Just below the top tier as a racehorse and sire, the cleverly named Chieftain was speedy, consistent and durable. While he failed to establish his own branch of the Bold Ruler male line, he consistently threw progeny in his own image, contributing a dash of speed to pedigrees.
Race record
36 starts, 13 wins, 10 seconds, 6 thirds, US$405,256
1963:
1964:
1965:
Assessments
Rated at 124 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American 2-year-old males of 1963, 2 pounds below co-champion and highweight Raise a Native, 1 pound below the other co-champion, Hurry to Market, and tied for third with Golden Ruler and Roman Brother.
Rated at 110 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1964, 18 pounds below champion Northern Dancer.
Rated at 129 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American sprinters of 1965, 5 pounds below champion Affectionately.
As an individual
A muscular brown horse with a strong shoulder and hip, Chieftain was durable with a good turn of speed. He preferred to run on or near the front and could stretch his speed up to 9 furlongs.
As a stallion
The Jockey Club credits Chieftain with 319 winners (65.0%) and 43 stakes winners (8.8%) from 491 named foals.
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
Cascapedia (USA), Fit to Fight (USA), Lucky Lucky Lucky (USA), Silver Series (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Dearly Precious (USA), Dr. Carter (USA), Flying Julia (USA), Hawkster (USA), Ruhlmann (USA), Southern Truce (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Chieftain was bred and owned by Raymond Guest, who raced the colt under the nom de course "Powhatan." He was trained by Frank Whiteley, Jr. Chieftain entered stud in Florida in 1966 at Mare Haven Farm near Ocala. When Mare Haven Farm took over what had been Danada Farm near Lexington (itself previously part of Darby Dan Farm), Chieftain moved there and stood there for the remainder of his stud career. He was buried at Mare Haven after his death in 1982.
Pedigree notes
Chieftain is inbred 5x5 to two-time English leading sire Phalaris and three-time leading English sire Blandford. Produced from 1965 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Pocahontas, he is a half brother to 1965 American champion 3-year-old male Tom Rolfe (by Ribot) and to 1968 Blandford Stakes winner Wenona (by Larkspur), dam of Irish stakes winner Opachisco (by In Reality), second dam of 1983 Norwegian champion 3-year-old male What Nonsense, and third dam of 1997 Puerto Rican Horse of the Year Lightning Al, 2004 Peruvian champion 2-year-old filly La Foquita, New Zealand Group 2 winner Sculptor, and Australian Group 3 winner Slightly Sweet.
Chieftain is also a half brother to Group 3-placed English stakes winner Ahdeek (by Reindeer) and to 1974 Prix Vanteaux (FR-G3) winner Lady Rebecca (by Sir Ivor), dam of Italian Group 3 winner and important European sire Alzao (by Lyphard) and third dam of 1997 Santa Monica Handicap (USA-G1) winner Toga Toga Toga, 2007 VRC Oaks (AUS-G1) winner Arapaho Miss, Canadian Grade 2 winner Minakshi, and New Zealand Group 2 winner Real Success. In addition, Chieftain is a half brother to stakes producers Celia (by Swaps), Wampum (by Warfare), and Santa Paula II (by Santa Claus).
Winner of the 1957 Schuylerville Stakes, Pocahontas is the only stakes winner from three foals out of 1951 Coaching Club American Oaks winner How. Sired by Princequillo from the Sickle mare The Squaw II, How is a full sister to 1954 Coaching Club American Oaks winner Cherokee Rose, second dam of 1971 American Horse of the Year Ack Ack and 1974 Futurity Stakes (USA-G1) winner Just the Time, and to 1957 Spinaway Stakes winner Sequoia, dam of 1973 Santa Anita Derby (USA-G1) winner Sham (by Pretense).
