Forward Gal (USA)
Foaled March 6, 1968 – 1984
Native Charger (USA) x Forward Thrust (USA), by Jet Action (USA)
Family 9-e
Foaled March 6, 1968 – 1984
Native Charger (USA) x Forward Thrust (USA), by Jet Action (USA)
Family 9-e
Racing in a strong crop of American fillies, Forward Gal was rated the best of her age at 2 and was not far off championship form at 3. She was a complete disappointment as a broodmare without a single winner to her credit, but her daughter Free French has bred on fairly well.
Race record
26 starts, 12 wins, 4 seconds, 6 thirds, US$438,933
1970:
1971:
Honors
American champion 2-year-old filly (1970)
Assessments
Highweighted among fillies at 118 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1970, 1 pound above the second-rated filly, June Darling.
Rated at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1971, 2 pounds below champion Turkish Trousers.
As an individual
A chestnut mare standing some 16 hands, Forward Gal was surprisingly growthy and backward for a runner who proved adept at 2. She had a long stride when she got her coordination together. She was an excellent doer and had an easygoing, pleasant disposition.
As a producer
Forward Gal produced six named foals, none of which started. She is the dam of Free French (by Northern Dancer), dam of Irish stakes winner Fly Start (by Run the Gantlet), second dam of French Group 2 winner Freedom Cry, and the third dam of 2002 Gran Premio Saturnino J. Unzue (ARG-G1) winner Beau Fete.
Connections
Foaled in Florida, Forward Gal was bred by Abraham “Butch” Savin and raced in the name of his Aisco Stable. She was trained by Warren “Jimmy” Croll. As a broodmare, she was initially owned by Daniel Wildenstein, who bred her first foal. Her next three foals were bred by Dayton Limited, and she was then acquired by Gateway Farms, which bred her fifth foal. After failing to produce a live foal for four consecutive years, she produced her final foal, the 1984 Globe filly Coralberry, for Nelson Bunker Hunt. Forward Gal died in 1984.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1965 Flamingo Stakes and Florida Derby winner Native Charger, Forward Gal is inbred 5x5x5 to four-time American champion sire Sir Gallahad III. She is a full sister to Sheba Sham, dam of stakes winner Native Sheik (by Al Hattab).
Forward Gal is out of Forward Thrust (by 1955 Washington Park Handicap winner Jet Action, by Jet Pilot x Busher), a half sister to 1973 Royal Palm Handicap (USA-G3) winner Traffic Cop (by Traffic Judge). Forward Thrust is also a half sister to Winter Wren (by Princequillo), dam of stakes winners Stark Winter (by Graustark) and Silver in Flight (by Silver Series); second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Bien Bien and multiple Grade 3 winner Dr. Schwartzmann; and third dam of 2005 Las Virgenes Stakes (USA-G1) winner Sharp Lisa, 2008 Donn Handicap (USA-G1) winner Spring At Last, Grade 2 winner Sharp Susan, and multiple Grade 3 winner Sharp Performance. In addition, Forward Thrust is a half sister to Princess Fleet (by Princequillo), dam of Grade 2 winner Tampoy (by Tumiga) and stakes winner My Only Sunshine (by Helio Rise), second dam of 1988 Mowerinalob (Danish One Thousand Guineas) winner She’s a Beauty, and third dam of Grade 3 winner Crown Jewel. Finally, Forward Thrust is a half sister to Perfect Foil (by Sword Dancer), dam of Grade 2 winner Pretty Perfect (by Wajima) and Grade 3 Wicked Park (by Kauai King); to Beautiful Design (by Traffic Judge), dam of stakes winner Silver Design (by Silver Series) and second dam of Grade 3 winner He Is Risen; and to Stewardess (by Mr. Busher), third dam of Grade 2 winner Nettie Cometti.
Forward Thrust and her siblings were produced from the winning Count Fleet mare Flight Bird, a half sister to 1950 California Breeders Champion Stakes winner Gold Capitol (by Alibhai), 1953 Del Mar Futurity winner Double Speed (by Count Fleet’s full brother Count Speed), 1955 San Felipe Handicap winner Jean’s Joe (by Nasrullah), and 1958 Richmond Stakes winner Hieroglyph (by Heliopolis). Flight Bird is also a half sister to Second Edition (by Alibhai), second dam of Irish Guinness Oaks (IRE-G1) winner Olwyn and third dam of 1998 Hungarian champion older female Blue Fleur. The next dam in Forward Gal’s tail-female line, Pocket Edition (Roman x Never Again II, by Pharos), is a half sister to 1949 American champion 2-year-old male Oil Capitol (by Mahmoud) and to multiple juvenile stakes winner Cigar Maid (by Pavot), dam of 1961 Donn Handicap winner General Arthur (by Count Fleet) and second dam of 1970 Vanity Handicap winner Commissary and multiple French Group 3 winner General Holme.
