Capote (USA)
March 25, 1984 – August 23, 2007
Seattle Slew (USA) x Too Bald (USA), by Bald Eagle (USA)
Family 21-a
March 25, 1984 – August 23, 2007
Seattle Slew (USA) x Too Bald (USA), by Bald Eagle (USA)
Family 21-a
Capote followed in his sire's hoof prints by taking an Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old male after a brief campaign, but he was unable to reproduce that form as a 3-year-old after becoming ill over the winter. His stud career likewise got off to a quick start—he was the American champion freshman sire of 1991—without ever quite delivering on that promise afterward, although he did became a good stallion. While his son Boston Harbor was also a champion juvenile and a fairly useful sire, Capote's primary legacy to the Thoroughbred has been through his daughters.
Race record
10 starts, 3 wins, 0 seconds, 1 third, US$714,470
1986:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 2-year-old male (1986)
Assessments
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1986, 3 pounds above second-rated Gulch, Polish Navy and Temperate Sil (tie).
As an individual
A dark bay or brown horse, Capote stood 16.2 hands. He was a powerful, well-balanced animal of medium build with a good shoulder, short cannons and a strong hind leg. He could be faulted for somewhat short pasterns and was slightly over at the knee. He had a long racing stride. He had a tough disposition and was strong-willed; bearing watching at all times, he was one of the most dangerous stallions in Kentucky during his breeding career.
As a stallion
Capote led the American freshman sire list in 1991 according to both The Blood-Horse and Thoroughbred Times. According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Capote sired 512 winners (60.5%) and 61 stakes winners (7.2%) from 846 foals of racing age; The Blood-Horse credits Capote with 63 stakes winners (7.4%).
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Notable progeny
Agincourt (USA), Basim (USA), Boston Harbor (USA), Capdiva (USA), Capote Belle (USA), Matty G. (USA), Surfing Home (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Dixie Union (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Capote was bred by Franklin Groves' North Ridge Farm. A US$800,000 yearling at the 1985 Keeneland July sale, he was owned by Lloyd French Jr., Barry Beal, and Eugene Klein. He was trained by D. Wayne Lukas. Capote entered stud in Kentucky in 1988 at Calumet Farm (which had acquired a 50 percent interest in him) and moved to Three Chimneys Farm in 1992 after Calumet's financial collapse; at that time, Calumet's interest in the stallion was acquired by Morven Stud. He was pensioned in 2003 due to neurological problems caused by spinal cord compression and was humanely destroyed in August 2007 due to a worsening of his condition.
Pedigree notes
Capote is inbred 5x5x3x4 to Nasrullah. He is a half brother to multiple Grade/Group 1 winner Exceller (by Vaguely Noble), Grade 3 winner Vaguely Hidden (by Vaguely Noble), and stakes winners Baldski (by Nijinsky II; a good sire in Florida) and American Standard (by In Reality). He is also a half brother to stakes-placed My Song for You (by Seattle Slew's son Seattle Song), dam of Grade 3 winner Minister's Melody (by Deputy Minister) and second dam of 2006 Wood Memorial Stakes (USA-G1) winner Bob and John, and to Periwig (by Buckpasser), second dam of 1985 Canadian champion older female Lake Country and third dam of 1995 Venezuelan champion 2-year-old filly Bonne Femme. In addition, he is a half brother to Blazon (by Ack Ack), second dam of Italian Group 2 winner Stanott and multiple Grade 3 winner D'Hallevant and third dam of multiple Irish Group 3 winner Cheyenne Star, and to Bald Facts (by In Reality), dam of Grade 3 winner General Royal (by A.P. Indy) and listed stakes winner Fortunate Facts (by Sir Ivor). Finally, he is a half brother to Mauna Loa (by Hawaii), third dam of Grade 3 winner Senbei.
Capote's dam Too Bald is the 1986 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. A brilliantly fast sprinter in her own right, she is a half sister to multiple stakes winner Turn to Talent (by Turn-to), whose stakes-winning daughter Hay Patcher (by Hoist the Flag) is the dam of multiple Grade 1 winner and 1994 American champion sire Broad Brush (by Ack Ack) and the good Maryland sire Hay Halo (by Halo) and is the second dam of English Group 2 winner Mull of Kintyre. Turn to Talent is also the dam of Winter Sparkle (by Northjet), dam of Grade 2 winner Williamstown (by Seattle Slew).
The next dam in Capote's tail-female line, Hidden Talent (by Dark Star), won a division of the 1959 Kentucky Oaks and is a full sister to 1959 Matron Stakes winner Heavenly Body, dam of French Group 3 winner A Thousand Stars (by Hoist the Flag) and second dam of English Group 2 winners Made of Gold, Thawakib, and Celestial Storm; multiple French Group 3 winner Snow Day; and Grade 3 winner Henschel. Hidden Talent is also a full sister to Dangerous Star, dam of multiple stakes winner Allegria de Deanna (by A Gambler) and stakes winner Perilous Star (by Top Avenger) and second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Lady Tak. In addition, Hidden Talent is a half sister to His Lady Fair (by Tom Fool), dam of 1984 Demoiselle Stakes (USA-G1) winner Diplomette (by Sr. Diplomat), and to Lost Love (by Dedicate), dam of Mexican stakes winner Esplendoroso (by Assagai).
