Day Star (USA)
1875 – After August 1895
Star Davis (USA) x Squeeze-'em (USA), by Lexington (USA)
Family 4-m
1875 – After August 1895
Star Davis (USA) x Squeeze-'em (USA), by Lexington (USA)
Family 4-m
Himyar was a hot favorite for the 1878 Kentucky Derby, but it was Day Star who led from start to finish to pull a major upset and set a new stakes record into the bargain. Later events were to show that Himyar was much the superior horse. While Himyar went on to become an important sire, Day Star ran in steeplechase and hurdle races at ages 5 through 7 before drifting into obscurity as a stallion.
Race record
40 starts, 11 wins, 7 seconds, 5 thirds, US$11,380
1877:
1878:
1879:
As an individual
A short-coupled chestnut horse, Day Star stood 15.2½ hands when he won the Kentucky Derby. He had strong shoulders, hips and quarters and flat-boned legs. He was marked with white on his face and three legs and had gray hairs scattered on his flanks.
As a stallion
Clio Hogan's Index to Stakes Winners 1865-1967 does not credit Day Star with any stakes winners.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky at the Clays' estate, Ashland, Day Star was bred by John M. Clay, son of the famous politician Henry Clay. He was sold to T. J. Nichols for US$825 as a yearling and was trained by Lee Paul. By the beginning of his 5-year-old season, he had been sold to Charles Reed and was being trained by J. Lee as a steeplechase and hurdle racer. Day Star changed hands again in August 1881 when Reed auctioned off some of his stock; his new owner was Charles Ochs, who paid US$275 for him. By June of 1882, Day Star had become the property of George Sutcliff, who continued to campaign the horse over jumps. In April 1883, Day Star was being exhibited at a horse show in Hochelaga County, Quebec, as the property of Dr. R. T. Craik of Montreal, and he stood at stud for Dr. Craik until Craik dispersed his breeding stock in 1895. According to the Cincinnati Enquirer of August 4, 1895, Day Star was then given to Dan Payne of Ohio with the intent that he was to stand at Payne's father's farm the following year. Day Star's exact year of death is not known.
Pedigree notes
Day Star is inbred 2x4 to eight-time American champion sire Glencoe and 4x5 to both two-time English champion sire Emilus (the Derby Stakes winner of 1823) and the good north-country sire Tramp. He is also inbred 5x5 to the great 19th century sire Sir Archy. He is a half brother to Embrace (by St. Blaise), dam of 1906 Metropolitan Handicap winner Grapple (by Woolsthorpe) and juvenile stakes winner Holdfast (by Alloway). He is also a half brother to Sylph (by Glenelg), dam of 1887 New York Handicap winner Kaloolah (by Longfellow) and second dam of 1892 St. Leger Stakes (at Churchill Downs) winner Semper Rex and 1898 Sheepshead Bay Handicap winner Semper Ego.
Squeeze-'em, dam of Day Star, is a half sister to juvenile stakes winner Saucebox (by Star Davis), in turn the dam of 1893 United States Hotel Stakes winner Deception (by Deceiver). Squeeze-'em is also a half sister to Slyboots (by Rivoli), dam of 1878 Clark Stakes and St. Leger Handicap winner Leveler (by Level) and juvenile stakes winners Sly Dance (by War Dance) and Savanac (by Mortemer); second dam of the good juvenile Waltzer; and third dam of 1901 Alabama Stakes winner Morningside and the good stakes winner Previous. In addition, Squeeze-'em is a half sister to The Slashes (by Glenelg), dam of the good stakes winner Loki (by Logic).
Squeeze-'em and her sisters were produced from the Yorkshire mare Skedaddle, a half-sister to 1864 Travers Stakes and two-time Saratoga Cup winner Kentucky (by Lexington). Produced from the important 19th-century taproot mare Magnolia (by Glencoe), Skedaddle is also a half sister to Madeline (by Boston), dam of the great producer Maggie B. B. (by Australian).
