Nellie Flag (USA)
1932 – 1953
American Flag (USA) x Nellie Morse (USA), by Luke McLuke (USA)
Family 9-f
1932 – 1953
American Flag (USA) x Nellie Morse (USA), by Luke McLuke (USA)
Family 9-f
Sired by a champion out of a champion, Nellie Flag was bred to be a champion herself. She lived up to her pedigree by being acknowledged the best American juvenile of her sex at 2 but failed to train on as her parents had, winning only one minor race from 12 starts at 3. As good a runner as she had been, she was better still as a broodmare, producing three good stakes winners and becoming a foundation mare for the legendary Calumet Farm.
Race record
22 starts, 6 wins, 5 seconds, 1 third, US$59,665
1934:
Honors
American champion 2-year-old filly (1934)
As an individual
A bay mare, Nellie Flag was big and strongly made with excellent conformation. She had a fine turn of speed and smooth action, but she was highly strung and did not ship well. She was retired after injuring a leg while in her stall at Arlington Park in July 1935.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Nellie Flag produced 10 named foals, of which nine started and eight won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Nellie Flag was bred and owned by Warren Wright's Calumet Farm. She was trained by Bert Williams. She died of a tumor at age 21.
Pedigree notes
Nellie Flag is outcrossed through five generations. She is a half sister to multiple stakes winner Count Morse (by Reigh Count), while her dam Nellie Morse is a half sister to stakes winner Manager Waite (by Watercress).
Nellie Morse's dam La Venganza was sired by 1887 AJC Derby winner Abercorn, one of the best Australian runners of his time, out of the Trenton mare Colonial, dam of stakes winners Mary Davis (by Watercress) and Air Man (by Waterboy). Colonial also produced the excellent broodmare Rose Leaves (by Ballot), whose six stakes winners include the great sire Bull Lea (by Bull Dog) and the good stayer Espino (by Negofol), winner of the 1926 Lawrence Realization and Saratoga Cup. Colonial, in turn, was produced from the Paradox mare Thankful Blossom, whose dam The Apple (by Hermit) is the ancestress of numerous Classic winners around the world through her daughters Cider (by Harvester) and One I Love (by Minting).
Fun facts
Photo credit
Pictured with her 1945 Whirlaway filly, Whirling Girl. Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: November 17, 2022
Race record
22 starts, 6 wins, 5 seconds, 1 third, US$59,665
1934:
- Won Selima Stakes (USA, 8FD, Laurel)
- Won Matron Stakes (USA, 6FD, Belmont)
- Won Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (USA, 8FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Eastern Shore Handicap (USA, 6FD, Havre de Grace)
- 2nd Old Colony Stakes (USA, 6FD, Narragansett Park)
Honors
American champion 2-year-old filly (1934)
As an individual
A bay mare, Nellie Flag was big and strongly made with excellent conformation. She had a fine turn of speed and smooth action, but she was highly strung and did not ship well. She was retired after injuring a leg while in her stall at Arlington Park in July 1935.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Nellie Flag produced 10 named foals, of which nine started and eight won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Mar-Kell (1939, by Blenheim II) was the American champion handicap female of 1943. She is the dam of the high-class stakes winner Mark-Ye-Well (by Bull Lea) and the good stakes filly Amoret (by Bull Lea), dam of 1971 Florida Derby winner Eastern Fleet (by Fleet Nasrullah) and multiple juvenile stakes winner Another Love (by Tudor Minstrel). Mar-Kell also produced Bonnie Beret (by Tim Tam), dam of stakes winner Bon Bon (by Herbager), and is the third dam of seven stakes winners.
- Nellie L. (1940, by Blenheim II) won the 1943 Kentucky Oaks. She is the dam of multiple stakes winner De Luxe (by Bull Lea) and the second dam of 1976 American champion 3-year-old male Bold Forbes and multiple stakes winner Procula. Nellie L. is also the third dam of seven stakes winners including Grade or Group 1 winners Saratoga Six, Dunbeath and Life at the Top.
