Tim Tam (USA)
April 19, 1955 – July 30, 1982
Tom Fool (USA) x Two Lea (USA), by Bull Lea (USA)
Family 23-b
April 19, 1955 – July 30, 1982
Tom Fool (USA) x Two Lea (USA), by Bull Lea (USA)
Family 23-b
Tim Tam was never noted for making more effort in any of his races than he had to, but he had a knack for being in front at the place where it counted--the wire. Exactly how good he was will never be known, as a broken sesamoid in his right foreleg ended both his bid for the Triple Crown and his racing career. He became a useful but disappointing sire whose name survives in pedigrees through several daughters.
Race record
14 starts, 10 wins, 1 second, 2 thirds, US$467,475
1958:
Honors
Assessments
Rated atop the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1958 with 128 pounds, 4 pounds more than second-ranked Cavan (the Belmont Stakes winner) and Nadir.
As an individual
A bay horse, Tim Tam stood 16 hands. He was a good-bodied, generally correct animal with a strong, straight hind leg but could be faulted for a somewhat upright shoulder and suspicious ankles. In action he was unusually agile, able to change pace fluently according to the needs of the tactical situation. He seldom won by much but was resolute in the drive. He raced only once as a juvenile due to a paddock injury suffered as a yearling.
As a stallion
According to statistics kept by The Jockey Club, Tim Tam sired 174 winners (61.9%) and 14 stakes winners (5.0%) from 281 named foals. He was a shy breeder, a trait shared by his sire and other members of his sire line.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Notable progeny
Nancy Jr. (USA), Tamerett (USA), Tosmah (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Before Dawn (USA), Davona Dale (USA), Known Fact (USA), Life's Hope (USA), Mac Diarmida (USA), Tentam (USA), Vertee (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Tim Tam was bred and owned by Calumet Farm. He was trained by Jimmy Jones. He was ridden to his Kentucky Derby and Preakness scores by Ismael "Milo" Valenzuela. He entered stud at Calumet in 1959 and was buried there following his death in 1982.
Pedigree notes
Tim Tam is inbred 3x3 to Bull Dog and 5x5x5 to 1906 Derby Stakes winner Spearmint. He is a full brother to Mon Ange, dam of stakes winners Son Ange (by Raise a Native), Tarboosh (by Bagdad), and He's an Angel (by Raise a Cup). Mon Ange's daughter Angel Chile (by Herbager) produced stakes winners Ballymacarney (by Habitat), Wild Surf (by Mill Reef), Beulah Land (by Targowice), and Gorky Park (by Gorytus; a steeplechaser) and is the second dam of multiple Japanese Group 3 winner Sweet Native. Another daughter of Mon Ange, Margot Verre (by Tom Rolfe), is the dam of Grade 3 winner Saint Verre (by Saint Ballado) and stakes winner Aly Mar (by Alydar) and is the second dam of stakes winner Aroma de Mujer (by Trippi). Tim Tam is also a half brother to 1960 Brooklyn Handicap winner On-and-On (by Nasrullah); to multiple stakes winner Pied d'Or (by Nasrullah); and to Eskimo Love (by Arctic Prince), dam of stakes winner Sew for Four (by Needles).
Tim Tam is out of two-time American champion Two Lea, a full sister to the good stakes mares Miz Clementine (second dam of 1970 Vosburgh Handicap winner and good sire Best Turn) and Twosy. Through her daughter Twice Over (by Ponder), Twosy is the second dam of stakes winners Two Relics and Miss Carmie, the third dam of 1974 American champion 3-year-old filly Chris Evert, and the fourth dam of 1988 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) winner Winning Colors. Two Lea's dam Two Bob (by The Porter) won the 1936 Kentucky Oaks and is a half sister to stakes winner Kingfisher (by Halcyon). Two Bob is also a half sister to stakes-placed Piety (by Pennant), second dam of 1953 Derby Mexicano winner Scriptwriter.
Books and media
Fun facts
Last updated: June 10, 2024
Race record
14 starts, 10 wins, 1 second, 2 thirds, US$467,475
1958:
- Won Kentucky Derby (USA, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Preakness Stakes (USA, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Florida Derby (USA, 9FD, Gulfstream Park)
- Won Flamingo Stakes (USA, 9FD, Hialeah; by disqualification of Jewel's Reward)
- Won Everglades Stakes (USA, 9FD, Hialeah)
- Won Derby Trial (USA, 8FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Fountain of Youth Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 2nd Belmont Stakes (USA, 12FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Bahamas Stakes (USA, 7FD, Hialeah)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (1985)
- American champion 3-year-old male (1958)
Assessments
Rated atop the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1958 with 128 pounds, 4 pounds more than second-ranked Cavan (the Belmont Stakes winner) and Nadir.
