Bred on the same Bull Lea/Blue Larkspur cross as Twilight Tear, Durazna shared honors as American champion 2-year-old filly with the Calumet filly but was a much different type, being speedier and more precocious. Quick enough to defeat American co-champion 2-year-old male Occupy twice during their mutual juvenile season, Durazna dropped out of sight at 3 but came back at 4 to win three stakes, including a defeat of 1945 American Horse of the Year Busher (albeit while receiving 12 pounds of actual weight from the 3-year-old). She was rather disappointing during her own broodmare career but has since been redeemed as a producer by the quality of her descendants in further generations.
Race record
19 starts, 9 wins, 2 seconds, 4 thirds, US$70,201
1943:
1945:
Honors
American co-champion 2-year-old filly (1943)
Assessments
Co-highweighted with Miss Keeneland among juvenile fillies on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1943.
As an individual
A bay mare, Durazna had the well-rounded, good-bodied build common to the progeny of Bull Lea, with good muscling extending into her forearms and gaskins. She was slightly sickle-hocked (also typical of Bull Lea's progeny) but had a good, well-laid shoulder and short cannons. She won in the slop and in mud but was not really suited to deep and tiring tracks.
As a producer
A Reine-de-Course as designated by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Durazna produced only five foals. All started and four were winners. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Durazna was bred and owned by Brownell Combs, who bred all her foals either alone or in partnership with Leslie Combs II. Durazna was trained by John M. Goode.
Pedigree notes
Durazna is inbred 5x5 to nine-time English/Irish champion sire St. Simon, an undefeated champion on the race course. She is a full sister to Dragona, dam of 1962 Santa Anita Derby winner Royal Attack (by Royal Charger), and a half sister to 1942 Kentucky Oaks winner Miss Dogwood (by Bull Lea's sire Bull Dog), dam of 1948 Princess Pat Stakes winner Sequence (by Count Fleet), 1951 Sheridan Handicap winner Bernwood (by Bernborough), and 1953 Modesty Handicap winner Bella Figura (by Count Fleet); second dam of 1967 Carter Handicap winner Tumiga, 1963 Salvator Mile winner Dedimoud, 1958 San Felipe Handicap winner Carrier X, and two-time Gallorette Handicap winner Gold Digger; and third dam of 1973 American Derby (USA-G1) winner Bemo, Grade/Group 3 winners Sham's Princess and Bombay Duck, and the great sire Mr. Prospector. Durazna is also a half sister to Crepe Myrtle (by Equipoise), dam of 1948 American champion 2-year-old filly Myrtle Charm (by Alsab), third dam of French Group 3 winner Raise a Lady and ancestress of 1977 American Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew. In addition, Durazna is a half sister to Moonflower (by Bull Dog), dam of 1957 Alcibiades Stakes and Durazna Stakes winner Moon Glory (by Norseman; dam of 1966 Will Rogers Stakes winner Aqua Vite, by Nashua) and third dam of 1979 Widener Handicap (USA-G1) winner Jumping Hill; to Spring Beauty (by Sir Gallahad III), dam of 1964 Pretty Polly Stakes winner Young Man's Fancy (by Alycidon) and third dam of 1971 Kentucky Oaks winner Silent Beauty and Venezuelan Group 3 winner Tres Jolie; and to Gallawood (by Sir Gallahad III), second dam of 1963 Sapling Stakes and 1964 Withers Stakes winner Mr. Brick and third dam of 1984 Western Australian Oaks (AUS-G1) winner True Devotion and Grade 3 winner Wardlaw.
Durazna and her sisters are out of 1936 American champion sprinter and handicap female Myrtlewood, a full sister to Daintiness, dam of 1942 Hopeful Stakes winner Devil's Thumb (by Grand Slam) and to Bluelarks, second dam of 1960 Lakes and Flowers Handicap winner Aliwar and third dam of 1965 Wood Memorial Stakes winner Flag Raiser and 1968 Del Mar Derby winner Prince Hemp. Myrtlewood is also a half sister to juvenile stakes winners Pairbypair (by Noah) and Crowning Glory (by Black Toney) and to 1927 Test Stakes winner Black Curl (by Friar Rock), dam of 1938 Test Stakes winner Black Wave (by Sir Gallahad III) and second dam of 1947 Kentucky Derby winner Jet Pilot. In addition, Myrtlewood is a half sister to Janet Blair (by Sir Martin), dam of 1939 Blue Grass Stakes winner Heather Broom (by The Porter).