Fun facts
Last updated: February 1, 2022
Race record
26 starts, 12 wins, 4 seconds, 6 thirds, US$438,933
1970:
- Won Schuykill Stakes (first division) (USA, 5.5FD, Liberty Bell; equaled track record 1:04)
- Won Sorority Stakes (USA, 6FD, Monmouth)
- Won Frizette Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Spinaway Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Colleen Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Monmouth)
- 2nd Adirondack Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Gardenia Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Garden State)
1971:
- Won Comely Stakes (USA, 7FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Gazelle Handicap (USA, 9FD, Belmont)
- Won Betsy Ross Handicap (USA, 6FD, Monmouth)
- Won Monmouth Oaks (USA, 9FD, Monmouth)
- 2nd Princeton Handicap (second division) (USA, 8FT, Garden State)
- 2nd Cotillion Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Liberty Bell)
- 3rd Mother Goose Stakes (USA, 9FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Delaware Oaks (USA, 9FD, Delaware Park)
- 3rd Acorn Stakes (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Test Stakes (USA, 7FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Alabama Stakes (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
Honors
American champion 2-year-old filly (1970)
Assessments
Highweighted among fillies at 118 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1970, 1 pound above the second-rated filly, June Darling.
Rated at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1971, 2 pounds below champion Turkish Trousers.
As an individual
A chestnut mare standing some 16 hands, Forward Gal was surprisingly growthy and backward for a runner who proved adept at 2. She had a long stride when she got her coordination together. She was an excellent doer and had an easygoing, pleasant disposition.
As a producer
Forward Gal produced six named foals, none of which started. She is the dam of Free French (by Northern Dancer), dam of Irish stakes winner Fly Start (by Run the Gantlet), second dam of French Group 2 winner Freedom Cry, and the third dam of 2002 Gran Premio Saturnino J. Unzue (ARG-G1) winner Beau Fete.
Connections
Foaled in Florida, Forward Gal was bred by Abraham “Butch” Savin and raced in the name of his Aisco Stable. She was trained by Warren “Jimmy” Croll. As a broodmare, she was initially owned by Daniel Wildenstein, who bred her first foal. Her next three foals were bred by Dayton Limited, and she was then acquired by Gateway Farms, which bred her fifth foal. After failing to produce a live foal for four consecutive years, she produced her final foal, the 1984 Globe filly Coralberry, for Nelson Bunker Hunt. Forward Gal died in 1984.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1965 Flamingo Stakes and Florida Derby winner Native Charger, Forward Gal is inbred 5x5x5 to four-time American champion sire Sir Gallahad III. She is a full sister to Sheba Sham, dam of stakes winner Native Sheik (by Al Hattab).
Forward Gal is out of Forward Thrust (by 1955 Washington Park Handicap winner Jet Action, by Jet Pilot x Busher), a half sister to 1973 Royal Palm Handicap (USA-G3) winner Traffic Cop (by Traffic Judge). Forward Thrust is also a half sister to Winter Wren (by Princequillo), dam of stakes winners Stark Winter (by Graustark) and Silver in Flight (by Silver Series); second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Bien Bien and multiple Grade 3 winner Dr. Schwartzmann; and third dam of 2005 Las Virgenes Stakes (USA-G1) winner Sharp Lisa, 2008 Donn Handicap (USA-G1) winner Spring At Last, Grade 2 winner Sharp Susan, and multiple Grade 3 winner Sharp Performance. In addition, Forward Thrust is a half sister to Princess Fleet (by Princequillo), dam of Grade 2 winner Tampoy (by Tumiga) and stakes winner My Only Sunshine (by Helio Rise), second dam of 1988 Mowerinalob (Danish One Thousand Guineas) winner She’s a Beauty, and third dam of Grade 3 winner Crown Jewel. Finally, Forward Thrust is a half sister to Perfect Foil (by Sword Dancer), dam of Grade 2 winner Pretty Perfect (by Wajima) and Grade 3 Wicked Park (by Kauai King); to Beautiful Design (by Traffic Judge), dam of stakes winner Silver Design (by Silver Series) and second dam of Grade 3 winner He Is Risen; and to Stewardess (by Mr. Busher), third dam of Grade 2 winner Nettie Cometti.
Forward Thrust and her siblings were produced from the winning Count Fleet mare Flight Bird, a half sister to 1950 California Breeders Champion Stakes winner Gold Capitol (by Alibhai), 1953 Del Mar Futurity winner Double Speed (by Count Fleet’s full brother Count Speed), 1955 San Felipe Handicap winner Jean’s Joe (by Nasrullah), and 1958 Richmond Stakes winner Hieroglyph (by Heliopolis). Flight Bird is also a half sister to Second Edition (by Alibhai), second dam of Irish Guinness Oaks (IRE-G1) winner Olwyn and third dam of 1998 Hungarian champion older female Blue Fleur. The next dam in Forward Gal’s tail-female line, Pocket Edition (Roman x Never Again II, by Pharos), is a half sister to 1949 American champion 2-year-old male Oil Capitol (by Mahmoud) and to multiple juvenile stakes winner Cigar Maid (by Pavot), dam of 1961 Donn Handicap winner General Arthur (by Count Fleet) and second dam of 1970 Vanity Handicap winner Commissary and multiple French Group 3 winner General Holme.
Fun facts
- Forward Gal was bred from Forward Thrust, a mare that Butch Savin bought for US$3,500 primarily because he liked her sire, Jet Action. The choice of Native Charger for the mating that produced the champion was made primarily because Savin happened to have a share in the Native Dancer horse.
- Forward Gal is the namesake for a stakes race for fillies at Gulfstream Park, where the champion ran her first race.
Last updated: February 1, 2022