Chance Shot continued the success of the Fair Play/Rock Sand nick, as his second dam was a daughter of Rock Sand. He was not in the same league as the most famous product of that cross, Man o' War, but compiled an honorable record while coping with leg problems and was the third son of Fair Play to win the Belmont Stakes. He was a good but not exceptional sire and is perhaps best remembered today as the broodmare sire of the great gelding Armed.
Race record
22 starts, 8 wins, 7 seconds, 0 thirds, US$142,277
1926:
1927:
1928:
Assessments
Ranked third among American juvenile males of 1926 by The Blood-Horse.
Ranked second among American 3-year-old males of 1927 by The Blood-Horse.
Ranked fourth among American older males of 1928 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A bay horse, Chance Shot was powerfully made but hollow-backed. His juvenile campaign was cut short by leg problems, and his loss of form and brief campaign following his good second in the Dwyer Stakes at 3 suggests that something was not right with him then.
As a stallion
The Jockey Club's records credit Chance Shot with 164 winners (68.3%) and 22 stakes winners (9.2%) from 240 named foals.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
Per The Blood-Horse:
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Notable progeny
Chance Sun (USA), Fairy Chant (USA), Peace Chance (USA), Your Chance (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Armed (USA), Chevation (USA), Honeymoon (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Chance Shot was bred by August Belmont II at Nursery Stud. He was owned by Joseph Widener, who purchased Chance Shot as a yearling. He was trained by Pete Coyne. Chance Shot entered stud in 1930 at Widener's Elmendorf Stud as a replacement for his sire Fair Play, who had died in 1929. Chance Shot died in 1952 and was buried on land that is now part of Normandy Farm.
Pedigree notes
Chance Shot is inbred 5x5 to two-time English champion sire King Tom. He is a full brother to 1927 American Horse of the Year winner Chance Play, who led the American general sire list in 1935 and 1944, and to the good handicapper Pari-Mutuel. His dam Quelle Chance never raced, but her sire Ethelbert (by Eothen) was considered the best American 3-year-old male of 1899 and her dam, Qu'elle est Belle II, won the 1912 Prix de Diane (French Oaks) and produced American stakes winner Rurik (by Stefan the Great). Qu'elle est Belle II was conceived in the United States from the mating of Rock Sand and the English-bred Queen's Bower (by St. Florian) and was sent to France in utero.
Books and media
Chance Shot is profiled in Chapter 5 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Last updated: June 14, 2024
Race record
22 starts, 8 wins, 7 seconds, 0 thirds, US$142,277
1926:
- Won National Stallion Stakes (USA, 5FD, Belmont)
- Won Saratoga Special (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
1927:
- Won Withers Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA, 12FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Dwyer Stakes (USA, 12FD, Aqueduct)
1928:
- Won Merchants' and Citizens' Handicap (USA, 9.5FD, Saratoga)
- Won Saratoga Handicap (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Whitney Stakes (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA, 16FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Metropolitan Handicap (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Suburban Handicap (USA, 10FD, Belmont)
Assessments
Ranked third among American juvenile males of 1926 by The Blood-Horse.
Ranked second among American 3-year-old males of 1927 by The Blood-Horse.
Ranked fourth among American older males of 1928 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A bay horse, Chance Shot was powerfully made but hollow-backed. His juvenile campaign was cut short by leg problems, and his loss of form and brief campaign following his good second in the Dwyer Stakes at 3 suggests that something was not right with him then.
As a stallion
The Jockey Club's records credit Chance Shot with 164 winners (68.3%) and 22 stakes winners (9.2%) from 240 named foals.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- 2nd on the American general sire list in 1940.
- 5th on the American broodmare sire list in 1946; 6th in 1947.
- Led the American juvenile sire list in 1934.
Per The Blood-Horse:
- 2nd on the American general sire list in 1934 and 1940; 7th in 1941.
- 5th on the American broodmare sire list in 1946; 6th in 1947.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 2nd on the American general sire list in 1934 and 1940; 7th in 1941.
- 5th on the American broodmare sire list in 1946; 6th in 1947.
Notable progeny
Chance Sun (USA), Fairy Chant (USA), Peace Chance (USA), Your Chance (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Armed (USA), Chevation (USA), Honeymoon (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Chance Shot was bred by August Belmont II at Nursery Stud. He was owned by Joseph Widener, who purchased Chance Shot as a yearling. He was trained by Pete Coyne. Chance Shot entered stud in 1930 at Widener's Elmendorf Stud as a replacement for his sire Fair Play, who had died in 1929. Chance Shot died in 1952 and was buried on land that is now part of Normandy Farm.
Pedigree notes
Chance Shot is inbred 5x5 to two-time English champion sire King Tom. He is a full brother to 1927 American Horse of the Year winner Chance Play, who led the American general sire list in 1935 and 1944, and to the good handicapper Pari-Mutuel. His dam Quelle Chance never raced, but her sire Ethelbert (by Eothen) was considered the best American 3-year-old male of 1899 and her dam, Qu'elle est Belle II, won the 1912 Prix de Diane (French Oaks) and produced American stakes winner Rurik (by Stefan the Great). Qu'elle est Belle II was conceived in the United States from the mating of Rock Sand and the English-bred Queen's Bower (by St. Florian) and was sent to France in utero.
Books and media
Chance Shot is profiled in Chapter 5 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- Chance Shot was the last of five Belmont Stakes winners bred by August Belmont II. The others were Masterman (1902), Friar Rock (1916), Hourless (1917) and Man o' War (1920).
- Chance Shot was the first of three Belmont Stakes winners owned by Joseph Widener. The others were Hurryoff (1933) and Chance Shot's son Peace Chance (1934).
Last updated: June 14, 2024