Kittiwake (USA)
March 24, 1968 – May 19, 2000
Sea-Bird (FR) x Ole Liz (USA), by Double Jay (USA)
Family 4-m
March 24, 1968 – May 19, 2000
Sea-Bird (FR) x Ole Liz (USA), by Double Jay (USA)
Family 4-m
Kittiwake narrowly missed a championship at 3 after missing the first half of the season, then coming on in the fall to defeat her elders three times in good stakes races. She continued to race well at 4 and added another major stakes win in February of her 5-year-old season before retiring to the broodmare ranks. She proved to be an even better producer than she had been a racer, her produce including four stakes winners (including two Grade/Group 1 winners) and several noteworthy broodmares.
Race record
54 starts, 18 wins, 12 seconds, 9 thirds, US$338,086
1970:
1971:
1972:
1973:
Honors
Virginia Broodmare of the Year (1983, 1984)
Assessments
Rated at 125 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American-raced 3-year-old fillies of 1971, 1 pound below champion Turkish Trousers and tied with Canadian Horse of the Year Lauries Dancer.
Rated at 122 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American turf females of 1972, 6 pounds below highweighted Typecast but third in the division.
Rated at 120 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf females of 1973, 6 pounds below highweighted Dahlia.
As an individual
A smallish, elegant, racy bay mare, Kittiwake preferred to race on or close to the lead and was game when hooked.
As a producer
Kittiwake produced 13 named foals, of which 12 started and 10 won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Florida, Kittiwake was bred by Martin Andersen. After being purchased for US$80,000 from the 1970 Hialeah sale of 2-year-olds in training, she was owned by Mr. & Mrs. Taylor Hardin's Newstead Farm and raced in the name of Mrs. Hardin. She was trained by Woody Stephens. She was purchased for $3.8 million by Joe Albritton from the Newstead dispersal at the 1985 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November, in foal to Alydar. Pensioned after being reported barren in 1993-1995, she was euthanized due to the infirmities of old age at Albritton's Lazy Lane Farms on May 19, 2002.
Pedigree notes
Kittiwake is inbred 4x5 to two-time American champion sire Sickle. She is a half sister to Beaconaire (by Vaguely Noble), who won two stakes races in France before becoming the dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Sabin (by Lyphard) and Group 3 winners Fatah Flare (by Alydar) and Binya (by Royal Solo) Beaconaire is the second dam of two-time American champion steeplechaser Flat Top and multiple Group 3 winner Asema and the third dam of 2015 New Zealand Stakes (NZ-G1) winner Sakhee’s Soldier, 2017 Sword Dancer Stakes (USA-G1) winner Sadler’s Joy, Grade 2 winner Wolfie’s Dynaghost, and Grade 3 winners Luftikus and Where’s Sterling.
Returning to Kittwake, she is also a half sister to multiple Grade 3 winner Oilfield (by Hail to Reason) and to Blanche Du Bois (by Green Dancer), the second dam of 2003 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (USA-G1) winner Film Maker and multiple Argentine Group 3 Woodgreen. In addition, Kittiwake is a half sister to Galexcel (by Exceller), second dam of Irish Group 3 winner Red Feather, and to Starkling (by Graustark), third dam of 2010 Triple Bend Handicap (USA-G1) winner E Z’s Gentleman.
Kittiwake and her siblings are out of multiple stakes winner Ole Liz, whose full sister, Bourbon Mist, is the dam of stakes winner Fire Water (by Tom Rolfe), the second dam of two-time American champion Life’s Magic and English Group 3 winner Romeo Romani, and the third dam of 2000 European champion sprinter Nuclear Debate, two-time Prix Royal-Oak (FR-G1) winner Amilynx, French Group 2 winner Amiwain, and Group 3 winners Chicarica and Frenchman’s Bay. Ole Liz is also a half sister to stakes winners I Want You (by Pago Pago) and Norman Regret (by Cornish Prince).
