Adoration (USA)
April 28, 1999 – c. 2017
Honor Grades (USA) x Sewing Lady (USA), by Key to the Mint (USA)
Family 3-l
April 28, 1999 – c. 2017
Honor Grades (USA) x Sewing Lady (USA), by Key to the Mint (USA)
Family 3-l
Going into the gate for the 2003 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (USA-G1), Adoration had never won at the top level and was up against six Grade 1-winning rivals. Showing her heels to her more-fancied sisters, she led throughout and came home first by 4½ lengths, scoring the upset at odds of nearly 41-1. Proving herself more than a fluke winner, she added another Grade 1 victory in the 2004 Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap and retired as a six-time graded stakes winner. She was a great disappointment as a broodmare.
Race record
20 starts, 8 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third, US$2,051,160
2002:
2003:
2004:
Assessments
Rated at 117 pounds in the Mile category on the 2003 International Classifications, 16 pounds below overall highweight Hawk Wing and 6 pounds below the highweighted filly or mare, Azeri.
Rated at 116 pounds on the 2004 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings, 14 pounds below the overall highweight, Ghostzapper, and 4 pounds below the highweighted filly or mare, Ouija Board.
As an individual
A smooth-running bay mare, Adoration had a well-sloped shoulder and strong hindquarters. She appeared slightly short-legged for her height and could be faulted for small feet; she also appeared to be slightly back at the knee. She was pointing towards the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Distaff but suffered a fractured ankle in a September workout and was forced into retirement.
As a producer
Adoration produced 11 named foals, of which 10 started and three won. None of her foals have won a stakes race or produced a stakes winner.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Adoration was bred by Lucy G. Bassett. A US$40,000 purchase from the 2000 Keeneland September yearling sale, she was owned by John and Jerry Amerman's Amerman Racing and was trained by David Hofmans. She was ridden to her Breeders’ Cup Distaff win by Patrick Valenzuela. In 2007, she sold to Coolmore via agent Demi O'Byrne through the Keeneland November mixed sale for US$3.1 million, in foal to Smart Strike. Her last foal, the Frankel colt Sunrise Leicester, arrived in 2017.
Pedigree notes
Adoration is inbred 5x4 to two-time American champion sire and eight-time American champion broodmare sire Princequillo. She is the only foal of significance produced from unraced Sewing Lady, a half sister to Irish listed stakes winner Astraeus (by Star de Naskra). Sewing Lady, in turn, is out of Hunt the Thimble, a stakes-placed daughter of multiple Grade 2 winner Turn and Count.(by Best Turn).
Hunt the Thimble was produced from Esprit Belle (by Ack Ack), a half sister to stakes winners Black Is Beautiful (by Quack) and Defrost (by It’s Freezing). A daughter of the Olden Times mare Belle Noire, Esprit Belle is also a half sister to Belle de Black (by Verbatim), dam of Grade 3-placed listed stakes winner Black Forest (by Broad Brush) and juvenile stakes winner Explosive Knight (by Explodent).
Books and media
Footage of Adoration’s win in the 2003 Breeders’ Cup Distaff can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbbI03EsttI.
Fun facts
Photo credit
Portrait photo taken by Jessica Morgan at the 2007 Keeneland November sale. Used by permission.
Last updated: February 25, 2026
Race record
20 starts, 8 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third, US$2,051,160
2002:
- Won Hollywood Breeders' Cup Oaks (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
- Won Senorita Stakes (USA-G3, 8FT, Hollywood)
2003:
- Won Breeders' Cup Distaff-Presented by Nextel (USA-G1, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Piedra Foundation Handicap (USA-R, 8FD, Del Mar)
- 2nd Bayakoa Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FD, HOL)
- 3rd Lady's Secret Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FD, SA; from fourth by disqualification)
2004:
- Won Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Fleur de Lis Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Arlington Matron Handicap (USA-G3, 9FD, Arlington Park)
- 2nd Vanity Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Hollywood)
Assessments
Rated at 117 pounds in the Mile category on the 2003 International Classifications, 16 pounds below overall highweight Hawk Wing and 6 pounds below the highweighted filly or mare, Azeri.
Rated at 116 pounds on the 2004 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings, 14 pounds below the overall highweight, Ghostzapper, and 4 pounds below the highweighted filly or mare, Ouija Board.
As an individual
A smooth-running bay mare, Adoration had a well-sloped shoulder and strong hindquarters. She appeared slightly short-legged for her height and could be faulted for small feet; she also appeared to be slightly back at the knee. She was pointing towards the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Distaff but suffered a fractured ankle in a September workout and was forced into retirement.
As a producer
Adoration produced 11 named foals, of which 10 started and three won. None of her foals have won a stakes race or produced a stakes winner.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Adoration was bred by Lucy G. Bassett. A US$40,000 purchase from the 2000 Keeneland September yearling sale, she was owned by John and Jerry Amerman's Amerman Racing and was trained by David Hofmans. She was ridden to her Breeders’ Cup Distaff win by Patrick Valenzuela. In 2007, she sold to Coolmore via agent Demi O'Byrne through the Keeneland November mixed sale for US$3.1 million, in foal to Smart Strike. Her last foal, the Frankel colt Sunrise Leicester, arrived in 2017.
Pedigree notes
Adoration is inbred 5x4 to two-time American champion sire and eight-time American champion broodmare sire Princequillo. She is the only foal of significance produced from unraced Sewing Lady, a half sister to Irish listed stakes winner Astraeus (by Star de Naskra). Sewing Lady, in turn, is out of Hunt the Thimble, a stakes-placed daughter of multiple Grade 2 winner Turn and Count.(by Best Turn).
Hunt the Thimble was produced from Esprit Belle (by Ack Ack), a half sister to stakes winners Black Is Beautiful (by Quack) and Defrost (by It’s Freezing). A daughter of the Olden Times mare Belle Noire, Esprit Belle is also a half sister to Belle de Black (by Verbatim), dam of Grade 3-placed listed stakes winner Black Forest (by Broad Brush) and juvenile stakes winner Explosive Knight (by Explodent).
Books and media
Footage of Adoration’s win in the 2003 Breeders’ Cup Distaff can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbbI03EsttI.
Fun facts
- Adoration became the namesake for a stakes race for fillies and mares at Santa Anita.
Photo credit
Portrait photo taken by Jessica Morgan at the 2007 Keeneland November sale. Used by permission.
Last updated: February 25, 2026