Quicken Tree (USA)
April 18, 1963 – October 22, 1970
Royal Orbit (USA) x Mother Wit (USA), by Counterpoint (USA)
Family 5-j
April 18, 1963 – October 22, 1970
Royal Orbit (USA) x Mother Wit (USA), by Counterpoint (USA)
Family 5-j
Quicken Tree was a “might have been” when it came to greatness. Although he was blessed with genuine speed, boundless stamina and a devastating closing run, he was handicapped throughout his career by an extremely high-strung disposition and the bad habit of freezing up at the break. As he invariably gave many lengths to his field at the start, he was of necessity limited to running as a deep closer, a style that left him vulnerable to a slow early pace and to traffic problems. Nonetheless, when at his best, Quicken Tree could catch and pass almost anything on four hooves, and his come-from-the-clouds charges made him a great fan favorite.
Race record
74 starts,15 wins, 9 seconds, 13 thirds, US$718,303
1966:
1967:
1968:
1969:
1970:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 112 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1966, 24 pounds below champion and Horse of the Year Buckpasser.
Rated at 115 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1967, 21 pounds below champion Buckpasser.
Rated at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1968, 12 pounds below champion and Horse of the Year Dr. Fager but tied for third overall.
Rated at 122 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf males of 1969, 8 pounds below champion Hawaii.
Rated at 122 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1970, 10 pounds below highweighted Arts and Letters and 8 pounds below co-champion handicap male Nodouble.
As an individual
A leggy chestnut gelding with flashy white markings, a sweeping shoulder, a straight hind leg and the flat musculature of a stayer, Quicken Tree was extremely nervous and slow to learn new things. He never entirely got over his fear of the starting gate and bell and literally walked out of the gate at every start before starting to run, giving away many lengths to his field. Once in motion, he had a fluid way of going and could deliver a long, sustained closing run. He also had more speed than his record suggested and could act on any surface. In spite of his nervousness, he was a good shipper and was playful when in the security of his own stall.
Connections
Foaled in California, Quicken Tree was bred and owned by Louis R. Rowan, who sold a part-interest in Quicken Tree to Wheelock Whitney in early 1967. The gelding was trained by Clyde Turk until 1970, when he was taken over by Turk's former assistant, William Canney. He suffered a cracked sesamoid in October 1970 and tolerated repair surgery well but on October 22 died of enteritis (inflammation of the intestinal tract).
Pedigree notes
Quicken Tree is inbred 4x5 to the immortal Man o' War and 5x4 to 1930 Derby Stakes winner and 1941 American chamion sire Blenheim II. He is also inbred 5x5 to 1918 English Triple Crown winner Gainsborough, 1923 English champion 2-year-old filly Mumtaz Mahal, and two-time English champion sire Phalaris. He is a half brother to 1966 Golden Gate Handicap winner Ask Father (by Determine) and to multiple stakes winner Ready Wit (by Ruken). He is also a half brother to Snowy Owl, second dam of 1983 Premio Parioli (Italian Two Thousand Guineas, ITY-G1) winner Drumalis and Brazilian Group 3 winner Nebulous.
Quicken Tree was produced from Mother Wit, whose full sister Far Ahead is the third dam of Grade 3 winner Codys Key. Mother Wit is also a half sister to stakes winner Dance Rhythm (by Native Dancer) and to Recess (by Counterpoint's sire Count Fleet), dam of 1969 Gulfstream Park Handicap winner Court Recess (by Traffic Judge), 1962 Ramona Handicap winner Fun House (by The Doge), two-time Santa Monica Handicap winner Chop House (by Porterhouse), and juvenile stakes winner Swoon's Tune (by Swoon's Son). Recess is also the second dam of nine stakes winners including 1974 Hollywood Invitational Turf Handicap (USA-G1) winner Court Ruling, 1973 Kentucky Oaks (USA-G2) winner Bag of Tunes, Grade 2 winner Swingtime, 1968 Camden Handicap winner King's Palace, and 1979 Argentine champion sire Good Manners. In addition, she is the third dam of 1985 American champion 3-year-old filly Mom's Command, 1977 Jersey Derby (USA-G1) winner Cormorant, 1971 Wood Memorial Stakes winner Good Behaving, Grade/Group 2 winners Queen of Song and Triumphal March, and Grade/Group 3 winners Misty Native, Festive and Andaleeb.
