Banshee Breeze (USA)
March 30, 1995 – April 11, 2001
Unbridled (USA) x Banshee Winds (USA), by Known Fact (USA)
Family 8-h
March 30, 1995 – April 11, 2001
Unbridled (USA) x Banshee Winds (USA), by Known Fact (USA)
Family 8-h
Banshee Breeze was late in coming to her best form, but after defeating Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1) heroine Keeper Hill by a neck in the Coaching Club American Oaks (USA-G1), the strapping filly reeled off two more Grade 1 wins and a second to champion older female Escena in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (USA-G1) to seal up an Eclipse Award. She continued to race at near-championship level at age 4. Unfortunately, both Banshee Breeze and her first foal died of complications from its delivery.
Race record
18 starts, 10 wins, 5 seconds, 2 thirds, US$2,784,798
1998:
1999:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1999, 1 pound below champion Beautiful Pleasure.
As an individual
A big, rangy, late-developing bay filly with plenty of leg, Banshee Breeze had a tendency to ease herself up after making the lead early in her career but became more focused as she matured. Aside from that quirk, she was generally kind and easy to handle and train. She was consistent, generous, and determined on the track. Around the barn, she was known as a ham who would pose for cameras.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Banshee Breeze was bred and owned by Dr. James Tafel, who raced the filly in partnership with Jayeff B Stable (Richard Santulli and George Prussin) after Jayeff B bought into Banshee Breeze prior to the 1998 Breeders’ Cup Distaff. The filly was trained by Carl Nafzger, who had also trained her sire. She was ridden to her Coaching Club American Oaks score by Jerry Bailey. Banshee Breeze developed a torsion of the uterus late in her pregnancy with her first foal and underwent surgeries on successive days to correct the torsion and then to correct a torsion of the small intestine, which necessitated Caesarian delivery of the foal. She died two days after the Caesarian section, and her foal (born 19 days premature) did not survive. The mare was buried at Claiborne Farm, where she had been boarded.
Pedigree notes
Banshee Breeze is inbred 4x3 to 1967 Florida Derby and 1968 Metropolitan Handicap winner In Reality and 5x5 to 1951 Santa Anita Derby winner Rough’n Tumble. She is a full sister to restricted stakes winner Unbridled Wind, second dam of Grade 2 winner Tiz Windy, and a half sister to listed stakes-placed Charm (by Polish Numbers), dam of listed stakes winner Whirl (by Unbridled’s Song). She is also a half sister to Indy’s Windy (by A.P. Indy), dam of multiple Grade 2 winner American Anthem (by Bodemeister).
Banshee Breeze and her siblings are out of Grade 2-placed Banshee Winds, whose half sister Squawk (by Mountain Cat) produced stakes winner Molecules (by Einstein). Also a half sister to Yard (by Boundary), dam of Grade 3 winner Lethal Combination (by Broken Vow), Banshee Winds was produced from the winning Quack mare Quack a Doodledoo, a half sister to 1992 Emirates Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (FR-G1) winner All at Sea (by Riverman). All at Sea, in turn, is the dam of listed stakes winner Insinuate (by Mr. Prospector), the second dam of English Group 3 winners Stronghold and Convey, and the third dam of 2011 Prix Jean Prat (FR-G1) winner Mutual Trust, 2017 Longines Just a Game Stakes (USA-G1) winner Antonoe, and Italian Group 3 winner Runnymede.
Quack a Doodledoo and All at Sea are out of Lost Virtue (by Cloudy Dawn), also the dam of multiple French Group 3 winner Over the Ocean (by Super Concorde) and of English listed stakes winner Quandary (by Blushing Groom), dam of listed stakes winner Double Crossed (by Caerleon); second dam of 2010 European champion older horse Twice Over, 2006 Criterium de Saint-Cloud (FR-G1) winner Passage of Time. 2011 Falmouth Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Timepiece, English Group 2 winner Father Time, and Grade 3 winner Viadera; and third dam of multiple English Group 2 winner Time Test. In addition, Lost Virtue is the dam of stakes winner Full Virtue (by Full Pocket), third dam of 2011 Ballerina Stakes (USA-G1) winner Hilda’s Passion; of Fiddlin Fanny (by Aloma’s Ruler), dam of Indian listed stakes winner Arterial (by Green Forest); and of Familiar (by Diesis), dam of English listed stakes winner Esyoueffcee (by Alzao) and second dam of Japanese Group 2 winner Look Twice. Lost Virtue is a daughter of Aunt Tilt, a Tulyar half sister to 1967 American Horse of the Year Damascus.
