If one wants to find where European “Iron Horse” Giant's Causeway got his toughness, one need look no further than his dam Mariah's Storm. After winning the Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes (USA-G2) as a juvenile, Mariah's Storm fractured a front cannon bone, normally a career-ending if not life-ending injury. Instead of retiring to the paddocks, she returned to racing with undiminished zest and ability, becoming a graded stakes winner at 3 and 4. She became even more distinguished as a broodmare, producing two sires who have each earned multiple national sire championships as well as a good regional sire and two Group 1-producing daughters.
Race record
16 starts, 10 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third, US$724,894)
1993:
1994:
1995:
Assessments
Rated at 113 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1994, 13 pounds below co-highweights Heavenly Prize (the official divisional champion) and Lakeway.
As an individual
A bay mare, Mariah's Storm was muscular and well-balanced. She was a game competitor when racing.
As a producer
Mariah's Storm produced 13 named foals, of which 11 have started and eight have won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Mariah's Storm was bred by Donald T. Johnson's Crescent Farm. She was owned by Bill and Marge Peters' Thunderhead Farms. She was trained by Don von Hemel. She was purchased by John Magnier of Coolmore for US$2.6 million at the 1996 Keeneland November mixed sale, with Giant's Causeway in utero.
Pedigree notes
Mariah's Storm is inbred 4x3 to 1960 American champion 2-year-old male Hail to Reason, the American champion sire of 1970. She is also inbred 4x5x5 to five-time American champion sire Nasrullah. She is a half sister to French Group 2 winner Panoramic (by Rainbow Quest) and Japanese stakes winner Air Zion (by Groom Dancer). Mariah's Storm is also a half sister to Sun Blush (by Ogygian), dam of restricted stakes winner Relinquish (by Rahy) and third dam of Grade 2 winner Guys Reward, and to Tinaca (by Manila), dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Quest Star (by Broad Brush).
Mariah's Storm was produced from 1982 Little Silver Handicap (USA-G3) winner Immense, a half sister to 1975 American champion 2-year-old filly Dearly Precious (by Dr. Fager). Dearly Precious, in turn, is the dam of Grade G3 winner Mr. Modesty and stakes winner Dearly Too (both by Nijinsky II). The next dam in the tail-female line, multiple stakes winner Imsodear (by Chieftain), is out of the winning Intent mare Ironically, making her a half sister to Isatopper (by Rasper II), dam of Grade G3 winner I'm on Top (by Imasmartee) and second dam of 1982 Oaks d'Italia (ITY-G1) winner Ilenia.
Ironically, in turn, is out of the Heliopolis mare Itsabet and is a full sister to Iaway, dam of stakes winner Cracker Bon Bon (by Kirrary) and second dam of Grade 2 winner Peanut Butter Onit. Ironically is also a half sister to 1959 Paumonok Handicap winner Isendu (by Inyureye), to multiple stakes winner Ifabody (by Brookfield) and to Iaround (by Round Table), dam of stakes winner I'll Be Around (by Isgala) and second dam of seven black-type stakes winners including 1977 Irish champion 2-year-old filly Sookera, 1984 Jerome Handicap (USA-G1) winner Is Your Pleasure, 1984 Wood Memorial Invitational Stakes (USA-G1) winner Leroy S. and Grade 3 winner I Enclose. In addition, Ironically is a half sister to Is Certain (by No Robbery), dam of Grade 3 winner Surely Royal (by Young Emperor) and Grade 2-placed stakes winner In True Form (by Imasmartee). The female family was developed by Harry Isaacs and traces back to Emilia, whose son Australian (imported with her as a suckling) was an important 19th-century stallion in the United States and established a male line still extant today through the descendants of In Reality.
Fun facts
Last updated: September 30, 2023
Race record
16 starts, 10 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third, US$724,894)
1993:
- Won Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes (USA-G2, 8FD, Arlington Park)
- 2nd Palatine Breeders' Cup Stakes (USA, 6FD, Arlington Park)
1994:
- Won Arlington Heights Oaks (USA-G3, 9FD, Arlington Park)
- Won Ak-Sar-Ben Oaks (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Ak-Sar-Ben)
- Won Rolling Meadows Stakes (USA-L, 8FD, Arlington Park)
- Won Mrs. Revere Stakes (USA, 8.5FT, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Valley View Breeders' Cup Stakes (USA-L, 8.5FT, Keeneland)
1995:
- Won Turfway Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Turfway Park)
- Won Arlington Matron Stakes (USA-G3, 9FD, Arlington Park)
- Won Falls City Handicap (USA-G3, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
- 3rd Spinster Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Keeneland)
Assessments
Rated at 113 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1994, 13 pounds below co-highweights Heavenly Prize (the official divisional champion) and Lakeway.
As an individual
A bay mare, Mariah's Storm was muscular and well-balanced. She was a game competitor when racing.
