A well -regarded racehorse who was not far off the top of his class at both 2 and 3, Iron Ruler was not a classic horse and did not really stay even 9 furlongs. Nonetheless, he was utterly game and determined as far as his tether stretched. He became a quite useful sire, whose best known runners were 1982 Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) winner Aloma's Ruler and the juvenile champions Butterfly Rose and The Iron, whose successes were in Norway and Venezuela, respectively.
Race record
35 starts, 9 wins, 13 seconds, 9 thirds, US$455,702
1967:
1968:
1969:
Assessments
Rated at 123 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1967, 3 pounds below divisional champion and highweight Vitriolic.
Rated at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1968, 6 pounds below divisional co-champion and highweight Stage Door Johnny and 5 pounds below the other divisional co-champion, Forward Pass.
Rated at 121 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1969, 11 pounds below divisional champion and highweight Nodouble.
As an individual
A neatly made gray horse standing 15.3 hands, Iron Ruler had the lengthy build of his sire Never Bend with a deep girth, well laid shoulder and moderately sloping pelvis; his coupling was short and strong in spite of his length. He was slightly over at the knee and his hocks were somewhat sickled. As a racehorse, he was tough, consistent and courageous but did not really stay much more than a mile. His action was rapid rather than long-striding. He typically ran on or near the pace.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Iron Ruler sired 286 winners (68.8%) and 30 stakes winners (7.2%) from 416 named foals. He was an influence for speed.
Notable progeny
Aloma's Ruler (USA), Butterfly Rose (USA), The Iron (VEN)
Connections
Iron Ruler was bred and owned by Mr. and Mrs. Peter Kissel's Orchard House Farm. He was trained by Eddie Yowell. He died at his owners' farm in August 1984.
Pedigree notes
Iron Ruler is inbred 4x3 to 1930 Derby Stakes winner and 1941 American champion sire Blenheim II, 4x4 to 1923 English champion 2-year-old filly and notable foundation mare Mumtaz Mahal, and 5x5x4 to Blenheim II's sire Blandford, a three-time leader of the combined English/Irish sire list. He is a half brother to 1961 San Juan Capistrano Handicap and San Luis Rey Handicap winner Don't Alibi (by Alibhai) and to Behavior (by Count Fleet), second dam of Grade 2 winner Answer and multiple Grade 3 winner Nice Catch and third dam of 1988 Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (USA-G1) winner Flying Julia. He is also a half brother to New Lede (by Tudor Minstrel), dam of Italian stakes winners Egmont (by Petingo) and Sammler (by Sandford Lad), second dam of Italian Group 3 winner Sweet Mas and third dam of 1985 Gran Criterium (ITY-G1) winner Tanque Verde and 1983 Acorn Stakes (USA-G1) winner Ski Goggle. Finally, he is a half brother to Deportment (by Balladier), third dam of Panamanian Group 3 winner Gaviota A.
Obedient, the dam of Iron Ruler, is a winning full sister to 1952 Pimlico Special winner General Staff and a half sister to 1967 Donn Handicap winner Francis U. (by Francis S.), 1954 Bougainvillea Handicap winner Parnassus (by War Admiral), and multiple stakes winners Noble Impulse (by Bull Dog) and Colonel O'F (by Teddy's Comet). She is also a half sister to the remarkable broodmare Missy Baba (by Tulyar or My Babu), dam of six stakes winners plus 1991 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Toll Booth). In addition, Obedient is a half sister to Oonagh (by Sword Dancer), dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Hunza Dancer (by Hawaii), and to Blarney Bess (by Tulyar), second dam of 1994 Dubai Champion Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Dernier Empereur and European Group 3 winners Petipa, Prattle On and Sarasota Spring. Blarney Bess is also the third dam of Canadian Grade 2 winner Ascot Yael.
Obedient and her siblings were produced from Uvira II (by by 1934 Champion Stakes winner Umidwar), generally considered the Irish champion 3-year-old filly of 1941 after winning that year's Irish Oaks. A half sister to English stakes winner La Gaiete (by Gainsborough) and French stakes winner Machi Mia (by Salmon-Trout), she was produced from juvenile stakes winner and 1926 Irish Oaks runner-up Lady Lawless, a daughter of the noted stayer and sire of stayers Son-in-Law.
