Two Punch (USA)
March 17, 1983 – June 25, 2011
Mr. Prospector (USA) x Heavenly Cause (USA), by Grey Dawn II (FR)
Family 21-a
March 17, 1983 – June 25, 2011
Mr. Prospector (USA) x Heavenly Cause (USA), by Grey Dawn II (FR)
Family 21-a
Two Punch never quite succeeded in living up to his impeccable breeding on the racetrack, but his pedigree and performance were sufficient to earn him an opportunity as a regional sire in Maryland. He made the most of it, becoming a mainstay of breeding in the Mid-Atlantic region and earning three state sire championships. One of Mr. Prospector's longest-lived sons, he remained active and popular as a sire up until his death.
Race record
8 starts, 4 wins, 0 seconds, 1 third, US$89,795
1986:
As an individual
A big, strong, handsome gray horse (officially registered as a roan) with a short back and plenty of power, Two Punch stood 16.1 hands and had the unusually straight hind leg of his maternal grandsire, Grey Dawn II. He had a good disposition and enjoyed human attention.
As a stallion
Two Punch was Maryland's champion sire in 1994, 1995 and 1997. According to Jockey Club records, Two Punch sired 741 winners (64.9%) and 56 stakes winners (4.9%) from 1142 named foals. He was best known as a sire of consistent, hard-knocking racers and was also popular as a sire of sport horses.
Notable progeny
Smoke Glacken (USA), Taking Risks (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Two Punch was bred and owned by Eleanor R. Ryan, who raced him in the silks of her Ross Valley Farm. He was trained by Woody Stephens. He entered stud at Windfields Maryland in 1987 as the property of Ryan (by then using the surname Ross) and Windfields owner Charles Taylor and remained there when the property was sold and subdivided in 1989. The stallion operation was then renamed Northview Stallion Station, and Two Punch stood there until his death in 2011.
Pedigree notes
Two Punch is inbred 4x4 to Nasrullah. He is out of 1980 American champion 2-year-old filly Heavenly Cause, a full sister to stakes winner Jacques Who and a half sister to 1983 Monmouth Oaks (USA-G2) winner Quixotic Lady (by Quadratic), herself the second dam of Grade 2 winner Confide. Heavenly Cause is also a half sister to La Basque (by Jean-Pierre), dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Bounding Basque (by Grey Dawn II), Grade 2 winner El Basco (by Vigors), and English stakes winner Muhayaa (by Danzig) and third dam of Grade 3 winners Queen of Wilshire, Sunray Spirit, and Ballymore Lady. In addition, Heavenly Cause is a half sister to Glorious Quest (by Hawaii), dam of restricted stakes winner Crown Quest (by Chief's Crown; dam of multiple English stake winner Zaajer, by Silver Hawk) and third dam of 2012 Canadian champion turf male Riding the River. Another half sister to Heavenly Cause, stakes-placed My Lady Love (by Smarten) is the dam of listed stakes winner Afleet Floozie (by Afleet), the second dam of 2006 Mexican champion imported 2-year-old male Winning Limit, and the third dam of Grade 3 winner Drum Major.
Heavenly Cause and her siblings are out of 1965 Adirondack Stakes winner Lady Dulcinea (by Nantallah), a half sister to 1963 Spinaway Stakes winner Petite Rouge (by Ballydam). Petite Rouge, in turn, is the dam of multiple French Group 3 winner Princess Arjumand (by Prince Taj) and the second dam of Grade 2 winners Smarten Up and Purple Mountain and Grade 3 winner French Cut. Returning to Lady Dulcinea, she is also a half sister to multiple Grade 3 winner Champagne Charlie (by Northern Dancer) and to multiple Grade 3 winner Shy Dawn (by Grey Dawn II), dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Opening Verse (by The Minstrel), Grade 3 winner So She Sleeps (by Seattle Slew) and multiple stakes winner Dangerous Dawn (by Cox's Ridge); second dam of English Group 2 winner Diffident; and third dam of 2003 St. James’s Palace Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Zafeen, 2020 American Pharoah Stakes (USA-G1) winner Get Her Number, and Group 3 winners Victory Laurel and Ya Hajar.
.
Shy Dancer (by Bolero), the dam of Lady Dulcinea and her siblings, is also the dam of Prima Ballerina (by Royal Vale), dam of stakes winner Cordial Prince (by Cornish Prince). The female line traces back to 1922 Coaching Club American Oaks winner Prudish.
Books and media
Two Punch is one of the Thoroughbreds profiled in photographs and essays in Barbara Livingston's More Old Friends: Visits With My Favorite Thoroughbreds (2007, Blood-Horse Publications).
