Terlingua (USA)
February 7, 1976 – April 29, 2008
Secretariat (USA) x Crimson Saint (USA), by Crimson Satan (USA)
Family 8-c
"GENETIC GEM"
February 7, 1976 – April 29, 2008
Secretariat (USA) x Crimson Saint (USA), by Crimson Satan (USA)
Family 8-c
"GENETIC GEM"
A member of the great Secretariat’s second crop, Terlingua was one of the best juvenile fillies of a good American crop, beating colts and fillies with equal aplomb. She was unable to stretch out beyond a mile, but like her dam was an excellent broodmare who passed on high-class speed. Her great legacy was her son Storm Cat, a champion sire, broodmare sire, and juvenile sire in North America, but she has also bred on through several daughters.
Race record
17 starts, 7 wins, 4 seconds, 1 third, US$423,896
1978:
1979:
1980:
Assessments
Rated at 118 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1978, 1 pound below divisional co-champions Candy Eclair and It’s in the Air.
Rated at 116 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American sprinters of 1979, 13 pounds below divisional champion Star de Naskra (a 4-year-old colt) and 3 pounds below the division’s top filly or mare, Skipat (a 5-year-old).
Rated at 122 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American female sprinters of 1980, 4 pounds below highweighted Candy Eclair.
As an individual
An extremely fast filly, Terlingua was strongly made and muscular with good overall conformation. Her hindquarters were especially strong, resembling those of her sire, and were so heavily muscled that they gave her an odd, swinging gait at the walk. A temperamental youngster, she required hours of being ponied (led by a ridden stable pony) to work off enough ginger to be amenable to training but according to D. Wayne Lukas was "incredibly intelligent." She did not race well on off going or over turf. She was retired from racing after suffering a slab fracture to a knee. As a broodmare, Terlingua remained fiery and dominant with a strong will to have things her own way but was not mean, though she would test humans the first time they tried to handle her; if they called her bluff, she would give them no more trouble.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Terlingua produced 11 named foals, of which nine started and six won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Terlingua was bred by Tom Gentry. She was purchased for US$275,000 from the 1977 Keeneland Summer yearling sale by trainer D. Wayne Lukas on behalf of L. R. French,, who sold an interest in Terlingua to his friend Barry Beal before she began racing. She was most frequently ridden by Darrel McHargue. As a prospective broodmare, she was sold to the partnership of William T. Young and Ashford Stud but was bought out by Young for his Overbrook Farm before the birth of her second foal, Storm Cat. Terlingua was humanely destroyed April 29, 2008, due to the infirmities of old age, and was buried at Overbrook.
Pedigree notes
Terlingua’s pedigree is outcrossed through five generations. She is a full sister to multiple Grade 2 winner Pancho Villa and to Navajo Pass, second dam of Grade 3 winner Palanka City and third dam of Grade 3 winner Lightening Larry and Peruvian Group 3 winner Canoso. She is a half sister to multiple Grade/Group 1 winner Royal Academy (by Nijinsky II), winner of the 1990 Breeders’ Cup Mile (USA-G1) and a successful international sire. She is also a half sister to stakes winner Alydariel (by Alydar), dam of Grade 2 winner Jeune Homme (by Nureyev) and second dam of French Group 3 winner Damoiselle. In addition, she is a half sister to Prawn Cocktail (by Artichoke), dam of Australian Group 2 winner Langoustine and Australian Group 3 winner One World (both by Danehill) and second dam of 2016 Japanese champion 2-year-old male Satono Ares and Australian Group 3 winner One Last Dance.
Terlingua and her siblings are out of the wickedly fast Grade 3 winner Crimson Saint (by Crimson Satan), who equaled the world record for 4 furlongs in 1971. Crimson Saint is the only foal of any significance produced from multiple stakes winner Bolero Rose, whose sire Bolero (by Eight Thirty) set a new world record for 7 furlongs in the 1951 San Carlos Handicap at Santa Anita.
