Harlan’s Holiday (USA)
April 6, 1999 – November 1, 2013
Harlan (USA) x Christmas in Aiken (USA), by Affirmed (USA)
Family 4-m
April 6, 1999 – November 1, 2013
Harlan (USA) x Christmas in Aiken (USA), by Affirmed (USA)
Family 4-m
A member of a lesser branch of the Storm Cat male line, Harlan’s Holiday rose from competing in restricted stakes races for Ohio-breds to becoming a multiple Grade 1 winner but was still considered a fairly modest stud prospect when he retired after his 4-year-old season. Like his sire, he began working his way up the stallion ranks by merit but died relatively young. Nonetheless, he lived long enough to earn a title as the American champion juvenile sire of 2012, and he also succeeded in passing the torch for his sire line to Into Mischief, one of the best American stallions of the early 21st century.
Race record
21 starts, 9 wins, 5 seconds, 1 third, US$2,432,664
2001:
2002:
2003:
Assessments
Rated at 114 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile colts and geldings of 2001, 12 pounds below champion Johannesburg.
Rated at 118 pounds on the 2003 International Classifications for his performance in the 2003 Hollywood Gold Cup, 15 pounds below overall highweight Hawk Wing (who earned his rating in the Lockinge Stakes, ENG-G1) and 9 pounds below the top dirt performer, Candy Ride.
As an individual
A lengthy, good-shouldered bay horse who stood 16 hands, Harlan’s Holiday had a strong body and powerful hindquarters with a long, sloping pelvis and good muscling extending into his forearms and gaskins. His cannons were short and his hind leg was straight and strong. He had good tactical speed and could be placed as his jockey desired. According to trainer Kenny McPeek, the colt enjoyed training and racing. He was retired after suffering a tendon injury during the running of the 2003 Saratoga Breeders’ Cup Handicap (USA-G2).
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, Harlan’s Holiday sired 900 winners (67.6%) and 95 stakes winners (7.1%) from 1332 named foals of racing age.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
Per The Blood-Horse:
Per El Turf (www.elturf.com):
Per the Stud Book Argentino (www.studbook.org.ar):
Notable progeny
Agresivo (USA), Hakeem (USA), Halo Holiday (ARG), Into Mischief (USA), Majesticperfection (USA), Pedro Caiman (VEN), Pretty Girl (ARG), Shanghai Bobby (USA), The Great Day (ARG)
Notable progeny of daughters
Chi Town Lady (USA), Happy Happy Day (ARG), Holi Rimout (ARG), London Moon (BRZ), More Than Looks (USA), Pulp Fiction (ARG), Tamborera (USA), Trikari (USA), Vahva (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Ohio, Harlan’s Holiday was bred by Double D. Farm Corporation. A $97,000 purchased at the 2000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling sale, he was owned by Jack and Laurie Wolf, who raced the colt in the name of their Starlight Stable. He was trained by Kenny McPeek until after his 4th-place finish in the Preakness Stakes, when he was transferred to Todd Pletcher. He entered stud in 2004 in Kentucky at Airdrie Stud and moved to WinStar Farm in 2010. He also shuttled to Argentina, where he stood at Haras Firmamento in 2010, 2011, and 2013. He died in Argentina on November 1, 2013, after losing control of his hindquarters and suffering a rectal prolapse.
Pedigree notes
Harlan’s Holiday is inbred 5x5 to 1957 American Horse of the Year and eight-time American champion sire Bold Ruler. He is out of the winning Affirmed mare Christmas in Aiken, whose stakes-placed half sister No Need to Party (by Dixieland Band) is the dam of restricted stakes winner Carouse (by Cure the Blues). Christmas in Aiken is also a half sister to Dowager Lady (by Whadjathink), dam of multiple listed stakes winner Good Lord (by Greatness).
Christmas in Aiken is out of the Honest Pleasure mare Dowager, a half sister to Irish Group 2 winner Lords (by Hoist the Flag) and to stakes-placed Bold Enchantress (by Bold Ruler), dam of 1979 Joe McGrath Memorial Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Fordham (by Forli). Dowager is also a half sister to Passing Fancy (by Buckpasser), second dam of Irish Group 2 winner Burden of Proof, Grade 3 winner Carib Lady, and South African Group 3 winner My Place. In addition, she is a half sister to Social (by Reviewer), second dam of Peruvian Group 2 winner Bahiana and third dam of multiple Brazilian Group 3 winner Special Class.
Dowager, in turn, is out of the Princequillo mare Princessnesian, who defeated males in the 1968 Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap. A full sister to Quillesian, dam of 1976 American champion 3-year-old filly Revidere (by Reviewer), Princessnesian is a half sister to 1966 Santa Anita Derby winner and successful sire Boldnesian (by Bold Ruler) and to juvenile stakes winner Jackal (by Jacinto). Produced from 1956 Spinaway Stakes winner Alanesian (by Polynesian), Princessnesian is also a half sister to stakes producers Amalesian (by Ambiorix), Herbalesian (by Herbager), Jibber Jabber (by Jacinto), Stay at Home (by Bold Ruler), and Table of Contents (by Round Table).
