Top Knight was the most consistent and able 2-year-old male of his year in the United States. He trained on well into the spring of his 3-year-old season but seemed to lose his best form after running fifth in the Kentucky Derby and was retired to stud after two more unplaced runs. He proved sterile as a stallion and was returned to training after two years but never showed his earlier ability while racing at ages 6 through 9.
Race record
46 starts, 11 wins, 6 seconds, 8 thirds, US$545,684
1968:
1969:
Honors
American champion 2-year-old male (1968)
Assessments
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1968, 1 pound above second-ranked Beau Brummel.
Rated at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1969, 10 pounds below co-highweights Arts and Letters (the official divisional champion and Horse of the Year) and Majestic Prince, but tied for third with Al Hattab, Dike, and Tell.
As an individual
A symmetrical, well-balanced, plain chestnut horse, Top Knight had a deep girth and was built slightly downhill, with his croup higher than his withers. He had a great deal of driving power in his hind legs and was known for making strong stretch runs. His ankles were fired between his juvenile and sophomore seasons.
Connections
Foaled in Florida, Top Knight was bred and owned by Steve B. Wilson, who purchased Ran-Tan for US$23,000 with the champion in utero. He was trained by Ray Metcalf at 2 and 3 and by G. W. Taylor during the second phase of his racing career. In late 1974, Top Knight passed from the ownership of Wilson’s estate to that of Ardwin Farm. After his last race, Top Knight was pensioned at a farm in Rehoboth, Massachusetts, where he died sometime during the 1990s.
Pedigree notes
Top Knight is inbred 4x5 to 1911 English champion older male Swynford and 5x5 to the important broodmare Harpsichord. He is a half brother to stakes winner Bold Bikini (by Boldnesian), dam of two-time Irish champion Law Society (by Alleged), 1978 Breeders’ Futurity (USA-G2) winner Strike Your Colors (by Hoist the Flag), 1987 Highland Spring Derby Trial (ENG-G3) winner Legal Bid (by Spectacular Bid), and Grade/Group 2-placed stakes winners Cerada Ridge (by Riva Ridge) and Alfarazdq (by Exclusive Native) and third dam of 1997 Oaks d’Italia (ITY-G1) winner Nicole Pharly, English Group 2 winner Contract Law, Australian Group 2 winner Keiki, and Grade/Group 3 winners Archbishop, Denmars Dream, and Sunrise Smarty. Top Knight is also a half brother to Madamoiselle W. (by Chieftain), second dam of 1981 Alabama Stakes (USA-G1) winner Prismatical, and to Romantic Season (by Secretariat), second dam of 2006 Railway Handicap (NZ-G1) winner Baldessarini and third dam of two-time Singaporean champion Gilt Complex.
Top Knight was produced from the winner Ran-Tan, whose sire Summer Tan was one of the best members of the 1952 foal crop in the United States. A half sister to Sunrabi (by Sun Again), the dam of 1966 Michigan Mile and One-Eighth Handicap winner Stanislas (by Johns Joy), Ran-Tan is out of Mehrabi, a full sister to 1957 Belmont Stakes winner Gallant Man and a half sister to 1948 English and Irish champion 3-year-old filly Masaka (by Nearco), dam of 1954 Park Hill Stakes winner Bara Bibi (by Bois Roussel) and 1967 International Gold Cup Steeplechase Handicap winner Aquitania (by Ambiorix), second dam of 1966 French champion miler Silver Shark, and third dam of 1986 Copa de Plata (CHI-G1) winner Nahmud, English Group 2 winner Pragmatic, and multiple French Group 3 winner Bernica. Sired by 1947 Eclipse Stakes and Champion Stakes winner Migoli out of 1942 Irish champion 3-year-old filly Majideh (by Mahmoud), Mehrabi is also a half sister to Malekeh (by Stardust), dam of multiple French stakes winner Beigler Bey (by Bey) and American stakes winner The Scoundrel (by Toulouse Lautrec), and to stakes-placed Mahallat (by Nearco), third dam of 1977 German champion 3-year-old male North Stoke and multiple Irish Group 3 winner Anfield. In addition, Mehrabi is a half sister to Monkeyaires (by Tudor Minstrel), dam of 1965 Louisiana Derby winner Dapper Delegate (by Porterhouse) and stakes winner Grand Premiere (by My Babu).
Fun facts
Last updated: April 25, 2023
Race record
46 starts, 11 wins, 6 seconds, 8 thirds, US$545,684
1968:
- Won Hopeful Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Saratoga)
- Won Futurity Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Belmont)
- Won Champagne Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Tremont Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Garden State Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Garden State)
- Also set a new track record of 1:04 for 5.5FD at Belmont
1969:
- Won Flamingo Stakes (USA, 9FD, Hialeah)
- Won Florida Derby (USA, 9FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 2nd Everglades Stakes (USA, 9FD, Hialeah)
- 3rd Bahamas Stakes (second division) (USA, 7FD, Hialeah; disqualified from first)
Honors
American champion 2-year-old male (1968)
Assessments
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1968, 1 pound above second-ranked Beau Brummel.
