Forty Niner (USA)
May 11, 1985 – May 17, 2020
Mr. Prospector (USA) x File (USA), by Tom Rolfe (USA)
Family 1-n
May 11, 1985 – May 17, 2020
Mr. Prospector (USA) x File (USA), by Tom Rolfe (USA)
Family 1-n
A precocious colt who trained on well, Forty Niner was a champion as a juvenile and just missed championship status at 3. Along the way, he carried on a great rivalry with Seeking the Gold as a 3-year-old in 1988. Both sons of Claiborne Farm stallion Mr. Prospector, both also had family histories closely associated with Claiborne: Forty Niner was bred and owned by Claiborne, while Seeking the Gold was bred and owned by Ogden Phipps, whose family has boarded its mares at Claiborne for generations. Following his retirement, Forty Niner began his stud career at Claiborne but had sired only 13 stakes winners prior to his sale to Japanese interested in July 1995. American horsemen had reason to regret his departure, for he got hot almost as soon as he got on the airplane and ended up with a total of 42 stakes winners from his seven American crops. He was not nearly as effective in Japan but nonetheless established his own branch of the Mr. Prospector male line.
Race record
19 starts, 11 wins, 5 seconds, 0 thirds, US$2,726,600
1987:
1988:
Honors
Assessments
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1987, 1 pound above second-rated Tejano.
Rated at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1988, 1 pound below champion Risen Star.
As an individual
A wiry chestnut, Forty Niner stood 15.3 hands. He blended the strong muscling and quarters of his sire Mr. Prospector with the toughness and stamina of his broodmare sire, Tom Rolfe. He was extremely game and determined in competition but was relaxed elsewhere, not wasting his energy on displays of temperament.
As a stallion
According to The Jockey Club, Forty Niner sired 624 winners (65.8%) and 56 stakes winners (5.9%) from 949 foals of racing age. According to his obituary in Thoroughbred Daily News, he sired 41 stakes winners while standing in Kentucky (42 per The Blood-Horse) and 14 stakes winners while in Japan.
Sire rankings
Per American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per Japan Bloodstock Information Systems (https://www.jbis.jp/ranking/):
Notable progeny
Admire Hope (JPN), Apprentice (USA), Coronado's Quest (USA), Distorted Humor (USA), Ecton Park (USA), Editor's Note (USA), End Sweep (USA), Gold Fever (USA), Jules (USA), Luhuk (USA), Marley Vale (USA), Meiner Select (JPN), Nine Keys (USA), Roar (USA), Utopia (JPN)
Notable progeny of daughters
Albertus Maximus (USA), Daredevil (USA), Jack Milton (USA), Pryka (ARG)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Forty Niner was bred and owned by Claiborne Farm. He was trained by Woody Stephens. He entered stud in 1989 at Claiborne Farm but in July 1995 was sold to the Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association for a reported US$10 million. He stood at Shizunai Stallion Station beginning in 1996 and was pensioned in 2007 due to declining fertility. He died of old age in Japan on May 17, 2020.
Pedigree notes
Forty Niner is inbred 4x4 to Nasrullah. He is a full brother to Abrade, dam of listed stakes winner Forty Nine Deeds (by Alydeed) and third dam of Grade 2 winner Envoutante. He is also a full brother to Scrape, second dam of three stakes winners including multiple Argentine Group 2 winner Sobre Action.
Forty Niner's dam File is out of the Double Jay mare Continue and is a stakes-winning half sister to 1977 Widener Handicap (USA-G1) winner Yamanin (by Herbager) and multiple Grade 3 winner Tuerta (by Forli), dam of 1984 American champion 3-year-old male Swale (by Seattle Slew) and third dam of 2009 Prix de la Forêt (FR-G1) winner Varenar, French Group 2 winner Visindar and French Group 3 winner Visorama. File is also a half sister to Grade 2-placed multiple stakes winner List (by Herbager); to stakes winner Perpetual (by Herbager); to Continuance (by Round Table), dam of stakes winner Dr. Neale (by Herbager); and to Plane, second dam of four stakes winners. In addition, File is a half sister to Chain (by Herbager), dam of 1981 Top Flight Handicap (USA-G1) winner Chain Bracelet (by Lyphard) and listed stakes winner Dancing Slippers (by Nijinsky II); to Continuation (by Forli), second dam of 1985 General Accident Two Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1) winner Shadeed; and to Furling (by Hoist the Flag), second dam of 1993 Whitney Handicap (USA-G1) winner Brunswick.
