Black Helen (USA)
1932 – August 17, 1957
Black Toney (USA) x La Troienne (FR), by Teddy (FR)
Family 1-x
1932 – August 17, 1957
Black Toney (USA) x La Troienne (FR), by Teddy (FR)
Family 1-x
The second foal of her dam La Troienne, Black Helen was so undersized as a youngster that she was not nominated to any of the important stakes for juveniles. She never grew much, but like the great English mare Selene (who was also badly underestimated because of her small size), she proved to be the best filly of her generation, beating males and females with equal aplomb. Unlike Selene, she was not a great broodmare, but her daughters bred on to establish their own branch of the great La Troienne family.
Race record
22 starts, 15 wins, 0 seconds, 2 thirds, US$61,800
1935:
Honors
Assessments
Despite her lack of stakes engagements, Black Helen was rated second among American juvenile fillies of 1934 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
Black Helen stood a shade under 15 hands and weighed about 900 pounds at maturity. Although photographs suggest that she had her dam's light frame, her race record testifies that she inherited the durability of her sire Black Toney.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst, Black Helen produced 12 named foals. All 12 were starters and eight won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Black Helen was bred and owned by Idle Hour Stock Farm, the breeding and racing operation of Colonel Edward Riley Bradley. She was trained by Bill Hurley. Following Bradley's death in 1946, Black Helen passed to the ownership of Ogden Phipps. She died at Claiborne Farm in 1957.
Pedigree notes
Black Helen is outcrossed through five generations. She is a full sister to two-time American champion Bimelech and 1938 Selima Stakes winner Big Hurry and a half sister to 1946 Selima Stakes winner Bee Ann Mac (by Blue Larkspur) and stakes winner Biologist (by Bubbling Over). She is also a half sister to Baby League (by Bubbling Over) and Businesslike (by Blue Larkspur), both major stakes producers and ancestresses of major branches of La Troienne's family. La Troienne is a full sister to Lincolnshire Handicap winner Leonidas and a half sister to 1934 Prix de Diane (French Oaks) winner Adargatis, who was sired by Teddy's son Astérus.
Books and media
Black Helen is profiled in Chapter 6 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown; depicts Black Helen (#5) winning the 1935 American Derby. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: November 11, 2020
Race record
22 starts, 15 wins, 0 seconds, 2 thirds, US$61,800
1935:
- Won American Derby (USA, 10FD, Washington Park)
- Won Coaching Club American Oaks (USA, 11FD, Belmont)
- Won Maryland Handicap (USA, 10FD, Laurel)
- Won Florida Derby (USA, 9FD, Hialeah)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1991)
- American champion 3-year-old filly (1935)
Assessments
Despite her lack of stakes engagements, Black Helen was rated second among American juvenile fillies of 1934 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
Black Helen stood a shade under 15 hands and weighed about 900 pounds at maturity. Although photographs suggest that she had her dam's light frame, her race record testifies that she inherited the durability of her sire Black Toney.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst, Black Helen produced 12 named foals. All 12 were starters and eight won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Be Like Mom (1937, by Sickle) produced 1947 American champion 3-year-old filly and handicap female But Why Not, three-time champion steeplechaser Oedipus, and the good stakes filly Renew, all by Blue Larkspur. In turn, But Why Not produced the good stakes winner How Now (by Beau Max), while Renew is the second dam of 1966 Suburban Handicap winner Buffle and the fourth dam of 1984 American champion older female Princess Rooney. Be Like Mom is also the dam of Bim's Blossom (by Bimelech), second dam of three stakes winners including 1965 Del Mar Derby winner Hasty Trip.
- Broth (1938, by St. Germans) produced stakes winner Open Show (by Amphitheatre).
- In the Purple (1942, by Burgoo King) produced 1955 Benjamin Franklin Handicap winner Imagem (by Ace Admiral) and is the third dam of Grade 2 winner Sissy's Time.
- Resourceful (1949, by Shut Out) produced The Ibex (by Hill Prince), winner of the 1964 Seneca and Stymie handicaps. She is also the second dam of 1966 Ladies Handicap winner Destro and Grade 2 winner Tina's Ten and the third dam of French Group 2 winner Balompie, Grade 3 winner Air Display, French Group 3 winner Chem, and Australian Group 3 winner O'Deputy.
- Hula Hula (1952, by Polynesian) produced stakes winner Hula Bend (by Never Bend), dam in turn of 1985 George Ryder Stakes (AUS-G1) winner Hula Drum (by Marceau) and 1986 Doncaster Handicap (AUS-G1) winner Hula Chief (by Marceau) and second dam of multiple New Zealand Group 1 winner Love Dance and Australian Group 3 winner Morven Warrior. Hula Bend's stakes-placed full sister Never Hula is the second dam of 1994 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) winner Go for Gin, 1992 American champion older male Pleasant Tap, 1992 New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas (NZ-G1) winner Hulastrike, and Grade 2 winner Don't Say Halo. A third daughter of Hula Hula, Damascene (by Damascus), is the dam of Grade 2 winner Delicate Ice (by Icecapade).
- Choosy (1954, by My Request) produced stakes winner Round Pearl (by Round Table) and is the third dam of 1983 Canadian Horse of the Year Travelling Victor, 1997 Oak Leaf Stakes (USA-G1) winner Vivid Angel, and Grade 3 winners Electric Flash and Fine n' Majestic.
Connections
Black Helen was bred and owned by Idle Hour Stock Farm, the breeding and racing operation of Colonel Edward Riley Bradley. She was trained by Bill Hurley. Following Bradley's death in 1946, Black Helen passed to the ownership of Ogden Phipps. She died at Claiborne Farm in 1957.
Pedigree notes
Black Helen is outcrossed through five generations. She is a full sister to two-time American champion Bimelech and 1938 Selima Stakes winner Big Hurry and a half sister to 1946 Selima Stakes winner Bee Ann Mac (by Blue Larkspur) and stakes winner Biologist (by Bubbling Over). She is also a half sister to Baby League (by Bubbling Over) and Businesslike (by Blue Larkspur), both major stakes producers and ancestresses of major branches of La Troienne's family. La Troienne is a full sister to Lincolnshire Handicap winner Leonidas and a half sister to 1934 Prix de Diane (French Oaks) winner Adargatis, who was sired by Teddy's son Astérus.
Books and media
Black Helen is profiled in Chapter 6 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- The Florida Derby that Black Helen won was not the same race that goes by that name today at Gulfstream Park; staged at Hialeah, it became the Flamingo Stakes in 1937.
- Black Helen was only the second filly to win the American Derby. The first was Modesty, who won the inaugural running of the race in 1884.
- The Black Helen Handicap was run at Hialeah in 1941-2001 except in 2000, when it was run at Gulfstream Park. It was last run as a Grade 2 race for fillies and mares aged 3 and up over 9 furlongs on turf.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown; depicts Black Helen (#5) winning the 1935 American Derby. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: November 11, 2020