Bold Reasoning (USA)
April 29, 1968 – April 24, 1975
Boldnesian (USA) x Reason to Earn (USA), by Hail to Reason (USA)
Family 1-k
April 29, 1968 – April 24, 1975
Boldnesian (USA) x Reason to Earn (USA), by Hail to Reason (USA)
Family 1-k
Like his sire, Boldnesian, Bold Reasoning was talented but not very sound. Retired to stud with little fanfare, he begot only 64 foals before his premature death. Those foals proved him a great loss to the American breeding industry as the 10 stakes winners among them included the great Seattle Slew, winner of the American Triple Crown in 1977, and Super Concorde, the best French juvenile male of 1977. Bold Reasoning’s male line through Seattle Slew and his champion son A.P. Indy is now the only major tail-male conduit back to eight-time American champion sire Bold Ruler in North America, while a German branch extending through Super Concorde’s son Big Shuffle and grandson Areion maintains the Bold Ruler line in Europe.
Race record
12 starts, 8 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, US$189,564
1971:
1972:
Assessments
Rated at 122 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1971, 4 pounds below co-highweights Canonero II (the official divisional champion) and Bold Reason.
Rated at 119 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1972, 7 pounds below champion Autobiography.
As an individual
A tall, elegant, powerful colt with a muscular body, Bold Reasoning was a free-running sort who preferred to be on or close to the lead. He had a fluid, efficient racing action. He was troubled by throat and knee problems that hampered his racing career.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Bold Reasoning sired 48 winners (75.0%) and 10 stakes winners (15.6%) from 64 named foals of racing age.
Notable progeny
Seattle Slew (USA), Super Concorde (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Allez Milord (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Florida, Bold Reasoning was bred by Leon Savage. He was owned by Cosgrove Stable and was trained by Nick Gonzales. After being purchased by Nelson Bunker Hunt in 1972, he entered stud in Kentucky in 1973 at Claiborne Farm. He fractured his pelvis in April 1975 and was humanely destroyed April 24 due to complications of colic. He was buried at Claiborne.
Pedigree notes
Bold Reasoning is inbred 5x5 to the speedy Phalaris, the English champion sire of 1925 and 1928. He is a full brother to Reason to Please, dam of multiple stakes winner Lituya Bay (by Empery) and, through her, the second dam of 2004 Clement L. Hirsch Memorial Turf Championship Stakes (USA-G1) winner Star over the Bay and Grade 3 winner Lord of the Bay (by Lord Avie). Bold Reasoning is also a full brother to Kanska, second dam of Grade 3 winner Jade’s Revenge. In addition, Bold Reasoning is a half brother to Pure Reason (by Chieftain), dam of multiple stakes winner Tarr Road (by Grey Dawn II).
Bold Reasoning and his siblings are out of the winner Reason to Earn, whose stakes-placed half sister Tacking (by Turn-to) is the dam of 1968 San Bernardino Handicap winner Tiltable (by Round Table). Reason to Earn is also a half sister to Luffly (by Cap Size), dam of juvenile stakes winner Watusi Willie (by Zulu Tom).
Reason to Earn, in turn, is out of Sailing Home (by 1943 Vosburgh Handicap and 1944 Carter Handicap winner Wait a Bit), a half sister to 1944 Belmont Stakes winner Bounding Home, 1941 Adirondack Handicap winner Romping Home, and 1944 New Rochelle Handicap winner Breezing Home. All three were sired by Wait a Bit’s sire Espino (by Negofol), winner of the 1926 Saratoga Cup and Lawrence Realization. Produced from Marching Home (John P. Grier x Warrior Lass, by Man o’ War), Sailing Home is also a half sister to stakes-placed Leading Home (by Bull Lea), second dam of 1976 Vanity Handicap (USA-G1) winner Miss Toshiba and 1968 Astarita Stakes winner Dihela.
Books and media
Footage of Bold Reasoning’s win in the 1971 Withers Stakes can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW2AK30Pa1s.
