Star de Naskra (USA)
February 15, 1975 – October 1, 2000
Naskra (USA) x Candle Star (USA), by Clandestine (USA)
Family 10-b
February 15, 1975 – October 1, 2000
Naskra (USA) x Candle Star (USA), by Clandestine (USA)
Family 10-b
Like a number of other champions among American sprinters, Star de Naskra was more a miler than a pure sprinter—in fact, he could carry his speed up to 9 furlongs in graded company and placed at 10 furlongs in a Grade 2 race. A quick juvenile on the Mid-Atlantic circuit and a quite useful 3-year-old, he reached his peak form at 4. He did not race at sprint distances after June 20 of his 4-year-old season but nonetheless was clearly head and shoulders above the division after three consecutive wins at 6 and 7 furlongs, including the historic Carter Handicap (USA-G2). He was a useful stallion.
Race record
36 starts, 15 wins, 10 seconds, 4 thirds, US$587,391
1977:
1978:
1979:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 116 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1977, 10 pounds below champion Affirmed.
Rated at 121 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1978, 15 pounds below divisional champion and Horse of the Year Affirmed.
Highweighted at 129 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American sprinters of 1979, 5 pounds above second-rated Syncopate.
As an individual
A well-balanced, muscular dark bay or brown horse, Star de Naskra stood 15.3 hands. He was forced into retirement by an injury suffered while running fourth in the 1979 Vosburgh Stakes. As a stallion, he was easy to handle and had a kindly nature.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, Star de Naskra sired 509 winners (66.7%) and 48 stakes winners (6.3%) from 763 named foals of racing age.
Notable progeny
Carr de Naskra (USA), Chart the Stars (USA), Sewickley (USA), Star de Lady Ann (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Maryland, Star de Naskra was bred and owned by Carlyle J. Lancaster who sold a half-interest in the horse to William duPont’s Pillar Stud early in 1979. The colt was trained by Richard Ferris and was ridden by Jeffrey Fell throughout his championship season. He entered stud in 1980 in Kentucky at Pillar Stud; he later moved to Spendthrift Farm. In late 1992, he was transferred to Darby Dan Farm, where he stood the remainder of his stud career. He was euthanized at Darby Dan in October 2000 due to the infirmities of old age and was buried at Darby Dan.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1970 Everglades Stakes and Lexington Handicap winner Naskra, Star de Naskra is inbred 4x5 to two-time English/Irish champion sire Nearco, an unbeaten champion on the race course. He is a half brother to Enchanting Star (by Dance Spell), dam of listed stakes winner Thetruthisoutthere (by Proud Truth) and stakes winner Artic Enchantress (by Arctic Tern). He is also a half brother to Miracle Star (by Irish Castle), dam of Grade 3 winner Seek a Star (by Mutakddim).
Star de Naskra is out of unraced Candle Star, whose sire Clandestine (by Double Jay) won the 1960 San Carlos Handicap. Candle Star is a half sister to Bacasiwo (by Nashua), dam of stakes winner Veneralbe Lass (by Olden Times), and is out of English juvenile stakes winner Star Minstrel (by Tudor Minstrel). Star Minstrel, in turn, is a half sister to English stakes winner Thames Trader (by Honeyway) and to Miel Blond (by Honeyway), dam of stakes winners Alza (by Olden Times) and Hail Liberty (by Hail to All).
Star Minstrel is out of the Royal Charger mare Ballochbuie, who was unplaced in three starts. Produced from the unraced Hyperion mare Hillhampton, Ballochbuie is a half sister to 1953 Cherry Hinton Stakes winner Eastern Glamour (by Sayajirao), dam of stakes winner Eastern Tenerani (by Tenerani) and second dam of 1969 Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap winner Figonero. Ballochbuie is also a half sister to Cnoc Gorm (by Blue Peter), dam of Irish stakes winner Gorm Abu (by My Babu) and second dam of 1965 English champion sprinter Majority Blue, and to Hill Street (by Watling Street), second dam of two-time Belgian champion Mousquetaire. In addition, Ballochbuie is a half sister to Drinmore Hill (by Distingue), dam of Argentine stakes winner Virginhota.
