While she was apparently highly regarded as a youngster to judge by the company she kept, Natasha was never able to deliver on that promise as a racer, possibly due to injury. She foaled only one stakes winner, but that stakes winner was Natashka, one of the best 3-year-old fillies of 1966 and the 1981 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. Natasha also bred on through two other daughters, causing bloodstock expert John Sparkman to select her as a modern foundation mare.
Race record
7 starts, 1 win, 1 second, 0 thirds, US$3,900
Natasha scored her only win in a 5-furlong maiden race for 2-year-old fillies at Belmont, getting the distance in a lively :57-4/5.
As an individual
A dark bay or brown mare, Natasha was big and rather coarse.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Natashka produced nine named foals, of which seven started and won. Her important foals were as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Natasha was bred by Belair Stud. She was owned by William Woodward, Jr., and was trained by Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons. After Woodward was accidentally shot and killed by his wife (who took him for a burglar) in 1955, Belair Stud was dispersed, and Natasha sold for US$45,000 to Greentree Stud. She produced five colts with little ability before being sold privately to George F. Getty II for US$20,000 with her 1963 filly, Natashka, at foot. There is no report of her after 1973, when she is noted as not having been bred for a foal of that year.
Pedigree notes
Natasha is inbred 5x4 to 1906 Derby Stakes winner Spearmint and is a winning daughter of 1942 American champion 3-year-old filly Vagrancy. Also the dam of 1948 St. Leger Stakes winner Black Tarquin (by Rhodes Scholar) and the good steeplechaser Hyvania (by Hypnotist II), Vagrancy founded another branch of her family through 1951 Diana Handicap winner Vulcania (by Some Chance), whose descendants include multiple Grade 1 winners Tallahto, Prince True and Hidden Light; the high-class grass horse Fiddle Isle; 1987 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Banja Luka; and 1987 American Horse of the Year Ferdinand.
Vagrancy is one of four stakes winners produced by the Man o' War mare Valkyr. The others are 1946 Alabama Stakes and Coaching Club American Oaks winner Hypnotic (by Hypnotist II), 1935 Saratoga Handicap winner Vicar (by Flying Ebony) and 1934 Spinaway Stakes winner Vicaress (by Flying Ebony), second dam of four stakes winners including 1964 Gazelle Handicap winner Face the Facts. In addition, Vagrancy is a full sister to stakes-placed Valse, dam of 1944 Alabama Stakes winner Vienna (by Menow) and second dam of Ambler, winner of the 1954 Craven Stakes in England; 1952 Saranac Handicap winner Golden Gloves; and 1958 Cleopatra Handicap winner Milly K. Vagrancy is also a half sister to War Vixen (by Gallant Fox), dam of multiple Canadian stakes winner Warrigan (by Osiris II); to Valkara (by Gallant Fox), dam of 1944 Starlet Stakes winner Post Graduate (by Rhodes Scholar) and second dam of 1962 Governor's Gold Cup winner Daddy R. (by Olympia); and to stakes-placed Bellicose (by Boswell), dam of multiple stakes winner Torch of War (by Bimelech) and second dam of the good stakes filly Sarcastic.
Books and media
Natasha is profiled in Chapter 16 of John Sparkman's Foundation Mares: How Outstanding Female Families Shaped America's Breeding Industry (2008, Thoroughbred Times Books).
Last updated: July 13, 2020
Race record
7 starts, 1 win, 1 second, 0 thirds, US$3,900
Natasha scored her only win in a 5-furlong maiden race for 2-year-old fillies at Belmont, getting the distance in a lively :57-4/5.
