Mr. Leader (USA)
March 18, 1966 – April 20, 1999
Hail to Reason (USA) x Jolie Deja (USA), by Djeddah (FR)
Family 2-n
March 18, 1966 – April 20, 1999
Hail to Reason (USA) x Jolie Deja (USA), by Djeddah (FR)
Family 2-n
Mr. Leader was no better than a second-tier racehorse, but he was tough and honest. A consistent sire of solid “bread-and-butter” horses, he tended to pass his best traits on to his progeny. Unfortunately, none of his sons proved capable of extending his branch of Hail to Reason’s male line.
Race record
25 starts, 10 wins, 3 seconds, 3 thirds, US$218,803
1968:
1969:
1970:
Assessments
Rated at 119 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1968, 7 pounds below divisional champion and highweight Top Knight.
Rated at 115 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1969, 21 pounds below co-highweights Arts and Letters (the official divisional champion and Horse of the Year) and Majestic Prince.
Rated at 117 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American turf runners of 1970, 15 pounds below divisional champion and co-Horse of the Year Fort Marcy.
As an individual
A bay horse, Mr. Leader had a plain head but was otherwise rather elegant in make with a fair amount of leg under him and good rein length. He stood over a lot of ground but was short-backed and strong through the loin coupling.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Mr. Leader sired 673 winners (69.2%) and 80 stakes winners (8.2%) from 973 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
Hurry Up Blue (USA), Martial Law (USA), Quiet Little Table (USA), Ruhlmann (USA), Wise Times (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Belle Genius (USA), Devious Course (USA), Epitome (USA), Fleet Renee (USA), Lucha Villa (USA), Studentessa (ARG)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Mr. Leader was bred by the Nuckols Brothers. He was owned by Charles Engelhard Jr.’s Cragwood Stable and was trained by Mack Miller. He stood at Nuckols Farm, where he died in April 1999.
Pedigree notes
Mr. Leader is inbred 5x5x5 to 1916 French and Spanish champion 3-year-old male and 1923 French champion sire Teddy. He is a half brother to 1964 Diana Handicap winner Prodana Neviesta (by Reneged), dam of 1974 Lawrence Realization Stakes (USA-G2) winner Prod (by Round Table), 1975 Schuylerville Stakes (USA-G3) winner Nijiana (by Nijinsky II), and 1970 Hungerford Stakes winner Zingari (by Northern Dancer). Prodana Neviesta is also the second dam of Grade 3 winners Estate, Lech, and Savina and the third dam of 2006 Garden City Breeders’ Cup Stakes (USA-G1) winner Magnificent Song and Grade 3 winners Reet Petite and Runspastum. Returning to Mr. Leader, he is also a half brother to Had Gadya (by Reneged), second dam of 1981 Panamanian champion older female Poquita Fe and 1984 Hollywood Oaks (USA-G1) winner Moment to Buy and third dam of Grade/Group 3 winners Congeleur, Francis, Azucar, Pistero, and Giorgio.
Mr. Leader is out of Jolie Deja, a winning half sister to 1957 Hialeah Turf Handicap winner Jabneh (by Bimelech), 1959 Display Handicap winner Beau Diable (by Devil Diver), and the good sire Beau Gar (by Count Fleet). Jolie Deja is also a half sister to Quillobelle (by Princequillo), dam of 1976 American Derby (USA-G2) winner Fifth Marine (by Hoist the Flag) and Grade 2-placed stakes winner Halloween Queen (by Hatchet Man), second dam of multiple English Group 3 winner Leap Lively, and third dam of 1986 English champion 2-year-old filly Forest Flower, multiple Grade 2 winner Miss Golden Circle, and Swedish Group 3 winner Harbour Dues. In addition, Jolie Deja is a half sister to Belle Musique (by Tudor Minstrel), second dam of 1979 Italian Horse of the Year Maria Waleska, 1978 Benson & Hedges Gold Cup (ENG-G1) winner Hawaiian Sound, and English Group 3 winner Sonus and third dam of 1994 Santa Anita Handicap (USA-G1) winner Stuka (a champion sire in Chile), 1991 Carroll Foundation July Cup (ENG-G1) winner Polish Patriot, and Australian Group 3 winner Hawaiian Rain. Finally, Jolie Deja is a half sister to Bold Belle (by Bold Ruler), dam of Grade 3-placed stakes winner King Celebrity (by Personality), second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Belle’s Gold, and third dam of Argentine Group 2 winner Two Parades.
Bellesoeur, the dam of Jolie Deja and her siblings, won the 1947 Spinaway Stakes and is a half sister to 1946 Arlington Classic winner The Dude (by Alibhai). Sired by Beau Pere from the Donatello II mare Donatrice, she is also a half sister to Canadian stakes winner Biscayne (by Faultless).
