Key to the Mint (USA)
March 9, 1969 – September 21, 1996
Graustark (USA) x Key Bridge (USA), by Princequillo (IRE)
Family 2-n
March 9, 1969 – September 21, 1996
Graustark (USA) x Key Bridge (USA), by Princequillo (IRE)
Family 2-n
A rather late-maturing colt who had to overcome a number of physical problems, Key to the Mint came on in the summer and fall of his 3-year-old season to take the divisional championship away from dual Classic winner Riva Ridge. After winning the Suburban Handicap as a 4-year-old, he retired to become a good sire and broodmare sire.
Race record
29 starts, 14 wins, 4 seconds, 3 thirds, US$576,013
1971:
1972:
1973:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old male (1972)
Assessments
Rated at 121 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1971, 5 pounds below champion Riva Ridge.
Co-highweighted with Riva Ridge at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1972, 3 pounds above Preakness Stakes winner Bee Bee Bee and dual Classic-placed No Le Hace.
Rated at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1973, 6 pounds below champion Riva Ridge.
As an individual
Somewhat backward as a juvenile, Key to the Mint matured into a handsome, good-bodied horse standing 16 hands. He had a good shoulder, a strong loin and strong hindquarters with ample but not bulging musculature down into the forearms and gaskins. He had good action. He could be faulted for hind legs with a shade too much angulation. He was an intelligent and curious horse who ran equipped with a shadow roll and blinkers to help keep his mind on business but was game and genuine in the heat of action. He was indifferent as to track conditions.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Key to the Mint sired 337 winners (52.6%) and 49 stakes winners (7.6%) from 641 named foals. He was a notable influence for stamina. His daughters bred on better than did his sons. Key to the Mint is a Brilliant/Classic 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
Gold and Ivory (USA), Java Gold (USA), Jewel Princess (USA), Kamar (CAN), Plugged Nickle (USA), Pure Profit (USA), Sauce Boat (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Among Men (USA), Blue Murder (AUS), Corporate Report (USA), Danger's Hour (USA), De Roche (USA), Educated Risk (USA), Fire of Life (USA), Gorgeous (USA), Influent (USA), Inside Information (USA), Key Contender (USA), Key to the Moon (CAN), Lonely Bird (USA), Malibu Mint (USA), Nine Keys (USA), Plenty of Grace (USA), Prince of Birds (USA), Pure Fun (USA), Royal Chariot (USA), Royal Dragon (USA), Seaside Attraction (USA), Seldom Seen Sue (USA), Silver Voice (USA), Soaring Softly (USA), Swain (IRE), You'd Be Surprised (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Virginia, Key to the Mint was bred and owned by Paul Mellon, who raced the colt in the colors of his Rokeby Stable. He was trained by Elliott Burch. Key to the Mint entered stud in 1974 at Greentree Farm, which became part of Gainesway Farm in 1989. He was humanely destroyed at Gainesway due to the infirmities of old age in 1996.
Pedigree notes
Key to the Mint is inbred 5x4 to Papyrus and 5x5 to Papyrus' sire Tracery. Produced from 1980 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Key Bridge, he is a half brother to 1970 American co-Horse of the Year Fort Marcy, 1981 United Nations Handicap (USA-G1) winner Key to Content (by Forli) and Grade 3 winner Key to the Kingdom (by Bold Ruler). He is also a half brother to Gliding By (by Tom Rolfe), dam of Irish Group 3 winner Clare Bridge (by Little Current) and stakes winner Song of Sixpence (by The Minstrel) and second dam of multiple European Group 1 winner Silver Patriarch, 2004 Ascot Gold Cup (ENG-G1) winner Papineau, Grade 2 winner Bayamo, and Group 3 winners My Patriarch and Wessam Prince. Gliding By is also the third dam of 2010 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere-Grand Criterium (FR-G1) winner Wootton Bassett, Brazilian Group 2 winners Uvento and Acteon Man, and Grade/Group 3 winners No Explaining and Snake Snap. In addition, Key to the Mint is a half brother to Key Link (by Bold Ruler), second dam of two-time Brazilian champion Mensageiro Alado and third dam of 2001 Grande Prêmio Linneo de Paula Machado (BRZ-G1) winner Rizzolini and Grade 3 winner Shadow of Illinois; to Seven Locks (by Jacinto), second dam of Grade 2 winners Lykatill Hil and Pat Copelan and multiple Grade 3 winner Classic Account and third dam of multiple Brazilian Group 1 winner Clausen Export; and to Key to the Heart (by Arts and Letters), third dam of Italian Group 3 winner Duel.
Key Bridge is a half sister to multiple stakes winner Branford Court (by Quadrangle). She was produced from 1956 Firenze Handicap winner Blue Banner (by War Admiral), a half sister to 1953 Buckeye Handicap winner Risque Rouge (by Blenheim II). Blue Banner, in turn, 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-G1) winner Touch Gold.
Fun facts
Last updated: November 6, 2024
Race record
29 starts, 14 wins, 4 seconds, 3 thirds, US$576,013
1971:
- Won Remsen Stakes (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Cowdin Stakes (USA, 7FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Garden State Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Garden State)
1972:
- Won Travers Stakes (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
- Won Woodward Stakes (USA, 12FD, Belmont)
- Won Whitney Stakes (USA, 9FD, Saratoga)
- Won Brooklyn Handicap (USA, 9.5FD, Aqueduct; equaled track record 1:54-4/5)
- Won Withers Stakes (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Derby Trial Stakes (USA, 8FD, Churchill Downs)
1973:
- Won Suburban Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont)
- Won Excelsior Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Metropolitan Handicap (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old male (1972)
Assessments
Rated at 121 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1971, 5 pounds below champion Riva Ridge.