Last updated: May 28, 2020
Race record
35 starts, 9 wins, 13 seconds, 9 thirds, US$455,702
1967:
- Won Cowdin Stakes (USA, 7FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Tyro Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Monmouth)
- 2nd Champagne Stakes (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Garden State Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Garden State)
- 2nd Tremont Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Sapling Stakes (USA, 6FD, Monmouth)
- 3rd World's Playground Stakes (USA, 7FD, Atlantic City)
1968:
- Won Jerome Handicap (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Benjamin Franklin Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Garden State)
- 2nd Wood Memorial Stakes (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Arlington Classic Stakes (USA, 8FD, Arlington Park)
- 2nd Flamingo Stakes (USA, 9FD, Hialeah; disqualified from first)
- 2nd Florida Derby (USA, 9FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 3rd Jersey Derby (USA, 9FD, Garden State)
- 3rd Roamer Handicap (USA, 9.5FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Saranac Handicap (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
1969:
- Won Westchester Stakes (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Carter Handicap (USA, 7FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Royal Poinciana Handicap (USA, 6FD, Hialeah)
- 2nd Valley Forge Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Garden State)
- 3rd John B. Campbell Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Bowie)
- 3rd Seminole Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hialeah)
- 3rd Salvator Mile Handicap (USA, 8FD, Monmouth)
Assessments
Rated at 123 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1967, 3 pounds below divisional champion and highweight Vitriolic.
Rated at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1968, 6 pounds below divisional co-champion and highweight Stage Door Johnny and 5 pounds below the other divisional co-champion, Forward Pass.
Rated at 121 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1969, 11 pounds below divisional champion and highweight Nodouble.
As an individual
A neatly made gray horse standing 15.3 hands, Iron Ruler had the lengthy build of his sire Never Bend with a deep girth, well laid shoulder and moderately sloping pelvis; his coupling was short and strong in spite of his length. He was slightly over at the knee and his hocks were somewhat sickled. As a racehorse, he was tough, consistent and courageous but did not really stay much more than a mile. His action was rapid rather than long-striding. He typically ran on or near the pace.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Iron Ruler sired 286 winners (68.8%) and 30 stakes winners (7.2%) from 416 named foals. He was an influence for speed.
Notable progeny
Aloma's Ruler (USA), Butterfly Rose (USA), The Iron (VEN)
Connections
Iron Ruler was bred and owned by Mr. and Mrs. Peter Kissel's Orchard House Farm. He was trained by Eddie Yowell. He died at his owners' farm in August 1984.
Pedigree notes
Iron Ruler is inbred 4x3 to 1930 Derby Stakes winner and 1941 American champion sire Blenheim II, 4x4 to 1923 English champion 2-year-old filly and notable foundation mare Mumtaz Mahal, and 5x5x4 to Blenheim II's sire Blandford, a three-time leader of the combined English/Irish sire list. He is a half brother to 1961 San Juan Capistrano Handicap and San Luis Rey Handicap winner Don't Alibi (by Alibhai) and to Behavior (by Count Fleet), second dam of Grade 2 winner Answer and multiple Grade 3 winner Nice Catch and third dam of 1988 Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (USA-G1) winner Flying Julia. He is also a half brother to New Lede (by Tudor Minstrel), dam of Italian stakes winners Egmont (by Petingo) and Sammler (by Sandford Lad), second dam of Italian Group 3 winner Sweet Mas and third dam of 1985 Gran Criterium (ITY-G1) winner Tanque Verde and 1983 Acorn Stakes (USA-G1) winner Ski Goggle. Finally, he is a half brother to Deportment (by Balladier), third dam of Panamanian Group 3 winner Gaviota A.
Obedient, the dam of Iron Ruler, is a winning full sister to 1952 Pimlico Special winner General Staff and a half sister to 1967 Donn Handicap winner Francis U. (by Francis S.), 1954 Bougainvillea Handicap winner Parnassus (by War Admiral), and multiple stakes winners Noble Impulse (by Bull Dog) and Colonel O'F (by Teddy's Comet). She is also a half sister to the remarkable broodmare Missy Baba (by Tulyar or My Babu), dam of six stakes winners plus 1991 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Toll Booth). In addition, Obedient is a half sister to Oonagh (by Sword Dancer), dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Hunza Dancer (by Hawaii), and to Blarney Bess (by Tulyar), second dam of 1994 Dubai Champion Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Dernier Empereur and European Group 3 winners Petipa, Prattle On and Sarasota Spring. Blarney Bess is also the third dam of Canadian Grade 2 winner Ascot Yael.
Obedient and her siblings were produced from Uvira II (by by 1934 Champion Stakes winner Umidwar), generally considered the Irish champion 3-year-old filly of 1941 after winning that year's Irish Oaks. A half sister to English stakes winner La Gaiete (by Gainsborough) and French stakes winner Machi Mia (by Salmon-Trout), she was produced from juvenile stakes winner and 1926 Irish Oaks runner-up Lady Lawless, a daughter of the noted stayer and sire of stayers Son-in-Law.
Last updated: May 28, 2020