Mom's Command (USA)
March 14, 1982 – February 3, 2007
Top Command (USA) x Star Mommy (USA), by Pia Star (USA)
Family 5-j
March 14, 1982 – February 3, 2007
Top Command (USA) x Star Mommy (USA), by Pia Star (USA)
Family 5-j
Mom's Command never got quite the respect from the press that she deserved during her racing career, as critics pointed at her “moderate” competition and her typically slow closing fractions. In truth, the daughter of Top Command seldom needed to run fast at the end of a race, as she had usually run her field off its feet early on. She made all her starts in stakes races, won from 5 to 12 furlongs, and defeated horses such as 1986 American Horse of the Year Lady's Secret, 1984 American champion 2-year-old filly Outstandingly, 1985 Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1) winner Fran's Valentine, and 1986 Canadian champion older female Bessarabian. Mom's Command was a better racehorse than producer.
Race record
16 starts, 11 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third, $902,972
1984:
1985:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 115 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1984, 3 pounds below champion Outstandingly.
Co-highweighted with Lady's Secret at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1985.
As an individual
A powerful, lop-eared chestnut mare with a rather unorthodox way of going, Mom's Command was a confirmed front runner who did best when allowed to dictate the pace from the front end. She stood 16.2 hands. She was retired from racing after injuring an ankle while in training in late September 1985. Abigail Fuller, her regular jockey, described Mom's Command's personality as “feisty.”
As a producer
Mom's Command produced 15 named foals, of which 11 started and won. Her only foal of any importance to date is Jonesboro (by Sefapiano), winner of the 2009 Cornhusker Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G2) and three Grade 3 races.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Mom's Command was bred and owned by Peter Fuller and was routinely ridden by Fuller's daughter Abigail. She was trained by Edward T. “Ned” Allard. After the official conclusion of her broodmare career in November 2004, Mom's Command was pensioned at Fuller's Runnymeade Farm in Northampton, New Hampshire. She was humanely destroyed due to the infirmities of old age in February 2007.
Pedigree notes
Sired by the Grade 1-winning Bold Ruler horse Top Command, Mom's Command is inbred 5x5x5x6 to 1930 Derby Stakes winner and 1941 American champion sire Blenheim II through the three-quarters sister and brother Mumtaz Begum (Blenheim II x Mumtaz Mahal) and Mahmoud (Blenheim II x Mah Mahal, by Gainsborough x Mumtaz Mahal). Her dam Star Mommy (who was named in honor of Peter Fuller's wife Joan) is a closely inbred mare with crosses of 3x3x4 to Mahmoud (winner of the 1936 Derby Stakes and the American champion sire of 1946) and 4x4 to Schwester, a full sister to two-time American Horse of the Year Equipoise. Part of this inbreeding is through the three-quarters sisters Inquisitive (Mahmoud x Swistar, by Pavot x Schwester) and Recce (Mahmoud x Schwester), who appear 2x3 in Star Mommy's pedigree.
Star Mommy, who produced nothing else of importance, is a half sister to 1971 Clark Handicap winner Sado (by Mr. Brick) and to Miss Cor (by Correlation), dam of 1970 Wood Memorial Stakes winner Good Behaving (by Ambehaving), Grade 3 winner Misty Native (by Native Charger), and stakes winner Mr. Paul B. (by Ambehaving). Star Mommy is also a half sister to Mama's Silver (by Silver King II), dam of 1970 Poquessing Handicap winner I'm for Mama (by I'm for More) and the minor stakes winner Silver Royal (by Royal Union) and second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner I'm Splendid. In addition, Star Mommy is a half sister to Pat's Mama (by Hospitality), dam of multiple stakes winner Hey Mama (by High Tribute), and to Dancing Mommy (by Dancer's Image), dam of multiple stakes winner Donna's Time (by Nearly on Time).
Star Mommy and her siblings are out of the Mount Marcy mare Momamamu, a half sister to 1969 Gulfstream Park Handicap winner Court Recess (by Traffic Judge), 1962 Ramona Handicap winner and multiple stakes producer Fun House (by The Doge), multiple stakes winner Chop House (by Porterhouse), and juvenile stakes winner and Grade 2 producer Swoon's Tune (by Swoon's Son). Their dam Recess (Count Fleet x Recce, by Mahmoud) is a stakes-placed half sister to stakes winner Dance Rhythm (by Native Dancer) and to Mother Wit (by Count Fleet's champion son Counterpoint), who produced 1968 Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Quicken Tree (by Royal Orbit), 1966 Golden Gate Handicap winner Ask Father (by Determine), and multiple stakes winner Ready Wit (by Ruken).
Books and media
Mom's Command is profiled in Chapter 11 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Last updated: January 18, 2023
Race record
16 starts, 11 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third, $902,972
1984:
- Won Selima Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Astarita Stakes (USA-G2, 6.5FD, Belmont)
- Won Priscilla Stakes (USA, 6FD, Suffolk Downs)
- Won Faneuil Miss Stakes (USA, 5FD, Rockingham Park)
- 3rd Frizette Stakes (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont)
1985:
- Won Coaching Club American Oaks (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
- Won Acorn Stakes (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Mother Goose Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- Won Alabama Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- Won Cherry Blossom Handicap (USA-L, 8.5FD, Garden State)
- Won Comely Stakes (USA-G3, 7FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Flirtation Stakes (USA, 6FD, Pimlico)
- 2nd Test Stakes (USA-G2, 7FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Goldfinch Handicap (USA-L, 6FD, Garden State)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 2007
- New England Sports Hall of Fame (inducted in 2006)
- Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old filly (1985)
Assessments
Rated at 115 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1984, 3 pounds below champion Outstandingly.