Continue, the dam of File, won five of her seven starts but did not gain any black type. A daughter of 1946 American co-champion 2-year-old male and four-time American champion broodmare sire Double Jay, she is a full sister to Duplex, dam of 1974 Frizette Stakes (USA-G1) winner Molly Ballantine (by Pretense). She is also a half sister to 1969 Charles H. Strub Stakes winner Dignitas, 1964 Choice Stakes winner Knightly Manner and 1965 Santa Ynez Stakes winner Respected (all by Round Table). Respected is the dam of Grade 2 winner Forage (by Herbager), Grade 3 winner Kulak (by Herbager), and 1981 Carolina Cup Steeplechase Handicap winner Romeo Lima (by Buckpasser) and is the second dam of Grade 3 winner Infamous Deed.
Returning to Continue, she is also a half sister to Respectful (by Dr, Fager), dam of Grade 2 winner Borzoi (by Round Table); to Makeacurtsey (by Herbager), dam of English Group 3 winner Piney Ridge (by Native Prince); to Overton (by Bagdad), dam of multiple juvenile stakes winner Truely Molly (by Jungle Blade); and to Makeyourmanners (by Herbager), second dam of Brazilian Group 2 winner Ornisham. Continue and her siblings were in turn produced from the Claiborne matriarch Courtesy (by Nasrullah).
Books and media
Forty Niner is one of 50 Thoroughbreds profiled in Royal Blood: Fifty Years of Classic Thoroughbreds. Written by racing historian Jim Bolus with illustrations and commentary by noted equine artist Richard Stone Reeves, the book was released by The Blood-Horse, Inc., in 1994.
Fun facts:
Last updated: November 6, 2024
Race record
19 starts, 11 wins, 5 seconds, 0 thirds, US$2,726,600
1987:
- Won Champagne Stakes (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Futurity Stakes (USA-G1, 7FD, Belmont)
- Won Breeders' Futurity (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Keeneland)
- Won Sanford Stakes (USA-G2, 6FD, Saratoga)
1988:
- Won Travers Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- Won Haskell Invitational Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Monmouth)
- Won NYRA Mile Handicap (USA-G1, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Fountain of Youth Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Gulfstream Park)
- Won Lafayette Stakes (USA-L, 7FD, Keeneland)
- 2nd Kentucky Derby (USA-G1, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Woodward Handicap (USA-G1, Belmont)
- 2nd Florida Derby (USA-G1, 9FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 2nd Lexington Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Keeneland)
- 2nd Hutcheson Stakes (USA-G3, 7FD, Gulfstream Park)
- Also set a one-mile track record of 1:33-4/5 for a mile on dirt at Monmouth in an allowance race.
Honors
- Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1988)
- Monmouth Park Hall of Champions
- Eclipse Award, American champion 2-year-old male (1987)
Assessments
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1987, 1 pound above second-rated Tejano.
Rated at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1988, 1 pound below champion Risen Star.
As an individual
A wiry chestnut, Forty Niner stood 15.3 hands. He blended the strong muscling and quarters of his sire Mr. Prospector with the toughness and stamina of his broodmare sire, Tom Rolfe. He was extremely game and determined in competition but was relaxed elsewhere, not wasting his energy on displays of temperament.
As a stallion
According to The Jockey Club, Forty Niner sired 624 winners (65.8%) and 56 stakes winners (5.9%) from 949 foals of racing age. According to his obituary in Thoroughbred Daily News, he sired 41 stakes winners while standing in Kentucky (42 per The Blood-Horse) and 14 stakes winners while in Japan.
Sire rankings
Per American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- Led the US general sire list in 1996.
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
- 9th on the Japanese broodmare sire list in 2012; 10th in 2010, 2011, and 2013.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 3rd on the American general sire list in 1996.
- 6th on the Japanese general sire list in 2002-2004; 10th in 2001.
Per Japan Bloodstock Information Systems (https://www.jbis.jp/ranking/):
- 6th on the Japanese general sire list in 2003 and 2004; 9th in 2002; 10th in 2001.
