Key Bridge (USA)
April 10, 1959 – March 1979
Princequillo (IRE) x Blue Banner (USA), by War Admiral (USA)
Family 2-n
April 10, 1959 – March 1979
Princequillo (IRE) x Blue Banner (USA), by War Admiral (USA)
Family 2-n
Key Bridge did not withstand training long enough to make it to the racetrack but atoned for this by becoming an important producer in Paul Mellon's breeding program. Her four stakes winners included two champions, one of them an important sire, and she was named the 1980 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. In addition, she produced several daughters that bred on.
Race record
Unraced
As an individual
A bay mare, Key Bridge was attractive and roomy though not particularly large.
As a producer
Key Bridge produced 11 named foals, of which eight started and seven won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Virginia, Key Bridge was bred and owned by Paul Mellon.
Pedigree notes
Key Bridge is inbred 5x5 to 1903 English Triple Crown winner Rock Sand. A half sister to multiple stakes winner Branford Court (by Quadrangle), she was produced from 1956 Firenze Handicap winner Blue Banner. Blue Banner was a US$14,500 purchase for Mellon at the 1953 Keeneland yearling sale and was a half sister to 1953 Buckeye Handicap winner Risque Rouge (by Blenheim II).
Blue Banner was produced from Risque Blue (by Blue Larkspur), whose half sister Risque Reigh (by Reigh Count) produced 1945 American Handicap winner Bull Reigh (by Bull Dog), stakes winner Lucrative (by Mahmoud) and 1942 Adirondack Handicap winner La Reigh (by Count Gallahad). Through La Reigh's daughter Happy Mood (by Mahmoud), winner of the 1954 Acorn Stakes, Risque Reigh is the ancestress of a notable Canadian family that includes Canadian Triple Crown winners With Approval (1989) and Izvestia (1990) and 1997 Belmont Stakes (USA-I) winner Touch Gold. Risque Blue is also a half sister to Reigh Risk (by Reigh Count), second dam of 1956 California Breeders' Champion Stakes winner Fathers Risk, and to Margaret Reigh (by Reigh Count), dam of 1952 Buckeye Handicap winner Euclid (by Fighting Fox).
Risque Reigh and her siblings were produced from the Stimulus mare Risque, winner of the 1930 Spinaway Stakes and 1931 Alabama Stakes and a full sister to 1934 Arlington Handicap winner Riskulus. Produced from the Diadumenos mare Risky, Risque is also a half sister to the first-class broodmare Risk (by Sir Gallahad III), dam of 1945 American champion 2-year-old filly Beaugay (by Stimulus), 1937 Hopeful Stakes winner Sky Larking (by Blue Larkspur), 1938 Metropolitan Handicap winner Danger Point (by Stimulus) and 1940 Correction Handicap winner Little Risk (by Stimulus).
Race record
Unraced
As an individual
A bay mare, Key Bridge was attractive and roomy though not particularly large.
As a producer
Key Bridge produced 11 named foals, of which eight started and seven won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Fort Marcy (1964, by Amerigo; a gelding) was a three-time American champion in the turf division and shared American Horse of the Year honors with Personality in 1970 as well as earning American championship honors that year in the handicap male division.
- Seven Locks (1968, by Jacinto) never raced. She is the second dam of Grade II winners Lykatill Hil and Pat Copelan and multiple Grade III winner Classic Account. She is also the third dam of multiple Brazilian Group I winner Clausen Export.
- Key to the Mint (1969, by Graustark) was the American champion 3-year-old male of 1972. He sired 49 stakes winners including champions Gold and Ivory, Jewel Princess, Kamar and Plugged Nickle.
- Key to the Kingdom (1970, by Bold Ruler) won the 1974 Stymie Handicap (USA-III). He sired 16 stakes winners including 1982 English and French champion juvenile filly Ma Biche.
- Key Link (1971, by Bold Ruler) failed to win in two starts. She is the second dam of two-time Brazilian champion Mensageiro Alado and the third dam of 2001 Grande Prêmio Linneo de Paula Machado (BRZ-I) winner Rizzolini and Grade III winner Shadow of Illinois.
- Key to the Heart (1972, by Arts and Letters) did not race. She is the third dam of Italian Group III winner Duel.
- Gliding By (1975, by Tom Rolfe) won her only start. She is the dam of Irish Group III winner Clare Bridge (by Little Current) and stakes winner Song of Sixpence (by The Minstrel). She is also the second dam of multiple European Group I winner Silver Patriarch, 2004 Ascot Gold Cup (ENG-I) winner Papineau, Grade II winner Bayamo, English Group III winner My Patriarch and German Group III winner Wessam Prince. In addition, she is the third dam of 2010 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere-Grand Criterium (FR-I) winner Wootton Bassett, Brazilian Group II winners Uvento and Acteon Man, Grade III winner No Explaining and Italian Group III winner Snake Snap.
- Key to Content (1977, by Forli) won the 1981 United Nations Handicap (USA-I), setting a new course record, and captured three other stakes events. He was not a successful sire in North America and was exported to Italy in 1988.
Connections
Foaled in Virginia, Key Bridge was bred and owned by Paul Mellon.
Pedigree notes
Key Bridge is inbred 5x5 to 1903 English Triple Crown winner Rock Sand. A half sister to multiple stakes winner Branford Court (by Quadrangle), she was produced from 1956 Firenze Handicap winner Blue Banner. Blue Banner was a US$14,500 purchase for Mellon at the 1953 Keeneland yearling sale and was a half sister to 1953 Buckeye Handicap winner Risque Rouge (by Blenheim II).
Blue Banner was produced from Risque Blue (by Blue Larkspur), whose half sister Risque Reigh (by Reigh Count) produced 1945 American Handicap winner Bull Reigh (by Bull Dog), stakes winner Lucrative (by Mahmoud) and 1942 Adirondack Handicap winner La Reigh (by Count Gallahad). Through La Reigh's daughter Happy Mood (by Mahmoud), winner of the 1954 Acorn Stakes, Risque Reigh is the ancestress of a notable Canadian family that includes Canadian Triple Crown winners With Approval (1989) and Izvestia (1990) and 1997 Belmont Stakes (USA-I) winner Touch Gold. Risque Blue is also a half sister to Reigh Risk (by Reigh Count), second dam of 1956 California Breeders' Champion Stakes winner Fathers Risk, and to Margaret Reigh (by Reigh Count), dam of 1952 Buckeye Handicap winner Euclid (by Fighting Fox).
Risque Reigh and her siblings were produced from the Stimulus mare Risque, winner of the 1930 Spinaway Stakes and 1931 Alabama Stakes and a full sister to 1934 Arlington Handicap winner Riskulus. Produced from the Diadumenos mare Risky, Risque is also a half sister to the first-class broodmare Risk (by Sir Gallahad III), dam of 1945 American champion 2-year-old filly Beaugay (by Stimulus), 1937 Hopeful Stakes winner Sky Larking (by Blue Larkspur), 1938 Metropolitan Handicap winner Danger Point (by Stimulus) and 1940 Correction Handicap winner Little Risk (by Stimulus).