessments
Rated at 117 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1964, 11 pounds below champion Northern Dancer.
Rated at 112 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1965, 20 pounds below co-highweights Roman Brother (the American Horse of the Year), Gun Bow, and Kelso.
As an individual
A high-withered bay horse with the Roman nose of his dam Rough Shod II, Lt. Stevens stood 16.3 hands but lacked the power of his brother Ridan and was not quite as precocious and brilliant. He was more lanky and lightly made than either Ridan or his full sister Moccasin.
As a stallion
According to The Jockey Club, Lt. Stevens sired 287 winners (68.0%) and 49 stakes winners (11.6%) from 422 named foals.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- 2nd on the American broodmare sire list in 1987; 4th in 1988.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 2nd on the American broodmare sire list in 1987; 4th in 1988.
Notable progeny
Bel Sheba (USA), Chou Croute (USA), Lieutenant's Lark (USA), Sefa's Beauty (USA), Sky Commander (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Alysheba (USA), Lear Fan (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Lt. Stevens was bred by Claiborne Farm. He was purchased privately as a yearling by Ernest H. Woods.
Pedigree notes
Lt. Stevens is inbred 5x3 to three-time English leading sire Blandford. He is a full brother to 1965 American champion 2-year-old filly and co-Horse of the Year Moccasin, a great producer whose seven stakes winners include 1971 English and Irish champion 2-year-old male Apalachee (by Round Table) and 1982 Irish champion older male and sprinter Belted Earl (by Damascus). He is also a full brother to 1961 American co-champion 2-year-old male Ridan and to stakes-placed Thong, dam of 1972 Irish champion juvenile and 1973 English champion miler Thatch (by Forli), multiple Grade 1 winner King Pellinore (by Round Table), 1974 Coronation Stakes (ENG-G2) winner Lisadell (by Forli), and stakes winner Espadrille (by Damascus). Through her daughter Special (by Forli), Thong is the second dam of 1980 French champion miler Nureyev, a first-rate sire, and the third dam of one of the greatest sires of all time, Sadler's Wells, whose full brother Fairy King was the French champion sire of 1996. Thong is also the second dam of 1985 BBA Ireland-Goffs National Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Tate Gallery, 1989 CIGA Grand Criterium (FR-G1) winner Jade Robbery, 1992 Smurfit National Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Fatherland, and 2008 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (HK-G1) winner Archipenko and the third dam of 2010 American champion older male Blame.
Lt. Stevens is also a half brother to multiple stakes winner Gambetta (by My Babu), dam of three-time American champion Gamely (by Bold Ruler) and stakes winner Staretta (by Dark Star). Gambetta is the second dam of 1971 Dewhurst Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Cellini, 1973 Observer Gold Cup (ENG-G1) winner Take Your Place, and the top-flight turf mare Drumtop.
Produced from 1934 Yorkshire Oaks winner Dalmary (by Blandford), Lt. Stevens' dam Rough Shod II is a half sister to 1948 Leicestershire Oaks winner Corinacy (by Mieuxcé) and to Gold Mary (by Solario), dam of the stakes-winning Nearco fillies Flying Slipper and Nectarine and their multiple stakes-producing full sister Sarie. Gold Mary is also the dam of Spring Light (by Signal Light), dam of 1961 Irish Two Thousand Guineas winner Light Year (by Chamier). Rough Shod II is also a half sister to stakes-placed Jennydang (by Colombo), whose stakes-winning son Pewter Platter (by Owen Tudor) became a good sire in Brazil, and to Miss Know All (by Rhodes Scholar), sire of the good stakes winner Le Sage (by Chamossaire).
Fun facts
- Lt. Stevens was named for Ernest Woods' son-in-law Lowell T. Stevens, who had recommended the colt's purchase.
- In spite of his good record as a sire, Lt. Stevens fetched only US$9,500 when sent through the sale ring at the 1981 Keeneland January mixed sale.
Last updated: August 12, 2023