The first filly to be voted official honors as America's champion sophomore filly, High Fleet earned her title as much on consistency as on raw brilliance. First or second in all 13 of her 1936 starts, she earned most of her black type on the New England circuit (far more important then than now) but proved that she was more than just a regional phenomenon by coming to New York to win the Coaching Club American Oaks. She lost no stature with a second-place finish behind Floradora (generally considered the second-ranked filly in the division) in the Alabama Stakes, in which she conceded 14 pounds to the winner. She was campaigned as a sprinter in 1937 before retiring to a broodmare career apparently plagued by infertility, as she produced only four foals before her death at age 19.
Race record
30 starts, 15 wins, 9 seconds, 3 thirds, US$49,345
1935:
1936:
1937:
Honors
American champion 3-year-old filly (1936)
As an individual
A lengthy light chestnut mare, High Fleet had abundant natural speed.
As a producer
High Fleet produced four foals, of which three started and two won. Her son Fleettown (by Jamestown) won four steeplechase stakes races, but her only daughter, Platterful (by Platter), died without issue.
Connections
High Fleet was bred and owned by George D. Widener. She was trained by Winbert F. “Bert” Mulholland.
Pedigree notes
High Fleet is inbred 5x5 to 1876 Two Thousand Guineas and St. Leger Stakes winner Petrarch. She is a full sister to Flota, dam of 1956 Gulfstream Park Handicap winner Sailor (by Eight Thirty) and 1951 Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap winner Seaward (by Pilate), second dam of 1960 Del Mar Futurity winner Short Jacket and third dam of Grade II winner Peppy Addy. High Fleet is also a half sister to stakes winners Don Guzman (by St. James), Grass Cutter (by Sickle) and Sir Francis (by Sickle). In addition, she is a half sister to Tudor Queen (by St. James), dam of stakes winner Fighting Jodo (by Fighting Fox).
Armada was produced from the winning Meddler mare Crepuscule and is a half sister to 1932 Florida Derby winner Evening (by St. James) and the minor stakes winner Shady Lady (by Black Toney). Evening, in turn, produced 1941 Suburban Handicap winner Your Chance (by Chance Shot) and multiple stakes winner Outoftheblue (by Eight Thirty) and is the second dam of 1953 American champion 2-year-old filly Evening Out, 1961 Correction Handicap winner Evening Glow and 1966 Test Stakes winner Belle de Nuit. Armada is also a half sister to Stefana (by Stefan the Great), dam of 1943 American champion 3-year-old filly Stefanita (by Questionnaire) and third dam of 1972 Frizette Stakes winner Pams Ego.
Imported to the United States from France in 1916, Crepuscule is out of the Donovan mare Strike-a-Light II, also the dam of the juvenile stakes winner Explosion (by Tarporley). Through another daughter, Mary Gaunt (by John O'Gaunt), Strike-a-Light II is the second dam of two-time Great Jubilee Stakes winner Abbot's Speed.
Books and media
High Fleet is profiled in Chapter 6 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Race record
30 starts, 15 wins, 9 seconds, 3 thirds, US$49,345
1935:
- 3rd Schuylerville Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Saratoga)
1936:
- Won New England Oaks (USA, 8.5FD, Narragansett Park)
- Won Coaching Club American Oaks (USA, 11FD, Belmont)
- Won Mary Dyer Handicap (USA, Narragansett Park)
- Won Weybosset Handicap (USA, 6FD, Narragansett Park)
- 2nd Alabama Stakes (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Potomac Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Havre de Grace)
- 2nd Acorn Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Gazelle Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Aqueduct)
1937:
- Won Catskill Handicap (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- Won Ritchie Handicap (USA, 6FD, Pimlico)
- Won Baltimore Autumn Handicap (USA, 6FD, Pimlico)
- 2nd Capital Handicap (USA, 6FD, Laurel)
- 3rd Fleetwing Handicap (USA, 5.75FD, Empire City)
Honors
American champion 3-year-old filly (1936)
As an individual
A lengthy light chestnut mare, High Fleet had abundant natural speed.
As a producer
High Fleet produced four foals, of which three started and two won. Her son Fleettown (by Jamestown) won four steeplechase stakes races, but her only daughter, Platterful (by Platter), died without issue.
Connections
High Fleet was bred and owned by George D. Widener. She was trained by Winbert F. “Bert” Mulholland.
Pedigree notes
High Fleet is inbred 5x5 to 1876 Two Thousand Guineas and St. Leger Stakes winner Petrarch. She is a full sister to Flota, dam of 1956 Gulfstream Park Handicap winner Sailor (by Eight Thirty) and 1951 Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap winner Seaward (by Pilate), second dam of 1960 Del Mar Futurity winner Short Jacket and third dam of Grade II winner Peppy Addy. High Fleet is also a half sister to stakes winners Don Guzman (by St. James), Grass Cutter (by Sickle) and Sir Francis (by Sickle). In addition, she is a half sister to Tudor Queen (by St. James), dam of stakes winner Fighting Jodo (by Fighting Fox).
Armada was produced from the winning Meddler mare Crepuscule and is a half sister to 1932 Florida Derby winner Evening (by St. James) and the minor stakes winner Shady Lady (by Black Toney). Evening, in turn, produced 1941 Suburban Handicap winner Your Chance (by Chance Shot) and multiple stakes winner Outoftheblue (by Eight Thirty) and is the second dam of 1953 American champion 2-year-old filly Evening Out, 1961 Correction Handicap winner Evening Glow and 1966 Test Stakes winner Belle de Nuit. Armada is also a half sister to Stefana (by Stefan the Great), dam of 1943 American champion 3-year-old filly Stefanita (by Questionnaire) and third dam of 1972 Frizette Stakes winner Pams Ego.
Imported to the United States from France in 1916, Crepuscule is out of the Donovan mare Strike-a-Light II, also the dam of the juvenile stakes winner Explosion (by Tarporley). Through another daughter, Mary Gaunt (by John O'Gaunt), Strike-a-Light II is the second dam of two-time Great Jubilee Stakes winner Abbot's Speed.
Books and media
High Fleet is profiled in Chapter 6 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).