Co-highweighted with Lady's Secret at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1985.
As an individual
A powerful, lop-eared chestnut mare with a rather unorthodox way of going, Mom's Command was a confirmed front runner who did best when allowed to dictate the pace from the front end. She stood 16.2 hands. She was retired from racing after injuring an ankle while in training in late September 1985. Abigail Fuller, her regular jockey, described Mom's Command's personality as “feisty.”
As a producer
Mom's Command produced 15 named foals, of which 11 started and won. Her only foal of any importance to date is Jonesboro (by Sefapiano), winner of the 2009 Cornhusker Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G2) and three Grade 3 races.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Mom's Command was bred and owned by Peter Fuller and was routinely ridden by Fuller's daughter Abigail. She was trained by Edward T. “Ned” Allard. After the official conclusion of her broodmare career in November 2004, Mom's Command was pensioned at Fuller's Runnymeade Farm in Northampton, New Hampshire. She was humanely destroyed due to the infirmities of old age in February 2007.
Pedigree notes
Sired by the Grade 1-winning Bold Ruler horse Top Command, Mom's Command is inbred 5x5x5x6 to 1930 Derby Stakes winner and 1941 American champion sire Blenheim II through the three-quarters sister and brother Mumtaz Begum (Blenheim II x Mumtaz Mahal) and Mahmoud (Blenheim II x Mah Mahal, by Gainsborough x Mumtaz Mahal). Her dam Star Mommy (who was named in honor of Peter Fuller's wife Joan) is a closely inbred mare with crosses of 3x3x4 to Mahmoud (winner of the 1936 Derby Stakes and the American champion sire of 1946) and 4x4 to Schwester, a full sister to two-time American Horse of the Year Equipoise. Part of this inbreeding is through the three-quarters sisters Inquisitive (Mahmoud x Swistar, by Pavot x Schwester) and Recce (Mahmoud x Schwester), who appear 2x3 in Star Mommy's pedigree.
Star Mommy, who produced nothing else of importance, is a half sister to 1971 Clark Handicap winner Sado (by Mr. Brick) and to Miss Cor (by Correlation), dam of 1970 Wood Memorial Stakes winner Good Behaving (by Ambehaving), Grade 3 winner Misty Native (by Native Charger), and stakes winner Mr. Paul B. (by Ambehaving). Star Mommy is also a half sister to Mama's Silver (by Silver King II), dam of 1970 Poquessing Handicap winner I'm for Mama (by I'm for More) and the minor stakes winner Silver Royal (by Royal Union) and second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner I'm Splendid. In addition, Star Mommy is a half sister to Pat's Mama (by Hospitality), dam of multiple stakes winner Hey Mama (by High Tribute), and to Dancing Mommy (by Dancer's Image), dam of multiple stakes winner Donna's Time (by Nearly on Time).
Star Mommy and her siblings are out of the Mount Marcy mare Momamamu, a half sister to 1969 Gulfstream Park Handicap winner Court Recess (by Traffic Judge), 1962 Ramona Handicap winner and multiple stakes producer Fun House (by The Doge), multiple stakes winner Chop House (by Porterhouse), and juvenile stakes winner and Grade 2 producer Swoon's Tune (by Swoon's Son). Their dam Recess (Count Fleet x Recce, by Mahmoud) is a stakes-placed half sister to stakes winner Dance Rhythm (by Native Dancer) and to Mother Wit (by Count Fleet's champion son Counterpoint), who produced 1968 Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Quicken Tree (by Royal Orbit), 1966 Golden Gate Handicap winner Ask Father (by Determine), and multiple stakes winner Ready Wit (by Ruken).
Books and media
Mom's Command is profiled in Chapter 11 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- Mom's Command was the sixth filly to sweep the New York Racing Association's Triple Tiara series, consisting of the Acorn Stakes, Mother Goose Stakes and Coaching Club American Oaks. She followed in the hoofprints of Dark Mirage (1968), Shuvee (1969), Chris Evert (1974), Ruffian (1975), and Davona Dale (1979) and was the only one of these illustrious fillies besides Shuvee to add the historic Alabama Stakes to her three diadems. Afterwards, Open Mind (1989) and Sky Beauty (2003) also completed the distaff equivalent to Whirlaway's 1941 Triple Crown-plus-Travers sweep, although Open Mind did so by way of a disqualification in her favor in the Coaching Club American Oaks.
- Mom's Command made Abigail Fuller the third female jockey to ride a Grade 1 winner, the first female jockey to win a Triple Tiara race and the first to sweep the series.
- In a much-quoted statement, Hall of Fame jockey Angel Cordero once told Peter Fuller, “I love Mom's Command and I love your daughter Abby, but I'm sick of looking at both of their rear ends.”
Last updated: January 18, 2023