Smarten (USA)
April 17, 1976 – March 31, 2003
Cyane (USA) x Smartaire (USA), by Quibu (ARG)
American Family 13
April 17, 1976 – March 31, 2003
Cyane (USA) x Smartaire (USA), by Quibu (ARG)
American Family 13
Smarten was not quite up to the very best of his crop, but what he lacked in raw talent he made up for in toughness, consistency and soundness. He passed on these qualities as a stallion, becoming a perennial regional sire leader in Maryland. His greatest mark on American pedigrees has been as the sire of 1984 Canadian champion 3-year-old filly Classy 'n Smart, whose son Smart Strike (by Mr. Prospector) was a two-time American champion sire.
Race record
27 starts, 11 wins, 8 seconds, 2 thirds, US$716,426
1978:
1979:
Honors
Maryland-bred champion 3-year-old male (1979)
Assessments
Rated at 110 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1978, 16 pounds below champion Spectacular Bid.
Rated at 125 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1979, 5 pounds below champion Spectacular Bid.
As an individual
A dark bay or brown horse, Smarten was short-coupled and well-balanced with a strong, straight hind leg. He was slightly over at the knee. He was always willing to give his best as a competitor regardless of the track, surface or track condition.
As a stallion
According to statistics kept by The Jockey Club, Smarten sired 393 winners (63.1%) and 47 stakes winners (7.5%) from 623 named foals. The Blood-Horse credits Smarten with 49 stakes winners (7.9%).
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
Notable progeny
Classy 'n Smart (CAN), Dance Teacher (USA), Prenup (USA), Smart n Slick (USA), Southern Arrow (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Dance Smartly (CAN), Full of Wonder (CAN), General Challenge (USA), Notable Career (USA), Smart Strike (CAN)
Connections
Foaled in Maryland, Smarten was bred and owned by Jim and Eleanor Ryan's Ryehill Farm, with Robert Kirkham buying a half interest in Smarten when the horse was a yearling. Smarten was trained by Woody Stephens, who deliberately spotted him away from the division's top stars to maximize the colt's potential winnings. Smarten entered stud in 1980 at Windfield Farm's Maryland division and remained at the farm when it became Northview Stallion Station. He was pensioned in 1999. He was humanely destroyed in 2003 due to an intestinal blockage and the infirmities of old age.
Pedigree notes
Smarten is inbred 4x5 to 1924 English leading sire Son-in-Law and 5x5 to 1921 Two Thousand Guineas winner Craig an Eran. He is a half brother to 1979 American champion 2-year-old filly Smart Angle (by Quadrangle; dam of Grade 2 winner Houston, by Seattle Slew), 1977 Cowdin Stakes (USA-G2) winner Quadratic (by Quadrangle), and multiple stakes winner Smart Heiress (by Vaguely Noble; dam of Grade 2 winner Homebuilder, by Mr. Prospector, and Grade 3 winner Aztec Empire, by Alydar). Smarten is also a half brother to Miss Cream Puff (by Creme Dela Creme), dam of Italian Group 3 winner Min Allah (by Roberto); to Smart Steppin (by Nijinsky II), second dam of three stakes winners; and to Smart Darlin (by Alydar), dam of Japanese stakes winner Laurel Ange (by Paradise Creek) and second dam of 1998 Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA-G1) winner Wagon Limit.
Smarten and his siblings are out of Smartaire, the 1979 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. A full sister to 1966 Alcibiades Stakes winner Teacher's Art (dam of Grade 2 winner Beat Inflation, by Crozier) and a half sister to Teacher's Joy (by Daryl's Joy; dam of multiple stakes winner Dramatic Joy, by Riverman), Smartaire is out of the Olympia mare Art Teacher, a half sister to the good stakes mare Teacation (by Quibu) and 1971 Fountain of Youth Stakes winner Authorize (by Crozier). Art Teacher and her siblings, in turn, are out of the Education mare Teaching, a half sister to the high-class juvenile Greek Game (by Olympia).
