Incurable Optimist (USA)
March 14, 1996 – January 20, 2024
Cure the Blues (USA) x Miss Turlington (USA), by Seattle Slew (USA)
Family 23-b
March 14, 1996 – January 20, 2024
Cure the Blues (USA) x Miss Turlington (USA), by Seattle Slew (USA)
Family 23-b
After failing to score in two attempts while sprinting on dirt, Incurable Optimist was switched to turf and aired by 14 lengths in his first race over grass. From then on he raced only on turf and only at distances of a mile or more, and his turnaround was remarkable. After four consecutive wins on turf, including both of the graded turf events then existing for American juvenile males, it looked as if he had a very bright future ahead of him, but injury kept him from any chance of delivering on that promise. Exported to Argentina, he became a champion sire in his adoptive country.
Race record
6 starts, 4 wins, 1 second, 1 third, US$271,309
1998:
Honors
Pellegrini Award, Stallion of the Year (2008)
Assessments
Rated at 121 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1998, 5 pounds below champion Answer Lively.
As an individual
A chestnut horse, Incurable Optimist was not blessed with the best of forelegs but had short cannons and well let down hocks; a strong, smoothly made body with powerful hindquarters; and a strong, straight hind leg. He was forced into retirement by a tendon injury.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Incurable Optimist has sired 570 winners (44.7%) and 23 stakes winners (1.8%) from 1274 named foals as of June 30, 2024. The Stud Book Argentino credits him with 36 stakes winners.
Sire rankings
Per the Stud Book Argentino (www.studbook.org.ar):
Notable progeny
Brandyrum (ARG), Fire Wall (ARG), Inter Optimist (ARG), Life of Victory (ARG)
Notable progeny of daughters
Dalbornell (ARG), Folie Ninja (ARG)
Connections
Foaled in New York, Incurable Optimist was bred by Dr. William B. Wilmot & Dr. Joan M. Taylor, who sold him as a weanling for US$44,000 through the 1996 Keeneand November mixed sale. He raced for John and Theresa Berendt and was trained by David Donk. He was exported to Argentina in 2001 and entered stud at Haras El Paraiso. He was pensioned following the 2022 breeding season, when he served only three mares.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1980 Laurel Futurity (USA-G1) winner and good sire Cure the Blues (by Stop the Music), Incurable Optimist is inbred 3x5 to 1960 American champion juvenile male and 1970 American champion sire Hail to Reason. He is also inbred 4x5 to 1957 American Horse of the Year and eight-time American champion sire Bold Ruler. He is a half brother to Tiffany Twisted (by Thunder Gulch), dam of multiple stakes winner Twisted Tom (by Creative Cause), and to First Face (by Macho Uno), dam of Argentine listed stakes winner Sell Side (by Sebi Halo).
Incurable Optimist was produced from the winner Miss Turlington, whose half sister Role (by Gulch) is the dam of 2000 QTC Sires Produce Stakes (AUS-G1) winner Reenact (by Marscay). The sisters are out of 1984 Coaching Club American Oaks (USA-G1) winner Class Play (by Stage Door Johnny), a half sister to 1985 Remsen Stakes (USA-G1) winner Pillaster (by Riverman) and to 1983 Bougainvillea Handicap (USA-G2) winner Lamerok (by Round Table). Class Play, in turn, was produced from the winning Exclusive Native mare Flying Buttress, a half sister to Grade 3 winner Middle Stage (by Stage Door Johnny) and stakes winner Northern Meteor (by Northern Dancer) and a daughter of the important broodmare Patelin (by Cornish Prince).
Last updated: June 30, 2024
Race record
6 starts, 4 wins, 1 second, 1 third, US$271,309
1998:
- Won Generous Stakes (USA-G3, 8FT, Hollywood)
- Won Pilgrim Stakes (USA-G3, 9FT, Aqueduct)
- Won World Appeal Stakes (USA, 8FT, The Meadowlands)
Honors
Pellegrini Award, Stallion of the Year (2008)
Assessments
Rated at 121 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1998, 5 pounds below champion Answer Lively.
As an individual
A chestnut horse, Incurable Optimist was not blessed with the best of forelegs but had short cannons and well let down hocks; a strong, smoothly made body with powerful hindquarters; and a strong, straight hind leg. He was forced into retirement by a tendon injury.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Incurable Optimist has sired 570 winners (44.7%) and 23 stakes winners (1.8%) from 1274 named foals as of June 30, 2024. The Stud Book Argentino credits him with 36 stakes winners.
Sire rankings
Per the Stud Book Argentino (www.studbook.org.ar):
- Led the Argentine general sire list in 2008; 5th in 2007; 8th in 2009 and 2010; 10th in 2011.
- 10th on the Argentine broodmare sire list in 2022.
Notable progeny
Brandyrum (ARG), Fire Wall (ARG), Inter Optimist (ARG), Life of Victory (ARG)
Notable progeny of daughters
Dalbornell (ARG), Folie Ninja (ARG)
Connections
Foaled in New York, Incurable Optimist was bred by Dr. William B. Wilmot & Dr. Joan M. Taylor, who sold him as a weanling for US$44,000 through the 1996 Keeneand November mixed sale. He raced for John and Theresa Berendt and was trained by David Donk. He was exported to Argentina in 2001 and entered stud at Haras El Paraiso. He was pensioned following the 2022 breeding season, when he served only three mares.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1980 Laurel Futurity (USA-G1) winner and good sire Cure the Blues (by Stop the Music), Incurable Optimist is inbred 3x5 to 1960 American champion juvenile male and 1970 American champion sire Hail to Reason. He is also inbred 4x5 to 1957 American Horse of the Year and eight-time American champion sire Bold Ruler. He is a half brother to Tiffany Twisted (by Thunder Gulch), dam of multiple stakes winner Twisted Tom (by Creative Cause), and to First Face (by Macho Uno), dam of Argentine listed stakes winner Sell Side (by Sebi Halo).
Incurable Optimist was produced from the winner Miss Turlington, whose half sister Role (by Gulch) is the dam of 2000 QTC Sires Produce Stakes (AUS-G1) winner Reenact (by Marscay). The sisters are out of 1984 Coaching Club American Oaks (USA-G1) winner Class Play (by Stage Door Johnny), a half sister to 1985 Remsen Stakes (USA-G1) winner Pillaster (by Riverman) and to 1983 Bougainvillea Handicap (USA-G2) winner Lamerok (by Round Table). Class Play, in turn, was produced from the winning Exclusive Native mare Flying Buttress, a half sister to Grade 3 winner Middle Stage (by Stage Door Johnny) and stakes winner Northern Meteor (by Northern Dancer) and a daughter of the important broodmare Patelin (by Cornish Prince).
Last updated: June 30, 2024