At the time she raced, Claiborne’s A. B. “Bull” Hancock rated Doubledogdare as the best filly he had ever bred or raced. Determined and consistent, she proved herself of championship caliber at distances up to 9 furlongs, although she was probably more at home over shorter trips. After splitting honors with Nasrina at 2, she earned a title outright on the strength of her late-season form against older fillies and mares. Her broodmare career was hampered by frequent barrenness and slips.
Race record
25 starts, 13 wins, 6 seconds, 1 third, US$258,206
1955:
1956:
Honors
Assessments
Co-highweighted with Nasrina at 116 pounds among juvenile fillies on the Experimental Free Handicap for American 2-year-olds of 1955, 2 pounds above second-rated filly Dark Charger.
Highweighted at 123 pounds among 3-year-old fillies on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American fillies and mares of 1956, 3 pounds below champion older female Blue Sparkler but 3 pounds above second-rated 3-year-old filly Levee.
As an individual
A scopy dark brown filly of great quality, Doubledogdare had a good shoulder, a long pelvis, powerful hindquarters, and excellent muscling about the stifle and gaskin; her joints were clean, though she could be faulted for having her hocks somewhat out behind her. She also had a rather long back and cannons. She stood 16.1 hands at the conclusion of her 3-year-old season. She was extremely determined in a drive but had a pleasant disposition.
As a producer
Doubledogdare produced five named foals, of which four started and two won. Her only foal of any significance was her daughter Full of Courage (1968, by Bold Ruler), who was unplaced in three tries but produced 1984 Prix Maurice de Nieuil (FR-G2) winner Full of Stars (by Tennyson) and Group 3-placed French stakes winner Four Spades II (by Sassafras).
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Doubledogdare was bred and owned by Claiborne Farm. She was trained by Moody Jolley. Retired to Claiborne as a broodmare, she died in 1974.
Pedigree notes
Doubledogdare is inbred 5x5 to two-time American Horse of the Year Commando. She is a full sister to stakes winner Top Double and a half sister to stakes winner Illuminable (by Sun Again). She is also a half sister to Flaring Top (by Menow), dam of Canadian stakes winners Top Tourn (by Tournoi), Quintain (by Tournoi), Flashing Top (by Ménétrier), and Flaming Page (by Bull Page). The last-named filly was the Canadian champion 3-year-old filly of 1962 after winning the Canadian Oaks and the Queen’s Plate and finishing second in the Kentucky Oaks; she is the dam of 1970 English Triple Crown winner and English Horse of the Year Nijinsky II and 1970 Irish champion 2-year-old male Minsky and the second dam of 1977 English Horse of the Year The Minstrel and French Group 3 winner Far North. Flaring Top is also the dam of stakes producers Gleam (by Tournoi), Flaming Wind (by Windfields), Merry and Bright (by Ménétrier), Flaming Victress (by Victoria Park), and Friendly Relations (by Nearctic). Returning to Doubledogdare, she is also a half sister to Way to Go (by Olympia), dam of stakes winners Toward (by Bagdad) and Transportation (by Sir Gaylord).
Doubledogdare and her siblings are out of Flaming Top, a half sister to 1937 Widener Challenge Cup Handicap winner Columbiana (by Petee-Wrack; dam of the good stakes winners Ocean Wave and Free America, both by Blenheim II) and to stakes winner Red Vulcan (by Pompey). Flaming Top is also a half sister to Red Top (by Sir Gallahad III), dam of multiple Canadian stakes winner Kentario (by Whirlaway), and to Snow Flame (by Blenheim II), dam of stakes winners Early England (by Etonian) and Anglo (by Etonian).
The next dam in Doubledogdare’s tail-female line, Firetop (by Man o’ War), was produced from the Ultimus mare Summit and is a half sister to 1936 American champion 2-year-old filly Apogee (by Pharamond II), dam of 1946 Carter Handicap winner Flood Town (by Johnstown) and juvenile stakes winners Acoma (by Johnstown) and Sofarsogood (by Revoked). Firetop is also a half sister to 1934 Schuylerville Stakes winner Uppermost (by Cohort), dam of 1944 Canadian champion 2-year-old male and 1945 King’s Plate winner Uttermost (by Soleil du Midi) and Canadian stakes winners Sayoonara (by Sweepster) and Ascendant (by Filisteo); to Scally (by Brown Prince II), dam of juvenile stakes winner Puchero (by Pot Au Feu); and to Maharanee (by Brown Prince II), dam of 1934 Alabama Stakes winner Hindu Queen (by Sickle) and multiple stakes winner Clarify (by Chatterton).