- Ore-the-Lea (1942, by Bull Lea) produced stakes winner Blentigo (by Blenheim II) and 1952 Kentucky Oaks runner-up Whirla Lea (by Whirlaway), dam of stakes winners Lindaway (by Olympia) and Joy Bauer (by Decathlon). Ore-the-Lea is the second or third dam of nine other minor stakes winners.
- Peppy Nell (1944, by Sir Gallahad III) is the dam of juvenile stakes winner Patricia L. (by Count Fleet), dam in turn of multiple stakes producer Patriotess (by Elocutionist). Peppy Nell is also the second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Warbucks.
- Whirling Girl (1945, by Whirlaway) is the dam of 1955 Breeders' Futurity winner Jovial Jove (by Olympia) and 1962 Paumonok Handicap winner Rideabout (by Turn-to). Her daughter Girlea (by Bull Lea) produced stakes winner Lady Golconda (by Hasty Road), dam of three-time American Horse of the Year Forego. Another daughter of Whirling Girl, Dizzy Dame (by Alibhai), is the second dam of three minor stakes winners.
- Sunshine Nell (by Sun Again) won the 1954 Top Flight Handicap and three other stakes races. She is the dam of the good stakes winner and sire Dewan (by Bold Ruler) and of multiple stakes winner Sunny (by Princequillo). She is also the second dam of stakes winner Little River and the third dam of four stakes winners including 1978 Grand Prix de Paris (FR-G1) winner Galiani and Group 1-placed multiple French Group 3 winner Fly Me.
- Last Wave (1950, by Bull Lea) was stakes-placed on the track and is the dam of six-time stakes winner Finnegan (by Royal Charger) and stakes winner La Belle Helene (by Novarullah), second dam of juvenile stakes winner Irish Wonder. Last Wave also produced Chamrousse (by Hillary), dam of 1979 Santa Susana Stakes (USA-G1) winner Caline (by Ack Ack; dam of stakes winner Shaughnessy Road, by Irish River) and second dam of Grade 2 winner All Chatter and Irish Group 3 winner Raphane.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Nellie Flag was bred and owned by Warren Wright's Calumet Farm. She was trained by Bert Williams. She died of a tumor at age 21.
Pedigree notes
Nellie Flag is outcrossed through five generations. She is a half sister to multiple stakes winner Count Morse (by Reigh Count), while her dam Nellie Morse is a half sister to stakes winner Manager Waite (by Watercress).
Nellie Morse's dam La Venganza was sired by 1887 AJC Derby winner Abercorn, one of the best Australian runners of his time, out of the Trenton mare Colonial, dam of stakes winners Mary Davis (by Watercress) and Air Man (by Waterboy). Colonial also produced the excellent broodmare Rose Leaves (by Ballot), whose six stakes winners include the great sire Bull Lea (by Bull Dog) and the good stayer Espino (by Negofol), winner of the 1926 Lawrence Realization and Saratoga Cup. Colonial, in turn, was produced from the Paradox mare Thankful Blossom, whose dam The Apple (by Hermit) is the ancestress of numerous Classic winners around the world through her daughters Cider (by Harvester) and One I Love (by Minting).
Fun facts
- The mating that produced Nellie Flag was carried out while H. C. “Bud” Fisher still owned her dam, Nellie Morse. Fisher had wanted to send the mare to Man o' War, but the great horse's book was full and his owner, Sam Riddle, offered Fisher a complimentary season to American Flag instead.
- Nellie Flag was the first homebred stakes winner and the first champion for Calumet Farm.
- Nellie Flag was the first Kentucky Derby mount for Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Arcaro, who would go on to win the great race five times.
- Nellie Flag was the last of three fillies to start as favorite for the Kentucky Derby. The others were Regret (1915) and Prudery, who ran coupled with Tryster in the 1921 Derby.
- Nellie Flag was only the second filly to start in both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, following Careful in 1921. She finished fourth as the favorite in the Derby after a rough trip and was seventh of eight in the Preakness.
Photo credit
Pictured with her 1945 Whirlaway filly, Whirling Girl. Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: November 17, 2022