Fun facts
Last updated: November 1, 2025
Race record
12 starts, 8 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, US$189,564
1971:
- Won Jersey Derby (USA, 9FD, Garden State)
- Won Withers Stakes (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
1972:
- 2nd Metropolitan Handicap (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- Also set a new Belmont track record of 1:08-4/5 for 6 furlongs
Assessments
Rated at 122 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1971, 4 pounds below co-highweights Canonero II (the official divisional champion) and Bold Reason.
Rated at 119 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1972, 7 pounds below champion Autobiography.
As an individual
A tall, elegant, powerful colt with a muscular body, Bold Reasoning was a free-running sort who preferred to be on or close to the lead. He had a fluid, efficient racing action. He was troubled by throat and knee problems that hampered his racing career.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Bold Reasoning sired 48 winners (75.0%) and 10 stakes winners (15.6%) from 64 named foals of racing age.
Notable progeny
Seattle Slew (USA), Super Concorde (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Allez Milord (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Florida, Bold Reasoning was bred by Leon Savage. He was owned by Cosgrove Stable and was trained by Nick Gonzales. After being purchased by Nelson Bunker Hunt in 1972, he entered stud in Kentucky in 1973 at Claiborne Farm. He fractured his pelvis in April 1975 and was humanely destroyed April 24 due to complications of colic. He was buried at Claiborne.
Pedigree notes
Bold Reasoning is inbred 5x5 to the speedy Phalaris, the English champion sire of 1925 and 1928. He is a full brother to Reason to Please, dam of multiple stakes winner Lituya Bay (by Empery) and, through her, the second dam of 2004 Clement L. Hirsch Memorial Turf Championship Stakes (USA-G1) winner Star over the Bay and Grade 3 winner Lord of the Bay (by Lord Avie). Bold Reasoning is also a full brother to Kanska, second dam of Grade 3 winner Jade’s Revenge. In addition, Bold Reasoning is a half brother to Pure Reason (by Chieftain), dam of multiple stakes winner Tarr Road (by Grey Dawn II).
Bold Reasoning and his siblings are out of the winner Reason to Earn, whose stakes-placed half sister Tacking (by Turn-to) is the dam of 1968 San Bernardino Handicap winner Tiltable (by Round Table). Reason to Earn is also a half sister to Luffly (by Cap Size), dam of juvenile stakes winner Watusi Willie (by Zulu Tom).
Reason to Earn, in turn, is out of Sailing Home (by 1943 Vosburgh Handicap and 1944 Carter Handicap winner Wait a Bit), a half sister to 1944 Belmont Stakes winner Bounding Home, 1941 Adirondack Handicap winner Romping Home, and 1944 New Rochelle Handicap winner Breezing Home. All three were sired by Wait a Bit’s sire Espino (by Negofol), winner of the 1926 Saratoga Cup and Lawrence Realization. Produced from Marching Home (John P. Grier x Warrior Lass, by Man o’ War), Sailing Home is also a half sister to stakes-placed Leading Home (by Bull Lea), second dam of 1976 Vanity Handicap (USA-G1) winner Miss Toshiba and 1968 Astarita Stakes winner Dihela.
Books and media
Footage of Bold Reasoning’s win in the 1971 Withers Stakes can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW2AK30Pa1s.
Fun facts
- Bold Reasoning was the first stallion retired to Claiborne Farm following the death of A. B. “Bull” Hancock and helped to make Seth Hancock’s reputation as a first-rate stallion manager in his own right.
- According to Claiborne Farm’s website, My Charmer, the dam of Seattle Slew, was only the third mare covered by Bold Reasoning. She was recruited for Bold Reasoning’s book after her owner, Ben Castleman, sought to have her mated to another Claiborne stallion, Jacinto, but could not do so because Jacinto’s book was already full. Seth Hancock recommended Bold Reasoning, who was from the same sire line (in human terms, he was a “nephew” to Jacinto), as a substitute in Castleman’s price range.
Last updated: November 1, 2025