Priceless Fame (USA)
May 2, 1975 – c. 1994
Irish Castle (USA) x Comely Nell (USA), by Commodore M. (USA)
Family 9-f
May 2, 1975 – c. 1994
Irish Castle (USA) x Comely Nell (USA), by Commodore M. (USA)
Family 9-f
Priceless Fame flashed a touch of ability on the track but never delivered on her promise. Nonetheless, as a full sister to 1976 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) and Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) winner Bold Forbes, she was a desirable candidate for anyone’s broodmare band. She lived up to her bloodlines as a producer, producing two winners at the Grade/Group 1 level and several good broodmares.
Race record
6 starts, 2 wins, 0 seconds, 1 third, US$9,700
As an individual
A dark bay or brown mare; no further information available.
As a producer
Priceless Fame produced 10 named foals, of which six started and five won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Priceless Fame was bred and owned by Eaton Farms and Red Bull Stable, which also bred her first three foals. In 1984, after producing Milliardaire for breeder Joseph Morrissey, Priceless Fame was consigned to the Fasig-Tipton November mixed sale, in foal to Seattle Slew, and sold for US$6 million to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum’s Darley Stud. The last report of her was in 1994, when she produced a foal that died.
Pedigree notes
Priceless Fame is inbred 5x3 to 1930 Derby Stakes winner and 1941 American champion sire Blenheim II. She is a full sister to 1976 American champion 3-year-old male Bold Forbes. She is a half sister to See You at the Top (by Riva Ridge), dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Life at the Top (by Seattle Slew), second dam of French Group 3 winner Elizabeth Bay, and third dam of Grade 3 winner Bayeux. She is also a half sister to Nellie Forbes (by Secretariat), dam of Group 2-placed Irish stakes winner Ancient Times (by Nijinsky II); second dam of English Group 3 winner Midnight Air; and third dam of 2001 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp (FR-G1) Imperial Beauty, 2009 Criterium International (FR-G1) winner Jan Vermeer, 2011 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (USA-G1) winner Together, and Grade 2 winner Midnight Line. Nellie Forbes is also the third dam of Grand Perfect, the champion imported 3-year-old filly of 2012 in the Dominican Republic. Another half sister to Priceless Fame, Tache (by Ambiorix), is the dam of stakes winner High Ascent (by Irish Castle).
Comely Nell, the dam of Priceless Fame and her siblings, never raced. She was sired by the Bull Lea horse Commodore M. and is a half sister to 1950 Narragansett Special winner De Luxe (by Bull Lea); to Sweet Nell (by Bull Lea), dam of multiple stakes winner Procula (by Intent); and to Hot Patootie (by Citation), third dam of Japanese Group 3 winner Super Fast.
Comely Nell and her siblings were produced from 1943 Kentucky Oaks winner Nellie L. (Blenheim II x Nellie Flag, by American Flag), whose full sister Mar-Kell is the American champion handicap female of 1943 and the dam of the good stakes winners Mark-Ye-Well and Amoret (both by Bull Lea). Nellie L. is also a half sister to 1954 Top Flight Handicap winner Sunshine Nell (by Sun Again), dam of 1970 Brooklyn Handicap winner Dewan (by Bold Ruler) and of multiple stakes winner Sunny (by Princequillo; broodmare sire of 1983 Kentucky Derby winner Sunny’s Halo). In addition, Nellie L. Is a half sister to stakes producers Ore-the-Lea (by Bull Lea), Peppy Nell (by Sir Gallahad III), and Last Wave (by Bull Lea).
Last updated: October 6, 2023
Race record
6 starts, 2 wins, 0 seconds, 1 third, US$9,700
As an individual
A dark bay or brown mare; no further information available.
As a producer
Priceless Fame produced 10 named foals, of which six started and five won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Dunbeath (1980, by Grey Dawn II) won the 1982 William Hill Futurity (ENG-G1) and Royal Lodge Stakes (ENG-G2) but failed to train on at 3. An indifferent sire, he was exported to the Czech Republic.
- Khwlah (1981, by Best Turn) was Group 2-placed at 3 in Italy. She is the second dam of 2011 Vosburgh Invitational Stakes (USA-G1) winner Giant Ryan and Irish Group 3 winner Yomalo and the third dam of 2007 Spanish Horse of the Year Premier Galop.
