Iron Reward (USA)
1946 – 1975?
Beau Pere (GB) x Iron Maiden (USA), by War Admiral (USA)
American Family 4
1946 – 1975?
Beau Pere (GB) x Iron Maiden (USA), by War Admiral (USA)
American Family 4
The product of the first phase of her dam's breeding career, Iron Reward proved a useless race mare. Her worth as a racer was the inverse of her worth as a producer, for she produced three stakes winners—including a member of the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame—and a Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. Along the way, she earned Kentucky Broodmare of the Year honors of her own in 1955 and continued a distinguished American family.
Race record
8 starts, 0 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds, US$425
As an individual
A well-made, roomy bay mare, Iron Reward had good rein length, clean legs, and powerful hindquarters but was flawed by bad ankles.
As a producer
Iron Reward produced 11 named foals, of which nine started and five won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Iron Reward was bred by W. W. "Tiny" Naylor. She spent her breeding career as the property of Rex Ellsworth, at one time the leading breeder in California and one of the leading breeders in the United States. Unfortunately, Iron Reward did not survive the financial collapse of Ellsworth's Thoroughbred operation; according to Sports Illustrated writer Whitney Tower (“Sad End to an Empire,” February 3, 1975), she was found dead on Ellsworth's Chino ranch, apparently a victim of starvation. In a March 3, 1975 Blood-Horse article (“When Is a Fact a Fact?”) by Kent Hollingsworth, however, Ellsworth is cited as stating that Iron Reward died on September 17, 1970.
Pedigree notes
Iron Reward is outcrossed through five generations. Produced from the War Admiral mare Iron Maiden, she is a half sister to 1957 Kentucky Derby winner Iron Liege (by Bull Lea), to multiple stakes winner Trentonian (by Bull Lea) and to stakes winner Aczay (by On-and-On). She is also a half sister to Miss Grundy (by Bull Lea), dam of 1965 Michigan Derby winner Reverse (by Turn-to); to Klondike Kate (by the Bull Lea horse Mark-Ye-Well), dam of juvenile stakes winner Fair Ye Well (by Ridan) and second dam of Grade 3 winner Kodiack; and to Spartan Woman (by Bull Lea's champion son Tim Tam), second dam of 1981 Puerto Rican champion juvenile male Egregio, Canadian Classic winner Pinafore Park (winner of the 1998 Breeders' Stakes) and multiple Grade 3 winner Iron Courage (by Caro).
A stakes winner at 6, Iron Maiden is a half sister to juvenile stakes winners Betty Sweep (by Sweep All) and Judy-Rae (by Beau Pere). The latter mare is the dam of 1955 Arlington Lassie Stakes winner Judy Rullah (by Nasrullah) and the second dam of Grade 2 winner Tom Tulle, 1968 Remsen Stakes winner Paulali and Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Courtly Dee.
Iron Maiden and Judy-Rae are out of 1931 Latonia Oaks winner Betty Derr (by Sir Gallahad III), one of five stakes winners produced from the stakes-winning Uncle's Lassie (by Uncle). The best of Betty Derr's half siblings, the Man o' War gelding Clyde Van Dusen, won the 1929 Kentucky Derby.
Last updated: May 12, 2020
Race record
8 starts, 0 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds, US$425
As an individual
A well-made, roomy bay mare, Iron Reward had good rein length, clean legs, and powerful hindquarters but was flawed by bad ankles.
As a producer
Iron Reward produced 11 named foals, of which nine started and five won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Track Medal (1950, by Khaled) won three of 37 starts. A much better broodmare than racer, she produced 1958 Manhattan Handicap winner Tutankhamen (by Nasrullah), 1962 Musidora Stakes winner Fool's Gold II (by Tom Fool), 1962 Hopeful Stakes and 1963 Dwyer Handicap winner Outing Class (by Nasrullah) and 1966 Sunset Handicap winner O'Hara (by Ballymoss). The 1962 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year, she is the second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Knightly Sport and the third dam of 1981 Rothmans International Stakes (CAN-G1) winner Open Call, 1991 Db Draught Avondale Stakes (NZ-G1) winner Val d'Arno, English Group 3 winner Line Engaged and Grade 3 winner Gilded Age.
- Swaps (1952, by Khaled) won 19 of his 25 starts, including the 1955 Kentucky Derby, and was honored as the 1956 American Horse of the Year. A member of the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame, he sired 35 stakes winners including American champions Affectionately, Chateaugay and Primonetta.
- Like Magic (1953, by Khaled) won a division of the 1955 Cabrillo Handicap and placed in four other stakes races as a 5-year-old. He was of no importance as a stallion.
- Molly Maid (1954, by Khaled) was stakes-placed during her own racing days and produced 1966 Benjamin F. Lindheimer Handicap winner Toulore (by Toulouse Lautrec).
- The Shoe (1955, by Khaled) won the 1958 Cinema Handicap and Del Mar Derby. He sired only four minor stakes winners from 167 foals.
- Iron Age (1962, by Khaled) never raced. She produced stakes winner Gallant Outlook (by Gallant Man) and is the second dam of Japanese Group 2 winner Sakura Sunny O.
Connections
Iron Reward was bred by W. W. "Tiny" Naylor. She spent her breeding career as the property of Rex Ellsworth, at one time the leading breeder in California and one of the leading breeders in the United States. Unfortunately, Iron Reward did not survive the financial collapse of Ellsworth's Thoroughbred operation; according to Sports Illustrated writer Whitney Tower (“Sad End to an Empire,” February 3, 1975), she was found dead on Ellsworth's Chino ranch, apparently a victim of starvation. In a March 3, 1975 Blood-Horse article (“When Is a Fact a Fact?”) by Kent Hollingsworth, however, Ellsworth is cited as stating that Iron Reward died on September 17, 1970.
Pedigree notes
Iron Reward is outcrossed through five generations. Produced from the War Admiral mare Iron Maiden, she is a half sister to 1957 Kentucky Derby winner Iron Liege (by Bull Lea), to multiple stakes winner Trentonian (by Bull Lea) and to stakes winner Aczay (by On-and-On). She is also a half sister to Miss Grundy (by Bull Lea), dam of 1965 Michigan Derby winner Reverse (by Turn-to); to Klondike Kate (by the Bull Lea horse Mark-Ye-Well), dam of juvenile stakes winner Fair Ye Well (by Ridan) and second dam of Grade 3 winner Kodiack; and to Spartan Woman (by Bull Lea's champion son Tim Tam), second dam of 1981 Puerto Rican champion juvenile male Egregio, Canadian Classic winner Pinafore Park (winner of the 1998 Breeders' Stakes) and multiple Grade 3 winner Iron Courage (by Caro).
A stakes winner at 6, Iron Maiden is a half sister to juvenile stakes winners Betty Sweep (by Sweep All) and Judy-Rae (by Beau Pere). The latter mare is the dam of 1955 Arlington Lassie Stakes winner Judy Rullah (by Nasrullah) and the second dam of Grade 2 winner Tom Tulle, 1968 Remsen Stakes winner Paulali and Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Courtly Dee.
Iron Maiden and Judy-Rae are out of 1931 Latonia Oaks winner Betty Derr (by Sir Gallahad III), one of five stakes winners produced from the stakes-winning Uncle's Lassie (by Uncle). The best of Betty Derr's half siblings, the Man o' War gelding Clyde Van Dusen, won the 1929 Kentucky Derby.
Last updated: May 12, 2020