Also a half sister to Fingerling (by Fisherman), second dam of Grade 2 winner Divine Grace, Mother Wit is out of 1946 Correction Handicap winner Recce (by Mahmoud), a full sister to 1951 Blue Grass Stakes and 1952 Metropolitan Handicap winner Mameluke. Recce is also a full sister to Mahratta, dam of 1968 Travers Stakes winner Chompion (by Tompion), 1960 Clark Handicap winner Counterrate (by Counterpoint), and stakes winners Little Wolf (by Phalanx) and Speed Point (by Counterpoint). In addition, Recce is a half sister to Swistar (by Pavot), dam of 1960 Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap winner Dotted Swiss (by Counterpoint) and second dam of 1965 Brooklyn Handicap and Suburban Handicap winner Pia Star and 1969 Atlantic City Handicap winner Plucky Lucky, and to Stalingrad (by Peace Chance), dam of stakes winner Right Dress (by Cortil). Recce is out of Schwester, an unraced full sister to two-time American Horse of the Year and 1942 American champion sire Equipoise.
Fun facts
Last updated: March 26, 2022
Race record
74 starts,15 wins, 9 seconds, 13 thirds, US$718,303
1966:
- Won Tropicana Hotel of Las Vegas Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Bay Meadows)
- Won Escondido Handicap (first division) (USA, 9FD, Del Mar)
- 3rd Bay Meadows Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Bay Meadows)
1967:
- Won Rancho Bernardo Handicap (second division) (USA, 8FD, Del Mar)
- Won Display Handicap (USA, 16FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Inglewood Handicap (first division) (USA, 8.5FT, Hollywood)
- 2nd San Gabriel Handicap (USA, 9FT, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Charles H. Strub Stakes (USA, 10FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Gallant Fox Handicap (USA, 13FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Del Mar Handicap (USA, 9FD, Del Mar)
1968:
- Won Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA, 16FD, Belmont)
- Won San Luis Rey Handicap (second division) (USA, 12FT, Santa Anita)
- Won Manhattan Handicap (USA, 12FD, Belmont)
- Won Del Mar Handicap (USA, 9FD, Del Mar; equaled world record 1:46-2/5)
- 2nd Sunset Handicap (USA, 12FT, Hollywood)
- 2nd San Antonio Stakes (USA, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap (USA, 10FD, Hollywood)
- 3rd San Carlos Handicap (USA, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Long Beach Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
1969:
- Won Display Handicap (USA, 16FD, Aqueduct)
- Won San Luis Obispo Handicap (USA, 12FT, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Gallant Fox Handicap (USA, 13FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Santa Anita Handicap (USA, 10FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd San Luis Rey Handicap (USA, 12FT, Santa Anita)
1970:
- Won Santa Anita Handicap (USA, 10FD, Santa Anita; equaled track record 1:59-3/5)
- Won San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap (USA, about 14FT, Santa Anita)
- 2nd San Luis Rey Handicap (second division) (USA, 12FT, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Cabrillo Handicap (USA, about 10FD, Del Mar)
- 2nd Arcadia Handicap (USA, 10FT, Santa Anita)
- 3rd San Diego Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Del Mar)
Honors
- Arcadia Historical Society's Racing Walk of Champions (inducted as part of the inaugural class in 2014)
- California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Hall of Fame (inducted in 2012)
Assessments
Rated at 112 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1966, 24 pounds below champion and Horse of the Year Buckpasser.
Rated at 115 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1967, 21 pounds below champion Buckpasser.
Rated at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1968, 12 pounds below champion and Horse of the Year Dr. Fager but tied for third overall.
Rated at 122 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf males of 1969, 8 pounds below champion Hawaii.
Rated at 122 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1970, 10 pounds below highweighted Arts and Letters and 8 pounds below co-champion handicap male Nodouble.
As an individual
A leggy chestnut gelding with flashy white markings, a sweeping shoulder, a straight hind leg and the flat musculature of a stayer, Quicken Tree was extremely nervous and slow to learn new things. He never entirely got over his fear of the starting gate and bell and literally walked out of the gate at every start before starting to run, giving away many lengths to his field. Once in motion, he had a fluid way of going and could deliver a long, sustained closing run. He also had more speed than his record suggested and could act on any surface. In spite of his nervousness, he was a good shipper and was playful when in the security of his own stall.
