Tank's Prospect (USA)
May 2, 1982 – 1995
Mr. Prospector (USA) x Midnight Pumpkin (USA), by Pretense (USA)
Family 21-a
May 2, 1982 – 1995
Mr. Prospector (USA) x Midnight Pumpkin (USA), by Pretense (USA)
Family 21-a
Talented enough to be among the leaders of his crop but not overly sound, Tank's Prospect ran two-bang-up races in Grade 1 events before injury forced his retirement. He proved to be an inconsistent sire and died relatively young.
Race record
14 starts, 5 wins, 5 seconds, 2 thirds, US$1,355,645
1984:
1985:
Assessments
Rated at 120 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1984, 6 pounds below divisional champion Chief's Crown.
Rated at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1985, 4 pounds below champion Spend a Buck.
As an individual
A well-made bay horse, Tank's Prospect was rather coarse but had the strong hindquarters typical of his sire's get. He was retired after suffering a suspensory injury in his right ankle during the running of the 1985 Belmont Stakes (USA-G1).
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Tank's Prospect sired 162 winners (48.1%) and 10 stakes winners (3.0%) from 337 foals. His best runner was multiple Grade 2 winner Real Cash.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Tank's Prospect was bred by Edward A. Seltzer. He was purchased for US$625,000 by Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Klein from the 1983 Keeneland July sale and was trained by D. Wayne Lukas. Tank's Prospect last stood at Venture Farms near Aubrey, Texas. He died March 2, 1995, from a ruptured artery.
Pedigree notes
Tank's Prospect is inbred 5x5 to American champion sire and three-time American champion broodmare sire Bull Dog. He is a full brother to O My Darling, dam of multiple French listed stakes winner Bluebell Dancer (by Sovereign Dancer), second dam of Grade 3 winner Kays and Jays, and third dam of Grade 3 winner Eres Tu. He is a half brother to Midnight Polka (by Danzig), dam of stakes winner Four Pennies (by Gulch).
Midnight Pumpkin, the dam of Tank's Prospect, was a minor stakes winner as a 3-year-old. She is a half sister to 1971 Jersey Belle Handicap winner Lucky Ole Me (by Olden Times), dam of multiple listed stakes winner Lucky North (by Northern Dancer) and Australian listed stakes winner Kudz (by Master Willie), second dam of Grade 2 winner Dixie Luck, and third dam of Grade 2 winner Limit Out. Midnight Pumpkin is also a half sister to stakes-placed Leave Me Alone (by Northern Dancer), dam of Canadian listed stakes winner Reach the Gold (by Slew o' Gold); to You'n Me (by Intentionally), dam of Italian listed stakes winner Swalk (by Arts and Letters); and to stakes-placed After Me (by Mongo), second dam of Grade 2 winner Its Acedemic.
Midnight Pumpkin's dam Me Next (by Rough'n Tumble) is an unraced full sister to 1959 American champion 2-year-old filly My Dear Girl, dam of 1968 Metropolitan Handicap winner and successful sire In Reality (by Intentionally), 1980 Flamingo Stakes (USA-G1) winner Superbity (by Groshawk), multiple Grade 3 winner Return to Reality (by Intentionally), and stakes winners Watchfulness (by Native Charger), Really and Truly (by What a Pleasure), Gentle Touch (by Chieftain; dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Dr. Carter, by Caro), and My Dear Lady (by Mr. Prospector; dam of French Group 2 winner Albarahin, by Silver Hawk, and two other stakes winners). My Dear Girl also produced Near and Dear (by Needles), dam of stakes winner Close to Me (by What a Pleasure), and Endearing (by Count Fleet), dam of stakes winners Kettle River (by Vertex) and Cheers Marion (by Native Charger).
Returning to Me Next, she is also a full sister to multiple stakes winner Treasure Chest, dam of English Group 3 winner Kanz (by The Minstrel), Grade 3 winner Diomedia (by Sea-Bird; dam of English Group 3 winner Media Starguest, by Be My Guest, and stakes winner Direct Answer, by Honest Pleasure), and stakes winner Gold Treasure (by Northern Dancer; dam of stakes winner Crown Silver, by Spectacular Bid). Treasure Chest is also the dam of stakes-placed Crown Treasure (by Graustark), dam of Glint of Gold (by Mill Reef), a champion in Germany and Italy, and his full brother Diamond Shoal, the champion older male of 1983 in England, France, and Italy.
Iltis, the dam of Me Next, also produced multiple stakes winner My Old Flame (by Count Flame), who died without issue. A daughter of War Relic and the Balladier mare We Hail, Iltis won five of her 53 starts and is a half sister to 1952 Matron Stakes winner Is Proud (by Hampden).
Books and media
Tank's Prospect is profiled in Chapter 11 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Last updated: August 15, 2023
Race record
14 starts, 5 wins, 5 seconds, 2 thirds, US$1,355,645
1984:
- 2nd Breeders' Cup Juvenile (USA-G1, 8FD, Hollywood Park)
- 3rd Young America Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, The Meadowlands)
- 3rd Champagne Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
1985:
- Won Arkansas Derby (USA-G1, 9FD, Oaklawn Park)
- Won Preakness Stakes (USA-G1, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won El Camino Real Derby (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Golden Gate)
Assessments
Rated at 120 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1984, 6 pounds below divisional champion Chief's Crown.
