Cormorant (USA)
February 14, 1997 – May 4, 2007
His Majesty (USA) x Song Sparrow (USA), by Tudor Minstrel (GB)
Family 5-j
February 14, 1997 – May 4, 2007
His Majesty (USA) x Song Sparrow (USA), by Tudor Minstrel (GB)
Family 5-j
A good, consistent colt with a fine turn of speed, Cormorant earned Grade 1 brackets in the 1977 Jersey Derby (USA-G1) but proved no match for Seattle Slew when going up against that champion in the Preakness Stakes (USA-G1). A good regional sire in New York, his primary claims to wider fame are as the sire of 1992 American champion 3-year-old filly Saratoga Dew and 1994 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) winner Go for Gin.
Race record
12 starts, 8 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, US$243,174
1976:
1977:
Assessments
Rated at 113 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1976, 13 pounds below champion Seattle Slew.
Rated at 125 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1977, 11 pounds below divisional champion and Horse of the Year Seattle Slew.
As an individual
A bay horse, Cormorant was a well-balanced animal of intermediate type. He had plenty of natural speed but could be rated and was determined in a drive. His training was hampered in his 3-year-old season by his contracting a virus after his win in the Gotham Stakes, and a knee fracture suffered in the Ohio Derby brought his racing career to an end. An attempted comeback in 1978 was stopped by a bowed tendon in March.
As a stallion
The Jockey Club credits Cormorant with 351 winners (66.1%) and 46 stakes winners (8.7%) from 531 named foals of racing age. His runners were generally tough, game, and consistent.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form):
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Go for Gin (USA), Grecian Flight (USA), Saratoga Dew (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Silver Train (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Cormorant was bred by Dr. Ben Roach. A US$16,000 yearling purchase, he was owned by Charles T. Berry Jr. and was trained by James P. Simpson. He was regularly ridden by Danny Wright. He was retired from racing in the summer of 1977 due to a fracture of the right knee. He entered stud in Virginina in 1978 at Virginia Stallion Station near Middleburg. In 1980, he moved to New York after being purchased by Tom Martin and stood at Schoenborn Brothers Farm and later at Bennett Holl Farm. Following his pensioning in 2000, Cormorant remained at Waldorf Farm, North Chatham, NY, until his death from old age on May 4, 2007. He was buried next to the grave of 1990 Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) winner Go and Go (IRE).
Pedigree notes
Cormorant is inbred 4x4 to six-time English champion sire Hyperion, winner of the 1933 Derby Stakes and St. Leger Stakes. He is a full brother to 1984 Shuvee Handicap (USA-G2) winner Queen of Song, dam of stakes winner Ladyago (by Northern Dancer), second dam of 2011 Matron Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Emulous and French Group 3 winner First Sitting, and third dam of multiple Group 1 winner Bluestocking, 2025 Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Qirat, Irish Group 2 winner Brooch, and Grade/Group 3 winners Alounak and Spring Meadow.
Song Sparrow, the dam of Cormorant, ran second in the 1969 Alcibiades Stakes. She is a half sister to 1973 Kentucky Oaks (USA-G2) winner Bag of Tunes (by Herbager), dam of 1988 Lancashire Oaks (USA-G3) winner Andaleeb (by Lyphard); second dam of 2010/11 Brazilian champion older female Inchatillon, 2006 Woodbine Mile Stakes (CAN-G1) winner Becrux, 1993 Shadwell Stud Cheveley Park Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Prophecy, and Brazilian Group 3 winner Deuteronomio; and third dam of multiple Australian Group 1 winner Foreteller, 2008 Stradbroke Handicap (NZ-G1) winner Mr. Baritone, Brazilian Group 2 winner Safe Port, French Group 2 winner Modern Look, and multiple Brazilian Group 3 winner High Chris. Song Sparrow is also a half sister to 1978 Santa Maria Handicap (USA-G2) winner Swingtime (by Buckpasser), dam of Grade 3 winner Festive (by Damascus) and second dam of English Group 3 winner Applaud. In addition, Song Sparrow is a half sister to Noah's Acky Astra (by Ack Ack), dam of Brazilian listed stakes winner Noah's Town (by Top Ville), and to Worthy of Note (by Buckpasser), dam of stakes winner Spender (by Key to the Mint).
Song Sparrow and her siblings were produced from juvenile stakes winner Swoon's Tune (Swoon’s Son x Recess, by Count Fleet), a half sister to 1969 Gulfstream Park Handicap winner Court Recess (by Traffic Judge), to 1962 Ramona Handicap winner Fun House (by The Doge), and to multiple stakes winner Chop House (by Porterhouse). Fun House, a first-class broodmare, produced six stakes winners including 1974 Hollywood Invitational Turf Handicap (USA-G1) winner Court Ruling (by Traffic Judge) and Good Manners (by Nashua), the Argentine champion sire of 1979. Swoon's Tune is also a half sister to Momamomu (by Mount Marcy), dam of 1971 Clark Handicap winner Sado (by Mr. Brick); second dam of eight stakes winners including 1985 American champion 3-year-old filly Mom's Command, 1971 Wood Memorial Stakes winner Good Behaving and Grade 3 winner Misty Native; and third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner I'm Splendid and Grade 2 winner Jonesboro.