Connections
Foaled in California, Quicken Tree was bred and owned by Louis R. Rowan, who sold a part-interest in Quicken Tree to Wheelock Whitney in early 1967. The gelding was trained by Clyde Turk until 1970, when he was taken over by Turk's former assistant, William Canney. He suffered a cracked sesamoid in October 1970 and tolerated repair surgery well but on October 22 died of enteritis (inflammation of the intestinal tract).
Pedigree notes
Quicken Tree is inbred 4x5 to the immortal Man o' War and 5x4 to 1930 Derby Stakes winner and 1941 American chamion sire Blenheim II. He is also inbred 5x5 to 1918 English Triple Crown winner Gainsborough, 1923 English champion 2-year-old filly Mumtaz Mahal, and two-time English champion sire Phalaris. He is a half brother to 1966 Golden Gate Handicap winner Ask Father (by Determine) and to multiple stakes winner Ready Wit (by Ruken). He is also a half brother to Snowy Owl, second dam of 1983 Premio Parioli (Italian Two Thousand Guineas, ITY-G1) winner Drumalis and Brazilian Group 3 winner Nebulous.
Quicken Tree was produced from Mother Wit, whose full sister Far Ahead is the third dam of Grade 3 winner Codys Key. Mother Wit is also a half sister to stakes winner Dance Rhythm (by Native Dancer) and to Recess (by Counterpoint's sire Count Fleet), dam of 1969 Gulfstream Park Handicap winner Court Recess (by Traffic Judge), 1962 Ramona Handicap winner Fun House (by The Doge), two-time Santa Monica Handicap winner Chop House (by Porterhouse), and juvenile stakes winner Swoon's Tune (by Swoon's Son). Recess is also the second dam of nine stakes winners including 1974 Hollywood Invitational Turf Handicap (USA-G1) winner Court Ruling, 1973 Kentucky Oaks (USA-G2) winner Bag of Tunes, Grade 2 winner Swingtime, 1968 Camden Handicap winner King's Palace, and 1979 Argentine champion sire Good Manners. In addition, she is the third dam of 1985 American champion 3-year-old filly Mom's Command, 1977 Jersey Derby (USA-G1) winner Cormorant, 1971 Wood Memorial Stakes winner Good Behaving, Grade/Group 2 winners Queen of Song and Triumphal March, and Grade/Group 3 winners Misty Native, Festive and Andaleeb.
Also a half sister to Fingerling (by Fisherman), second dam of Grade 2 winner Divine Grace, Mother Wit is out of 1946 Correction Handicap winner Recce (by Mahmoud), a full sister to 1951 Blue Grass Stakes and 1952 Metropolitan Handicap winner Mameluke. Recce is also a full sister to Mahratta, dam of 1968 Travers Stakes winner Chompion (by Tompion), 1960 Clark Handicap winner Counterrate (by Counterpoint), and stakes winners Little Wolf (by Phalanx) and Speed Point (by Counterpoint). In addition, Recce is a half sister to Swistar (by Pavot), dam of 1960 Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap winner Dotted Swiss (by Counterpoint) and second dam of 1965 Brooklyn Handicap and Suburban Handicap winner Pia Star and 1969 Atlantic City Handicap winner Plucky Lucky, and to Stalingrad (by Peace Chance), dam of stakes winner Right Dress (by Cortil). Recce is out of Schwester, an unraced full sister to two-time American Horse of the Year and 1942 American champion sire Equipoise.
Fun facts
- “Quicken tree” is one of many popular names for the rowan or mountain ash, a small tree of the rose family whose leaves and berries are said to ward off evil spells and bring good luck. Thus, Quicken Tree's name is a play on the surname of his owner-breeder as well as perhaps representing an attempt to give the horse a “lucky” name.
- As a 3-year-old, Quicken Tree could have been claimed for as little as US$12,500.
- Quicken Tree was buried at Santa Anita Park, next to the grave of the champion filly Lamb Chop.
Last updated: March 26, 2022