Rated at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1969, 10 pounds below co-highweights Arts and Letters (the official divisional champion and Horse of the Year) and Majestic Prince, but tied for third with Al Hattab, Dike, and Tell.
As an individual
A symmetrical, well-balanced, plain chestnut horse, Top Knight had a deep girth and was built slightly downhill, with his croup higher than his withers. He had a great deal of driving power in his hind legs and was known for making strong stretch runs. His ankles were fired between his juvenile and sophomore seasons.
Connections
Foaled in Florida, Top Knight was bred and owned by Steve B. Wilson, who purchased Ran-Tan for US$23,000 with the champion in utero. He was trained by Ray Metcalf at 2 and 3 and by G. W. Taylor during the second phase of his racing career. In late 1974, Top Knight passed from the ownership of Wilson’s estate to that of Ardwin Farm. After his last race, Top Knight was pensioned at a farm in Rehoboth, Massachusetts, where he died sometime during the 1990s.
Pedigree notes
Top Knight is inbred 4x5 to 1911 English champion older male Swynford and 5x5 to the important broodmare Harpsichord. He is a half brother to stakes winner Bold Bikini (by Boldnesian), dam of two-time Irish champion Law Society (by Alleged), 1978 Breeders’ Futurity (USA-G2) winner Strike Your Colors (by Hoist the Flag), 1987 Highland Spring Derby Trial (ENG-G3) winner Legal Bid (by Spectacular Bid), and Grade/Group 2-placed stakes winners Cerada Ridge (by Riva Ridge) and Alfarazdq (by Exclusive Native) and third dam of 1997 Oaks d’Italia (ITY-G1) winner Nicole Pharly, English Group 2 winner Contract Law, Australian Group 2 winner Keiki, and Grade/Group 3 winners Archbishop, Denmars Dream, and Sunrise Smarty. Top Knight is also a half brother to Madamoiselle W. (by Chieftain), second dam of 1981 Alabama Stakes (USA-G1) winner Prismatical, and to Romantic Season (by Secretariat), second dam of 2006 Railway Handicap (NZ-G1) winner Baldessarini and third dam of two-time Singaporean champion Gilt Complex.
Top Knight was produced from the winner Ran-Tan, whose sire Summer Tan was one of the best members of the 1952 foal crop in the United States. A half sister to Sunrabi (by Sun Again), the dam of 1966 Michigan Mile and One-Eighth Handicap winner Stanislas (by Johns Joy), Ran-Tan is out of Mehrabi, a full sister to 1957 Belmont Stakes winner Gallant Man and a half sister to 1948 English and Irish champion 3-year-old filly Masaka (by Nearco), dam of 1954 Park Hill Stakes winner Bara Bibi (by Bois Roussel) and 1967 International Gold Cup Steeplechase Handicap winner Aquitania (by Ambiorix), second dam of 1966 French champion miler Silver Shark, and third dam of 1986 Copa de Plata (CHI-G1) winner Nahmud, English Group 2 winner Pragmatic, and multiple French Group 3 winner Bernica. Sired by 1947 Eclipse Stakes and Champion Stakes winner Migoli out of 1942 Irish champion 3-year-old filly Majideh (by Mahmoud), Mehrabi is also a half sister to Malekeh (by Stardust), dam of multiple French stakes winner Beigler Bey (by Bey) and American stakes winner The Scoundrel (by Toulouse Lautrec), and to stakes-placed Mahallat (by Nearco), third dam of 1977 German champion 3-year-old male North Stoke and multiple Irish Group 3 winner Anfield. In addition, Mehrabi is a half sister to Monkeyaires (by Tudor Minstrel), dam of 1965 Louisiana Derby winner Dapper Delegate (by Porterhouse) and stakes winner Grand Premiere (by My Babu).
Fun facts
- Top Knight’s sterility was often attributed to “St. Germans trouble,” named after the subfertility/infertility that often appeared among male-line descendants of St. Germans (himself a stallion with lower than normal fertility). Other St. Germans descendants who were sterile or had poor fertility were 1931 American champion 3-year-old male Twenty Grand, 1946 American Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year Assault, 1950 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Middleground, and 1976 Irish Sweeps Derby (IRE-G1) winner Malacate, while 1936 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Bold Venture and 1965 Kentucky Derby winner Lucky Debonair had lower than normal fertility. 1949 American champion 3-year-old male and co-Horse of the Year Capot, a maternal grandson of St. Germans, was also all but sterile.
Last updated: April 25, 2023