Fun facts
Last updated: August 18, 2022
Race record
27 starts, 11 wins, 8 seconds, 2 thirds, US$716,426
1978:
- Won Senatorial Stakes (USA, 7FD, Laurel)
- Won City of Miami Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Calder)
- 2nd Playpen Stakes (USA-R, 5.5FD, Pimlico)
- Also finished 2nd in the Saratoga Special (USA-G2, 6FD, Saratoga) but was disqualified
1979:
- Won American Derby (USA-G2, 10FD, Arlington Park)
- Won Ohio Derby (USA-G2, 9FD, Thistledown; new track record 1:47-2/5)
- Won Woodlawn Stakes (USA-G2, 8FT, Pimlico)
- Won Marylander Handicap (USA-G3, 9FD, Bowie)
- Won Illinois Derby (USA-G3, 9FD, Sportsman's Park)
- Won Pennsylvania Derby (USA, 9FD, Keystone)
- 2nd Travers Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Secretariat Stakes (USA-G2, 12FT, Arlington Park)
- 2nd Lawrence Realization Stakes (USA-G2, 12FT, Belmont)
- 2nd Meadowlands Cup Handicap (USA-G2, 10FD, The Meadowlands)
- 2nd Arkansas Derby (USA-G2, 9FD, Oaklawn)
- 2nd Discovery Handicap (USA-G3, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Rutgers Handicap (USA-G3, 10FD, The Meadowlands)
- 3rd Tropical Park Derby (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Calder)
- 3rd Jockey Hollow Handicap (USA, 9FD, The Meadowlands)
Honors
Maryland-bred champion 3-year-old male (1979)
Assessments
Rated at 110 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1978, 16 pounds below champion Spectacular Bid.
Rated at 125 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1979, 5 pounds below champion Spectacular Bid.
As an individual
A dark bay or brown horse, Smarten was short-coupled and well-balanced with a strong, straight hind leg. He was slightly over at the knee. He was always willing to give his best as a competitor regardless of the track, surface or track condition.
As a stallion
According to statistics kept by The Jockey Club, Smarten sired 393 winners (63.1%) and 47 stakes winners (7.5%) from 623 named foals. The Blood-Horse credits Smarten with 49 stakes winners (7.9%).
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- 8th on the American broodmare sire list in 1999.
Notable progeny
Classy 'n Smart (CAN), Dance Teacher (USA), Prenup (USA), Smart n Slick (USA), Southern Arrow (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Dance Smartly (CAN), Full of Wonder (CAN), General Challenge (USA), Notable Career (USA), Smart Strike (CAN)
Connections
Foaled in Maryland, Smarten was bred and owned by Jim and Eleanor Ryan's Ryehill Farm, with Robert Kirkham buying a half interest in Smarten when the horse was a yearling. Smarten was trained by Woody Stephens, who deliberately spotted him away from the division's top stars to maximize the colt's potential winnings. Smarten entered stud in 1980 at Windfield Farm's Maryland division and remained at the farm when it became Northview Stallion Station. He was pensioned in 1999. He was humanely destroyed in 2003 due to an intestinal blockage and the infirmities of old age.
Pedigree notes
Smarten is inbred 4x5 to 1924 English leading sire Son-in-Law and 5x5 to 1921 Two Thousand Guineas winner Craig an Eran. He is a half brother to 1979 American champion 2-year-old filly Smart Angle (by Quadrangle; dam of Grade 2 winner Houston, by Seattle Slew), 1977 Cowdin Stakes (USA-G2) winner Quadratic (by Quadrangle), and multiple stakes winner Smart Heiress (by Vaguely Noble; dam of Grade 2 winner Homebuilder, by Mr. Prospector, and Grade 3 winner Aztec Empire, by Alydar). Smarten is also a half brother to Miss Cream Puff (by Creme Dela Creme), dam of Italian Group 3 winner Min Allah (by Roberto); to Smart Steppin (by Nijinsky II), second dam of three stakes winners; and to Smart Darlin (by Alydar), dam of Japanese stakes winner Laurel Ange (by Paradise Creek) and second dam of 1998 Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA-G1) winner Wagon Limit.
Smarten and his siblings are out of Smartaire, the 1979 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. A full sister to 1966 Alcibiades Stakes winner Teacher's Art (dam of Grade 2 winner Beat Inflation, by Crozier) and a half sister to Teacher's Joy (by Daryl's Joy; dam of multiple stakes winner Dramatic Joy, by Riverman), Smartaire is out of the Olympia mare Art Teacher, a half sister to the good stakes mare Teacation (by Quibu) and 1971 Fountain of Youth Stakes winner Authorize (by Crozier). Art Teacher and her siblings, in turn, are out of the Education mare Teaching, a half sister to the high-class juvenile Greek Game (by Olympia).
Fun facts
- Like Ornament, Claude, Black Gold, and Candy Spots, Smarten won four Derbies during his 3-year-old season, a feat later emulated by Snow Chief in 1986, by Lost Code in 1987, by Olympio in 1991, and by California Chrome in 2014.
Last updated: August 18, 2022