- 9th on the Japanese broodmare sire list in 2012; 10th in 2010, 2011, and 2013.
Notable progeny
Admire Hope (JPN), Apprentice (USA), Coronado's Quest (USA), Distorted Humor (USA), Ecton Park (USA), Editor's Note (USA), End Sweep (USA), Gold Fever (USA), Jules (USA), Luhuk (USA), Marley Vale (USA), Meiner Select (JPN), Nine Keys (USA), Roar (USA), Utopia (JPN)
Notable progeny of daughters
Albertus Maximus (USA), Daredevil (USA), Jack Milton (USA), Pryka (ARG)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Forty Niner was bred and owned by Claiborne Farm. He was trained by Woody Stephens. He entered stud in 1989 at Claiborne Farm but in July 1995 was sold to the Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association for a reported US$10 million. He stood at Shizunai Stallion Station beginning in 1996 and was pensioned in 2007 due to declining fertility. He died of old age in Japan on May 17, 2020.
Pedigree notes
Forty Niner is inbred 4x4 to Nasrullah. He is a full brother to Abrade, dam of listed stakes winner Forty Nine Deeds (by Alydeed) and third dam of Grade 2 winner Envoutante. He is also a full brother to Scrape, second dam of three stakes winners including multiple Argentine Group 2 winner Sobre Action.
Forty Niner's dam File is out of the Double Jay mare Continue and is a stakes-winning half sister to 1977 Widener Handicap (USA-G1) winner Yamanin (by Herbager) and multiple Grade 3 winner Tuerta (by Forli), dam of 1984 American champion 3-year-old male Swale (by Seattle Slew) and third dam of 2009 Prix de la Forêt (FR-G1) winner Varenar, French Group 2 winner Visindar and French Group 3 winner Visorama. File is also a half sister to Grade 2-placed multiple stakes winner List (by Herbager); to stakes winner Perpetual (by Herbager); to Continuance (by Round Table), dam of stakes winner Dr. Neale (by Herbager); and to Plane, second dam of four stakes winners. In addition, File is a half sister to Chain (by Herbager), dam of 1981 Top Flight Handicap (USA-G1) winner Chain Bracelet (by Lyphard) and listed stakes winner Dancing Slippers (by Nijinsky II); to Continuation (by Forli), second dam of 1985 General Accident Two Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1) winner Shadeed; and to Furling (by Hoist the Flag), second dam of 1993 Whitney Handicap (USA-G1) winner Brunswick.
Continue, the dam of File, won five of her seven starts but did not gain any black type. A daughter of 1946 American co-champion 2-year-old male and four-time American champion broodmare sire Double Jay, she is a full sister to Duplex, dam of 1974 Frizette Stakes (USA-G1) winner Molly Ballantine (by Pretense). She is also a half sister to 1969 Charles H. Strub Stakes winner Dignitas, 1964 Choice Stakes winner Knightly Manner and 1965 Santa Ynez Stakes winner Respected (all by Round Table). Respected is the dam of Grade 2 winner Forage (by Herbager), Grade 3 winner Kulak (by Herbager), and 1981 Carolina Cup Steeplechase Handicap winner Romeo Lima (by Buckpasser) and is the second dam of Grade 3 winner Infamous Deed.
Returning to Continue, she is also a half sister to Respectful (by Dr, Fager), dam of Grade 2 winner Borzoi (by Round Table); to Makeacurtsey (by Herbager), dam of English Group 3 winner Piney Ridge (by Native Prince); to Overton (by Bagdad), dam of multiple juvenile stakes winner Truely Molly (by Jungle Blade); and to Makeyourmanners (by Herbager), second dam of Brazilian Group 2 winner Ornisham. Continue and her siblings were in turn produced from the Claiborne matriarch Courtesy (by Nasrullah).
Books and media
Forty Niner is one of 50 Thoroughbreds profiled in Royal Blood: Fifty Years of Classic Thoroughbreds. Written by racing historian Jim Bolus with illustrations and commentary by noted equine artist Richard Stone Reeves, the book was released by The Blood-Horse, Inc., in 1994.
Fun facts:
- The Kelso Handicap at Belmont Park was renamed as the "Forty Niner Stakes" in 2023. It is currently a Grade 2 race for 3-year-olds and upward, contested at a mile on dirt.
Last updated: November 6, 2024