Fun facts
Last updated: March 27, 2024
Race record
8 starts, 4 wins, 0 seconds, 1 third, US$89,795
1986:
- Won Bachelor Stakes (USA, 6FD, Oaklawn Park)
- 3rd Swale Stakes (USA, 7FD, Gulfstream Park)
As an individual
A big, strong, handsome gray horse (officially registered as a roan) with a short back and plenty of power, Two Punch stood 16.1 hands and had the unusually straight hind leg of his maternal grandsire, Grey Dawn II. He had a good disposition and enjoyed human attention.
As a stallion
Two Punch was Maryland's champion sire in 1994, 1995 and 1997. According to Jockey Club records, Two Punch sired 741 winners (64.9%) and 56 stakes winners (4.9%) from 1142 named foals. He was best known as a sire of consistent, hard-knocking racers and was also popular as a sire of sport horses.
Notable progeny
Smoke Glacken (USA), Taking Risks (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Two Punch was bred and owned by Eleanor R. Ryan, who raced him in the silks of her Ross Valley Farm. He was trained by Woody Stephens. He entered stud at Windfields Maryland in 1987 as the property of Ryan (by then using the surname Ross) and Windfields owner Charles Taylor and remained there when the property was sold and subdivided in 1989. The stallion operation was then renamed Northview Stallion Station, and Two Punch stood there until his death in 2011.
Pedigree notes
Two Punch is inbred 4x4 to Nasrullah. He is out of 1980 American champion 2-year-old filly Heavenly Cause, a full sister to stakes winner Jacques Who and a half sister to 1983 Monmouth Oaks (USA-G2) winner Quixotic Lady (by Quadratic), herself the second dam of Grade 2 winner Confide. Heavenly Cause is also a half sister to La Basque (by Jean-Pierre), dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Bounding Basque (by Grey Dawn II), Grade 2 winner El Basco (by Vigors), and English stakes winner Muhayaa (by Danzig) and third dam of Grade 3 winners Queen of Wilshire, Sunray Spirit, and Ballymore Lady. In addition, Heavenly Cause is a half sister to Glorious Quest (by Hawaii), dam of restricted stakes winner Crown Quest (by Chief's Crown; dam of multiple English stake winner Zaajer, by Silver Hawk) and third dam of 2012 Canadian champion turf male Riding the River. Another half sister to Heavenly Cause, stakes-placed My Lady Love (by Smarten) is the dam of listed stakes winner Afleet Floozie (by Afleet), the second dam of 2006 Mexican champion imported 2-year-old male Winning Limit, and the third dam of Grade 3 winner Drum Major.
Heavenly Cause and her siblings are out of 1965 Adirondack Stakes winner Lady Dulcinea (by Nantallah), a half sister to 1963 Spinaway Stakes winner Petite Rouge (by Ballydam). Petite Rouge, in turn, is the dam of multiple French Group 3 winner Princess Arjumand (by Prince Taj) and the second dam of Grade 2 winners Smarten Up and Purple Mountain and Grade 3 winner French Cut. Returning to Lady Dulcinea, she is also a half sister to multiple Grade 3 winner Champagne Charlie (by Northern Dancer) and to multiple Grade 3 winner Shy Dawn (by Grey Dawn II), dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Opening Verse (by The Minstrel), Grade 3 winner So She Sleeps (by Seattle Slew) and multiple stakes winner Dangerous Dawn (by Cox's Ridge); second dam of English Group 2 winner Diffident; and third dam of 2003 St. James’s Palace Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Zafeen, 2020 American Pharoah Stakes (USA-G1) winner Get Her Number, and Group 3 winners Victory Laurel and Ya Hajar.
.
Shy Dancer (by Bolero), the dam of Lady Dulcinea and her siblings, is also the dam of Prima Ballerina (by Royal Vale), dam of stakes winner Cordial Prince (by Cornish Prince). The female line traces back to 1922 Coaching Club American Oaks winner Prudish.
Books and media
Two Punch is one of the Thoroughbreds profiled in photographs and essays in Barbara Livingston's More Old Friends: Visits With My Favorite Thoroughbreds (2007, Blood-Horse Publications).
Fun facts
- Two Punch was so popular in Maryland that when Eleanor Ross and Charles Taylor contracted with Fred Seitz to sell an interest in the horse and move him to Kentucky in 1994, Northview Stallion Station owner Richard Golden and his partners went to court to obtain an injunction against moving the horse. The court agreed that Northview's contracted right of first refusal regarding any sale of Two Punch had been violated and issued the injunction; three weeks later, Ross and Taylor agreed to sell Two Punch to Northview. Two Punch was then syndicated at a total valuation of US$1.8 million.
Last updated: March 27, 2024