Fun facts
Last updated: October 5, 2024
Race record
10 starts, 3 wins, 0 seconds, 1 third, US$714,470
1986:
- Won Norfolk Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Breeders' Cup Juvenile (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 2-year-old male (1986)
Assessments
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1986, 3 pounds above second-rated Gulch, Polish Navy and Temperate Sil (tie).
As an individual
A dark bay or brown horse, Capote stood 16.2 hands. He was a powerful, well-balanced animal of medium build with a good shoulder, short cannons and a strong hind leg. He could be faulted for somewhat short pasterns and was slightly over at the knee. He had a long racing stride. He had a tough disposition and was strong-willed; bearing watching at all times, he was one of the most dangerous stallions in Kentucky during his breeding career.
As a stallion
Capote led the American freshman sire list in 1991 according to both The Blood-Horse and Thoroughbred Times. According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Capote sired 512 winners (60.5%) and 61 stakes winners (7.2%) from 846 foals of racing age; The Blood-Horse credits Capote with 63 stakes winners (7.4%).
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- Led the US juvenile sire list in 1991 and 1996.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 6th on the American general sire list in 1996.
Notable progeny
Agincourt (USA), Basim (USA), Boston Harbor (USA), Capdiva (USA), Capote Belle (USA), Matty G. (USA), Surfing Home (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Dixie Union (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Capote was bred by Franklin Groves' North Ridge Farm. A US$800,000 yearling at the 1985 Keeneland July sale, he was owned by Lloyd French Jr., Barry Beal, and Eugene Klein. He was trained by D. Wayne Lukas. Capote entered stud in Kentucky in 1988 at Calumet Farm (which had acquired a 50 percent interest in him) and moved to Three Chimneys Farm in 1992 after Calumet's financial collapse; at that time, Calumet's interest in the stallion was acquired by Morven Stud. He was pensioned in 2003 due to neurological problems caused by spinal cord compression and was humanely destroyed in August 2007 due to a worsening of his condition.
Pedigree notes
Capote is inbred 5x5x3x4 to Nasrullah. He is a half brother to multiple Grade/Group 1 winner Exceller (by Vaguely Noble), Grade 3 winner Vaguely Hidden (by Vaguely Noble), and stakes winners Baldski (by Nijinsky II; a good sire in Florida) and American Standard (by In Reality). He is also a half brother to stakes-placed My Song for You (by Seattle Slew's son Seattle Song), dam of Grade 3 winner Minister's Melody (by Deputy Minister) and second dam of 2006 Wood Memorial Stakes (USA-G1) winner Bob and John, and to Periwig (by Buckpasser), second dam of 1985 Canadian champion older female Lake Country and third dam of 1995 Venezuelan champion 2-year-old filly Bonne Femme. In addition, he is a half brother to Blazon (by Ack Ack), second dam of Italian Group 2 winner Stanott and multiple Grade 3 winner D'Hallevant and third dam of multiple Irish Group 3 winner Cheyenne Star, and to Bald Facts (by In Reality), dam of Grade 3 winner General Royal (by A.P. Indy) and listed stakes winner Fortunate Facts (by Sir Ivor). Finally, he is a half brother to Mauna Loa (by Hawaii), third dam of Grade 3 winner Senbei.
Capote's dam Too Bald is the 1986 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. A brilliantly fast sprinter in her own right, she is a half sister to multiple stakes winner Turn to Talent (by Turn-to), whose stakes-winning daughter Hay Patcher (by Hoist the Flag) is the dam of multiple Grade 1 winner and 1994 American champion sire Broad Brush (by Ack Ack) and the good Maryland sire Hay Halo (by Halo) and is the second dam of English Group 2 winner Mull of Kintyre. Turn to Talent is also the dam of Winter Sparkle (by Northjet), dam of Grade 2 winner Williamstown (by Seattle Slew).
The next dam in Capote's tail-female line, Hidden Talent (by Dark Star), won a division of the 1959 Kentucky Oaks and is a full sister to 1959 Matron Stakes winner Heavenly Body, dam of French Group 3 winner A Thousand Stars (by Hoist the Flag) and second dam of English Group 2 winners Made of Gold, Thawakib, and Celestial Storm; multiple French Group 3 winner Snow Day; and Grade 3 winner Henschel. Hidden Talent is also a full sister to Dangerous Star, dam of multiple stakes winner Allegria de Deanna (by A Gambler) and stakes winner Perilous Star (by Top Avenger) and second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Lady Tak. In addition, Hidden Talent is a half sister to His Lady Fair (by Tom Fool), dam of 1984 Demoiselle Stakes (USA-G1) winner Diplomette (by Sr. Diplomat), and to Lost Love (by Dedicate), dam of Mexican stakes winner Esplendoroso (by Assagai).
Fun facts
- Capote was named for novelist Truman Capote, best known as the author of the true crime book In Cold Blood.
Last updated: October 5, 2024