Ole Liz and her siblings were produced from the stakes-winning Roman mare Islay Mist, whose half sister Taboo (by Native Dancer) won a division of the 1961 Santa Monica Handicap. Produced from Evening Mist (by Eight Thirty), Islay Mist is also a half sister to Egyptian (by Heliopolis), dam of stakes winner Mongolia (by Mongo), second dam of 1977 Matchmaker Handicap (USA-G1) winner Mississippi Mud, and third dam of multiple Grade 2 winner and American champion broodmare sire Dixieland Band, 1980 Delaware Oaks (USA-G1) winner Bishop’s Ring, and Grade 3 winner Pewter Grey.
Fun facts
Last updated: February 3, 2026
Race record
54 starts, 18 wins, 12 seconds, 9 thirds, US$338,086
1970:
- 3rd Astoria Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Aqueduct)
1971:
- Won Firenze Handicap (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Princeton Handicap (first division) (USA, 8FT, Garden State)
- Won Margate Handicap (first division) (USA, 8.5FT, Atlantic City)
- Won Chrysanthemum Handicap (second div) (USA, 8.5FT, Laurel)
- 2nd Pageant Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Atlantic City)
- 2nd Little Silver Handicap (second division) (USA, 8.5FT, Monmouth)
- 2nd Vineland Handicap (second division) (USA, 10FD, Garden State)
1972:
- Won Parlo Turf Handicap (USA, 8.5FT, Delaware Park)
- Won Margate Handicap (first division) (USA, 9FT, Monmouth)
- Won Matron Handicap (USA, 9FT, Arlington Park)
- 2nd Columbiana Handicap (USA, 9.5FT, Hialeah)
- 2nd Miss Florida Handicap (second division) (USA, 8.5FT, Calder)
- 2nd Sheepshead Bay Handicap (second division) (USA, 9.5FT, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Firenze Handicap (USA, 9FT, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Vineland Handicap (USA, 10FD, Garden State)
1973:
- Won Columbiana Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FT, Hialeah)
Honors
Virginia Broodmare of the Year (1983, 1984)
Assessments
Rated at 125 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American-raced 3-year-old fillies of 1971, 1 pound below champion Turkish Trousers and tied with Canadian Horse of the Year Lauries Dancer.
Rated at 122 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American turf females of 1972, 6 pounds below highweighted Typecast but third in the division.
Rated at 120 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf females of 1973, 6 pounds below highweighted Dahlia.
As an individual
A smallish, elegant, racy bay mare, Kittiwake preferred to race on or close to the lead and was game when hooked.
As a producer
Kittiwake produced 13 named foals, of which 12 started and 10 won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Rissa (1976, by Nijinsky II) was stakes-placed in Ireland. She is the second dam of Irish Group 2 winner Prince of Andros.
- Ivory Wings (1978, by Sir Ivor) won stakes races in France and the United States and was Group 1-placed in Italy. She is the dam of stakes winner Wild Planet (by Nureyev), the second dam of Grade 2 winner Surya, and the third dam of 2011 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (USA-G1) winner Aruna and Grade 2 winner Hoop of Colour. Her more distant descendants include Grade 3 winner Front Money Honey.
- Larida (1979, by Northern Dancer) won the 1983 Orchid Handicap (USA-G2) and defeated colts in a division of the 1982 Hill Prince Stakes (USA-G3). She is the dam of 1988 Coronation Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Magic of Life (by Seattle Slew), the second dam of English Group 2 winner Enthused, and the third dam of multiple South African Group 1 winner Inara and Grade/Group 3 winners A Thread of Blue, Madeira Mist, Norman Invader, and Nova Hawk. Her more distant descendants include three-time Pattison Canadian International Stakes (CAN-G1) winner Joshua Tree and Group 3 winners Atzeco, Dramatic Queen, and Energizer.
- Miss Oceana (1981, by Alydar) won six Grade 1 stakes races and was highweighted among fillies on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1983. She produced only two colts, neither of any significance.
