While Dr. Freeland came from the same family as the great Colin, he was not nearly as talented a racehorse. He was far more durable, however, making 139 starts before his busy racing career ended. He was of no importance as a sire.
Race record
139 starts, 25 wins, 15 seconds, 25 thirds, US$152,335
1928:
1929:
1930:
1931:
1932:
1933:
Assessments
Ranked seventh among American 2-year-old males of 1928 by The Blood-Horse.
Ranked fourth among American 3-year-old males of 1929 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A tough, durable chestnut horse; no further information available.
As a stallion
Records kept by The Jockey Club credit Dr. Freeland with 53 winners (61.0%) and 0 stakes winners (0%) from 87 named foals. His progeny tended to be hard-knocking and durable but lacked class. His last known foals were born in 1944.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Dr. Freeland was bred and owned by Walter J. Salmon, Sr., owner of Mereworth Farm. On November 29, 1931, the New York Times announced Dr. Freeland's sale to Bennet Creech for US$15,000. While owned by Salmon, Dr. Freeland was trained by future Hall of Fame trainer Thomas Healey. The horse was later trained by Patrick F. Dwyer. He was ridden to his Preakness win by Louis Schaefer.
Pedigree notes
Dr. Freeland is inbred 3x4 to 1893 English Triple Crown winner Isinglass, 4x5x5 to Isinglass' sire Isonomy (a two-time Ascot Gold Cup winner) and 5x5 to 1867 Derby Stakes winner and seven-time English champion sire Hermit. Part of this inbreeding comes through Star Shoot and the mare Hecuba, both found in the third generation of Dr. Freeland's pedigree and both bred on the same Isonomy/Hermit cross.
Produced from the Celt mare Toddle, Dr. Freeland is a half brother to 1931 Sanford Stakes winner Mad Pursuit (by Mad Hatter) and 1932 Pimlico Futurity winner Swivel (by Swift and Sure). Swivel, in turn, produced 1956 Santa Susana Stakes winner Dupatta (by First Fiddle; dam of juvenile stakes winner Patta Silver, by Silver State), multiple minor stakes winner Swiv (by Ariel), and multiple stakes producer Harlyn (by Ariel).
Toddle was easily the most important produce of the Star Shoot mare Fox Trot, whose dam Passan (by Hamburg) is a half sister to the great Colin (by Commando) and to Verdure (by Commando's son Peter Pan), dam of 1920 Metropolitan Handicap winner Wildair (by Broomstick). Passan, an excellent broodmare, produced five stakes winners including 1918 Spinaway Stakes winner Passing Shower (by Ormondale) and 1924 Metropolitan Handicap winner Laurano (by Peter Pan).
Books and media
Dr. Freeland is profiled in Chapter 5 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: May 19, 2022
Race record
139 starts, 25 wins, 15 seconds, 25 thirds, US$152,335
1928:
- Won Nursery Handicap (USA, 6FD, Belmont)
- Won Whirl Stakes (USA)
- 2nd Grand Union Hotel Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Pimlico Futurity (USA, 8FD, Pimlico)
- 3rd Spalding Lowe Jenkins Handicap (USA, 8FD, Laurel)
1929:
- Won Preakness Stakes (USA, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- 2nd Thanksgiving Handicap (USA, 9FD, Bowie)
- 2nd Baltimore Handicap (USA, 8f+70yD, Pimlico)
- 3rd Saranac Handicap (USA, 8FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Scarsdale Handicap (USA, 8f+70yD, Empire City)
1930:
- 3rd Twin City Handicap (USA, 10FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Havre de Grace Cup Handicap (USA, 9FD, HDG)
- 3rd Merchants' and Citizens' Handicap (USA, 9.5FD, Saratoga)
1931:
- Won Baltimore Handicap (USA, 9FD, Pimlico)
- Won Southern Maryland Handicap (USA)
- Won Speculation Claiming Handicap (USA)
- Won Yorktown Handicap (USA, 9FD, Empire City)
- 2nd Washington Handicap (USA, 10FD, Laurel)
- 2nd Wilson Stakes (USA, 8FD, Saratoga)
1932:
- Won San Diego Handicap (USA)
- Won New Year's Claiming Handicap (USA)
- 3rd Crystal Lake Claiming Stakes (USA)
- 3rd Robert M. Sweitzer Handicap (USA)
- 3rd Stars and Stripes Handicap (USA, 9FD, Arlington Park)
1933:
- 3rd Agua Caliente Christmas Handicap (MEX, Agua Caliente)
Assessments
Ranked seventh among American 2-year-old males of 1928 by The Blood-Horse.
Ranked fourth among American 3-year-old males of 1929 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A tough, durable chestnut horse; no further information available.
As a stallion
Records kept by The Jockey Club credit Dr. Freeland with 53 winners (61.0%) and 0 stakes winners (0%) from 87 named foals. His progeny tended to be hard-knocking and durable but lacked class. His last known foals were born in 1944.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Dr. Freeland was bred and owned by Walter J. Salmon, Sr., owner of Mereworth Farm. On November 29, 1931, the New York Times announced Dr. Freeland's sale to Bennet Creech for US$15,000. While owned by Salmon, Dr. Freeland was trained by future Hall of Fame trainer Thomas Healey. The horse was later trained by Patrick F. Dwyer. He was ridden to his Preakness win by Louis Schaefer.
Pedigree notes
Dr. Freeland is inbred 3x4 to 1893 English Triple Crown winner Isinglass, 4x5x5 to Isinglass' sire Isonomy (a two-time Ascot Gold Cup winner) and 5x5 to 1867 Derby Stakes winner and seven-time English champion sire Hermit. Part of this inbreeding comes through Star Shoot and the mare Hecuba, both found in the third generation of Dr. Freeland's pedigree and both bred on the same Isonomy/Hermit cross.
Produced from the Celt mare Toddle, Dr. Freeland is a half brother to 1931 Sanford Stakes winner Mad Pursuit (by Mad Hatter) and 1932 Pimlico Futurity winner Swivel (by Swift and Sure). Swivel, in turn, produced 1956 Santa Susana Stakes winner Dupatta (by First Fiddle; dam of juvenile stakes winner Patta Silver, by Silver State), multiple minor stakes winner Swiv (by Ariel), and multiple stakes producer Harlyn (by Ariel).
Toddle was easily the most important produce of the Star Shoot mare Fox Trot, whose dam Passan (by Hamburg) is a half sister to the great Colin (by Commando) and to Verdure (by Commando's son Peter Pan), dam of 1920 Metropolitan Handicap winner Wildair (by Broomstick). Passan, an excellent broodmare, produced five stakes winners including 1918 Spinaway Stakes winner Passing Shower (by Ormondale) and 1924 Metropolitan Handicap winner Laurano (by Peter Pan).
Books and media
Dr. Freeland is profiled in Chapter 5 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- Dr. Freeland was named for New York City banker Dr. John Freeland.
- Dr. Freeland was the third Preakness winner for Walter Salmon, who also owned 1923 winner Vigil and 1926 winner Display. All three were trained by Thomas Healey, who also trained 1901 winner The Parader and 1922 winner Pillory.
- Dr. Freeland's jockey, Don Schaefer, later became the first man to both ride and train Preakness winners when he conditioned Challedon to a popular Preakness victory in 1939.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: May 19, 2022