Harmonica was not the most consistent of runners, but at the top of her game she was of near championship class. She was a successful broodmare as well, but her descendants did not breed on as well as might have been hoped.
Race record
39 starts, 10 wins, 7 seconds, 2 thirds, US$166,500
1947:
- Won Coaching Club American Oaks (USA, 11FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Gazelle Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Acorn Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Empire City Stakes (USA, 9.5FD, Empire City)
1948:
- Won Suburban Handicap (USA, 10FD, Belmont)
- Won Hallandale Handicap (USA, 9FD, Gulfstream Park; new track record 1:48-4/5)
- 2nd Beldame Handicap (USA, 9FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Massachusetts Handicap (USA, 10FD, Suffolk Downs)
- 2nd Vagrancy Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Royal Palm Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hialeah)
As an individual
A chestnut mare; no other information available.
As a producer
Harmonica produced six named foals, of which five started and four won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Rico Reto (1952, by Rico Monte) won the 1955 Alabama Stakes. She is the third dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Calipha.
- Canto Belle (1953, by Rico Monte) was unraced but produced stakes winner Severn (by Crafty Admiral).
- Rico Rock (1954, by Rico Monte) failed to win or place in nine starts but produced stakes winners Rockem Back (by Carry Back) and Rocky Mount (by Conestoga).
- Waltz (1956, by Turn-to; a gelding) won five good stakes races including the 1959 Dwyer Handicap, in which he set a new track record of 1:54-4/5 for 9.5 furlongs at Jamaica.
Connections
Harmonica was bred by Fred B. Koontz. She was owned by J. J. Watts at 3 and campaigned in the name of his estate at 4 until being sold to Arnold Hanger following her victory in the Hallandale Handicap. She was trained by Max Hirsch, Jr., at 3 and by J. DeWitt after her sale.
Pedigree notes
Harmonica is inbred 5x3 to three-time American champion sire Broomstick and 5x4 to Domino's good son Disguise and 1903 English Triple Crown winner Rock Sand. She is a half sister to Paso Real (by Royal Ford), dam of multiple minor stakes winner Pusan (by Unbreakable).
Harmonica was produced from Port-Hole, a full sister to multiple stakes winner Star Shadow and to 1925 Matron Stakes and Schuylerille Stakes winner Taps. Port-Hole is also a half sister to stakes winner Arson (by Big Blaze). The next dam in Harmonica's tail-female line, Shady (by Broomstick), is a full sister to Truly Rural, whose daughter Maud Muller (by Pennant) is generally considered the American co-champion 2-year-old filly of 1924. Maud Muller, in turn, produced 1947 Santa Margarita Handicap winner Monsoon (by Mahmoud), 1951 New Orleans Handicap winner Mount Marcy (by Mahmoud), 1945 New Castle Handicap winner Plucky Maud (by Sir Gallahad III), 1932 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes winner The Darb (by St. Germans), and stakes winner Chic Maud (by Chicle).
Shady, in turn, is a half sister to juvenile stakes winner Woodland (by Whisk Broom II) and is out of Sylvan (by Disguise), a full sister to the good stakes winner Melisande and a half sister to Elf (by Galliard), dam of Broomstick (by Ben Brush) and of the minor stakes winners Broomhandle (by Onondaga) and Elfall (by Pirate of Penzance), and to Flying Squadron (by Saraband), dam of the juvenile stakes winner Clarion (by Kingston). Sylvan and her sisters were produced from Sylvabelle (by Bend Or), a half sister to the 1884 dead-heat Derby Stakes winner St. Gatien (by Rotherhill or The Rover) and to Emmeline Marcia (by Queen's Messenger), dam of 1893 Ascot Gold Cup winner Marcion (by Royal Hampton).
Last updated: November 26, 2021