Fun facts
Last updated: April 12, 2022
Race record
40 starts, 11 wins, 7 seconds, 5 thirds, US$11,380
1877:
- 2nd Sanford Stakes (USA, 8FD, Louisville)
1878:
- Won Kentucky Derby (USA, 12FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Blue Ribbon Stakes (USA, 12FD, Lexington)
- 2nd Clark Stakes (USA, 16FD, Churchill Downs; dead heat with Solicitor)
1879:
- 2nd Merchants' Stakes (USA, 9FD)
As an individual
A short-coupled chestnut horse, Day Star stood 15.2½ hands when he won the Kentucky Derby. He had strong shoulders, hips and quarters and flat-boned legs. He was marked with white on his face and three legs and had gray hairs scattered on his flanks.
As a stallion
Clio Hogan's Index to Stakes Winners 1865-1967 does not credit Day Star with any stakes winners.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky at the Clays' estate, Ashland, Day Star was bred by John M. Clay, son of the famous politician Henry Clay. He was sold to T. J. Nichols for US$825 as a yearling and was trained by Lee Paul. By the beginning of his 5-year-old season, he had been sold to Charles Reed and was being trained by J. Lee as a steeplechase and hurdle racer. Day Star changed hands again in August 1881 when Reed auctioned off some of his stock; his new owner was Charles Ochs, who paid US$275 for him. By June of 1882, Day Star had become the property of George Sutcliff, who continued to campaign the horse over jumps. In April 1883, Day Star was being exhibited at a horse show in Hochelaga County, Quebec, as the property of Dr. R. T. Craik of Montreal, and he stood at stud for Dr. Craik until Craik dispersed his breeding stock in 1895. According to the Cincinnati Enquirer of August 4, 1895, Day Star was then given to Dan Payne of Ohio with the intent that he was to stand at Payne's father's farm the following year. Day Star's exact year of death is not known.
Pedigree notes
Day Star is inbred 2x4 to eight-time American champion sire Glencoe and 4x5 to both two-time English champion sire Emilus (the Derby Stakes winner of 1823) and the good north-country sire Tramp. He is also inbred 5x5 to the great 19th century sire Sir Archy. He is a half brother to Embrace (by St. Blaise), dam of 1906 Metropolitan Handicap winner Grapple (by Woolsthorpe) and juvenile stakes winner Holdfast (by Alloway). He is also a half brother to Sylph (by Glenelg), dam of 1887 New York Handicap winner Kaloolah (by Longfellow) and second dam of 1892 St. Leger Stakes (at Churchill Downs) winner Semper Rex and 1898 Sheepshead Bay Handicap winner Semper Ego.
Squeeze-'em, dam of Day Star, is a half sister to juvenile stakes winner Saucebox (by Star Davis), in turn the dam of 1893 United States Hotel Stakes winner Deception (by Deceiver). Squeeze-'em is also a half sister to Slyboots (by Rivoli), dam of 1878 Clark Stakes and St. Leger Handicap winner Leveler (by Level) and juvenile stakes winners Sly Dance (by War Dance) and Savanac (by Mortemer); second dam of the good juvenile Waltzer; and third dam of 1901 Alabama Stakes winner Morningside and the good stakes winner Previous. In addition, Squeeze-'em is a half sister to The Slashes (by Glenelg), dam of the good stakes winner Loki (by Logic).
Squeeze-'em and her sisters were produced from the Yorkshire mare Skedaddle, a half-sister to 1864 Travers Stakes and two-time Saratoga Cup winner Kentucky (by Lexington). Produced from the important 19th-century taproot mare Magnolia (by Glencoe), Skedaddle is also a half sister to Madeline (by Boston), dam of the great producer Maggie B. B. (by Australian).
Fun facts
- Day Star was the second Kentucky Derby winner to be purchased by T. J. Nichols as a yearling but was the first to run in his colors as Nichols sold the 1876 victor, Vagrant, to William Astor just two weeks before the race.
- Day Star was the second of four maternal grandsons of Lexington to win the Kentucky Derby. The most successful broodmare sire in the history of the race, Lexington was also represented by Aristides (1875), Hindoo (1881) and Ben Ali (1886).
- Day Star was the first Kentucky Derby winner to stand in Canada.
Last updated: April 12, 2022