Bolero Rose's dam First Rose (by Menow) is a winning half sister to 1945 Excelsior Handicap winner Saguaro (by Blenheim II) and to Magic Mirror (by Questionnaire), dam of 1956 Tropical Handicap winner Illusionist (by Devil Diver). First Rose and her siblings were produced from the Sir Gallahad III mare Rare Bloom, a half sister to juvenile stakes winners Oh Say (by Dis Donc) and Balios (by Chicle).
Books and media
Fun facts
Last updated: September 8, 2024
Race record
17 starts, 7 wins, 4 seconds, 1 third, US$423,896
1978:
- Won Del Mar Debutante Stakes (USA-G2, 8FD, Del Mar)
- Won Hollywood Juvenile Championship Stakes (USA-G2, 6FD, Hollywood)
- Won Hollywood Lassie Stakes (USA-G2, 6FD, Hollywood)
- Won Nursery Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Hollywood)
- 2nd Alcibiades Stakes (USA-G2, 7F+184ft, Keeneland)
- 3rd Frizette Stakes (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont)
1979:
- Won Santa Ynez Stakes (USA-G3, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Las Flores Handicap (USA, 6FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Santa Susana Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Starlet Stakes (USA, 6FD, Hollywood)
1980:
- Won La Brea Stakes (USA, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Sierra Madre Handicap (USA, 6.5FD, Santa Anita)
- Also disqualified to 4th from a 3rd-place finish in the El Encino Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
Assessments
Rated at 118 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1978, 1 pound below divisional co-champions Candy Eclair and It’s in the Air.
Rated at 116 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American sprinters of 1979, 13 pounds below divisional champion Star de Naskra (a 4-year-old colt) and 3 pounds below the division’s top filly or mare, Skipat (a 5-year-old).
Rated at 122 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American female sprinters of 1980, 4 pounds below highweighted Candy Eclair.
As an individual
An extremely fast filly, Terlingua was strongly made and muscular with good overall conformation. Her hindquarters were especially strong, resembling those of her sire, and were so heavily muscled that they gave her an odd, swinging gait at the walk. A temperamental youngster, she required hours of being ponied (led by a ridden stable pony) to work off enough ginger to be amenable to training but according to D. Wayne Lukas was "incredibly intelligent." She did not race well on off going or over turf. She was retired from racing after suffering a slab fracture to a knee. As a broodmare, Terlingua remained fiery and dominant with a strong will to have things her own way but was not mean, though she would test humans the first time they tried to handle her; if they called her bluff, she would give them no more trouble.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Terlingua produced 11 named foals, of which nine started and six won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Lyphard’s Dancer (1982, by Lyphard) never raced but is the dam of restricted stakes winner C’mon Lets Dance (by Alleged). She is also the third dam of Australian Group 3 winner Galaxy Pegasus.
- Storm Cat (1983, by Storm Bird) won the 1985 Young America Stakes (USA-G1). He led the American general sire list twice and the American juvenile sire list seven times. He also led the American broodmare sire list three times.
- Chapel of Dreams (1983, by Northern Dancer) won the 1984 Palomar Handicap (USA-G2) and Wilshire Handicap (USA-G2). She is the second dam of 2008 Racing Post Trophy (ENG-G1) winner Crowded House; Grade 2 winners Postponed, Juniper Pass, and Tale of a Champion; and Grade/Group 3 winners Ilusora, Mr. Roary and Bandua. She is also the third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Ticker Tape, 2017 Prix Maurice de Gheest (FR-G1) winner Brando, 2024 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (FR-G1) winner Tribalist, Grade 2 winner Daring Dancer, and Grade/Group 3 winners Forest of Dean, Olympic Fluke, and Accidental Hero. Her more distant descendants include multiple Group 1 winner Reckless Abandon, 2024 Champions Mile (HK-G1) winner Beauty Eternal, Grade/Group 2 winners Skims and War Decree, and Grade/Group 3 winners Anglophile, Erasmo, Nazanin, and West End Girl.