- Kittihawk Miss (1986, by Alydar) won one of her seven starts. She is the third dam of 2012 European champion 2-year-old male Dawn Approach and Irish Group 2 winner Herald the Dawn.
- Sea Wake (1988, by Alydar) placed third twice from nine starts. She is the third dam of South African Group 2 winner Cats Pajamas and Argentine Group 3 winner Che Zorro.
- Kitwood (1989c, by Nureyev) won the 1992 Prix Jean Prat (FR-G1). He had moderate success as a sire in Argentina, siring 18 stakes winners from 398 named foals and ranking twice among the country’s top 10 sires.
Connections
Foaled in Florida, Kittiwake was bred by Martin Andersen. After being purchased for US$80,000 from the 1970 Hialeah sale of 2-year-olds in training, she was owned by Mr. & Mrs. Taylor Hardin's Newstead Farm and raced in the name of Mrs. Hardin. She was trained by Woody Stephens. She was purchased for $3.8 million by Joe Albritton from the Newstead dispersal at the 1985 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November, in foal to Alydar. Pensioned after being reported barren in 1993-1995, she was euthanized due to the infirmities of old age at Albritton's Lazy Lane Farms on May 19, 2002.
Pedigree notes
Kittiwake is inbred 4x5 to two-time American champion sire Sickle. She is a half sister to Beaconaire (by Vaguely Noble), who won two stakes races in France before becoming the dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Sabin (by Lyphard) and Group 3 winners Fatah Flare (by Alydar) and Binya (by Royal Solo) Beaconaire is the second dam of two-time American champion steeplechaser Flat Top and multiple Group 3 winner Asema and the third dam of 2015 New Zealand Stakes (NZ-G1) winner Sakhee’s Soldier, 2017 Sword Dancer Stakes (USA-G1) winner Sadler’s Joy, Grade 2 winner Wolfie’s Dynaghost, and Grade 3 winners Luftikus and Where’s Sterling.
Returning to Kittwake, she is also a half sister to multiple Grade 3 winner Oilfield (by Hail to Reason) and to Blanche Du Bois (by Green Dancer), the second dam of 2003 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (USA-G1) winner Film Maker and multiple Argentine Group 3 Woodgreen. In addition, Kittiwake is a half sister to Galexcel (by Exceller), second dam of Irish Group 3 winner Red Feather, and to Starkling (by Graustark), third dam of 2010 Triple Bend Handicap (USA-G1) winner E Z’s Gentleman.
Kittiwake and her siblings are out of multiple stakes winner Ole Liz, whose full sister, Bourbon Mist, is the dam of stakes winner Fire Water (by Tom Rolfe), the second dam of two-time American champion Life’s Magic and English Group 3 winner Romeo Romani, and the third dam of 2000 European champion sprinter Nuclear Debate, two-time Prix Royal-Oak (FR-G1) winner Amilynx, French Group 2 winner Amiwain, and Group 3 winners Chicarica and Frenchman’s Bay. Ole Liz is also a half sister to stakes winners I Want You (by Pago Pago) and Norman Regret (by Cornish Prince).
Ole Liz and her siblings were produced from the stakes-winning Roman mare Islay Mist, whose half sister Taboo (by Native Dancer) won a division of the 1961 Santa Monica Handicap. Produced from Evening Mist (by Eight Thirty), Islay Mist is also a half sister to Egyptian (by Heliopolis), dam of stakes winner Mongolia (by Mongo), second dam of 1977 Matchmaker Handicap (USA-G1) winner Mississippi Mud, and third dam of multiple Grade 2 winner and American champion broodmare sire Dixieland Band, 1980 Delaware Oaks (USA-G1) winner Bishop’s Ring, and Grade 3 winner Pewter Grey.
Fun facts
- Kittiwakes are sea birds of the gull family (Laridae) belonging to the genus Rissa. They are known for their cliff-nesting habits and for their distinctive calls; the name “kittiwake” is derived from the birds’ vocalizations.
Last updated: February 3, 2026