Fun facts
Last updated: September 24, 2025
Race record
12 starts, 8 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, US$243,174
1976:
- Won Marlboro Nursery Stakes (Colts & Geldings division) (USA, 7FD, Bowie)
1977:
- Won Jersey Derby (USA-G1, 9FD, Garden State)
- Won Gotham Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Bay Shore Stakes (USA-G3, 6FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Iroquois Handicap (USA, 6FD, Garden State)
- 2nd Ohio Derby (USA-G2, 9FD, Thistledown)
- 2nd Withers Stakes (USA-G2, 8FD, Aqueduct)
Assessments
Rated at 113 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1976, 13 pounds below champion Seattle Slew.
Rated at 125 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1977, 11 pounds below divisional champion and Horse of the Year Seattle Slew.
As an individual
A bay horse, Cormorant was a well-balanced animal of intermediate type. He had plenty of natural speed but could be rated and was determined in a drive. His training was hampered in his 3-year-old season by his contracting a virus after his win in the Gotham Stakes, and a knee fracture suffered in the Ohio Derby brought his racing career to an end. An attempted comeback in 1978 was stopped by a bowed tendon in March.
As a stallion
The Jockey Club credits Cormorant with 351 winners (66.1%) and 46 stakes winners (8.7%) from 531 named foals of racing age. His runners were generally tough, game, and consistent.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form):
- 6th on the American general sire list in 1994.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 10th on the American general sire list in 1994.
Go for Gin (USA), Grecian Flight (USA), Saratoga Dew (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Silver Train (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Cormorant was bred by Dr. Ben Roach. A US$16,000 yearling purchase, he was owned by Charles T. Berry Jr. and was trained by James P. Simpson. He was regularly ridden by Danny Wright. He was retired from racing in the summer of 1977 due to a fracture of the right knee. He entered stud in Virginina in 1978 at Virginia Stallion Station near Middleburg. In 1980, he moved to New York after being purchased by Tom Martin and stood at Schoenborn Brothers Farm and later at Bennett Holl Farm. Following his pensioning in 2000, Cormorant remained at Waldorf Farm, North Chatham, NY, until his death from old age on May 4, 2007. He was buried next to the grave of 1990 Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) winner Go and Go (IRE).
Pedigree notes
Cormorant is inbred 4x4 to six-time English champion sire Hyperion, winner of the 1933 Derby Stakes and St. Leger Stakes. He is a full brother to 1984 Shuvee Handicap (USA-G2) winner Queen of Song, dam of stakes winner Ladyago (by Northern Dancer), second dam of 2011 Matron Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Emulous and French Group 3 winner First Sitting, and third dam of multiple Group 1 winner Bluestocking, 2025 Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Qirat, Irish Group 2 winner Brooch, and Grade/Group 3 winners Alounak and Spring Meadow.
Song Sparrow, the dam of Cormorant, ran second in the 1969 Alcibiades Stakes. She is a half sister to 1973 Kentucky Oaks (USA-G2) winner Bag of Tunes (by Herbager), dam of 1988 Lancashire Oaks (USA-G3) winner Andaleeb (by Lyphard); second dam of 2010/11 Brazilian champion older female Inchatillon, 2006 Woodbine Mile Stakes (CAN-G1) winner Becrux, 1993 Shadwell Stud Cheveley Park Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Prophecy, and Brazilian Group 3 winner Deuteronomio; and third dam of multiple Australian Group 1 winner Foreteller, 2008 Stradbroke Handicap (NZ-G1) winner Mr. Baritone, Brazilian Group 2 winner Safe Port, French Group 2 winner Modern Look, and multiple Brazilian Group 3 winner High Chris. Song Sparrow is also a half sister to 1978 Santa Maria Handicap (USA-G2) winner Swingtime (by Buckpasser), dam of Grade 3 winner Festive (by Damascus) and second dam of English Group 3 winner Applaud. In addition, Song Sparrow is a half sister to Noah's Acky Astra (by Ack Ack), dam of Brazilian listed stakes winner Noah's Town (by Top Ville), and to Worthy of Note (by Buckpasser), dam of stakes winner Spender (by Key to the Mint).
Song Sparrow and her siblings were produced from juvenile stakes winner Swoon's Tune (Swoon’s Son x Recess, by Count Fleet), a half sister to 1969 Gulfstream Park Handicap winner Court Recess (by Traffic Judge), to 1962 Ramona Handicap winner Fun House (by The Doge), and to multiple stakes winner Chop House (by Porterhouse). Fun House, a first-class broodmare, produced six stakes winners including 1974 Hollywood Invitational Turf Handicap (USA-G1) winner Court Ruling (by Traffic Judge) and Good Manners (by Nashua), the Argentine champion sire of 1979. Swoon's Tune is also a half sister to Momamomu (by Mount Marcy), dam of 1971 Clark Handicap winner Sado (by Mr. Brick); second dam of eight stakes winners including 1985 American champion 3-year-old filly Mom's Command, 1971 Wood Memorial Stakes winner Good Behaving and Grade 3 winner Misty Native; and third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner I'm Splendid and Grade 2 winner Jonesboro.
Fun facts
- Cormorant was named after a racing boat owned by Charles Berry’s wife, Bette. The boat, in turn, was named for the cormorant, a name applied to a number of bird species from the family Phalacrocoracidae. These medium- to large-sized coastal birds are known for their skill in diving after fish and were traditionally used for catching fish in many ancient cultures; the practice continues in China and Japan. In Norwegian tradition, cormorants are the spirits of those lost at sea who return in avian form to visit their loved ones.
Last updated: September 24, 2025