Although she was precocious enough to win over sprint distances at 2, Marshua gave evidence of being a staying sort of filly in the late-season 2-year-old races of 1964 and fulfilled that promise at 3 with a victory in the Coaching Club American Oaks. Unfortunately, it was her only major success at 3, perhaps due to being over-raced at 2, and she did not race after her sophomore season. She was a successful but not top-class broodmare.
Race record
21 starts, 6 wins, 9 seconds, 4 thirds, US$317,599
1964:
1965:
Assessments
Rated at 117 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1964, 1 pound below champion Queen of the Stage.
Rated at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1965, 3 pounds below champion What a Treat but tied for second with Straight Deal.
As an individual
Marshua was a big, strongly made bay filly with plenty of substance and a deep girth. She had a strong coupling and powerful hindquarters with good muscling extending well down into her forearms, gaskins, and stifles. She could be faulted for slightly upright shoulders and being slightly back at the knees; she was also slightly wide behind.
As a producer
Marshua produced eight named foals, of which seven started and six won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Marshua was bred by Wallace Gilroy and raced in the colors of his wife. She was trained by Norman R. McLeod. She last appears in produce records as being barren in 1984.
Pedigree notes
Marshua is inbred 5x4 to two-time English champion sire Phalaris and to Sir Gallahad III, a four-time champion sire and 12-time champion broodmare sire in the United States. She is a half sister to Happy Kitten (by Dedicate), dam of multiple Canadian stakes winners Ambassador B. (by Al Hattab) and Strategic Command (by Nodouble).
Emardee, the dam of Marshua, was a stakes winner at 2 and 3. She is a full sister to Kithara, second dam of 1977 Hollywood Derby (USA-G1) winner Steve's Friend. She is also a half sister to juvenile stakes winner Drummond (by Nirgal) and to Dish of Tea (by Blenheim II), dam of the good steeplechaser Exhibit A. (by Alibhai).
Emardee and her siblings are out of stakes-placed Miss Drummond (by Pharamond II), whose half sister Lovely Delores (by Blue Larkspur) is the dam of juvenile stakes winner Acushla (by Bull Page) and multiple Canadian stakes winner Windy Ship (by Windfields). Miss Drummond is also a half sister to Attic (by War Relic), dam of juvenile stakes winner Bermuda Punch (by Alsab) and second dam of 1960 Mexican champion 3-year-old male Kirkwood. The next dam in the tail-female line, The Drum, is a non-winning daughter of Sir Gallahad III out of 1925 Matron Stakes winner Taps, by Man o' War.
Books and media
Marshua is profiled in Chapter 9 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Last updated: June 28, 2021
Race record
21 starts, 6 wins, 9 seconds, 4 thirds, US$317,599
1964:
- Won Schuylerville Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Saratoga)
- Won Selima Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Laurel)
- Won Marguerite Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Pimlico)
- 2nd Polly Drummond Stakes (USA, 5FD, Delaware)
- 2nd Rancocas Stakes (USA, 5FD, Garden State)
- 2nd Astoria Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Gardenia Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Garden State)
- 2nd Spinaway Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Adirondack Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Frizette Stakes (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
1965:
- Won Coaching Club American Oaks (USA, 10FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Acorn Stakes (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Rosenna Stakes (USA, 8FD, Delaware)
- 3rd Monmouth Oaks (USA, 9FD, Monmouth)
Assessments
Rated at 117 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1964, 1 pound below champion Queen of the Stage.
Rated at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1965, 3 pounds below champion What a Treat but tied for second with Straight Deal.
As an individual
Marshua was a big, strongly made bay filly with plenty of substance and a deep girth. She had a strong coupling and powerful hindquarters with good muscling extending well down into her forearms, gaskins, and stifles. She could be faulted for slightly upright shoulders and being slightly back at the knees; she was also slightly wide behind.
As a producer
Marshua produced eight named foals, of which seven started and six won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Marshua's Dancer (1968, by Raise a Native) was a stakes winner at 3 and 4. He was a useful sire who begot 39 stakes winners.
- Call Me Goddess (1971, by Prince John) was stakes-placed at 3. She is the dam of 1983 Prix Saint-Alary (FR-G1) winner Smuggly (by Caro) and multiple Japanese listed stakes winner Dantsu Seattle (by Seattle Slew) and is the second dam of English Group 3 winner Labibeh.
- Princess Marshua (1974, by Prince John) failed to win in eight starts but is the dam of 1984 Fantasy Stakes (USA-G1) winner My Darling One (by Exclusive Native) and the second dam of Irish Group 3 winner Heart Lake. She is also the third dam of Swedish Group 3 winner Labirinto.
- Mashteen (1975, by Majestic Prince) won the 1978 Comely Stakes (USA-G3). She is the second dam of English Group 3 winner Mamlakah.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Marshua was bred by Wallace Gilroy and raced in the colors of his wife. She was trained by Norman R. McLeod. She last appears in produce records as being barren in 1984.
Pedigree notes
Marshua is inbred 5x4 to two-time English champion sire Phalaris and to Sir Gallahad III, a four-time champion sire and 12-time champion broodmare sire in the United States. She is a half sister to Happy Kitten (by Dedicate), dam of multiple Canadian stakes winners Ambassador B. (by Al Hattab) and Strategic Command (by Nodouble).
Emardee, the dam of Marshua, was a stakes winner at 2 and 3. She is a full sister to Kithara, second dam of 1977 Hollywood Derby (USA-G1) winner Steve's Friend. She is also a half sister to juvenile stakes winner Drummond (by Nirgal) and to Dish of Tea (by Blenheim II), dam of the good steeplechaser Exhibit A. (by Alibhai).
Emardee and her siblings are out of stakes-placed Miss Drummond (by Pharamond II), whose half sister Lovely Delores (by Blue Larkspur) is the dam of juvenile stakes winner Acushla (by Bull Page) and multiple Canadian stakes winner Windy Ship (by Windfields). Miss Drummond is also a half sister to Attic (by War Relic), dam of juvenile stakes winner Bermuda Punch (by Alsab) and second dam of 1960 Mexican champion 3-year-old male Kirkwood. The next dam in the tail-female line, The Drum, is a non-winning daughter of Sir Gallahad III out of 1925 Matron Stakes winner Taps, by Man o' War.
Books and media
Marshua is profiled in Chapter 9 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- The Marshua Stakes was run at Laurel in 1987-2018. It was last carded for 3-year-old fillies over 6 furlongs on dirt.
Last updated: June 28, 2021