As a producer
Mariah's Storm produced 13 named foals, of which 11 have started and eight have won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Giant's Causeway (1997, by Storm Cat) was Europe's Horse of the Year in 2000. He has led the American general sire list three times.
- Freud (1998, by Storm Cat) was Group 2-placed on the race course. Given a chance at stud in New York, he has led the state's general sire list six times.
- Tumblebrutus (2001, by Storm Cat) was Group 2-placed in Ireland as a juvenile. He is a three-time champion sire in Chile (2011-2013).
- You'resothrilling (2005, by Storm Cat) won the 2007 Cherry Hinton Stakes (ENG-G2). She is the dam of 2014 Irish One Thousand Guineas (IRE-G1) winner Marvellous (dam of listed stakes winner Fort Myers, by War Front), 2015 Two Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1) and Irish Two Thousand Guineas (IRE-G1) winner Gleneagles, 2021 Prix de Diane Longines (French Oaks, FR-G1) winner Joan of Arc, 2017 Moyglare Stud Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Happily, Australian Group 2 winner Taj Mahal, and Grade 1-placed Irish Group 3 winner Coolmore, all by Galileo.
- Pearling (2006, by Storm Cat) placed once in two starts. She is the dam of multiple Group 1 winner Decorated Knight (by Galileo).
- Love Me Only (2008, by Sadler's Wells) never raced but is the dam of 2015 Great Voltigeur Stakes (ENG-G2) winner Storm the Stars (by Sea the Stars).
- Fabulous (2013, by Galileo) never raced but is the dam of 2022 Prix Saint-Alary (FR-G1) winner Above the Curve (by American Pharoah).
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Mariah's Storm was bred by Donald T. Johnson's Crescent Farm. She was owned by Bill and Marge Peters' Thunderhead Farms. She was trained by Don von Hemel. She was purchased by John Magnier of Coolmore for US$2.6 million at the 1996 Keeneland November mixed sale, with Giant's Causeway in utero.
Pedigree notes
Mariah's Storm is inbred 4x3 to 1960 American champion 2-year-old male Hail to Reason, the American champion sire of 1970. She is also inbred 4x5x5 to five-time American champion sire Nasrullah. She is a half sister to French Group 2 winner Panoramic (by Rainbow Quest) and Japanese stakes winner Air Zion (by Groom Dancer). Mariah's Storm is also a half sister to Sun Blush (by Ogygian), dam of restricted stakes winner Relinquish (by Rahy) and third dam of Grade 2 winner Guys Reward, and to Tinaca (by Manila), dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Quest Star (by Broad Brush).
Mariah's Storm was produced from 1982 Little Silver Handicap (USA-G3) winner Immense, a half sister to 1975 American champion 2-year-old filly Dearly Precious (by Dr. Fager). Dearly Precious, in turn, is the dam of Grade G3 winner Mr. Modesty and stakes winner Dearly Too (both by Nijinsky II). The next dam in the tail-female line, multiple stakes winner Imsodear (by Chieftain), is out of the winning Intent mare Ironically, making her a half sister to Isatopper (by Rasper II), dam of Grade G3 winner I'm on Top (by Imasmartee) and second dam of 1982 Oaks d'Italia (ITY-G1) winner Ilenia.
Ironically, in turn, is out of the Heliopolis mare Itsabet and is a full sister to Iaway, dam of stakes winner Cracker Bon Bon (by Kirrary) and second dam of Grade 2 winner Peanut Butter Onit. Ironically is also a half sister to 1959 Paumonok Handicap winner Isendu (by Inyureye), to multiple stakes winner Ifabody (by Brookfield) and to Iaround (by Round Table), dam of stakes winner I'll Be Around (by Isgala) and second dam of seven black-type stakes winners including 1977 Irish champion 2-year-old filly Sookera, 1984 Jerome Handicap (USA-G1) winner Is Your Pleasure, 1984 Wood Memorial Invitational Stakes (USA-G1) winner Leroy S. and Grade 3 winner I Enclose. In addition, Ironically is a half sister to Is Certain (by No Robbery), dam of Grade 3 winner Surely Royal (by Young Emperor) and Grade 2-placed stakes winner In True Form (by Imasmartee). The female family was developed by Harry Isaacs and traces back to Emilia, whose son Australian (imported with her as a suckling) was an important 19th-century stallion in the United States and established a male line still extant today through the descendants of In Reality.
Fun facts
- Mariah's Storm is the only Thoroughbred to have swept all of Arlington's top dirt stakes for fillies and mares during her career: the Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes for juveniles, the Arlington Oaks for 3-year-olds and the Arlington Matron Stakes for older females. For a time, the Mariah's Storm Stakes was run at Arlington in honor of her feat.
- The 2005 movie Dreamer is loosely based on the career of Mariah's Storm. Directed by John Gatins, the film was nominated for a Critics Choice Award as Best Family Film.
- Mariah's Storm was the most expensive broodmare sold at public auction in the United States in 1996.
Last updated: September 30, 2023