Great Above (USA)
January 19, 1972 – September 26, 1998
Minnesota Mac (USA) x Ta Wee (USA), by Intentionally (USA)
Family 1-r
January 19, 1972 – September 26, 1998
Minnesota Mac (USA) x Ta Wee (USA), by Intentionally (USA)
Family 1-r
A son of the great sprinter Ta Wee, Great Above lacked the sheer talent of his dam but nonetheless was hardy, capable and honest. Following his retirement from racing, he enjoyed a long and honorable career as a regional sire in Florida and begot one of American racing's greats in 1994 American Horse of the Year Holy Bull, continuing the male line of 1898 Kentucky Derby winner Plaudit. He was also the broodmare sire of two-time American champion sprinter Housebuster.
Race record
63 starts, 13 wins, 15 seconds, 10 thirds, US$331,377
1975:
1977:
1978:
Assessments
Rated at 116 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American sprinters of 1977, 12 pounds below champion What a Summer.
Rated at 112 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Experimental Free Handicap for American sprinters of 1978, 20 pounds below divisional co-champion J. O. Tobin. (The other co-champion sprinter, Dr. Patches, was assigned a rating of 119 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males.)
As an individual
A handsome bay horse, Great Above had his sire's prominent withers and his dam's powerful hindquarters. He stood 16.2 hands.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Great Above sired 439 winners (71.2%) and 39 stakes winners (5.8%) from 617 named foals.
Notable progeny
Holy Bull (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Housebuster (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Florida, Great Above was bred by Tartan Farms. He was owned by Sigmund and Viola Sommer and was trained by Frank Martin. He was pensioned from stud duty in 1997. He died of old age in 1998 at High Mark Farm, Florida, and was buried at the farm.
Pedigree notes
Great Above is inbred 4x5 to Bull Dog. He is a half brother to stakes winners Tweak (by Secretariat), Tax Holiday (by What a Pleasure), and Entropy (by What a Pleasure). He is also a half brother to Thill (by Iron Ruler), dam of stakes winner Cintula (by Ramsinga).
Great Above's dam Ta Wee was a two-time American champion sprinter and a member of the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame. She is a half sister to 1968 American Horse of the Year Dr. Fager (by Rough'n Tumble) and to stakes winners A. Deck (by First Cabin) and Chinatowner (by Needles). She is also a half sister to Magic (by Buckpasser), dam of the stakes winner Magnificence (by Graustark); second dam of the useful sprinter and sire Pentelicus, 1995 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) winner Tayasu Tsuyoshi, and 1996 Santa Anita Derby (USA-G1) winner Cavonnier; and third dam of 1990 American champion 3-year-old male Unbridled and 1991 Wood Memorial Invitational Stakes (USA-G1) winner Cahill Road.
Ta Wee's dam Aspidistra (by Better Self) was the only foal produced by 1951 Prioress Stakes winner Tilly Rose (by Bull Brier). Tilly Rose, in turn, was out of the stakes-winning Draymont mare Tilly Kate, whose dam Teak (by Tea Caddy) was also a minor stakes winner.
Last updated: April 1, 2022
Race record
63 starts, 13 wins, 15 seconds, 10 thirds, US$331,377
1975:
- 2nd Jerome Handicap (USA-G2, 8FD, Belmont)
1977:
- Won Toboggan Handicap (USA, 6FD, Aqueduct; new track record 1:09-2/5)
- 2nd Gravesend Handicap (USA, 6FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Vosburgh Handicap (USA-G2, 7FD, Aqueduct)
1978:
- Won Paumonok Handicap (USA-G3, 6FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Bold Ruler Handicap (USA, 6FD, Aqueduct)
Assessments
Rated at 116 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American sprinters of 1977, 12 pounds below champion What a Summer.
Rated at 112 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Experimental Free Handicap for American sprinters of 1978, 20 pounds below divisional co-champion J. O. Tobin. (The other co-champion sprinter, Dr. Patches, was assigned a rating of 119 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males.)
As an individual
A handsome bay horse, Great Above had his sire's prominent withers and his dam's powerful hindquarters. He stood 16.2 hands.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Great Above sired 439 winners (71.2%) and 39 stakes winners (5.8%) from 617 named foals.
Notable progeny
Holy Bull (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Housebuster (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Florida, Great Above was bred by Tartan Farms. He was owned by Sigmund and Viola Sommer and was trained by Frank Martin. He was pensioned from stud duty in 1997. He died of old age in 1998 at High Mark Farm, Florida, and was buried at the farm.
Pedigree notes
Great Above is inbred 4x5 to Bull Dog. He is a half brother to stakes winners Tweak (by Secretariat), Tax Holiday (by What a Pleasure), and Entropy (by What a Pleasure). He is also a half brother to Thill (by Iron Ruler), dam of stakes winner Cintula (by Ramsinga).
Great Above's dam Ta Wee was a two-time American champion sprinter and a member of the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame. She is a half sister to 1968 American Horse of the Year Dr. Fager (by Rough'n Tumble) and to stakes winners A. Deck (by First Cabin) and Chinatowner (by Needles). She is also a half sister to Magic (by Buckpasser), dam of the stakes winner Magnificence (by Graustark); second dam of the useful sprinter and sire Pentelicus, 1995 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) winner Tayasu Tsuyoshi, and 1996 Santa Anita Derby (USA-G1) winner Cavonnier; and third dam of 1990 American champion 3-year-old male Unbridled and 1991 Wood Memorial Invitational Stakes (USA-G1) winner Cahill Road.
Ta Wee's dam Aspidistra (by Better Self) was the only foal produced by 1951 Prioress Stakes winner Tilly Rose (by Bull Brier). Tilly Rose, in turn, was out of the stakes-winning Draymont mare Tilly Kate, whose dam Teak (by Tea Caddy) was also a minor stakes winner.
Last updated: April 1, 2022