Executioner (USA)
April 29, 1968 – c. 1991
The Axe II (USA) x Mae East (USA), by Centime (USA)
Family 4-c
April 29, 1968 – c. 1991
The Axe II (USA) x Mae East (USA), by Centime (USA)
Family 4-c
Arguably the best racing son of The Axe II, Executioner won three races that would later be accounted Grade 1 events. He was a high-class juvenile, probably due to the influence of a speed-oriented distaff pedigree, but trained on well. Sent to Brazil for stallion duty after a relatively short period in Kentucky, he became a champion sire in his adopted country and also had some success as a sire of broodmares.
Race record
23 starts, 12 wins, 3 seconds, 2 thirds, US$541,593
1970:
1971:
1972:
Assessments
Rated at 124 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1970, 2 pounds below champion Hoist the Flag but tied with future champion grass horse Run the Gantlet for third.
Rated at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1971, 2 pounds below co-highweights Canonero II (the official divisional champion) and Bold Reason and tied with Jim French, Pass Catcher, and Tinajero for third.
Rated at 122 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American older males of 1972, 4 pounds below champion Autobiography but third overall.
As an individual
A light-framed, lengthy chestnut horse with a straight, strong hind leg, Executioner typically ran close to the lead.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Executioner sired 142 winners (68.7%) and 28 stakes winners (16.8%) from 445 named foals. Records from his Brazilian stud career may be incomplete.
Sire rankings
Per the Associação Brasileira de Criadores e Proprietários do Cavalo de Corrida (https://www.abcpcc.com.br):
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Notable progeny
California Hope (BRZ), Execution’s Reason (USA), Grimaldi (BRZ), Interalliee (BRZ), Just a Moment (BRZ), Poutioner (BRZ), Quertile Light (BRZ), Steff Graf (BRZ), Vamare (BRZ)
Notable progeny of daughters
Biscuit Royale (BRZ), Mamma Rosita (BRZ)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Executioner was bred and owned by Peter Kissell's October House Farm. He was trained by E. Yowell. After standing in Kentucky, he was sent to Brazil in 1980. His last foals were registered in Brazil in 1992.
Pedigree notes
Executioner is inbred 5x5x5 to Teddy, the French and Spanish champion 3-year-old male of 1916 and the French champion sire of 1923. He is a half brother to juvenile stakes winner Maei Cut In (by Native Dancer) and to Artismae (by Artismo), dam of Grade 1-placed stakes winner Iron Bit (by Iron Ruler) and juvenile stakes winner Queen Designate (by Iron Ruler). Executioner is also a half brother to New Amsterdam (by Yorktown), dam of minor stakes winner Iron in the Fire (by Iron Ruler), and to Mine Head (by Iron Ruler), dam of stakes winners Worthy Antagonist (by Wardlaw) and No Room (by Noholme II).
Mae East, the dam of Executioner, placed in four races from seven tries but failed to win. She is by juvenile stakes winner Centime (by Pavot) out of the winning Occupy mare Mae West. The next dam in Executioner’s tail-female line, Shining Eyes, never raced. Sired by 1928 American champion 2-year-old male High Strung, she is out of unraced Bright Eyes, a full sister to 1928 Bashford Manor Stakes winner Roguish Eye, whose sire Flittergold is a much-inferior full brother to Fair Play.
Fun facts
Last updated: February 10, 2025
Race record
23 starts, 12 wins, 3 seconds, 2 thirds, US$541,593
1970:
- Won Sanford Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Garden State Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Garden State)
- 3rd Cowdin Stakes (USA, 7FD, Belmont)
- Also set a new track record at Garden States of :57 flat for 5 furlongs on dirt
1971:
- Won Flamingo Stakes (USA, 9FD, Hialeah)
- Won Hibiscus Stakes (USA, 6FD, Hialeah)
- 2nd Florida Derby (USA, 9FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 3rd Wood Memorial (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
1972:
- Won Gulfstream Park Handicap (USA, 10FD, Gulfstream Park)
- Won Metropolitan Handicap (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Seminole Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hialeah)
- Won William du Pont Jr. Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Delaware Park)
Assessments
Rated at 124 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1970, 2 pounds below champion Hoist the Flag but tied with future champion grass horse Run the Gantlet for third.
Rated at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1971, 2 pounds below co-highweights Canonero II (the official divisional champion) and Bold Reason and tied with Jim French, Pass Catcher, and Tinajero for third.
Rated at 122 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American older males of 1972, 4 pounds below champion Autobiography but third overall.
As an individual
A light-framed, lengthy chestnut horse with a straight, strong hind leg, Executioner typically ran close to the lead.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Executioner sired 142 winners (68.7%) and 28 stakes winners (16.8%) from 445 named foals. Records from his Brazilian stud career may be incomplete.
Sire rankings
Per the Associação Brasileira de Criadores e Proprietários do Cavalo de Corrida (https://www.abcpcc.com.br):
- 3rd on the Brazilian broodmare sire list 2003/2004; 4th in 2004/2005; 8th in 2005/2006, 2006/2007
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- Led the Brazilian general sire list in 1986; 3rd in 1985.
Notable progeny
California Hope (BRZ), Execution’s Reason (USA), Grimaldi (BRZ), Interalliee (BRZ), Just a Moment (BRZ), Poutioner (BRZ), Quertile Light (BRZ), Steff Graf (BRZ), Vamare (BRZ)
Notable progeny of daughters
Biscuit Royale (BRZ), Mamma Rosita (BRZ)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Executioner was bred and owned by Peter Kissell's October House Farm. He was trained by E. Yowell. After standing in Kentucky, he was sent to Brazil in 1980. His last foals were registered in Brazil in 1992.
Pedigree notes
Executioner is inbred 5x5x5 to Teddy, the French and Spanish champion 3-year-old male of 1916 and the French champion sire of 1923. He is a half brother to juvenile stakes winner Maei Cut In (by Native Dancer) and to Artismae (by Artismo), dam of Grade 1-placed stakes winner Iron Bit (by Iron Ruler) and juvenile stakes winner Queen Designate (by Iron Ruler). Executioner is also a half brother to New Amsterdam (by Yorktown), dam of minor stakes winner Iron in the Fire (by Iron Ruler), and to Mine Head (by Iron Ruler), dam of stakes winners Worthy Antagonist (by Wardlaw) and No Room (by Noholme II).
Mae East, the dam of Executioner, placed in four races from seven tries but failed to win. She is by juvenile stakes winner Centime (by Pavot) out of the winning Occupy mare Mae West. The next dam in Executioner’s tail-female line, Shining Eyes, never raced. Sired by 1928 American champion 2-year-old male High Strung, she is out of unraced Bright Eyes, a full sister to 1928 Bashford Manor Stakes winner Roguish Eye, whose sire Flittergold is a much-inferior full brother to Fair Play.
Fun facts
- Executioner put a rare feather in his cap in his first racetrack outing by setting a 5-furlong track record at Garden State Park.
Last updated: February 10, 2025