Courtly Dee (USA)
March 8, 1968 – August 1995
Never Bend (USA) x Tulle (USA), by War Admiral (USA)
American Family 4
"GENETIC GEM"
March 8, 1968 – August 1995
Never Bend (USA) x Tulle (USA), by War Admiral (USA)
American Family 4
"GENETIC GEM"
Courtly Dee never amounted to much as a race mare; “cheap speed” was about the best that could be said of her. It was as a broodmare that the well-bred filly was to excel. Named Broodmare of the Year by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association in 1983, Courtly Dee founded a branch of American Family 4 that continues to produce at the highest level.
Race record
33 starts, 4 wins, 4 seconds, 3 thirds, US$19,426
As an individual
A dark bay or brown mare of medium size, Courtly Dee was well-made and attractive but had a nervous temperament and usually became washy in the paddock prior to her races.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Courtly Dee produced 18 named foals, of which 17 started and 15 were winners. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Courtly Dee was bred in Kentucky by Donald Unger. A US$13,000 yearling at the 1969 Keeneland September sale, the filly did not start as a juvenile and was raced by Holmehill Stable as a 3-year-old under the care of trainer Budd Lepman. She won three minor races at 3 but was dropped into a US$15,000 claimer after failing to win in her first 11 starts at 4. She won the race but was claimed by Marty Fallon. After three more unsuccessful starts, Courtly Dee was sold to the partnership of Lee Eaton and Red Bull Stable (the nom de course of Leo Waldman), The partners bred seven foals from Courtly Dee, three of them stakes winners, before consigning the mare to the 1980 Keeneland November mixed sale. The partnership of Helen Groves (daughter of King Ranch founder Robert Kleberg, Jr.), Helen Alexander (Groves' daughter) and David Aykroyd went to US$900,000 to get Courtly Dee, then in foal to Alydar. Courtly Dee produced another 11 foals for her new owners before dying in her paddock at King Ranch in August 1995, three years after the birth of her last foal. She was buried at Helen Alexander's Middlebrook Farm near Lexington, Kentucky.
Pedigree notes
Courtly Dee is outcrossed through five generations. She is a half sister to Grade 2 winner Tom Tulle (by Tom Rolfe) and stakes winner Auhsan (by Nashua). She is also a half sister to Tutu Tulle (by Crazy Kid), dam of Grade 3 winner Tutu Tobago (by Play On). Tulle, in turn, is a half sister to 1955 Arlington Lassie Stakes winner Judy Rullah (by Nasrullah), dam of the good stakes winners Crème dela Crème (by Olympia), Rhubarb (by Barbizon) and Juke Joint (by Raise a Native), and to Princess Matoaka (by Princequillo), dam of 1968 Remsen Stakes winner Palauli (by Pago Pago) and second dam of four stakes winners including 1977 American champion older female Cascapedia.
Books and media
Courtly Dee is one of 24 important North American broodmares profiled in Edward L. Bowen's Matriarchs: Great Mares of the 20th Century (1999, 2000, Eclipse Press).
Last updated: January 7, 2024
Race record
33 starts, 4 wins, 4 seconds, 3 thirds, US$19,426
As an individual
A dark bay or brown mare of medium size, Courtly Dee was well-made and attractive but had a nervous temperament and usually became washy in the paddock prior to her races.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Courtly Dee produced 18 named foals, of which 17 started and 15 were winners. Her important foals are as follow:
- Ali Oop (1974, by Al Hattab) won the 1976 Sapling Stakes (USA-G1). He was a stud failure.
- Native Courier (1975, by Exclusive Native), a gelding, was a multiple Grade 3 winner on turf.
- Vireo (1976, by True Knight) produced the Turkoman gelding Chief Turko, winner of a non-blacktype stakes. More importantly, she produced stakes-placed Rush for Gold (by Quack), dam of Australian Group 2 winner Precious Glitter (by Danehill). In addition to Rush for Gold, Vireo produced Mistress True (by Master Derby), dam of Maryland-bred stakes winner Miss Angelina (by Brilliant Protege).
- Princess Oola (1978, by Al Hattab) was a Grade 3-placed stakes winner and produced 1993 Sydney Cup (AUS-G1) winner Azzaam (by Chief's Crown) and English stakes winner Balwa (by Danzig).
- Foreign Courier (1979, by Sir Ivor) never raced but produced 1986 Norcros July Cup (ENG-G1) winner Green Desert (by Danzig), an excellent sire. She is also the dam of listed stakes winner Yousefia (by Danzig), dam of English Group 3 winner Mythical Girl (by Gone West) and second dam of Japanese Group 2 winner Dark Shadow. Another daughter of Foreign Courier, True Joy (by Zilzal) is the dam of German stakes winner Nans Joy (by In the Wings) and Group 3-placed English stakes winner Eton Forever (by Oratorio). Foreign Courier is also the dam of Messenger Miss (by Danehill), dam of Australian stakes winner Werd.
- Embellished (1980, by Seattle Slew) is the dam of 1990 Delaware Handicap (USA-G2) winner Seattle Dawn (by Grey Dawn II) and listed stakes winners Island of Silver (by Forty Niner) and Truckee (by Danzig). In turn, Seattle Dawn is the dam of Grade 3 winner Gold Sunrise (by Forty Niner; second dam of English Group 2 winner Eastern Aria and three other stakes winners). Another daughter of Embellished, Vantive (by Mr. Prospector) is the dam of Group 2-placed English stakes winner Wasseema (by Danzig) and Grade 3-placed stakes winner Pitamakan (by Danzig) and is the second dam of Grade 3 winner Candy Man Rocket.