- Pueblo (1992, by Mr. Prospector) placed third once in four starts. She is the third dam of multiple Argentine Group 2 winner Spiritus.
- Pioneering (1993, by Mr. Prospector) won two of his six starts. A useful stallion in Kentucky, he has ranked six times among the top 10 Brazilian sires.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Terlingua was bred by Tom Gentry. She was purchased for US$275,000 from the 1977 Keeneland Summer yearling sale by trainer D. Wayne Lukas on behalf of L. R. French,, who sold an interest in Terlingua to his friend Barry Beal before she began racing. She was most frequently ridden by Darrel McHargue. As a prospective broodmare, she was sold to the partnership of William T. Young and Ashford Stud but was bought out by Young for his Overbrook Farm before the birth of her second foal, Storm Cat. Terlingua was humanely destroyed April 29, 2008, due to the infirmities of old age, and was buried at Overbrook.
Pedigree notes
Terlingua’s pedigree is outcrossed through five generations. She is a full sister to multiple Grade 2 winner Pancho Villa and to Navajo Pass, second dam of Grade 3 winner Palanka City and third dam of Grade 3 winner Lightening Larry and Peruvian Group 3 winner Canoso. She is a half sister to multiple Grade/Group 1 winner Royal Academy (by Nijinsky II), winner of the 1990 Breeders’ Cup Mile (USA-G1) and a successful international sire. She is also a half sister to stakes winner Alydariel (by Alydar), dam of Grade 2 winner Jeune Homme (by Nureyev) and second dam of French Group 3 winner Damoiselle. In addition, she is a half sister to Prawn Cocktail (by Artichoke), dam of Australian Group 2 winner Langoustine and Australian Group 3 winner One World (both by Danehill) and second dam of 2016 Japanese champion 2-year-old male Satono Ares and Australian Group 3 winner One Last Dance.
Terlingua and her siblings are out of the wickedly fast Grade 3 winner Crimson Saint (by Crimson Satan), who equaled the world record for 4 furlongs in 1971. Crimson Saint is the only foal of any significance produced from multiple stakes winner Bolero Rose, whose sire Bolero (by Eight Thirty) set a new world record for 7 furlongs in the 1951 San Carlos Handicap at Santa Anita.
Bolero Rose's dam First Rose (by Menow) is a winning half sister to 1945 Excelsior Handicap winner Saguaro (by Blenheim II) and to Magic Mirror (by Questionnaire), dam of 1956 Tropical Handicap winner Illusionist (by Devil Diver). First Rose and her siblings were produced from the Sir Gallahad III mare Rare Bloom, a half sister to juvenile stakes winners Oh Say (by Dis Donc) and Balios (by Chicle).
Books and media
- Terlingua is one of the retired Thoroughbreds profiled in photographs and essays in Barbara Livingston’s More Old Friends: Visits With My Favorite Thoroughbreds (2007, Blood-Horse Publications).
- An excellent article by Patricia McQueen on Terlingua's racing and broodmare careers was published February 8, 2016, at Thoroughbred Racing Commentary (https://www.thoroughbredracing.com/articles/2407/children-secretariat-flying-filly-responsible-storm-cat/).
Fun facts
- Terlingua is a location in Brewster County, Texas. The site of a ghost town from the area’s days as a center for mining cinnabar (mercury ore), it is also the venue for two major cooking competitions, the Chili Appreciation Society International Cook-Off and the World Chili Championship.
- D. Wayne Lukas later admitted that he would have gone as high as US$500,000 for Terlingua at the 1977 Keeneland Summer sale if necessary. Part of his interest was generated by the fact that the filly had conformation similar to that of the Quarter Horses with which he had started his training career; the other was that his father-in-law, Rod Kaufman, had trained Terlingua’s dam Crimson Saint, giving Lukas a good idea of what he might expect from the Secretariat filly.
Last updated: September 8, 2024