Left Bank (USA)
May 9, 1997 – October 7, 2002
French Deputy (USA) x Marshesseaux (USA), by Dr. Blum (USA)
Family 9-c
May 9, 1997 – October 7, 2002
French Deputy (USA) x Marshesseaux (USA), by Dr. Blum (USA)
Family 9-c
A horse who suffered more than his share of misfortune, Left Bank had to be tough even to make it to the races, as he underwent major abdominal surgery for colic while he was still an unraced youngster. He proved to have exceptional speed and was able to stretch it out to earn an Eclipse Award as American champion older male in 2002. Unfortunately, his season was cut short by another colic attack, and he died after undergoing multiple surgeries related to this attack.
Race record
24 starts, 14 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, US$1,402,806
2000:
2001:
2002:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion older male (2002)
Assessments
Rated at 122 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American sprinters of 2001, 1 pound below co-highweights Squirtle Squirt (the official divisional champion; a 3-year-old) and Delaware Township.
Rated at 122 pounds in the Mile category on the 2002 International Classifications, 6 pounds below overall highweight Rock of Gibraltar (the European Horse of the Year; a 3-year-old), who also topped the Mile category.
As an individual
A chestnut horse, Left Bank overcame major colic surgery which necessitated the removal of 12 feet of his small intestine as an unraced youngster. A week after his win in the Whitney Stakes, the horse suffered another attack of colic and, after multiple surgeries, died in October 2002. According to Todd Pletcher, Left Bank had “a lot of personality.”
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Left Bank was bred by John Youngblood and Fletcher Gray. Purchased for US$600,000 from the 1999 Fasig-Tipton Florida Select Sale of 2-year-olds in training, he was owned by Michael Tabor. He was trained by Todd Pletcher.
Pedigree notes
Left Bank is inbred 4x5 to 1957 American Horse of the Year and eight-time American champion sire Bold Ruler. He is a half brother to listed stakes winners Code Blum (by Lost Code) and Marsheslew (by Houston) and to stakes winner Flag on the Play (by Meadowlake). He is also a half brother to Breathless Charm (by Miswaki), second dam of 2004 Garden City Breeders’ Cup Handicap (USA-G1) winner Lucifer’s Stone, and to Spinner (by Conquistador Cielo), dam of listed stakes winner Brittsker (by Bounding Basque) and stakes winner Fayregammo (by Vindication). In addition, Left Bank is a half brother to Saphiria (by Touch Gold), dam of 2013 Obeah Stakes (USA-G3) winner Bryan’s Jewel (by Rockport Harbor).
Left Bank and his siblings were produced from stakes-placed Marshesseaux, whose sire Dr. Blum (by Dr. Fager) was a multiple stakes winner. Marshesseaux, in turn, is out of Loboette (by 1972 Widener Handicap winner Good Counsel, by Hail to Reason), whose full sister, listed stakes winner Buckeye Gal, is the dam of multiple Grade 1 winner River Bay (by Irish River) and the third dam of 2014 Slovakian champion 3-year-old filly Fiorhead. Loboette is also a half sister to listed stakes winner Grand Exchange (by Gran Zar).
The next dam in Left Bank’s tail-female line is Chanderelle, a winning daughter of Graustark. Produced from the Swaps mare Chandelle, Chanderelle is a full sister to Oh So Fair, dam of 1985 English champion 3-year-old filly Oh So Sharp (by Kris), multiple Group 2 winner Roussalka (by Habitat), 1977 Jersey Stakes (ENG-G3) winner Etienne Gerard (by Brigadier Gerard), and stakes winners My Fair Niece (by Great Nephew) and Palm Island (by Mill Reef) and second dam of 1995 Scandinavian highweight older mare Laila Alawi, 1992 Prix Saint-Alary (FR-G1) winner Rosefinch, Grade/Group 2 winners Ristna and Shaima, and Group 3 winner Shahid.
Books and media
Footage of Left Bank’s win in the 2002 Whitney Stakes can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3k73AXxl3eY.