- Saratoga Six (1982, by Alydar) won the 1984 Del Mar Futurity (USA-G1) and two other graded stakes but did not race after his juvenile season due to injury. He was a useful sire who begot 37 stakes winners from 688 named foals according to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, headed by 1997 Santa Monica Handicap (USA-G1) winner Toga Toga Toga and 1997 Gran Premio America (PER-G1) winner Six Bits.
- Milliardaire (1984, by Alydar) won both her starts in a career abbreviated by injury. She is the dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Lakeway (by Seattle Slew), the second dam of Grade 3 winner Scotus, and the third dam of 2009 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (USA-G1) winner Mushka and Grade 2 winner Grand Adventure.
- Priceless Pearl (1986, by Alydar) was Group 3-placed as a juvenile in England. She is the dam of English listed stakes winner Isla del Rey (by Nureyev), who in turn is the dam of listed stakes winner L’Oiseau d’Argent (by Silver Hawk).
- Rainbow Wood (1991, by Rainbow Quest) never raced but is the dam of multiple Japanese listed stakes winner Bamboo Ere (by Afleet).
- Empress of India (1992, by Dancing Brave) was unplaced in four starts in France but is the dam of restricted stakes winner Kilderry (by E Dubai).
- Headline (1993, by Machiavellian) never raced but is the dam of 2002 Coaching Club American Oaks (USA-G1) winner Jilbab (by A.P. Indy) and 2004 Premio Vittorio di Capua (ITY-G1) winner Ancient World (by Spinning World).
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Priceless Fame was bred and owned by Eaton Farms and Red Bull Stable, which also bred her first three foals. In 1984, after producing Milliardaire for breeder Joseph Morrissey, Priceless Fame was consigned to the Fasig-Tipton November mixed sale, in foal to Seattle Slew, and sold for US$6 million to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum’s Darley Stud. The last report of her was in 1994, when she produced a foal that died.
Pedigree notes
Priceless Fame is inbred 5x3 to 1930 Derby Stakes winner and 1941 American champion sire Blenheim II. She is a full sister to 1976 American champion 3-year-old male Bold Forbes. She is a half sister to See You at the Top (by Riva Ridge), dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Life at the Top (by Seattle Slew), second dam of French Group 3 winner Elizabeth Bay, and third dam of Grade 3 winner Bayeux. She is also a half sister to Nellie Forbes (by Secretariat), dam of Group 2-placed Irish stakes winner Ancient Times (by Nijinsky II); second dam of English Group 3 winner Midnight Air; and third dam of 2001 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp (FR-G1) Imperial Beauty, 2009 Criterium International (FR-G1) winner Jan Vermeer, 2011 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (USA-G1) winner Together, and Grade 2 winner Midnight Line. Nellie Forbes is also the third dam of Grand Perfect, the champion imported 3-year-old filly of 2012 in the Dominican Republic. Another half sister to Priceless Fame, Tache (by Ambiorix), is the dam of stakes winner High Ascent (by Irish Castle).
Comely Nell, the dam of Priceless Fame and her siblings, never raced. She was sired by the Bull Lea horse Commodore M. and is a half sister to 1950 Narragansett Special winner De Luxe (by Bull Lea); to Sweet Nell (by Bull Lea), dam of multiple stakes winner Procula (by Intent); and to Hot Patootie (by Citation), third dam of Japanese Group 3 winner Super Fast.
Comely Nell and her siblings were produced from 1943 Kentucky Oaks winner Nellie L. (Blenheim II x Nellie Flag, by American Flag), whose full sister Mar-Kell is the American champion handicap female of 1943 and the dam of the good stakes winners Mark-Ye-Well and Amoret (both by Bull Lea). Nellie L. is also a half sister to 1954 Top Flight Handicap winner Sunshine Nell (by Sun Again), dam of 1970 Brooklyn Handicap winner Dewan (by Bold Ruler) and of multiple stakes winner Sunny (by Princequillo; broodmare sire of 1983 Kentucky Derby winner Sunny’s Halo). In addition, Nellie L. Is a half sister to stakes producers Ore-the-Lea (by Bull Lea), Peppy Nell (by Sir Gallahad III), and Last Wave (by Bull Lea).
Last updated: October 6, 2023