As an individual
A dark bay or brown mare, Natasha was big and rather coarse.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Natashka produced nine named foals, of which seven started and won. Her important foals were as follow:
- Natashka (1963, by Dedicate) won the 1966 Alabama Stakes and was co-highweighted with American champion 3-year-old filly Lady Pitt and the high-class Destro on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1966. The dam of five stakes winners including 1972 Irish co-champion 3-year-old filly Arkadina (1969, by Ribot) and 1980 Joe McGrath Memorial Stakes (IRE-I) winner Gregorian (by Graustark), Natashka is the ancestress of numerous good runners including 1984 German and Italian champion 3-year-old male Gold and Ivory, 1999 American champion 2-year-old male Anees, 2012 American champion 3-year-old filly Questing, 1988 Jefferson Smurfit Memorial Irish St. Leger Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Dark Lomond and 2002 Darley Irish Oaks (IRE-G1) winner Margarula.
- Mazaca (1966, by Pappa Fourway) is the dam of stakes winners Itsamaza (by Limit to Reason) and Trove (by Key to the Mint) and the second dam of Sabrehill, the English highweight over 9.5 to 11 furlongs among 3-year-old males of 1993.
- Ribasha (1967, by Ribot) produced Royal Sister II (by Claude), dam of 1989 Irish champion miler Distant Relative (by Habitat) and of English highweight Ezzoud (by Last Tycoon), best among older males of 1994 over 9.5 to 11 furlongs. Royal Sister II is also the third dam of 2015 Ascot Gold Cup (ENG-G1) winner Trip to Paris.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Natasha was bred by Belair Stud. She was owned by William Woodward, Jr., and was trained by Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons. After Woodward was accidentally shot and killed by his wife (who took him for a burglar) in 1955, Belair Stud was dispersed, and Natasha sold for US$45,000 to Greentree Stud. She produced five colts with little ability before being sold privately to George F. Getty II for US$20,000 with her 1963 filly, Natashka, at foot. There is no report of her after 1973, when she is noted as not having been bred for a foal of that year.
Pedigree notes
Natasha is inbred 5x4 to 1906 Derby Stakes winner Spearmint and is a winning daughter of 1942 American champion 3-year-old filly Vagrancy. Also the dam of 1948 St. Leger Stakes winner Black Tarquin (by Rhodes Scholar) and the good steeplechaser Hyvania (by Hypnotist II), Vagrancy founded another branch of her family through 1951 Diana Handicap winner Vulcania (by Some Chance), whose descendants include multiple Grade 1 winners Tallahto, Prince True and Hidden Light; the high-class grass horse Fiddle Isle; 1987 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Banja Luka; and 1987 American Horse of the Year Ferdinand.
Vagrancy is one of four stakes winners produced by the Man o' War mare Valkyr. The others are 1946 Alabama Stakes and Coaching Club American Oaks winner Hypnotic (by Hypnotist II), 1935 Saratoga Handicap winner Vicar (by Flying Ebony) and 1934 Spinaway Stakes winner Vicaress (by Flying Ebony), second dam of four stakes winners including 1964 Gazelle Handicap winner Face the Facts. In addition, Vagrancy is a full sister to stakes-placed Valse, dam of 1944 Alabama Stakes winner Vienna (by Menow) and second dam of Ambler, winner of the 1954 Craven Stakes in England; 1952 Saranac Handicap winner Golden Gloves; and 1958 Cleopatra Handicap winner Milly K. Vagrancy is also a half sister to War Vixen (by Gallant Fox), dam of multiple Canadian stakes winner Warrigan (by Osiris II); to Valkara (by Gallant Fox), dam of 1944 Starlet Stakes winner Post Graduate (by Rhodes Scholar) and second dam of 1962 Governor's Gold Cup winner Daddy R. (by Olympia); and to stakes-placed Bellicose (by Boswell), dam of multiple stakes winner Torch of War (by Bimelech) and second dam of the good stakes filly Sarcastic.
Books and media
Natasha is profiled in Chapter 16 of John Sparkman's Foundation Mares: How Outstanding Female Families Shaped America's Breeding Industry (2008, Thoroughbred Times Books).
Last updated: July 13, 2020