Books and media
Banshee Breeze is profiled in Chapter 12 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Last updated: September 9, 2024
Race record
18 starts, 10 wins, 5 seconds, 2 thirds, US$2,784,798
1998:
- Won Three Chimneys Spinster Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Keeneland)
- Won Alabama Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- Won Coaching Club American Oaks (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
- Won Bonnie Miss Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 2nd Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Breeders' Cup Distaff (USA-G1, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
- 3rd Ashland Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Keeneland)
- 3rd Mother Goose Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
1999:
- Won Apple Blossom Handicap (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Oaklawn Park)
- Won Go for Wand Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Saratoga)
- Won Rampart Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Gulfstream Park)
- Won Fleur de Lis Handicap (USA-G3, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Breeders' Cup Distaff (USA-G1, 9FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 2nd Three Chimneys Spinster Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Keeneland)
- 2nd Personal Ensign Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
Honors
- Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old filly (1998)
- Eclipse Award finalist, American champion older female (1999)
Assessments
Rated at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1999, 1 pound below champion Beautiful Pleasure.
As an individual
A big, rangy, late-developing bay filly with plenty of leg, Banshee Breeze had a tendency to ease herself up after making the lead early in her career but became more focused as she matured. Aside from that quirk, she was generally kind and easy to handle and train. She was consistent, generous, and determined on the track. Around the barn, she was known as a ham who would pose for cameras.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Banshee Breeze was bred and owned by Dr. James Tafel, who raced the filly in partnership with Jayeff B Stable (Richard Santulli and George Prussin) after Jayeff B bought into Banshee Breeze prior to the 1998 Breeders’ Cup Distaff. The filly was trained by Carl Nafzger, who had also trained her sire. She was ridden to her Coaching Club American Oaks score by Jerry Bailey. Banshee Breeze developed a torsion of the uterus late in her pregnancy with her first foal and underwent surgeries on successive days to correct the torsion and then to correct a torsion of the small intestine, which necessitated Caesarian delivery of the foal. She died two days after the Caesarian section, and her foal (born 19 days premature) did not survive. The mare was buried at Claiborne Farm, where she had been boarded.
Pedigree notes
Banshee Breeze is inbred 4x3 to 1967 Florida Derby and 1968 Metropolitan Handicap winner In Reality and 5x5 to 1951 Santa Anita Derby winner Rough’n Tumble. She is a full sister to restricted stakes winner Unbridled Wind, second dam of Grade 2 winner Tiz Windy, and a half sister to listed stakes-placed Charm (by Polish Numbers), dam of listed stakes winner Whirl (by Unbridled’s Song). She is also a half sister to Indy’s Windy (by A.P. Indy), dam of multiple Grade 2 winner American Anthem (by Bodemeister).
Banshee Breeze and her siblings are out of Grade 2-placed Banshee Winds, whose half sister Squawk (by Mountain Cat) produced stakes winner Molecules (by Einstein). Also a half sister to Yard (by Boundary), dam of Grade 3 winner Lethal Combination (by Broken Vow), Banshee Winds was produced from the winning Quack mare Quack a Doodledoo, a half sister to 1992 Emirates Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (FR-G1) winner All at Sea (by Riverman). All at Sea, in turn, is the dam of listed stakes winner Insinuate (by Mr. Prospector), the second dam of English Group 3 winners Stronghold and Convey, and the third dam of 2011 Prix Jean Prat (FR-G1) winner Mutual Trust, 2017 Longines Just a Game Stakes (USA-G1) winner Antonoe, and Italian Group 3 winner Runnymede.
Quack a Doodledoo and All at Sea are out of Lost Virtue (by Cloudy Dawn), also the dam of multiple French Group 3 winner Over the Ocean (by Super Concorde) and of English listed stakes winner Quandary (by Blushing Groom), dam of listed stakes winner Double Crossed (by Caerleon); second dam of 2010 European champion older horse Twice Over, 2006 Criterium de Saint-Cloud (FR-G1) winner Passage of Time. 2011 Falmouth Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Timepiece, English Group 2 winner Father Time, and Grade 3 winner Viadera; and third dam of multiple English Group 2 winner Time Test. In addition, Lost Virtue is the dam of stakes winner Full Virtue (by Full Pocket), third dam of 2011 Ballerina Stakes (USA-G1) winner Hilda’s Passion; of Fiddlin Fanny (by Aloma’s Ruler), dam of Indian listed stakes winner Arterial (by Green Forest); and of Familiar (by Diesis), dam of English listed stakes winner Esyoueffcee (by Alzao) and second dam of Japanese Group 2 winner Look Twice. Lost Virtue is a daughter of Aunt Tilt, a Tulyar half sister to 1967 American Horse of the Year Damascus.
Books and media
Banshee Breeze is profiled in Chapter 12 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- Banshee Breeze’s 12-length margin over 1997 Alabama Stakes (USA-G1) winner Runup the Colors in the 1998 Three Chimneys Spinster Stakes set a stakes record which as of 2024 still stands.
- Banshee Breeze had a problem with hives developing regularly on her skin while she was in training at 4. According to Carl Nafzger, they would go away spontaneously but would recur about every 10 days.
Last updated: September 9, 2024