Intentionally (USA)
April 2, 1956 – January 15, 1970
Intent (USA) x My Recipe (USA), by Discovery (USA)
Family 5-j
April 2, 1956 – January 15, 1970
Intent (USA) x My Recipe (USA), by Discovery (USA)
Family 5-j
Ordinarily, one would expect a horse by a two-time winner of the 14-furlong San Juan Capistrano Handicap and out of a Discovery mare to be a rather slow-maturing stayer. Instead, Intentionally was one of the best juveniles of his generation and developed into a first-class miler who equaled Swaps' world record for the mile as a 3-year-old. The American champion sprinter of 1959, the “Black Bullet” went on to become a fine sire, though sadly short-lived, and continued the Man o' War male line through his sons In Reality and Tentam.
Race record
34 starts, 18 wins, 7 seconds, 2 thirds, US$652,258
1958:
1959:
1960:
1961:
1962:
Honors
American champion sprinter (1959)
Assessments
Ranked third among American 2-year-old males of 1958 by The Blood-Horse.
Ranked fifth among American 3-year-old males of 1959 by The Blood-Horse.
Ranked fifth among American older males of 1962 by The Blood-Horse.
Weighted at 123 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1958, 5 pounds below champion First Landing.
Weighted at 119 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1959, 13 pounds below champion Sword Dancer (who was also American Horse of the Year).
Weighted at 118 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1960, 11 pounds below champion Bald Eagle.
Weighted at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1961, 11 pounds below champion Kelso (who was also American Horse of the Year).
Weighted at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1962, 5 pounds below champion Kelso (who was also American Horse of the Year).
As an individual
A black horse, Intentionally stood a shade under 16 hands. He was described by Charles Hatton of the Daily Racing Form as "a muscular black colt with synchronized action." His musculature was particularly notable about the shoulders, forearms, gaskins, and stifles, but he was not coarse and had a handsome Arabian-type head. His back was broad and he tended to walk wide behind. He was troubled with a leg problem as a 4-year-old that limited his racing that year. He was at his best on fast dirt, was less effective on off going, and failed badly in three attempts on turf.
As a stallion
The Jockey Club credits Intentionally with 140 winners (74.1%) and 20 stakes winners (10.6%) from 189 named foals of racing age. Intentionally is a Brilliant/Intermediate chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Notable progeny
Group Plan (USA), In Reality (USA), Ta Wee (USA), Tentam (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Acaroid (USA), Buy the Firm (USA), Dr. Patches (USA), Godswalk (USA), Great Above (USA), Image of Greatness (USA), Who's for Dinner (USA)
Connections
Foaled at Wolf Run Farm near Lexington, Kentucky, Intentionally was bred and owned by Harry Isaacs' Brookfield Farm. He was trained by Eddie Kelly at ages 2 to 4. On the advice of trainer and general manager John Nerud, William McKnight's Florida-based Tartan Farms purchased Intentionally as a stallion prospect after the horse's 5-year-old season, and Nerud trained Intentionally during the horse's three starts as a 6-year-old. Intentionally stood at Tartan as the property of a syndicate, with the majority of the 30 shares controlled by Tartan; the remainder were sold for US$25,000 each, giving Intentionally a total valuation of US$750,000. The stallion died of a heart attack in January 1970 and was buried at Tartan on land that is now part of Winding Oaks Farm.
Pedigree notes
Intentionally is inbred 4x4 to three-time American champion sire Fair Play and 5x5x5 to Fair Play's dam, the notable foundation mare Fairy Gold. He is a half brother to In Happiness (by Beau Max), second dam of multiple stakes winner Joy Returned and stakes winner Chief Joy. His dam My Recipe failed to win in five starts and is the only foal of any significance produced from Perlette, whose sire Percentage (a grandson of Ballot) was a quick and durable horse but not a particularly classy one.
A half sister to stakes winners Alyssum (by Supremus), Depression (by North Star III) and Howard (by Rolled Stocking) and to stakes producers Momo and Scarp, Perlette was produced from Escarpolette, a daughter of two-time American Horse of the Year Fitz Herbert and the Meddler mare Balancoire II. Balancoire II's other foals include Swinging (by Broomstick), dam of two-time American Horse of the Year Equipoise, and Balance (by Rabelais), second dam of 1938 American Horse of the Year Seabiscuit and fourth dam of 1954 Kentucky Derby winner Determine.