Fun facts
Last updated: December 29, 2022
Race record
25 starts, 13 wins, 6 seconds, 1 third, US$258,206
1955:
- Won National Stallion Stakes (Fillies) (USA, 5FD, Belmont)
- Won Colleen Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Monmouth)
- Won Alcibiades Stakes (USA, 7FD, Keeneland)
- Won Matron Stakes (USA, 6FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Spinaway Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Fashion Stakes (USA, 4.5FD, Belmont)
1956:
- Won Ashland Stakes (USA, 6FD, Keeneland)
- Won Oaks Prep (USA, 6FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Coronet Stakes (USA, 6FD, Balmoral)
- Won Falls City Handicap (USA, 8FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Spinster Stakes (USA, 9FD, Keeneland)
- 2nd Misty Isle Handicap (USA, 7FD, Washington Park)
- 2nd Cleopatra Handicap (USA, 8FD, Arlington Park)
- 2nd Kentucky Oaks (USA, 8.5FD, Churchill Downs)
- 3rd Arlington Classic (USA, 8FD, Arlington Park)
Honors
- American co-champion 2-year-old filly (1955)
- American champion 3-year-old filly (1956)
Assessments
Co-highweighted with Nasrina at 116 pounds among juvenile fillies on the Experimental Free Handicap for American 2-year-olds of 1955, 2 pounds above second-rated filly Dark Charger.
Highweighted at 123 pounds among 3-year-old fillies on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American fillies and mares of 1956, 3 pounds below champion older female Blue Sparkler but 3 pounds above second-rated 3-year-old filly Levee.
As an individual
A scopy dark brown filly of great quality, Doubledogdare had a good shoulder, a long pelvis, powerful hindquarters, and excellent muscling about the stifle and gaskin; her joints were clean, though she could be faulted for having her hocks somewhat out behind her. She also had a rather long back and cannons. She stood 16.1 hands at the conclusion of her 3-year-old season. She was extremely determined in a drive but had a pleasant disposition.
As a producer
Doubledogdare produced five named foals, of which four started and two won. Her only foal of any significance was her daughter Full of Courage (1968, by Bold Ruler), who was unplaced in three tries but produced 1984 Prix Maurice de Nieuil (FR-G2) winner Full of Stars (by Tennyson) and Group 3-placed French stakes winner Four Spades II (by Sassafras).
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Doubledogdare was bred and owned by Claiborne Farm. She was trained by Moody Jolley. Retired to Claiborne as a broodmare, she died in 1974.
Pedigree notes
Doubledogdare is inbred 5x5 to two-time American Horse of the Year Commando. She is a full sister to stakes winner Top Double and a half sister to stakes winner Illuminable (by Sun Again). She is also a half sister to Flaring Top (by Menow), dam of Canadian stakes winners Top Tourn (by Tournoi), Quintain (by Tournoi), Flashing Top (by Ménétrier), and Flaming Page (by Bull Page). The last-named filly was the Canadian champion 3-year-old filly of 1962 after winning the Canadian Oaks and the Queen’s Plate and finishing second in the Kentucky Oaks; she is the dam of 1970 English Triple Crown winner and English Horse of the Year Nijinsky II and 1970 Irish champion 2-year-old male Minsky and the second dam of 1977 English Horse of the Year The Minstrel and French Group 3 winner Far North. Flaring Top is also the dam of stakes producers Gleam (by Tournoi), Flaming Wind (by Windfields), Merry and Bright (by Ménétrier), Flaming Victress (by Victoria Park), and Friendly Relations (by Nearctic). Returning to Doubledogdare, she is also a half sister to Way to Go (by Olympia), dam of stakes winners Toward (by Bagdad) and Transportation (by Sir Gaylord).
Doubledogdare and her siblings are out of Flaming Top, a half sister to 1937 Widener Challenge Cup Handicap winner Columbiana (by Petee-Wrack; dam of the good stakes winners Ocean Wave and Free America, both by Blenheim II) and to stakes winner Red Vulcan (by Pompey). Flaming Top is also a half sister to Red Top (by Sir Gallahad III), dam of multiple Canadian stakes winner Kentario (by Whirlaway), and to Snow Flame (by Blenheim II), dam of stakes winners Early England (by Etonian) and Anglo (by Etonian).
The next dam in Doubledogdare’s tail-female line, Firetop (by Man o’ War), was produced from the Ultimus mare Summit and is a half sister to 1936 American champion 2-year-old filly Apogee (by Pharamond II), dam of 1946 Carter Handicap winner Flood Town (by Johnstown) and juvenile stakes winners Acoma (by Johnstown) and Sofarsogood (by Revoked). Firetop is also a half sister to 1934 Schuylerville Stakes winner Uppermost (by Cohort), dam of 1944 Canadian champion 2-year-old male and 1945 King’s Plate winner Uttermost (by Soleil du Midi) and Canadian stakes winners Sayoonara (by Sweepster) and Ascendant (by Filisteo); to Scally (by Brown Prince II), dam of juvenile stakes winner Puchero (by Pot Au Feu); and to Maharanee (by Brown Prince II), dam of 1934 Alabama Stakes winner Hindu Queen (by Sickle) and multiple stakes winner Clarify (by Chatterton).
Fun facts
- Doubledogdare’s name came from the expression “I double dog dare you” (essentially equivalent to “put up or shut up!”) which was frequently used by Bull Hancock’s son Seth, then a young boy.
- Doubledogdare was the first filly to sweep all three of Keeneland’s biggest races for fillies and mares: the Alcibiades (2-year-olds), the Ashland Stakes (3-year-olds), and the Spinster Stakes (3 and up). The other fillies to have won all three races are Optimistic Gal and Take Charge Lady.
- Doubledogdare is the namesake for the Doubledogdare Stakes, an event for older fillies and mares at Keeneland.
Last updated: December 29, 2022