As an individual
A bay horse, Tim Tam stood 16 hands. He was a good-bodied, generally correct animal with a strong, straight hind leg but could be faulted for a somewhat upright shoulder and suspicious ankles. In action he was unusually agile, able to change pace fluently according to the needs of the tactical situation. He seldom won by much but was resolute in the drive. He raced only once as a juvenile due to a paddock injury suffered as a yearling.
As a stallion
According to statistics kept by The Jockey Club, Tim Tam sired 174 winners (61.9%) and 14 stakes winners (5.0%) from 281 named foals. He was a shy breeder, a trait shared by his sire and other members of his sire line.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 9th on the American broodmare sire list in 1978 and 1979.
Notable progeny
Nancy Jr. (USA), Tamerett (USA), Tosmah (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Before Dawn (USA), Davona Dale (USA), Known Fact (USA), Life's Hope (USA), Mac Diarmida (USA), Tentam (USA), Vertee (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Tim Tam was bred and owned by Calumet Farm. He was trained by Jimmy Jones. He was ridden to his Kentucky Derby and Preakness scores by Ismael "Milo" Valenzuela. He entered stud at Calumet in 1959 and was buried there following his death in 1982.
Pedigree notes
Tim Tam is inbred 3x3 to Bull Dog and 5x5x5 to 1906 Derby Stakes winner Spearmint. He is a full brother to Mon Ange, dam of stakes winners Son Ange (by Raise a Native), Tarboosh (by Bagdad), and He's an Angel (by Raise a Cup). Mon Ange's daughter Angel Chile (by Herbager) produced stakes winners Ballymacarney (by Habitat), Wild Surf (by Mill Reef), Beulah Land (by Targowice), and Gorky Park (by Gorytus; a steeplechaser) and is the second dam of multiple Japanese Group 3 winner Sweet Native. Another daughter of Mon Ange, Margot Verre (by Tom Rolfe), is the dam of Grade 3 winner Saint Verre (by Saint Ballado) and stakes winner Aly Mar (by Alydar) and is the second dam of stakes winner Aroma de Mujer (by Trippi). Tim Tam is also a half brother to 1960 Brooklyn Handicap winner On-and-On (by Nasrullah); to multiple stakes winner Pied d'Or (by Nasrullah); and to Eskimo Love (by Arctic Prince), dam of stakes winner Sew for Four (by Needles).
Tim Tam is out of two-time American champion Two Lea, a full sister to the good stakes mares Miz Clementine (second dam of 1970 Vosburgh Handicap winner and good sire Best Turn) and Twosy. Through her daughter Twice Over (by Ponder), Twosy is the second dam of stakes winners Two Relics and Miss Carmie, the third dam of 1974 American champion 3-year-old filly Chris Evert, and the fourth dam of 1988 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) winner Winning Colors. Two Lea's dam Two Bob (by The Porter) won the 1936 Kentucky Oaks and is a half sister to stakes winner Kingfisher (by Halcyon). Two Bob is also a half sister to stakes-placed Piety (by Pennant), second dam of 1953 Derby Mexicano winner Scriptwriter.
Books and media
- Tim Tam is profiled in Chapter 8 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
- Newsreel coverage of Tim Tam’s Kentucky Derby win can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oo-sgeHWC5g.
Fun facts
- Those believing that the number 13 is unlucky can point to Tim Tam's Belmont Stakes, which was his 13th race in 1958. The colt made those 13 starts in less than five months, beginning on January 17 and ending on June 7.
- In spite of his abbreviated campaign in 1958, Tim Tam lacked only one vote of being a unanimous choice as American champion 3-year-old male in both the polls then extant.
- Tim Tam was the seventh of a record eight homebred Kentucky Derby winners for Calumet Farm. The others were Whirlaway (1941), Pensive (1944), Citation (1948), Ponder (1949), Hill Gail (1952), Iron Liege (1957), and Forward Pass (1968). The first five of this group were officially trained by Ben Jones, who had previously trained 1938 winner Lawrin; he still holds the Kentucky Derby record for the most wins for a single trainer with six. (Jones' record was tied in 2020 when Bob Baffert scored his sixth Derby win with Authentic.) Calumet later bred 1991 Kentucky Derby winners Strike the Gold and 2022 winner Rich Strike, but these colts raced for other owners.
- Tim Tam is also the sixth of a record eight Preakness Stakes winners raced by Calumet. The others were Whirlaway (1941), Pensive (1944), Faultless (1947), Citation (1948), Fabius (1956), Forward Pass (1968), and Oxbow (2013). All but Oxbow were Calumet homebreds.
- Dr. Jacques Jenny of the University of Pennsylvania's veterinary school headed the surgical team that saved Tim Tam's life after his injury. The same surgeon was later instrumental in saving 1970 American champion 2-year-old male Hoist the Flag after the colt shattered a hind leg during a workout at 3.
- The Australian bakery Arnott's Biscuits Limited produces a line of chocolate biscuits known as Tim Tams, so named because Ross Arnott had attended the 1958 Kentucky Derby and admired the winner.
Last updated: June 10, 2024