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: January 25, 2022
Race record
34 starts, 18 wins, 7 seconds, 2 thirds, US$652,258
1958:
- Won Futurity Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Belmont)
- Won Pimlico Futurity (USA, 8.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Tyro Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Monmouth)
- 2nd Champagne Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont; moved up from third by disqualification of Tomy Lee)
- 2nd Sapling Stakes (USA, 6FD, Monmouth)
- 2nd World's Playground Stakes. (USA, 7FD, Atlantic City)
- 2nd Grand Union Hotel Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
1959:
- Won Withers Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Jerome Handicap (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Warren Wright Memorial Stakes (USA, 8FD, Washington Park; equaled world record 1:33-1/5)
- Won Delaware Valley Stakes (USA, 6FD, Garden State)
- 2nd Gotham Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Arlington Classic (USA, 8FD, Arlington Park)
- 3rd Discovery Handicap (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
1960:
- Won Equipoise Mile Handicap (USA, 8FD, Arlington Park)
- Won Toboggan Handicap (USA, 6FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Aqueduct Handicap (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
1961:
- Won Quaker City Handicap (USA, 9FD, Garden State)
- Won Sport Page Handicap (USA, 6FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Trenton Handicap (USA, 10FD, Garden State)
1962:
- Won Seminole Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hialeah)
- Won Palm Beach Handicap (USA, 7FD, Hialeah)
Honors
American champion sprinter (1959)
Assessments
Ranked third among American 2-year-old males of 1958 by The Blood-Horse.
Ranked fifth among American 3-year-old males of 1959 by The Blood-Horse.
Ranked fifth among American older males of 1962 by The Blood-Horse.
Weighted at 123 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1958, 5 pounds below champion First Landing.
Weighted at 119 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1959, 13 pounds below champion Sword Dancer (who was also American Horse of the Year).
Weighted at 118 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1960, 11 pounds below champion Bald Eagle.
Weighted at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1961, 11 pounds below champion Kelso (who was also American Horse of the Year).
Weighted at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1962, 5 pounds below champion Kelso (who was also American Horse of the Year).
As an individual
A black horse, Intentionally stood a shade under 16 hands. He was described by Charles Hatton of the Daily Racing Form as "a muscular black colt with synchronized action." His musculature was particularly notable about the shoulders, forearms, gaskins, and stifles, but he was not coarse and had a handsome Arabian-type head. His back was broad and he tended to walk wide behind. He was troubled with a leg problem as a 4-year-old that limited his racing that year. He was at his best on fast dirt, was less effective on off going, and failed badly in three attempts on turf.
As a stallion
The Jockey Club credits Intentionally with 140 winners (74.1%) and 20 stakes winners (10.6%) from 189 named foals of racing age. Intentionally is a Brilliant/Intermediate chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- 3rd on the American general sire list in 1971; 4th in 1973; 8th in 1967; 10th in 1969.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 3rd on the American general sire list in 1971; 4th in 1973; 8th in 1967; 10th in 1969.
Notable progeny
Group Plan (USA), In Reality (USA), Ta Wee (USA), Tentam (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Acaroid (USA), Buy the Firm (USA), Dr. Patches (USA), Godswalk (USA), Great Above (USA), Image of Greatness (USA), Who's for Dinner (USA)
Connections
Foaled at Wolf Run Farm near Lexington, Kentucky, Intentionally was bred and owned by Harry Isaacs' Brookfield Farm. He was trained by Eddie Kelly at ages 2 to 4. On the advice of trainer and general manager John Nerud, William McKnight's Florida-based Tartan Farms purchased Intentionally as a stallion prospect after the horse's 5-year-old season, and Nerud trained Intentionally during the horse's three starts as a 6-year-old. Intentionally stood at Tartan as the property of a syndicate, with the majority of the 30 shares controlled by Tartan; the remainder were sold for US$25,000 each, giving Intentionally a total valuation of US$750,000. The stallion died of a heart attack in January 1970 and was buried at Tartan on land that is now part of Winding Oaks Farm.
Pedigree notes
Intentionally is inbred 4x4 to three-time American champion sire Fair Play and 5x5x5 to Fair Play's dam, the notable foundation mare Fairy Gold. He is a half brother to In Happiness (by Beau Max), second dam of multiple stakes winner Joy Returned and stakes winner Chief Joy. His dam My Recipe failed to win in five starts and is the only foal of any significance produced from Perlette, whose sire Percentage (a grandson of Ballot) was a quick and durable horse but not a particularly classy one.
A half sister to stakes winners Alyssum (by Supremus), Depression (by North Star III) and Howard (by Rolled Stocking) and to stakes producers Momo and Scarp, Perlette was produced from Escarpolette, a daughter of two-time American Horse of the Year Fitz Herbert and the Meddler mare Balancoire II. Balancoire II's other foals include Swinging (by Broomstick), dam of two-time American Horse of the Year Equipoise, and Balance (by Rabelais), second dam of 1938 American Horse of the Year Seabiscuit and fourth dam of 1954 Kentucky Derby winner Determine.
Fun facts
- Like all of Harry Isaacs' horses, Intentionally was given a name beginning with the letter “I.”
- After Intentionally dusted Carry Back by eight lengths in the 1962 Seminole Handicap, Carry Back's owner-breeder-trainer Jack Price could only say, “I'm glad John Nerud is going to retire that black horse.” Nerud and McKnight toyed briefly with the idea of running Intentionally back in the Widener Handicap, then Florida's most prestigious race for older males, but went ahead and retired him as originally planned so that Intentionally could stand the full 1962 breeding season.
- Intentionally's son Aforethought, a full brother to Ta Wee, had some influence on Quarter Horse bloodlines and sired two All-American Futurity winners in Hot Idea and Timetothinkrich.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: January 25, 2022