An extraordinarily talented mare, Two Lea battled problems with ringbone and ankle trouble throughout her career to become a two-time champion. Had she been as durable as she was game and speedy, she might be remembered as one of the greatest of the great. She was equally distinguished as a broodmare.
Race record
26 starts, 15 wins, 6 seconds, 3 thirds, US$309,250
1949:
1950:
1952:
Honors
Assessments
Two Lea was rated #77 among the top 100 American racehorses of the 20th century by a panel of experts assembled by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005). She was 15th among the 26 fillies and mares on the list.
As an individual
Two Lea stood about 16 hands. She had a long barrel but was strong through the loins and coupling, with plenty of substance. Her feet and ankles were her weak points and did not take pounding on hard tracks well. Her disposition was excellent and her action was fluent. Trainer Jimmy Jones recalled her as having "more try to her than any horse I can recall."
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Two Lea produced eight named foals, of which six started and five were winners. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Two Lea was bred and owned by Warren Wright Sr.'s Calumet Farm. She was trained by Horace A. “Jimmy” Jones.
Pedigree notes
Two Lea is inbred 4x4 to the good producer Cerito and 1906 Derby Stakes winner Spearmint. She is a full sister to the good stakes mares Miz Clementine 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, while Miz Clementine is the second dam of 1970 Vosburgh Handicap winner and good sire Best Turn. Two Lea's dam Two Bob won the 1936 Kentucky Oaks despite an evil disposition 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.
Fun facts
Last updated: January 22, 2024
Race record
26 starts, 15 wins, 6 seconds, 3 thirds, US$309,250
1949:
- Won Artful Stakes (USA, 7FD, Washington Park)
- Won Cleopatra Handicap (USA, 8FD, Arlington Park)
- Won Princess Doreen Stakes (USA, 6FD, Arlington Park)
- 2nd Modesty Stakes (USA, 6FD, Arlington Park)
1950:
- Won Santa Margarita Handicap (USA, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Arcadia Handicap (USA, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Santa Anita Maturity (USA, 10FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Santa Anita Handicap (USA, 10FD, Santa Anita)
1952:
- Won Ramona Handicap (USA, 6FD, Hollywood)
- Won San Mateo Handicap (USA, 8FD, Bay Meadows)
- Won Children's Hospital Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Bay Meadows; new track record 1:41-3/5)
- Won Hollywood Gold Cup (USA, 10FD, Hollywood)
- Won Vanity Handicap (USA, 8FD, Hollywood)
- 2nd Bay Meadows Handicap (USA, 10FD, Bay Meadows)
- 2nd Milady Handicap (USA, 7FD, Hollywood)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1982)
- American co-champion 3-year-old filly (1949)
- American champion older female (1950)
Assessments
Two Lea was rated #77 among the top 100 American racehorses of the 20th century by a panel of experts assembled by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005). She was 15th among the 26 fillies and mares on the list.
As an individual
Two Lea stood about 16 hands. She had a long barrel but was strong through the loins and coupling, with plenty of substance. Her feet and ankles were her weak points and did not take pounding on hard tracks well. Her disposition was excellent and her action was fluent. Trainer Jimmy Jones recalled her as having "more try to her than any horse I can recall."
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Two Lea produced eight named foals, of which six started and five were winners. Her important foals are as follow:
- Tim Tam (1955, by Tom Fool) was named American champion 3-year-old male in 1958 after winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. He was a moderate success at stud and sired several daughters of some importance.
- On-and-On (1956, by Nasrullah) won seven stakes races including the 1960 Brooklyn Handicap. A moderately successful sire, he is best known as the sire of 1977 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Sweet Tooth, dam of 1990 American leading sire Alydar and 1977 American champion 3-year-old filly Our Mims. He also sired 1968 American co-champion 3-year-old male Forward Pass.
- Pied d'Or (1957, by Nasrullah) won three stakes races as a 4-year-old. He failed as a sire.
- Eskimo Love (1958, by Arctic Prince) produced stakes winner Sew for Four (by Needles).
- Mon Ange (1962, by Tom Fool) produced stakes winners Son Ange (by Raise a Native), Tarboosh (by Bagdad), and He's an Angel (by Raise a Cup). Her 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).
Connections
Two Lea was bred and owned by Warren Wright Sr.'s Calumet Farm. She was trained by Horace A. “Jimmy” Jones.
Pedigree notes
Two Lea is inbred 4x4 to the good producer Cerito and 1906 Derby Stakes winner Spearmint. She is a full sister to the good stakes mares Miz Clementine 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, while Miz Clementine is the second dam of 1970 Vosburgh Handicap winner and good sire Best Turn. Two Lea's dam Two Bob won the 1936 Kentucky Oaks despite an evil disposition 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.
Fun facts
- Two Lea's victory in the 1952 Hollywood Gold Cup made her the first filly or mare to win a stakes race carrying US$100,000 or more in added money.
- Although Two Lea did not win an official championship in 1952, The Blood-Horse rated her as not only the best distaff handicapper of the year but as the fourth-best handicapper of either sex.
- Charles Hatton of the Daily Racing Form noted that Citation would whicker whenever Two Lea was led by his stall while ignoring Calumet's other fillies in the same training barn, a stellar lot that included champions Bewitch and Wistful as well as Two Lea's classy full sister Twosy.
- When evaluating Two Lea's ability against the males of her year, Jimmy Jones rated her, not 1949 Kentucky Derby winner Ponder, as the best 3-year-old in his stable, stating, "She could beat Ponder any day, doing anything." Nonetheless, she did not contest either the Kentucky Derby or the Kentucky Oaks because of her ankle trouble. Ponder later beat her in the 1950 Santa Anita Maturity, but Jones always felt that Two Lea would have won the race if she had not been held back to allow Ponder to do so in accordance with Warren Wright's wishes.
Last updated: January 22, 2024