Co-highweighted with Riva Ridge at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1972, 3 pounds above Preakness Stakes winner Bee Bee Bee and dual Classic-placed No Le Hace.
Rated at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1973, 6 pounds below champion Riva Ridge.
As an individual
Somewhat backward as a juvenile, Key to the Mint matured into a handsome, good-bodied horse standing 16 hands. He had a good shoulder, a strong loin and strong hindquarters with ample but not bulging musculature down into the forearms and gaskins. He had good action. He could be faulted for hind legs with a shade too much angulation. He was an intelligent and curious horse who ran equipped with a shadow roll and blinkers to help keep his mind on business but was game and genuine in the heat of action. He was indifferent as to track conditions.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Key to the Mint sired 337 winners (52.6%) and 49 stakes winners (7.6%) from 641 named foals. He was a notable influence for stamina. His daughters bred on better than did his sons. Key to the Mint is a Brilliant/Classic chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- 3rd on the American broodmare sire list in 1994; 9th in 1992.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 9th on the American general sire list in 1987.
- 5th on the American broodmare sire list in 1994; 8th in 1998; 9th in 1990; 10th in 1995.
- 7th on the combined English/Irish broodmare sire list in 1998.
Notable progeny
Gold and Ivory (USA), Java Gold (USA), Jewel Princess (USA), Kamar (CAN), Plugged Nickle (USA), Pure Profit (USA), Sauce Boat (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Among Men (USA), Blue Murder (AUS), Corporate Report (USA), Danger's Hour (USA), De Roche (USA), Educated Risk (USA), Fire of Life (USA), Gorgeous (USA), Influent (USA), Inside Information (USA), Key Contender (USA), Key to the Moon (CAN), Lonely Bird (USA), Malibu Mint (USA), Nine Keys (USA), Plenty of Grace (USA), Prince of Birds (USA), Pure Fun (USA), Royal Chariot (USA), Royal Dragon (USA), Seaside Attraction (USA), Seldom Seen Sue (USA), Silver Voice (USA), Soaring Softly (USA), Swain (IRE), You'd Be Surprised (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Virginia, Key to the Mint was bred and owned by Paul Mellon, who raced the colt in the colors of his Rokeby Stable. He was trained by Elliott Burch. Key to the Mint entered stud in 1974 at Greentree Farm, which became part of Gainesway Farm in 1989. He was humanely destroyed at Gainesway due to the infirmities of old age in 1996.
Pedigree notes
Key to the Mint is inbred 5x4 to Papyrus and 5x5 to Papyrus' sire Tracery. Produced from 1980 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Key Bridge, he is a half brother to 1970 American co-Horse of the Year Fort Marcy, 1981 United Nations Handicap (USA-G1) winner Key to Content (by Forli) and Grade 3 winner Key to the Kingdom (by Bold Ruler). He is also a half brother to Gliding By (by Tom Rolfe), dam of Irish Group 3 winner Clare Bridge (by Little Current) and stakes winner Song of Sixpence (by The Minstrel) and second dam of multiple European Group 1 winner Silver Patriarch, 2004 Ascot Gold Cup (ENG-G1) winner Papineau, Grade 2 winner Bayamo, and Group 3 winners My Patriarch and Wessam Prince. Gliding By is also the third dam of 2010 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere-Grand Criterium (FR-G1) winner Wootton Bassett, Brazilian Group 2 winners Uvento and Acteon Man, and Grade/Group 3 winners No Explaining and Snake Snap. In addition, Key to the Mint is a half brother to Key Link (by Bold Ruler), second dam of two-time Brazilian champion Mensageiro Alado and third dam of 2001 Grande Prêmio Linneo de Paula Machado (BRZ-G1) winner Rizzolini and Grade 3 winner Shadow of Illinois; to Seven Locks (by Jacinto), second dam of Grade 2 winners Lykatill Hil and Pat Copelan and multiple Grade 3 winner Classic Account and third dam of multiple Brazilian Group 1 winner Clausen Export; and to Key to the Heart (by Arts and Letters), third dam of Italian Group 3 winner Duel.
Key Bridge is a half sister to multiple stakes winner Branford Court (by Quadrangle). She was produced from 1956 Firenze Handicap winner Blue Banner (by War Admiral), a half sister to 1953 Buckeye Handicap winner Risque Rouge (by Blenheim II). Blue Banner, in turn, 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-G1) winner Touch Gold.
Fun facts
- Key to the Mint became the first of five twentieth-century colts to win honors as champion 3-year-old male without having won a Triple Crown race since Eclipse Award voting began in 1971. The others are Wajima (1975), Slew o' Gold (1983), Holy Bull (1994), and Skip Away (1996).
- As with most other horses from the Rokeby Stable, Key to the Mint normally went to and from training and to the post without a lead pony.
- Ironically, Paul Mellon had little luck in getting fillies by his champion. Henry White, who boarded Mellon's Kentucky-based mares, recalled that Mellon only had two daughters of Key to the Mint in spite of having bred many mares to him.
Last updated: November 6, 2024