Fun facts
Last updated: April 22, 2023
Race record
36 starts, 15 wins, 10 seconds, 4 thirds, US$587,391
1977:
- Won Timonium Futurity (USA, about 6.5FD, Timonium)
- Won Dover Stakes (USA, 6FD, Delaware Park)
- Won Marlboro Nursery Stakes (Males) (USA, 7FD, Bowie)
- 2nd Senatorial Stakes (USA, 7FD, Laurel)
- 2nd Playpen Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Bowie)
- 3rd Laurel Futurity (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Laurel)
1978:
- Won Penn Treaty Stakes (USA, 6FD, Keystone)
- 2nd American Derby (USA-G2, 10FD, Arlington Park)
- 2nd Withers Stakes (USA-G2, 8FD, Belmont Park)
- 2nd Marylander Handicap (USA-G3, 9FD, Pimlico)
- 2nd Winter Quarters Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, The Meadowlands)
- 2nd Japan Racing Association Handicap (USA, 8FD, Laurel)
- 2nd Hirsch Jacobs Stakes (USA, 6FD, Pimlico)
- 2nd Rosemont Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Delaware Park)
- 3rd Ohio Derby (USA-G2, 9FD, Thistledown)
- 3rd Peter Pan Stakes (USA-G3, 9FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Governor's Cup (USA, 9FD, Bowie)
1979:
- Won Carter Handicap (USA-G2, 7FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Ak-Sar-Ben Cornhusker Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Ak-Sar-Ben)
- Won Whitney Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Saratoga)
- Won Bold Ruler Stakes (USA, 6FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Celanese Cup Handicap (USA, 7FD, Belmont)
Honors
- Maryland Thoroughbred Hall of Fame (inducted in 2022)
- Eclipse Award, American champion sprinter (1979)
- Maryland-bred Horse of the Year (1979)
- Maryland-bred champion older male (1979)
Assessments
Rated at 116 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1977, 10 pounds below champion Affirmed.
Rated at 121 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1978, 15 pounds below divisional champion and Horse of the Year Affirmed.
Highweighted at 129 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American sprinters of 1979, 5 pounds above second-rated Syncopate.
As an individual
A well-balanced, muscular dark bay or brown horse, Star de Naskra stood 15.3 hands. He was forced into retirement by an injury suffered while running fourth in the 1979 Vosburgh Stakes. As a stallion, he was easy to handle and had a kindly nature.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, Star de Naskra sired 509 winners (66.7%) and 48 stakes winners (6.3%) from 763 named foals of racing age.
Notable progeny
Carr de Naskra (USA), Chart the Stars (USA), Sewickley (USA), Star de Lady Ann (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Maryland, Star de Naskra was bred and owned by Carlyle J. Lancaster who sold a half-interest in the horse to William duPont’s Pillar Stud early in 1979. The colt was trained by Richard Ferris and was ridden by Jeffrey Fell throughout his championship season. He entered stud in 1980 in Kentucky at Pillar Stud; he later moved to Spendthrift Farm. In late 1992, he was transferred to Darby Dan Farm, where he stood the remainder of his stud career. He was euthanized at Darby Dan in October 2000 due to the infirmities of old age and was buried at Darby Dan.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1970 Everglades Stakes and Lexington Handicap winner Naskra, Star de Naskra is inbred 4x5 to two-time English/Irish champion sire Nearco, an unbeaten champion on the race course. He is a half brother to Enchanting Star (by Dance Spell), dam of listed stakes winner Thetruthisoutthere (by Proud Truth) and stakes winner Artic Enchantress (by Arctic Tern). He is also a half brother to Miracle Star (by Irish Castle), dam of Grade 3 winner Seek a Star (by Mutakddim).
Star de Naskra is out of unraced Candle Star, whose sire Clandestine (by Double Jay) won the 1960 San Carlos Handicap. Candle Star is a half sister to Bacasiwo (by Nashua), dam of stakes winner Veneralbe Lass (by Olden Times), and is out of English juvenile stakes winner Star Minstrel (by Tudor Minstrel). Star Minstrel, in turn, is a half sister to English stakes winner Thames Trader (by Honeyway) and to Miel Blond (by Honeyway), dam of stakes winners Alza (by Olden Times) and Hail Liberty (by Hail to All).
Star Minstrel is out of the Royal Charger mare Ballochbuie, who was unplaced in three starts. Produced from the unraced Hyperion mare Hillhampton, Ballochbuie is a half sister to 1953 Cherry Hinton Stakes winner Eastern Glamour (by Sayajirao), dam of stakes winner Eastern Tenerani (by Tenerani) and second dam of 1969 Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap winner Figonero. Ballochbuie is also a half sister to Cnoc Gorm (by Blue Peter), dam of Irish stakes winner Gorm Abu (by My Babu) and second dam of 1965 English champion sprinter Majority Blue, and to Hill Street (by Watling Street), second dam of two-time Belgian champion Mousquetaire. In addition, Ballochbuie is a half sister to Drinmore Hill (by Distingue), dam of Argentine stakes winner Virginhota.
Fun facts
- Star de Naskra is the namesake for a stakes race at Laurel Park. The race is restricted to Maryland-bred or Maryland-sired horses and as of 2022 is contested at 7 furlongs on the main track.
Last updated: April 22, 2023