Considered "only" a sprinter after his 3-year-old season, Pretense remedied that impression as a 4-year-old, winning some of the top 10-furlong races for older males in the country. His versatility extended to surfaces as he was successful on both dirt and turf. He was a better racehorse than sire but made an indelible mark on the world's stud books through his daughter Fall Aspen, the 1994 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. He also sired the very good colt Sham, who had the misfortune to come along in the same year as Secretariat but achieved a considerable reputation nonetheless.
Race record
31 starts, 13 wins, 5 seconds, 6 thirds, US$494,602
1966:
1967:
1968:
Assessments
Rated at 116 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American sprinters of 1966, 16 pounds below Bold Lad and 12 pounds below the official champion sprinter, Impressive.
Rated at 130 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1967, 6 pounds below champion Buckpasser but second in the division.
Rated at 119 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1968, 17 pounds below divisional champion and Horse of the Year Dr. Fager.
As an individual
A plain, rugged dark bay or brown horse standing 16.2 hands, Pretense had a good shoulder and a deep girth. His croup was rather short and he was long in the back. He was unusually agile for a large horse and could be placed as his jockey desired in a race, though he usually laid close to the pace before launching a sustained drive in the stretch. He was indifferent to track conditions and footing and would go willingly inside or outside of rivals. His one fault was that he tended to run wide on the turns, a problem trainer Whittingham solved with a pronged bit and a one-cup blinker. Around the barn, Pretense had the good disposition typical of his sire's progeny.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Pretense sired 236 winners (47.1%) and 22 stakes winners (4.4%) from 501 named foals. Pretense is a Classic chef-de-race in the Roman dosage system.
Notable progeny
An Act (USA), Anne's Pretender (USA), Fall Aspen (USA), Sham (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Fort Wood (USA), Hamas (IRE), Northern Aspen (USA), One Dreamer (USA), Timber Country (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Virginia, Pretense was bred by Mary Elizabeth “Liz” Tippett and raced in the name of her Llangollen Farm. He was trained by F. Walters at 3 and by Charlie Whittingham at 4 and 5.
Pedigree notes
Pretense is inbred 4x3 to the great English matron Selene, 5x5x4 to two-time English champion broodmare sire Chaucer and 5x4 to two more important broodmares in Selene's dam Serenissima and Gallenza. He is a full brother to Pushy, dam of multiple stakes winner Bold Jil (by Envoy). He is also a half brother to Ill at Ease (by Social Climber), second dam of Grade 2 winner Classic Seven and Grade 3 winner Classic Fit.
Imitation, the dam of Pretense, is a half sister to Light Comment (by Borealis), dam of multiple English stakes winner Faultless Speech (by Impeccable) and French and English stakes winner Minor Portion (by Major Portion). The sisters were produced from Flattery, by the Son-in-Law horse Winalot out of Fickle, by Solario. The next dam in Pretense's tail-female lime, Fifinella (by Polymelus), won the 1916 Derby Stakes and Oaks Stakes before producing 1929 Middle Park Stakes winner Press Gang (by Hurry On).
Fun facts
Last updated: May 19, 2021
Race record
31 starts, 13 wins, 5 seconds, 6 thirds, US$494,602
1966:
- Won Palos Verdes Handicap (USA, 6FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Sheridan Handicap (USA, 6FD, Arlington Park)
- 3rd Quaker City Handicap (USA, 6FD, Garden State)
1967:
- Won Gulfstream Park Handicap (USA, 10FD, Gulfstream Park)
- Won Santa Anita Handicap (USA, 10FD, Santa Anita)
- Won San Antonio Handicap (USA, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- Won American Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hollywood)
- Won Inglewood Handicap (second division) (USA, 8.5FT, HOL; new course record 1:39-4/5)
- Won San Pasqual Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap (USA, 10FD, Hollywood)
- 2nd Washington Park Handicap (USA, 8FD, Arlington Park)
- 2nd Sunset Handicap (USA, 12FT, Hollywood)
- 3rd San Juan Capistrano Handicap (USA, about 14FT, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Californian Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
- 3rd San Carlos Handicap (USA, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd San Fernando Stakes (USA, 9FD, Santa Anita)
1968:
- Won Bing Crosby Handicap (USA, 6FD, Del Mar; equaled track record 1:07-4/5)
Assessments
Rated at 116 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American sprinters of 1966, 16 pounds below Bold Lad and 12 pounds below the official champion sprinter, Impressive.
Rated at 130 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1967, 6 pounds below champion Buckpasser but second in the division.
Rated at 119 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1968, 17 pounds below divisional champion and Horse of the Year Dr. Fager.
As an individual
A plain, rugged dark bay or brown horse standing 16.2 hands, Pretense had a good shoulder and a deep girth. His croup was rather short and he was long in the back. He was unusually agile for a large horse and could be placed as his jockey desired in a race, though he usually laid close to the pace before launching a sustained drive in the stretch. He was indifferent to track conditions and footing and would go willingly inside or outside of rivals. His one fault was that he tended to run wide on the turns, a problem trainer Whittingham solved with a pronged bit and a one-cup blinker. Around the barn, Pretense had the good disposition typical of his sire's progeny.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Pretense sired 236 winners (47.1%) and 22 stakes winners (4.4%) from 501 named foals. Pretense is a Classic chef-de-race in the Roman dosage system.
Notable progeny
An Act (USA), Anne's Pretender (USA), Fall Aspen (USA), Sham (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Fort Wood (USA), Hamas (IRE), Northern Aspen (USA), One Dreamer (USA), Timber Country (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Virginia, Pretense was bred by Mary Elizabeth “Liz” Tippett and raced in the name of her Llangollen Farm. He was trained by F. Walters at 3 and by Charlie Whittingham at 4 and 5.
Pedigree notes
Pretense is inbred 4x3 to the great English matron Selene, 5x5x4 to two-time English champion broodmare sire Chaucer and 5x4 to two more important broodmares in Selene's dam Serenissima and Gallenza. He is a full brother to Pushy, dam of multiple stakes winner Bold Jil (by Envoy). He is also a half brother to Ill at Ease (by Social Climber), second dam of Grade 2 winner Classic Seven and Grade 3 winner Classic Fit.
Imitation, the dam of Pretense, is a half sister to Light Comment (by Borealis), dam of multiple English stakes winner Faultless Speech (by Impeccable) and French and English stakes winner Minor Portion (by Major Portion). The sisters were produced from Flattery, by the Son-in-Law horse Winalot out of Fickle, by Solario. The next dam in Pretense's tail-female lime, Fifinella (by Polymelus), won the 1916 Derby Stakes and Oaks Stakes before producing 1929 Middle Park Stakes winner Press Gang (by Hurry On).
Fun facts
- Pretense was the second of a record eight winners of the Santa Anita Handicap for Charlie Whittingham. The others were Corn Husker (1957), Ack Ack (1971), Cougar II (1973), Stardust Mel (1975), Lord At War (1985), Greinton (1986) and Sir Beaufort (1993).
Last updated: May 19, 2021