Last updated: August 8, 2022
Race record
25 starts, 10 wins, 3 seconds, 3 thirds, US$218,803
1968:
- 2nd Breeders' Futurity (USA, 7f+184ftD, Keeneland)
- 3rd Pimlico-Laurel Futurity Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Laurel)
1969:
- Won Jerome Handicap (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Lamplighter Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Monmouth)
1970:
- Won Stars and Stripes Handicap (USA, 9FT, Arlington Park; new course record 1:47-2/5)
- Won Oceanport Handicap (USA, 8FT, Monmouth)
- Won Tidal Handicap (USA, 9FT, Aqueduct)
- 3rd United Nations Handicap (USA, 9.5FT, Atlantic City)
Assessments
Rated at 119 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1968, 7 pounds below divisional champion and highweight Top Knight.
Rated at 115 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1969, 21 pounds below co-highweights Arts and Letters (the official divisional champion and Horse of the Year) and Majestic Prince.
Rated at 117 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American turf runners of 1970, 15 pounds below divisional champion and co-Horse of the Year Fort Marcy.
As an individual
A bay horse, Mr. Leader had a plain head but was otherwise rather elegant in make with a fair amount of leg under him and good rein length. He stood over a lot of ground but was short-backed and strong through the loin coupling.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Mr. Leader sired 673 winners (69.2%) and 80 stakes winners (8.2%) from 973 named foals.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- 2nd on the American general sire list in 1982; 3rd in 1980; 4th in 1979 and 1981; 7th in 1983 and 1984.
- 9th on the American broodmare sire list in 1994
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 2nd on the American general sire list in 1982; 3rd in 1980; 4th in 1979 and 1983; 5th in 1981; 7th in 1984.
Notable progeny
Hurry Up Blue (USA), Martial Law (USA), Quiet Little Table (USA), Ruhlmann (USA), Wise Times (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Belle Genius (USA), Devious Course (USA), Epitome (USA), Fleet Renee (USA), Lucha Villa (USA), Studentessa (ARG)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Mr. Leader was bred by the Nuckols Brothers. He was owned by Charles Engelhard Jr.’s Cragwood Stable and was trained by Mack Miller. He stood at Nuckols Farm, where he died in April 1999.
Pedigree notes
Mr. Leader is inbred 5x5x5 to 1916 French and Spanish champion 3-year-old male and 1923 French champion sire Teddy. He is a half brother to 1964 Diana Handicap winner Prodana Neviesta (by Reneged), dam of 1974 Lawrence Realization Stakes (USA-G2) winner Prod (by Round Table), 1975 Schuylerville Stakes (USA-G3) winner Nijiana (by Nijinsky II), and 1970 Hungerford Stakes winner Zingari (by Northern Dancer). Prodana Neviesta is also the second dam of Grade 3 winners Estate, Lech, and Savina and the third dam of 2006 Garden City Breeders’ Cup Stakes (USA-G1) winner Magnificent Song and Grade 3 winners Reet Petite and Runspastum. Returning to Mr. Leader, he is also a half brother to Had Gadya (by Reneged), second dam of 1981 Panamanian champion older female Poquita Fe and 1984 Hollywood Oaks (USA-G1) winner Moment to Buy and third dam of Grade/Group 3 winners Congeleur, Francis, Azucar, Pistero, and Giorgio.
Mr. Leader is out of Jolie Deja, a winning half sister to 1957 Hialeah Turf Handicap winner Jabneh (by Bimelech), 1959 Display Handicap winner Beau Diable (by Devil Diver), and the good sire Beau Gar (by Count Fleet). Jolie Deja is also a half sister to Quillobelle (by Princequillo), dam of 1976 American Derby (USA-G2) winner Fifth Marine (by Hoist the Flag) and Grade 2-placed stakes winner Halloween Queen (by Hatchet Man), second dam of multiple English Group 3 winner Leap Lively, and third dam of 1986 English champion 2-year-old filly Forest Flower, multiple Grade 2 winner Miss Golden Circle, and Swedish Group 3 winner Harbour Dues. In addition, Jolie Deja is a half sister to Belle Musique (by Tudor Minstrel), second dam of 1979 Italian Horse of the Year Maria Waleska, 1978 Benson & Hedges Gold Cup (ENG-G1) winner Hawaiian Sound, and English Group 3 winner Sonus and third dam of 1994 Santa Anita Handicap (USA-G1) winner Stuka (a champion sire in Chile), 1991 Carroll Foundation July Cup (ENG-G1) winner Polish Patriot, and Australian Group 3 winner Hawaiian Rain. Finally, Jolie Deja is a half sister to Bold Belle (by Bold Ruler), dam of Grade 3-placed stakes winner King Celebrity (by Personality), second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Belle’s Gold, and third dam of Argentine Group 2 winner Two Parades.
Bellesoeur, the dam of Jolie Deja and her siblings, won the 1947 Spinaway Stakes and is a half sister to 1946 Arlington Classic winner The Dude (by Alibhai). Sired by Beau Pere from the Donatello II mare Donatrice, she is also a half sister to Canadian stakes winner Biscayne (by Faultless).
Last updated: August 8, 2022