Fun facts
Last updated: November 28, 2024
Race record
21 starts, 9 wins, 5 seconds, 1 third, US$2,432,664
2001:
- Won Iroquois Stakes (USA-G3, 8FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Miller Genuine Draft Cradle Stakes (USA-L, 8.5FD, River Downs)
- Won Cleveland Kindergarten Stakes (USA-R, 5.5FD, Thistledown)
- Won Hoover Stakes (USA-R, 6FD, River Downs)
- 2nd Lane's End Breeders' Futurity (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Keeneland)
2002:
- Won Florida Derby (USA-G1, 9FD, Gulfstream Park)
- Won Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Keeneland)
- Won Pennsylvania Derby (USA-G3, 9FD, Philadelphia Park)
- 2nd Fountain of Youth Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 2nd Holy Bull Stakes (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 3rd Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont)
2003:
- Won Donn Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 2nd Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Hollywood)
- 2nd Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1, 2400m, Nad al Sheba)
Assessments
Rated at 114 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile colts and geldings of 2001, 12 pounds below champion Johannesburg.
Rated at 118 pounds on the 2003 International Classifications for his performance in the 2003 Hollywood Gold Cup, 15 pounds below overall highweight Hawk Wing (who earned his rating in the Lockinge Stakes, ENG-G1) and 9 pounds below the top dirt performer, Candy Ride.
As an individual
A lengthy, good-shouldered bay horse who stood 16 hands, Harlan’s Holiday had a strong body and powerful hindquarters with a long, sloping pelvis and good muscling extending into his forearms and gaskins. His cannons were short and his hind leg was straight and strong. He had good tactical speed and could be placed as his jockey desired. According to trainer Kenny McPeek, the colt enjoyed training and racing. He was retired after suffering a tendon injury during the running of the 2003 Saratoga Breeders’ Cup Handicap (USA-G2).
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, Harlan’s Holiday sired 900 winners (67.6%) and 95 stakes winners (7.1%) from 1332 named foals of racing age.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
- 6th on the North American general sire list in 2013; 8th in 2014.
- Led the North American juvenile sire list in 2012.
Per The Blood-Horse:
- 7th on the American general sire list in 2014; 8th in 2013.
- Led the American juvenile sire list in 2012.
Per El Turf (www.elturf.com):
- 9th on the Argentine general sire list in 2017.
Per the Stud Book Argentino (www.studbook.org.ar):
- 7th on the Argentine general sire list in 2017.
Notable progeny
Agresivo (USA), Hakeem (USA), Halo Holiday (ARG), Into Mischief (USA), Majesticperfection (USA), Pedro Caiman (VEN), Pretty Girl (ARG), Shanghai Bobby (USA), The Great Day (ARG)
Notable progeny of daughters
Chi Town Lady (USA), Happy Happy Day (ARG), Holi Rimout (ARG), London Moon (BRZ), More Than Looks (USA), Pulp Fiction (ARG), Tamborera (USA), Trikari (USA), Vahva (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Ohio, Harlan’s Holiday was bred by Double D. Farm Corporation. A $97,000 purchased at the 2000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling sale, he was owned by Jack and Laurie Wolf, who raced the colt in the name of their Starlight Stable. He was trained by Kenny McPeek until after his 4th-place finish in the Preakness Stakes, when he was transferred to Todd Pletcher. He entered stud in 2004 in Kentucky at Airdrie Stud and moved to WinStar Farm in 2010. He also shuttled to Argentina, where he stood at Haras Firmamento in 2010, 2011, and 2013. He died in Argentina on November 1, 2013, after losing control of his hindquarters and suffering a rectal prolapse.
Pedigree notes
Harlan’s Holiday is inbred 5x5 to 1957 American Horse of the Year and eight-time American champion sire Bold Ruler. He is out of the winning Affirmed mare Christmas in Aiken, whose stakes-placed half sister No Need to Party (by Dixieland Band) is the dam of restricted stakes winner Carouse (by Cure the Blues). Christmas in Aiken is also a half sister to Dowager Lady (by Whadjathink), dam of multiple listed stakes winner Good Lord (by Greatness).
Christmas in Aiken is out of the Honest Pleasure mare Dowager, a half sister to Irish Group 2 winner Lords (by Hoist the Flag) and to stakes-placed Bold Enchantress (by Bold Ruler), dam of 1979 Joe McGrath Memorial Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Fordham (by Forli). Dowager is also a half sister to Passing Fancy (by Buckpasser), second dam of Irish Group 2 winner Burden of Proof, Grade 3 winner Carib Lady, and South African Group 3 winner My Place. In addition, she is a half sister to Social (by Reviewer), second dam of Peruvian Group 2 winner Bahiana and third dam of multiple Brazilian Group 3 winner Special Class.
Dowager, in turn, is out of the Princequillo mare Princessnesian, who defeated males in the 1968 Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap. A full sister to Quillesian, dam of 1976 American champion 3-year-old filly Revidere (by Reviewer), Princessnesian is a half sister to 1966 Santa Anita Derby winner and successful sire Boldnesian (by Bold Ruler) and to juvenile stakes winner Jackal (by Jacinto). Produced from 1956 Spinaway Stakes winner Alanesian (by Polynesian), Princessnesian is also a half sister to stakes producers Amalesian (by Ambiorix), Herbalesian (by Herbager), Jibber Jabber (by Jacinto), Stay at Home (by Bold Ruler), and Table of Contents (by Round Table).
Fun facts
- Harlan’s Holiday ran in the 2002 Florida Derby and Blue Grass Stakes with a four-leafed clover pinned under his saddle blanket.
- In 2012, Harlan’s Holiday’s 2-year-old runners amassed $2,954,556, setting a new North American record.
Last updated: November 28, 2024