Pleasantly Perfect (USA)
April 2, 1998 – June 3, 2020
Pleasant Colony (USA) x Regal State (USA), by Affirmed (USA)
Family 16-a
April 2, 1998 – June 3, 2020
Pleasant Colony (USA) x Regal State (USA), by Affirmed (USA)
Family 16-a
A big, powerful horse who was more polished-looking than his gangling sire, Pleasantly Perfect had the breeding to be a Triple Crown prospect but lost any chance to make a name for himself at 2 and 3 due to a viral infection which compromised his heart function. He recovered to show high-class form at ages 4, 5, and 6. As a stallion, he was hampered by the perception that he was a slow-maturing stayer and in fact tended to sire horses in that stamp. Only moderately successful in North America, he was eventually exported to Turkey and died there in 2020.
Race record
18 starts, 9 wins, 3 seconds, 2 thirds, US$7,789,880
2002:
2003:
2004:
Assessments
Rated at 124 pounds in the Intermediate category on the 2003 International Classifications, 9 pounds below overall highweight Hawk Wing (highweighted among English and Irish older males over 7-9.5 furlongs) and 3 pounds below the top-rated dirt horses, American Horse of the Year Mineshaft and Pacific Classic Stakes (USA-G1) winner Candy Ride.
Rated at 126 pounds in the Intermediate category on the 2004 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings, 4 pounds below overall highweight Ghostzapper (the American Horse of the Year).
Highweighted at 6 among older males in the United Arab Emirates over 9.5-11 furlongs.
As an individual
A strapping, lengthy, powerful bay horse with a long stride, Pleasantly Perfect was retired after injuring his left hind ankle when third in the 2004 Breeders' Cup Classic, possibly after kicking the starting gate. He bled during the running of the 2002 Goodwood Breeders’ Cup Handicap, causing him to be barred from competing in that year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (held that year at Arlington Park) because of Illinois racing regulations.
As a stallion
Pleasantly Perfect’s progeny tended to be tall and gangly with rather large heads. They generally needed both time to mature and a distance to run over but were good movers and sound with sweet dispositions. According to The Jockey Club’s records. Pleasantly Perfect sired 316 winners (51.4%) and 21 stakes winners (3.4%) from 615 named foals of racing age.
Notable progeny
Idalino (ARG), Rapid Redux (USA), Shared Account (USA), Whitmore (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Sharing (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Pleasantly Perfect was bred by Clovelly Farms. A US$775,000 purchase from the 1999 Keeneland September yearling sale, he raced for Gerald Ford’s Diamond A Racing Corporation. He was trained by Richard Mandella and was ridden to his Breeders’ Cup Classic win by Alex Solis, who also rode him to victory in the Dubai World Cup. Pleasantly Perfect entered stud in 2005 in Kentucky at Lane’s End Farm. In 2011, Pleasantly Perfect was sent to the Keeneland November mixed sale and sold for US$32,000 to Fleetwood Bloodstock, with Ford retaining an interest. In 2014, the stallion was sold to Levent Sarikaya and exported to Turkey to stand at the Turkish National Stud. He was pensioned in the summer of 2019 and died in Turkey in June 2020 following a brief illness.
Pedigree notes
Pleasantly Perfect is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to Hurricane State (by Miswaki), winner of the 1996 Prix Eclipse (FR-G3). He is also a half brother to Gout de Terroir (by Lemon Drop Kid), dam of multiple Group 1 winner Elusive Kate (by Elusive Quality).
Pleasantly Perfect and his siblings are out of 1985 Prix Morny (FR-G1) winner Regal State, whose half sister Seven Springs (by Irish River) won the 1984 Prix Morny as well as the 1984 Prix Robert Papin (FR-G1) before becoming the dam of 1994 Sussex Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Distant View (by Mr. Prospector) and Swedish listed stakes winner Gypsy River (by Alydar). Regal State is also a half sister to French listed stakes winner Spendomania (by Roberto) and to Salon Prive (by Private Account), second dam of 2020 Cigar Mile Handicap (USA-G1) winner True Timber.
Regal State, in turn, is out of Group 3-placed La Trinite (by Lyphard), whose half sister Prophetesse (by Crowned Prince) is the dam of French listed stakes winner Bleu Horizon (by Pampabird). The sisters are out of Promessa (by 1954 English champion miler Darius II), whose full sister Pia won the 1967 Oaks Stakes and is the second dam of multiple Group 1 winner Chief Singer and French Group 2 winner Philippi. Produced from stakes-placed Peseta (by 1951 German Horse of the Year and six-time German champion sire Neckar), Promessa is also a half sister to Piave (by Alcide), dam of English Group 3 winner Rymer (by Reliance) and second dam of Group 3 winners Sayyaf and Impudent Miss. In addition, she is a half sister to Piedita (by High Hat) second dam of multiple Spanish Group 2 winner El Paleto.
Books and media
Footage of Pleasantly Perfect’s win in the 2003 Breeders’ Cup Classic can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrv0WpXcfB0.
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photo taken by Jessica Morgan at Lane's End Farm. Used by permission.
Last updated: August 23, 2024
Race record
18 starts, 9 wins, 3 seconds, 2 thirds, US$7,789,880
2002:
- Won Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Santa Anita)
2003:
- Won Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1, 10FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd San Antonio Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Santa Anita)
2004:
- Won Emirates Airlines Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1, 2000mD, Nad al Sheba)
- Won Pacific Classic Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Del Mar)
- Won San Antonio Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd San Diego Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Del Mar)
- 3rd Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1, 10FD, Lone Star)
Assessments
Rated at 124 pounds in the Intermediate category on the 2003 International Classifications, 9 pounds below overall highweight Hawk Wing (highweighted among English and Irish older males over 7-9.5 furlongs) and 3 pounds below the top-rated dirt horses, American Horse of the Year Mineshaft and Pacific Classic Stakes (USA-G1) winner Candy Ride.