Myrtlewood, in turn, is out of Frizeur (Sweeper II--Frizette, by Hamburg), whose full sister Ondulation won the 1923 Prix de la Nonette and is the third dam of two-time English Horse of the Year Dahlia. Frizeur is also a half sister to 1913 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner Banshee (by Irish Lad), dam of 1920 Grand Criterium and 1921 Prix Vermeille winner Durban and Prix du Couvert winner Heldifann (both by Durbar II) and second dam of French Classic winner and three-time champion sire Tourbillon; to 1920 Prix Morny and Prix de la Forêt winner Durzetta (by Durbar II); and to stakes winners Frizzle (by Biniou) and Mary Maud (by Irish Lad). In addition, Frizeur is a half sister to Princess Palatine, whose stakes-placed daughter Valkyr founded a flourishing branch of Frizette's family, and to Frizelle (by Durbar II), second dam of 1938 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) winner Cillas and third dam of 1952 Prix du Jockey Club winner Auriban.
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: June 1, 2023
Race record
19 starts, 9 wins, 2 seconds, 4 thirds, US$70,201
1943:
- Won Prairie State Stakes (USA, 6FD, Washington Park)
- Won Hawthorne Juvenile Handicap (USA, 6FD, Hawthorne)
- Won Breeders' Futurity (USA, 6FD, Churchill Downs)
- 3rd Washington Park Juvenile Stakes (USA, 6FD, Washington Park)
1945:
- Won Beverly Handicap (USA, 9FD, Washington Park)
- Won Sheridan Handicap (USA, 7FD, Washington Park)
- Won Clang Handicap (USA, 6FD, Washington Park)
- 2nd Washington Special (match race w/Busher) (USA, 8FD, Washington Park)
- 3rd Modesty Handicap (USA, 8FD, Washington Park)
- 3rd Arlington Matron Handicap (USA, 8FD, Washington Park)
Honors
American co-champion 2-year-old filly (1943)
Assessments
Co-highweighted with Miss Keeneland among juvenile fillies on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1943.
As an individual
A bay mare, Durazna had the well-rounded, good-bodied build common to the progeny of Bull Lea, with good muscling extending into her forearms and gaskins. She was slightly sickle-hocked (also typical of Bull Lea's progeny) but had a good, well-laid shoulder and short cannons. She won in the slop and in mud but was not really suited to deep and tiring tracks.
As a producer
A Reine-de-Course as designated by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Durazna produced only five foals. All started and four were winners. Her important foals are as follow:
- Manzana (1948, by Count Fleet) won one of her four starts. She is the dam of 1961 Alcibiades Stakes winner Journalette (by Summer Tan) and the second dam of six stakes winners including 1972 American champion older female Typecast, English Group 2 winner Straight as a Die, and 1967 Alcibiades Stakes winner Lady Tramp. Manzana is also the third dam of 1984 Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas, FR-G1) winner Siberian Express, 1980 Tenno Sho (JPN-G1) winner Pretty Cast (the Japanese champion older female of 1980), 1982 Jefferson Smurfit Irish St. Leger (IRE-G1) winner Leading Counsel, multiple Grade 2 winner Erwin Boy, and English Group 3 winner Sylph.
- Querida (by Alibhai) won five of her 12 starts. She is the dam of stakes winners Mr. Hingle (by Bald Eagle) and Queen Janine (by Tompion) and is the second dam of six stakes winners including 1972 Irish champion 2-year-old filly Highest Trump, 1969 American champion 2-year-old filly Tudor Queen, 1967 Santa Barbara Handicap winner April Dawn, and Grade 3 winner Charger's Star. Querida is also the third dam of Grade 2 winner Winglet and Group 3 winners Dance Bid and Northern Plain and is the fourth dam of 1997 American champion 3-year-old filly Ajina.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Durazna was bred and owned by Brownell Combs, who bred all her foals either alone or in partnership with Leslie Combs II. Durazna was trained by John M. Goode.