- Althea (1981, by Alydar) earned an Eclipse Award as 1983 American champion 2-year-old filly. She is the dam of 1994 Japanese champion 2-year-old filly Yamanin Paradise (by Danzig), 1990 Sheepshead Bay Handicap (USA-G3) winner Destiny Dance (by Nijinsky II), Grade 2-placed listed stakes winner Alyssum (by Storm Cat), and Grade 3-placed listed stakes winner Aurora (by Danzig). Through these daughters, she is the second dam of 1998 Super Derby (USA-G1) winner Arch, a good sire; 2004 Frizette Stakes (USA-G1) winner Balletto; 2010 Spinster Stakes (USA-G1) winner Acoma; Festival of Light, the 2001 Horse of the Year in the United Arab Emirates; Irish Group 3 winner Dearly; Japanese stakes winner Yamanin Seraphim; and listed stakes winner Alisios. In addition, Althea is the third dam of 2019 American champion female sprinter winner Covfefe, Japanese Group 2 winner Albiano and Grade 3 winners Aztec Sense, Campaign, and Frost Point.
- Barada (1982, by Damascus) failed to win but is the second dam of 2002 Satsuki Sho (Japanese Two Thousand Guineas) winner No Reason.
- Ketoh (1983, by Exclusive Native) won the 1985 Cowdin Stakes (USA-G1). He died as a 3-year-old.
- Maidee (1984, by Roberto) is the dam of Grade 2-placed listed stakes winner Defacto (by Diesis).
- Namaqua (1985, by Storm Bird) is the dam of 1993 Lamplighter Handicap (USA-G3) winner Namaqualand (by Mr. Prospector) and is third dam of Peruvian Group 3 winner Ancon.
- Aishah (1987, by Alydar) won the 1990 Rare Perfume Stakes (USA-G2). Her daughter Aldiza (by Storm Cat), winner of the 1998 Go for Wand Handicap (USA-G1), is the dam of Grade 3 winner Altesse (by A.P. Indy) and stakes winner Where's the Moon (by Malibu Moon) and is the second dam of Grade 3 winners Far From Over and Timeline. Aishah is also the dam of 2002 Molly Pitcher Handicap (USA-G2) winner Atelier (by Deputy Minister), stakes winner Arabis (by Deputy Minister), and Aurelia (by Danzig), dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Aurelia's Belle (by Lemon Drop Kid).
- Aquilegia (1989, by Alydar) won the 1993 New York Handicap (USA-G2) and 1994 Black Helen Handicap (USA-G3). She is the dam of 1998 TNT International July Stakes (ENG-G3) winner Bertolini (by Danzig) and stakes winners Amelia (by Dixieland Band; dam of Grade 2 winner Rainha da Bateria and Grade 3 winners Kindergarten Kid and Assateague) and Alchemilla (by Deputy Minister). Through her unraced daughter Alittlebitearly (by Thunder Gulch), she is the second dam of 2014 Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1) winner Bayern (by Offlee Wild).
- Twining (1991, by Forty Niner) won the 1994 Peter Pan Stakes (USA-G2) and Withers Stakes (USA-G2). He was a rather disappointing sire in Kentucky, Australia and Japan.
- Amizette (1992, by Forty Niner) failed to win but is the dam of 2008 Royal Whip Stakes (IRE-G2) winner King of Rome (by Montjeu) and 2011 Allaire du Pont Distaff Stakes (USA-G3) winner Super Espresso (by Medaglia d'Oro).
Connections
Courtly Dee was bred in Kentucky by Donald Unger. A US$13,000 yearling at the 1969 Keeneland September sale, the filly did not start as a juvenile and was raced by Holmehill Stable as a 3-year-old under the care of trainer Budd Lepman. She won three minor races at 3 but was dropped into a US$15,000 claimer after failing to win in her first 11 starts at 4. She won the race but was claimed by Marty Fallon. After three more unsuccessful starts, Courtly Dee was sold to the partnership of Lee Eaton and Red Bull Stable (the nom de course of Leo Waldman), The partners bred seven foals from Courtly Dee, three of them stakes winners, before consigning the mare to the 1980 Keeneland November mixed sale. The partnership of Helen Groves (daughter of King Ranch founder Robert Kleberg, Jr.), Helen Alexander (Groves' daughter) and David Aykroyd went to US$900,000 to get Courtly Dee, then in foal to Alydar. Courtly Dee produced another 11 foals for her new owners before dying in her paddock at King Ranch in August 1995, three years after the birth of her last foal. She was buried at Helen Alexander's Middlebrook Farm near Lexington, Kentucky.
Pedigree notes
Courtly Dee is outcrossed through five generations. She is a half sister to Grade 2 winner Tom Tulle (by Tom Rolfe) and stakes winner Auhsan (by Nashua). She is also a half sister to Tutu Tulle (by Crazy Kid), dam of Grade 3 winner Tutu Tobago (by Play On). Tulle, in turn, is a half sister to 1955 Arlington Lassie Stakes winner Judy Rullah (by Nasrullah), dam of the good stakes winners Crème dela Crème (by Olympia), Rhubarb (by Barbizon) and Juke Joint (by Raise a Native), and to Princess Matoaka (by Princequillo), dam of 1968 Remsen Stakes winner Palauli (by Pago Pago) and second dam of four stakes winners including 1977 American champion older female Cascapedia.
Books and media
Courtly Dee is one of 24 important North American broodmares profiled in Edward L. Bowen's Matriarchs: Great Mares of the 20th Century (1999, 2000, Eclipse Press).
Last updated: January 7, 2024