Rated at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1985, 4 pounds below champion Spend a Buck.
As an individual
A well-made bay horse, Tank's Prospect was rather coarse but had the strong hindquarters typical of his sire's get. He was retired after suffering a suspensory injury in his right ankle during the running of the 1985 Belmont Stakes (USA-G1).
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Tank's Prospect sired 162 winners (48.1%) and 10 stakes winners (3.0%) from 337 foals. His best runner was multiple Grade 2 winner Real Cash.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Tank's Prospect was bred by Edward A. Seltzer. He was purchased for US$625,000 by Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Klein from the 1983 Keeneland July sale and was trained by D. Wayne Lukas. Tank's Prospect last stood at Venture Farms near Aubrey, Texas. He died March 2, 1995, from a ruptured artery.
Pedigree notes
Tank's Prospect is inbred 5x5 to American champion sire and three-time American champion broodmare sire Bull Dog. He is a full brother to O My Darling, dam of multiple French listed stakes winner Bluebell Dancer (by Sovereign Dancer), second dam of Grade 3 winner Kays and Jays, and third dam of Grade 3 winner Eres Tu. He is a half brother to Midnight Polka (by Danzig), dam of stakes winner Four Pennies (by Gulch).
Midnight Pumpkin, the dam of Tank's Prospect, was a minor stakes winner as a 3-year-old. She is a half sister to 1971 Jersey Belle Handicap winner Lucky Ole Me (by Olden Times), dam of multiple listed stakes winner Lucky North (by Northern Dancer) and Australian listed stakes winner Kudz (by Master Willie), second dam of Grade 2 winner Dixie Luck, and third dam of Grade 2 winner Limit Out. Midnight Pumpkin is also a half sister to stakes-placed Leave Me Alone (by Northern Dancer), dam of Canadian listed stakes winner Reach the Gold (by Slew o' Gold); to You'n Me (by Intentionally), dam of Italian listed stakes winner Swalk (by Arts and Letters); and to stakes-placed After Me (by Mongo), second dam of Grade 2 winner Its Acedemic.
Midnight Pumpkin's dam Me Next (by Rough'n Tumble) is an unraced full sister to 1959 American champion 2-year-old filly My Dear Girl, dam of 1968 Metropolitan Handicap winner and successful sire In Reality (by Intentionally), 1980 Flamingo Stakes (USA-G1) winner Superbity (by Groshawk), multiple Grade 3 winner Return to Reality (by Intentionally), and stakes winners Watchfulness (by Native Charger), Really and Truly (by What a Pleasure), Gentle Touch (by Chieftain; dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Dr. Carter, by Caro), and My Dear Lady (by Mr. Prospector; dam of French Group 2 winner Albarahin, by Silver Hawk, and two other stakes winners). My Dear Girl also produced Near and Dear (by Needles), dam of stakes winner Close to Me (by What a Pleasure), and Endearing (by Count Fleet), dam of stakes winners Kettle River (by Vertex) and Cheers Marion (by Native Charger).
Returning to Me Next, she is also a full sister to multiple stakes winner Treasure Chest, dam of English Group 3 winner Kanz (by The Minstrel), Grade 3 winner Diomedia (by Sea-Bird; dam of English Group 3 winner Media Starguest, by Be My Guest, and stakes winner Direct Answer, by Honest Pleasure), and stakes winner Gold Treasure (by Northern Dancer; dam of stakes winner Crown Silver, by Spectacular Bid). Treasure Chest is also the dam of stakes-placed Crown Treasure (by Graustark), dam of Glint of Gold (by Mill Reef), a champion in Germany and Italy, and his full brother Diamond Shoal, the champion older male of 1983 in England, France, and Italy.
Iltis, the dam of Me Next, also produced multiple stakes winner My Old Flame (by Count Flame), who died without issue. A daughter of War Relic and the Balladier mare We Hail, Iltis won five of her 53 starts and is a half sister to 1952 Matron Stakes winner Is Proud (by Hampden).
Books and media
Tank's Prospect is profiled in Chapter 11 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- Eugene Klein named Tank's Prospect in honor of Paul “Tank” Younger, an executive with the National Football League's San Diego Chargers (which Klein also owned).
- After the connections of both Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) winner Spend a Buck and Derby runner-up Stephan's Odyssey elected to bypass the Preakness Stakes (USA-G1), newspaper reporters derisively nicknamed the 1985 edition of the second jewel of the American Triple Crown the “Weakness” and the “Peakless.” The criticism was probably not quite deserved as beaten favorite Chief's Crown (second by a head and third in the Derby) placed in the Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) and went on to add the Travers Stakes (USA-G1) and the Marlboro Cup Invitational Handicap (USA-G1) to his record later in the year. Also, Tank's Prospect's time of 1:53-2/5 was believed to be a stakes record until later review of Secretariat's 1973 Preakness showed that he had actually run the distance in 1:53.
- In the Preakness, Tank's Prospect was wearing a bar shoe on his right front hoof to protect a foot bruise. He was visibly sore after the Preakness and was still wearing the protective shoe when he ran in the Belmont.
- When Eugene Klein's collection of racing memorabilia was auctioned off in 2017 as part of the settling of his estate, Tank's Prospect's Preakness trophy sold for US$41,353.
Last updated: August 15, 2023