Fun facts
Last updated: October 5, 2024
Race record
24 starts, 14 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, US$1,402,806
2000:
- Won Discovery Handicap (USA-G3, 9FD, Aqueduct)
2001:
- Won Cigar Mile Handicap (USA-G1, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Vosburgh Stakes (USA-G1, 7FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Forego Handicap (USA-G1, 6.5FD, Saratoga)
2002:
- Won Whitney Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Saratoga; equaled track record 1:47)
- Won Tom Fool Handicap (USA-G2, 7FD, Belmont; new track record 1:20.17)
- Won Bold Ruler Handicap (USA-G3, 6FD, Belmont)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion older male (2002)
Assessments
Rated at 122 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American sprinters of 2001, 1 pound below co-highweights Squirtle Squirt (the official divisional champion; a 3-year-old) and Delaware Township.
Rated at 122 pounds in the Mile category on the 2002 International Classifications, 6 pounds below overall highweight Rock of Gibraltar (the European Horse of the Year; a 3-year-old), who also topped the Mile category.
As an individual
A chestnut horse, Left Bank overcame major colic surgery which necessitated the removal of 12 feet of his small intestine as an unraced youngster. A week after his win in the Whitney Stakes, the horse suffered another attack of colic and, after multiple surgeries, died in October 2002. According to Todd Pletcher, Left Bank had “a lot of personality.”
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Left Bank was bred by John Youngblood and Fletcher Gray. Purchased for US$600,000 from the 1999 Fasig-Tipton Florida Select Sale of 2-year-olds in training, he was owned by Michael Tabor. He was trained by Todd Pletcher.
Pedigree notes
Left Bank is inbred 4x5 to 1957 American Horse of the Year and eight-time American champion sire Bold Ruler. He is a half brother to listed stakes winners Code Blum (by Lost Code) and Marsheslew (by Houston) and to stakes winner Flag on the Play (by Meadowlake). He is also a half brother to Breathless Charm (by Miswaki), second dam of 2004 Garden City Breeders’ Cup Handicap (USA-G1) winner Lucifer’s Stone, and to Spinner (by Conquistador Cielo), dam of listed stakes winner Brittsker (by Bounding Basque) and stakes winner Fayregammo (by Vindication). In addition, Left Bank is a half brother to Saphiria (by Touch Gold), dam of 2013 Obeah Stakes (USA-G3) winner Bryan’s Jewel (by Rockport Harbor).
Left Bank and his siblings were produced from stakes-placed Marshesseaux, whose sire Dr. Blum (by Dr. Fager) was a multiple stakes winner. Marshesseaux, in turn, is out of Loboette (by 1972 Widener Handicap winner Good Counsel, by Hail to Reason), whose full sister, listed stakes winner Buckeye Gal, is the dam of multiple Grade 1 winner River Bay (by Irish River) and the third dam of 2014 Slovakian champion 3-year-old filly Fiorhead. Loboette is also a half sister to listed stakes winner Grand Exchange (by Gran Zar).
The next dam in Left Bank’s tail-female line is Chanderelle, a winning daughter of Graustark. Produced from the Swaps mare Chandelle, Chanderelle is a full sister to Oh So Fair, dam of 1985 English champion 3-year-old filly Oh So Sharp (by Kris), multiple Group 2 winner Roussalka (by Habitat), 1977 Jersey Stakes (ENG-G3) winner Etienne Gerard (by Brigadier Gerard), and stakes winners My Fair Niece (by Great Nephew) and Palm Island (by Mill Reef) and second dam of 1995 Scandinavian highweight older mare Laila Alawi, 1992 Prix Saint-Alary (FR-G1) winner Rosefinch, Grade/Group 2 winners Ristna and Shaima, and Group 3 winner Shahid.
Books and media
Footage of Left Bank’s win in the 2002 Whitney Stakes can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3k73AXxl3eY.
Fun facts
- The Left Bank of Paris is the part of the city that lies to the southeast of the Seine River. Its attractions include France’s oldest university, the University of Paris (often known as the Sorbonne); the Latin Quarter; remnants of the city’s Roman heritage; and its literary cafes, which have nurtured a lively and sometimes notorious intellectual life.
- Left Bank was the first Eclipse Award winner for Todd Pletcher who has since won eight Eclipse Awards as American champion trainer.
Last updated: October 5, 2024