Much the best runner sired by the first American Triple Crown winner, Sir Barton, Easter Stockings was good enough to be widely regarded as the American co-champion 3-year-old filly of 1928, an honor she shared with Bateau. She continued racing through the age of 5, primarily on the Midwestern circuit, and held her own with males as well as with her fellow females. Unfortunately, she suffered from fertility issues and produced only one foal, a colt of no importance.
Race record
68 starts, 22 wins, 16 seconds, 8 thirds, US$91,435
1927:
1928:
1929:
1930:
Honors
American co-champion 3-year-old filly (1928)
As an individual
A chestnut filly, Easter Stockings was said to be rather delicate-looking but proved sound and tough on the track.
As a producer
Easter Stockings produced only one foal, the 1935 colt Yarn Sox (by Woodcraft or Trace Call). Yarn Sox won six of 88 starts and never stood at stud.
Connections
Bred in Virginia, Easter Stockings was bred and owned by the brothers B. B. and Montfort Jones, who raced Easter Stockings in the name of their Audley Farms Stable. She was trained by Kay Spence. There is no report of her after 1937, when the American Stud Book shows her as not having been covered the previous year.
Pedigree notes
Easter Stockings is inbred 4x5 to two-time Ascot Gold Cup winner Isonomy and to seven-time English champion sire Hermit, winner of the 1867 Derby Stakes. She is a half sister to Wee Shane (by Bright Knight), second dam of 1960 Arkansas Derby winner Spring Broker.
Easter Stockings' dam Irish Lassie is a half sister to Brocatelle (by Radium), dam of 1928 American Derby winner Toro (by The Porter), 1931 Adirondack Handicap winner Brocado (by The Porter) and 1935 Havre de Grace Handicap winner Good Goods (by Neddie) and second dam of the good handicapper Aneroid and multiple stakes winner Master Bid. Another half sister to Irish Lassie, June Rose (by Myram), produced 1927 Travers Midsummer Derby winner Brown Bud (by Brown Prince II), 1942 Butler Handicap winner Tola Rose (by Head Play) and multiple stakes winner Primrose (by Ultimus). June Rose is also the second dam of four stakes winners including 1946 Ashland Stakes winner Sweet Caprice.
Irish Lassie and her siblings were produced from the Pietermaritzberg mare Pietra, also the dam of Stony Stare (by Campfire), dam of four-time stakes winner Fighting Frank (by Fighting Fox) and minor stakes winner Stoney Brush (by Gallant Fox); Precious Stone (by Star Hawk), dam of stakes winner Saguenay II (by Aethelstan II); and Stonechat (by Chatterton), second dam of 1954 Santa Susana Handicap winner Quillo Maid. Pietra, in turn, was produced from Briar-root (by Springfield), winner of the 1888 One Thousand Guineas and also the second dam of dual German Classic winner and five-time German champion sire Prunus.
Books and media
Easter Stockings is profiled in Chapter 5 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photo by Leonard S. Sutcliffe, 1930. From the Keeneland Library Sutcliffe Collection; used by permission. Please contact the Keeneland Library with any questions regarding use or licensure of this photo.
Last updated: May 9, 2024
Race record
68 starts, 22 wins, 16 seconds, 8 thirds, US$91,435
1927:
- Won Golden Rod Handicap (USA, 7FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Great Western Handicap (USA, 6FD, Washington Park)
1928:
- Won Kentucky Oaks (USA, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Latonia Oaks (USA, 10FD, Latonia)
- 2nd Ohio State Derby (USA, 9FD, Bainbridge Park)
- 2nd Greater Chicago Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hawthorne)
1929:
- Won Crusaders Special Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hawthorne; new track record 1:50-1/5)
- 2nd Clark Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Churchill Downs)
- 3rd Fort Dearborn Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hawthorne)
- 3rd Hawthorne Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Hawthorne)
- 3rd Inaugural Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Latonia)
1930:
- Won Inaugural Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Latonia)
- Won Grainger Memorial Handicap (USA, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Covington Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Latonia)
- 2nd Independence Handicap (USA, 9.5FD, Latonia)
- 2nd Clark Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Churchill Downs)
Honors
American co-champion 3-year-old filly (1928)
As an individual
A chestnut filly, Easter Stockings was said to be rather delicate-looking but proved sound and tough on the track.
As a producer
Easter Stockings produced only one foal, the 1935 colt Yarn Sox (by Woodcraft or Trace Call). Yarn Sox won six of 88 starts and never stood at stud.
Connections
Bred in Virginia, Easter Stockings was bred and owned by the brothers B. B. and Montfort Jones, who raced Easter Stockings in the name of their Audley Farms Stable. She was trained by Kay Spence. There is no report of her after 1937, when the American Stud Book shows her as not having been covered the previous year.
Pedigree notes
Easter Stockings is inbred 4x5 to two-time Ascot Gold Cup winner Isonomy and to seven-time English champion sire Hermit, winner of the 1867 Derby Stakes. She is a half sister to Wee Shane (by Bright Knight), second dam of 1960 Arkansas Derby winner Spring Broker.
Easter Stockings' dam Irish Lassie is a half sister to Brocatelle (by Radium), dam of 1928 American Derby winner Toro (by The Porter), 1931 Adirondack Handicap winner Brocado (by The Porter) and 1935 Havre de Grace Handicap winner Good Goods (by Neddie) and second dam of the good handicapper Aneroid and multiple stakes winner Master Bid. Another half sister to Irish Lassie, June Rose (by Myram), produced 1927 Travers Midsummer Derby winner Brown Bud (by Brown Prince II), 1942 Butler Handicap winner Tola Rose (by Head Play) and multiple stakes winner Primrose (by Ultimus). June Rose is also the second dam of four stakes winners including 1946 Ashland Stakes winner Sweet Caprice.
Irish Lassie and her siblings were produced from the Pietermaritzberg mare Pietra, also the dam of Stony Stare (by Campfire), dam of four-time stakes winner Fighting Frank (by Fighting Fox) and minor stakes winner Stoney Brush (by Gallant Fox); Precious Stone (by Star Hawk), dam of stakes winner Saguenay II (by Aethelstan II); and Stonechat (by Chatterton), second dam of 1954 Santa Susana Handicap winner Quillo Maid. Pietra, in turn, was produced from Briar-root (by Springfield), winner of the 1888 One Thousand Guineas and also the second dam of dual German Classic winner and five-time German champion sire Prunus.
Books and media
Easter Stockings is profiled in Chapter 5 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- Easter Stockings was the second Kentucky Oaks winner and champion for the combination of Audley Farms Stable and Kay Spence. The first was the great Princess Doreen, who won the 1926 Kentucky Oaks.
- On May 16, 1930, Easter Stockings was part of a 10-horse field entered in the Shady Brook Farm Handicap, an overnight race at Churchill Downs. 1927 Kentucky Derby winner Whiskery and 1929 Kentucky Derby winner Clyde Van Dusen were also in the race, and the Kentucky Oaks winner showed her heels to both, winning by a neck over Whiskery with Clyde Van Dusen finishing dead last. The mare beat Whiskery again in her next outing, the Grainger Memorial Handicap, which she won with Whiskery fourth. Her record against Kentucky Derby winners appears to be unparalleled in the history of Kentucky Oaks winners. She also defeated 1926 Preakness Stakes winner Display in the 1929 Crusaders Special Handicap at Hawthorne.
Photo credit
Photo by Leonard S. Sutcliffe, 1930. From the Keeneland Library Sutcliffe Collection; used by permission. Please contact the Keeneland Library with any questions regarding use or licensure of this photo.
Last updated: May 9, 2024