Blue Norther (USA)
May 3, 1961 – June 9, 1972
Windy City II (GB) x Perfect Gem (USA), by Royal Gem II (AUS)
Family 3-n
May 3, 1961 – June 9, 1972
Windy City II (GB) x Perfect Gem (USA), by Royal Gem II (AUS)
Family 3-n
Blue Norther proved one of the best fillies of her crop in spite of unsoundness which ended her career early; had she been sounder, she might well have been a champion. She was a moderately successful broodmare but had no long-term impact.
Race record
17 starts, 10 wins, 3 seconds, 0 thirds, US$136,397
1963:
1964:
Assessments
Rated at 114 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1963, 1 pound below co-champions Castle Forbes and Tosmah.
Rated at 128 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1964, 2 pounds below champion Tosmah.
As an individual
A roughly made, powerful chestnut standing 16 hands, Blue Norther had a deep girth and a strong, straight hind leg. She has “shocking bad” forelegs in the words of Daily Racing Form writer Charles Hatton and had to be trained and campaigned carefully at 3 after developing a ringbone on her right foreleg and osselets in her ankles. She was retired after five starts at 3 due to a chipped sesamoid, probably incurred during her final race, the Kentucky Oaks.
As a producer
Blue Norther produced five named foals, of which four started and three won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Bred by W. P. Little, Blue Norther raced for Mrs. William R. Hawn, who purchased her for US$10,000 from the 1962 Keeneland Summer yearling sale. She was trained by Wally Dunn. She died of an intestinal torsion at Claiborne Farm in June 1972.
Pedigree notes
Blue Norther's pedigree is outcrossed through five generations. Sired by 1951 English and Irish champion 2-year-old male Windy City II, she is a half sister to Impressionist (by Brookfield), dam of 1966 Philadelphia Turf Handicap winner Imasmartee (by Amerigo), and to Little Norther (by Crozier), dam of stakes winner Fleeting North (by Fleet Nasrullah) and third dam of 2005 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (USA-G1) winner Pampered Princess. Another half sister to Blue Norther, Glittering Stone (by Sailor), is the dam of stakes winner Peaslee (by Purse Finder). In addition, Blue Norther is a half sister to Save a Minute (by Bold Hour), dam of multiple stakes winner One More Bid (by Personality). Finally, Blue Norther is a half sister to Starlet O'Hara (by Silent Screen), dam of Belgian stakes winner Beldale Bid (by Raise a Bid)
Blue Norther and her siblings are out of Perfect Gem, a full sister to 1953 Kentucky Derby winner Dark Star. Perfect Gem, in turn, is out of Isolde, whose half sister Mission Play (by Chance Play) is the third dam of two-time Mexican champion Congress Flier.
Isolde, in turn, is out of 1934 Kentucky Oaks winner Fiji, also the winner of the 1934 Latonia Derby and Latonia Oaks. A daughter of 1927 Preakness Stakes winner Bostonian, Fiji is out of the Ormondale mare O Girl and is a half sister to stakes winner Alsang (by Kai-Sang). The female line traces back to the important 19th-century matron Castagnette.
Books and media
Blue Norther is profiled in Chapter 9 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1913-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Last updated: May 6, 2023
Race record
17 starts, 10 wins, 3 seconds, 0 thirds, US$136,397
1963:
- Won Junior Miss Stakes (USA, 6FD, Del Mar)
- 2nd Gardenia Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Garden State)
1964:
- Won Kentucky Oaks (USA, 8.5FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Ashland Stakes (USA, 6FD, Keeneland)
- Won Santa Susana Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
Assessments
Rated at 114 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1963, 1 pound below co-champions Castle Forbes and Tosmah.
Rated at 128 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1964, 2 pounds below champion Tosmah.
As an individual
A roughly made, powerful chestnut standing 16 hands, Blue Norther had a deep girth and a strong, straight hind leg. She has “shocking bad” forelegs in the words of Daily Racing Form writer Charles Hatton and had to be trained and campaigned carefully at 3 after developing a ringbone on her right foreleg and osselets in her ankles. She was retired after five starts at 3 due to a chipped sesamoid, probably incurred during her final race, the Kentucky Oaks.
As a producer
Blue Norther produced five named foals, of which four started and three won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Beau Buck (1971, by Buckpasser) won three stakes races including the 1976 edition of La Coupe (FR-G3). He was of no importance as a sire.
- Miss Blue Norther (1972, by Pronto) placed twice in seven starts. She produced stakes winner Blue Guy (by Summer Time Guy) and the stakes-winning hurdler Mr. Fabuleux (by Le Fabuleux).
Connections
Bred by W. P. Little, Blue Norther raced for Mrs. William R. Hawn, who purchased her for US$10,000 from the 1962 Keeneland Summer yearling sale. She was trained by Wally Dunn. She died of an intestinal torsion at Claiborne Farm in June 1972.
Pedigree notes
Blue Norther's pedigree is outcrossed through five generations. Sired by 1951 English and Irish champion 2-year-old male Windy City II, she is a half sister to Impressionist (by Brookfield), dam of 1966 Philadelphia Turf Handicap winner Imasmartee (by Amerigo), and to Little Norther (by Crozier), dam of stakes winner Fleeting North (by Fleet Nasrullah) and third dam of 2005 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (USA-G1) winner Pampered Princess. Another half sister to Blue Norther, Glittering Stone (by Sailor), is the dam of stakes winner Peaslee (by Purse Finder). In addition, Blue Norther is a half sister to Save a Minute (by Bold Hour), dam of multiple stakes winner One More Bid (by Personality). Finally, Blue Norther is a half sister to Starlet O'Hara (by Silent Screen), dam of Belgian stakes winner Beldale Bid (by Raise a Bid)
Blue Norther and her siblings are out of Perfect Gem, a full sister to 1953 Kentucky Derby winner Dark Star. Perfect Gem, in turn, is out of Isolde, whose half sister Mission Play (by Chance Play) is the third dam of two-time Mexican champion Congress Flier.
Isolde, in turn, is out of 1934 Kentucky Oaks winner Fiji, also the winner of the 1934 Latonia Derby and Latonia Oaks. A daughter of 1927 Preakness Stakes winner Bostonian, Fiji is out of the Ormondale mare O Girl and is a half sister to stakes winner Alsang (by Kai-Sang). The female line traces back to the important 19th-century matron Castagnette.
Books and media
Blue Norther is profiled in Chapter 9 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1913-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- A “blue norther” is a fast-moving cold front that causes temperatures to drop dramatically. It is usually accompanied by a deep blue-black sky and strong winds.
- Blue Norther's dam Perfect Gem lived up to her name, as she won the blue ribbon in a broodmare class at a horse show in Maryland.
- The Blue Norther Stakes is a one-mile turf race for 2-year-old fillies at Santa Anita.
Last updated: May 6, 2023