Pedigree notes
Durazna is inbred 5x5 to nine-time English/Irish champion sire St. Simon, an undefeated champion on the race course. She is a full sister to Dragona, dam of 1962 Santa Anita Derby winner Royal Attack (by Royal Charger), and a half sister to 1942 Kentucky Oaks winner Miss Dogwood (by Bull Lea's sire Bull Dog), dam of 1948 Princess Pat Stakes winner Sequence (by Count Fleet), 1951 Sheridan Handicap winner Bernwood (by Bernborough), and 1953 Modesty Handicap winner Bella Figura (by Count Fleet); second dam of 1967 Carter Handicap winner Tumiga, 1963 Salvator Mile winner Dedimoud, 1958 San Felipe Handicap winner Carrier X, and two-time Gallorette Handicap winner Gold Digger; and third dam of 1973 American Derby (USA-G1) winner Bemo, Grade/Group 3 winners Sham's Princess and Bombay Duck, and the great sire Mr. Prospector. Durazna is also a half sister to Crepe Myrtle (by Equipoise), dam of 1948 American champion 2-year-old filly Myrtle Charm (by Alsab), third dam of French Group 3 winner Raise a Lady and ancestress of 1977 American Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew. In addition, Durazna is a half sister to Moonflower (by Bull Dog), dam of 1957 Alcibiades Stakes and Durazna Stakes winner Moon Glory (by Norseman; dam of 1966 Will Rogers Stakes winner Aqua Vite, by Nashua) and third dam of 1979 Widener Handicap (USA-G1) winner Jumping Hill; to Spring Beauty (by Sir Gallahad III), dam of 1964 Pretty Polly Stakes winner Young Man's Fancy (by Alycidon) and third dam of 1971 Kentucky Oaks winner Silent Beauty and Venezuelan Group 3 winner Tres Jolie; and to Gallawood (by Sir Gallahad III), second dam of 1963 Sapling Stakes and 1964 Withers Stakes winner Mr. Brick and third dam of 1984 Western Australian Oaks (AUS-G1) winner True Devotion and Grade 3 winner Wardlaw.
Durazna and her sisters are out of 1936 American champion sprinter and handicap female Myrtlewood, a full sister to Daintiness, dam of 1942 Hopeful Stakes winner Devil's Thumb (by Grand Slam) and to Bluelarks, second dam of 1960 Lakes and Flowers Handicap winner Aliwar and third dam of 1965 Wood Memorial Stakes winner Flag Raiser and 1968 Del Mar Derby winner Prince Hemp. Myrtlewood is also a half sister to juvenile stakes winners Pairbypair (by Noah) and Crowning Glory (by Black Toney) and to 1927 Test Stakes winner Black Curl (by Friar Rock), dam of 1938 Test Stakes winner Black Wave (by Sir Gallahad III) and second dam of 1947 Kentucky Derby winner Jet Pilot. In addition, Myrtlewood is a half sister to Janet Blair (by Sir Martin), dam of 1939 Blue Grass Stakes winner Heather Broom (by The Porter).
Myrtlewood, in turn, is out of Frizeur (Sweeper II--Frizette, by Hamburg), whose full sister Ondulation won the 1923 Prix de la Nonette and is the third dam of two-time English Horse of the Year Dahlia. Frizeur is also a half sister to 1913 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner Banshee (by Irish Lad), dam of 1920 Grand Criterium and 1921 Prix Vermeille winner Durban and Prix du Couvert winner Heldifann (both by Durbar II) and second dam of French Classic winner and three-time champion sire Tourbillon; to 1920 Prix Morny and Prix de la Forêt winner Durzetta (by Durbar II); and to stakes winners Frizzle (by Biniou) and Mary Maud (by Irish Lad). In addition, Frizeur is a half sister to Princess Palatine, whose stakes-placed daughter Valkyr founded a flourishing branch of Frizette's family, and to Frizelle (by Durbar II), second dam of 1938 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) winner Cillas and third dam of 1952 Prix du Jockey Club winner Auriban.
Fun facts
- Durazna's name means “peach” in Spanish, and a number of her female-line descendants were given names related to fruit.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: June 1, 2023