Rated at 126 pounds in the Intermediate category on the 2004 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings, 4 pounds below overall highweight Ghostzapper (the American Horse of the Year).
Highweighted at 6 among older males in the United Arab Emirates over 9.5-11 furlongs.
As an individual
A strapping, lengthy, powerful bay horse with a long stride, Pleasantly Perfect was retired after injuring his left hind ankle when third in the 2004 Breeders' Cup Classic, possibly after kicking the starting gate. He bled during the running of the 2002 Goodwood Breeders’ Cup Handicap, causing him to be barred from competing in that year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (held that year at Arlington Park) because of Illinois racing regulations.
As a stallion
Pleasantly Perfect’s progeny tended to be tall and gangly with rather large heads. They generally needed both time to mature and a distance to run over but were good movers and sound with sweet dispositions. According to The Jockey Club’s records. Pleasantly Perfect sired 316 winners (51.4%) and 21 stakes winners (3.4%) from 615 named foals of racing age.
Notable progeny
Idalino (ARG), Rapid Redux (USA), Shared Account (USA), Whitmore (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Sharing (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Pleasantly Perfect was bred by Clovelly Farms. A US$775,000 purchase from the 1999 Keeneland September yearling sale, he raced for Gerald Ford’s Diamond A Racing Corporation. He was trained by Richard Mandella and was ridden to his Breeders’ Cup Classic win by Alex Solis, who also rode him to victory in the Dubai World Cup. Pleasantly Perfect entered stud in 2005 in Kentucky at Lane’s End Farm. In 2011, Pleasantly Perfect was sent to the Keeneland November mixed sale and sold for US$32,000 to Fleetwood Bloodstock, with Ford retaining an interest. In 2014, the stallion was sold to Levent Sarikaya and exported to Turkey to stand at the Turkish National Stud. He was pensioned in the summer of 2019 and died in Turkey in June 2020 following a brief illness.
Pedigree notes
Pleasantly Perfect is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to Hurricane State (by Miswaki), winner of the 1996 Prix Eclipse (FR-G3). He is also a half brother to Gout de Terroir (by Lemon Drop Kid), dam of multiple Group 1 winner Elusive Kate (by Elusive Quality).
Pleasantly Perfect and his siblings are out of 1985 Prix Morny (FR-G1) winner Regal State, whose half sister Seven Springs (by Irish River) won the 1984 Prix Morny as well as the 1984 Prix Robert Papin (FR-G1) before becoming the dam of 1994 Sussex Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Distant View (by Mr. Prospector) and Swedish listed stakes winner Gypsy River (by Alydar). Regal State is also a half sister to French listed stakes winner Spendomania (by Roberto) and to Salon Prive (by Private Account), second dam of 2020 Cigar Mile Handicap (USA-G1) winner True Timber.
Regal State, in turn, is out of Group 3-placed La Trinite (by Lyphard), whose half sister Prophetesse (by Crowned Prince) is the dam of French listed stakes winner Bleu Horizon (by Pampabird). The sisters are out of Promessa (by 1954 English champion miler Darius II), whose full sister Pia won the 1967 Oaks Stakes and is the second dam of multiple Group 1 winner Chief Singer and French Group 2 winner Philippi. Produced from stakes-placed Peseta (by 1951 German Horse of the Year and six-time German champion sire Neckar), Promessa is also a half sister to Piave (by Alcide), dam of English Group 3 winner Rymer (by Reliance) and second dam of Group 3 winners Sayyaf and Impudent Miss. In addition, she is a half sister to Piedita (by High Hat) second dam of multiple Spanish Group 2 winner El Paleto.
Books and media
Footage of Pleasantly Perfect’s win in the 2003 Breeders’ Cup Classic can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrv0WpXcfB0.
Fun facts
- Pleasantly Perfect did not race at 2 and raced only once at 3, failing to finish, before being diagnosed with an infection of the pericardium, the sac enclosing the heart. The disease caused his heart rate to go down rather than up during exercise, raising the risk of sudden death. He was finally well enough to begin racing as a 4-year-old in January 2002.
- Pleasantly Perfect’s 2003 win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic was part of an unprecedented day for Richard Mandella, who won three other Breeders’ Cup races on the same card: the Juvenile with Action This Day, the Juvenile Fillies with Halfbridled, and the Turf with Johar (in a dead heat with High Chaparral).
- At the time of his retirement, Pleasantly Perfect stood fourth on the list of money-winning North American Thoroughbreds.
- Pleasantly Perfect’s first offspring to race was Rapid Redux, who set a modern-day American record with 22 straight wins. His streak ran from December 2, 2010, to January 4, 2012, after which he was retired. The popular gelding, who raced mostly in claiming and starter allowance races, won a special Eclipse Award in recognition of his accomplishments in 2011 after winning 19 races that year. He was also voted the winner of the 2011 Secretariat Vox Populi Award, given annually by popular vote to the horse considered to have done the most to present North American Thoroughbred racing in a positive light.
Photo credit
Photo taken by Jessica Morgan at Lane's End Farm. Used by permission.
Last updated: August 23, 2024