Last updated: August 11, 2023
Race record
36 starts, 13 wins, 10 seconds, 6 thirds, US$405,256
1963:
- Won Cowdin Stakes (first division) (USA, 7FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Tremont Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Tyro Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Monmouth)
- 2nd Arlington-Washington Futurity (USA, 7FD, Arlington Park)
- 2nd Hyde Park Stakes (USA, 6FD, Arlington Park)
- 2nd Youthful Stakes (USA, 5FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Great American Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Aqueduct)
1964:
- Won Governor's Gold Cup (USA, 7FD, Bowie)
1965:
- Won Arlington Handicap (USA, 9FD, Arlington Park)
- Won Laurel Turf Cup Handicap (USA, 9FT, Laurel)
- Won Capitol Handicap (USA, 6FD, Laurel)
- 2nd Metropolitan Handicap (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Washington Park Handicap (USA, 8FD, Arlington Park)
- 2nd Roseben Handicap (USA, 7FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Toboggan Handicap (USA, 6FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Longfellow Handicap (USA, 8.5FT, Monmouth)
- 3rd United Nations Handicap (USA, 9.5FT, Atlantic City)
- 3rd Carter Handicap (USA, 7FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Spring Handicap (USA, 8FD, Monmouth)
- Also set a track record of 1:21 for 7 furlongs on dirt at Arlington Park
Assessments
Rated at 124 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American 2-year-old males of 1963, 2 pounds below co-champion and highweight Raise a Native, 1 pound below the other co-champion, Hurry to Market, and tied for third with Golden Ruler and Roman Brother.
Rated at 110 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1964, 18 pounds below champion Northern Dancer.
Rated at 129 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American sprinters of 1965, 5 pounds below champion Affectionately.
As an individual
A muscular brown horse with a strong shoulder and hip, Chieftain was durable with a good turn of speed. He preferred to run on or near the front and could stretch his speed up to 9 furlongs.
As a stallion
The Jockey Club credits Chieftain with 319 winners (65.0%) and 43 stakes winners (8.8%) from 491 named foals.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- 6th on the American general sire list in 1973; 10th in 1977.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 6th on the American general sire list in 1973; 10th in 1977.
- 6th on the American broodmare sire list in 1972
Notable progeny
Cascapedia (USA), Fit to Fight (USA), Lucky Lucky Lucky (USA), Silver Series (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Dearly Precious (USA), Dr. Carter (USA), Flying Julia (USA), Hawkster (USA), Ruhlmann (USA), Southern Truce (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Chieftain was bred and owned by Raymond Guest, who raced the colt under the nom de course "Powhatan." He was trained by Frank Whiteley, Jr. Chieftain entered stud in Florida in 1966 at Mare Haven Farm near Ocala. When Mare Haven Farm took over what had been Danada Farm near Lexington (itself previously part of Darby Dan Farm), Chieftain moved there and stood there for the remainder of his stud career. He was buried at Mare Haven after his death in 1982.
Pedigree notes
Chieftain is inbred 5x5 to two-time English leading sire Phalaris and three-time leading English sire Blandford. Produced from 1965 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Pocahontas, he is a half brother to 1965 American champion 3-year-old male Tom Rolfe (by Ribot) and to 1968 Blandford Stakes winner Wenona (by Larkspur), dam of Irish stakes winner Opachisco (by In Reality), second dam of 1983 Norwegian champion 3-year-old male What Nonsense, and third dam of 1997 Puerto Rican Horse of the Year Lightning Al, 2004 Peruvian champion 2-year-old filly La Foquita, New Zealand Group 2 winner Sculptor, and Australian Group 3 winner Slightly Sweet.
Chieftain is also a half brother to Group 3-placed English stakes winner Ahdeek (by Reindeer) and to 1974 Prix Vanteaux (FR-G3) winner Lady Rebecca (by Sir Ivor), dam of Italian Group 3 winner and important European sire Alzao (by Lyphard) and third dam of 1997 Santa Monica Handicap (USA-G1) winner Toga Toga Toga, 2007 VRC Oaks (AUS-G1) winner Arapaho Miss, Canadian Grade 2 winner Minakshi, and New Zealand Group 2 winner Real Success. In addition, Chieftain is a half brother to stakes producers Celia (by Swaps), Wampum (by Warfare), and Santa Paula II (by Santa Claus).
Winner of the 1957 Schuylerville Stakes, Pocahontas is the only stakes winner from three foals out of 1951 Coaching Club American Oaks winner How. Sired by Princequillo from the Sickle mare The Squaw II, How is a full sister to 1954 Coaching Club American Oaks winner Cherokee Rose, second dam of 1971 American Horse of the Year Ack Ack and 1974 Futurity Stakes (USA-G1) winner Just the Time, and to 1957 Spinaway Stakes winner Sequoia, dam of 1973 Santa Anita Derby (USA-G1) winner Sham (by Pretense).
Last updated: August 11, 2023