Legendra (USA)
1944 – 1976
Challenger II (IRE) x Lady Legend (USA), by Dark Legend (GB)
Family 4-r
"GENETIC GEM"
1944 – 1976
Challenger II (IRE) x Lady Legend (USA), by Dark Legend (GB)
Family 4-r
"GENETIC GEM"
Legendra was better than an empty stall as a racer but was far more valuable as a broodmare. She produced three stakes winners, two of graded class by modern standards, but her true legacy was revealed as her daughters entered the paddocks and bred on, making her an important 20th-century matriarch.
Race record
32 starts, 3 win, 6 seconds, 5 thirds, US$23,220
1947:
As an individual
A bay mare, Legendra was well-balanced with good bone and short cannons; her hocks were unusually straight.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Legendra produced 14 named foals, of which 11 started and 10 won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Virginia, Legendra was bred by William S. Brann. Following Brann's death, A. B. "Bull" Hancock privately acquired his broodmare band, Legendra included, and resold most of them through the 1953 Keeneland Nove,ber mixed sale. Purchased from the sale for US$8,000, Legendra spent the rest of her broodmare career as the property of Mr. and Mrs. Taylor Hardin's Newstead Farm, becoming its foundation mare. She was pensioned after being reported barren in 1973 and died in 1976.
Pedigree notes
Legendra is outcrossed through five generations. She is a full sister to nine-time stakes winner Pictor and to stakes-placed Pictotee, a horse tough enough to make 243 starts.
Lady Legend, the dam of Legendra, was sired by the Dark Ronald horse Dark Legend, an influential sire in France and one of the few horses raced in India to become a stud success in a major racing nation. A winner in one of 10 starts, she is one of just two foals produced from Sweepless, an unraced daughter of 1912 Two Thousand Guineas winner Sweeper II. The next dam in Legendra's tail-female line is Artless (by Hamburg), a full sister to 1904 American co-champion 2-year-old filly Artful.
Books and media
Legendra is one of 22 broodmares profiled in Edward Bowen's Matriarchs II: More Great Mares of Modern Times (2008, Blood-Horse Publications).
Last updated: September 14, 2024
Race record
32 starts, 3 win, 6 seconds, 5 thirds, US$23,220
1947:
- 3rd Queen Isabella Handicap (USA, 9FD, Laurel)
As an individual
A bay mare, Legendra was well-balanced with good bone and short cannons; her hocks were unusually straight.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Legendra produced 14 named foals, of which 11 started and 10 won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Hasty Doll (1955, by Roman) won the 1957 Princess Pat Stakes. She is the dam of 1969 La Centinela Stakes winner Hasty Hitter (by Hitting Away). She is also the second dam of Grade 3 winners Chancy Dance and Sherizar and the third dam of Grade 2 winner Old Tascosa and Grade 3 winners Vain Gold and Mr. Sea Sanders.
- Rich Tradition (1956 by Rosemont) won the 1958 Selima Stakes and Spinaway Stakes. Unfortunately, she had no issue.
- Sky Clipper (1957, by Citation) won the 1959 Sapling Stakes. He sired two stakes winners from 143 foals.
- Lyford Cottage (1958, by Battlefield) won one of her nine starts. She produced 1967 Prince of Wales Stakes winner Battling (by Nearctic).
- Turn the Page (1960, by Turn-to) placed twice in 11 starts. She is the second dam of 1978 Swaps Stakes (USA-G1) winner Radar Ahead.
- Moll Flanders (1961, by Swaps) won one of her nine starts. She is the second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Mrs. Warren.
- Slapton Sands (1964, by First Landing) won once in eight tries. She is the dam of French Group 2 winners Sea Sands (by Sea-Bird) and Riboboy (by Ribot) and stakes winner Satania (by Ruritania) and is the second dam of multiple Grade/Group 3 winner Future Storm and N K P Norsk Derby winner Underworld. Slapton Sands is also the third dam of 1995 Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (USA-G1) winner Royal Chariot and 1996 Heinz 57 Phoenix Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Mantovani; Grade/Group 2 winners Lucky Lindy, Rogues Walk, and Ganges; and multiple Grade 3 winner Apolda.
- Mrs. Peterkin (1965, by Tom Fool) won a division of the 1968 Chrysanthemum Handicap. She is the dam of 1976 Massachusetts Handicap (USA-G2) winner Dancing Champ (by Nijinsky II), an important sire in South Africa; of 1977 Kentucky Oaks (USA-G2) winner Sweet Alliance (by Sir Ivor); and of 1979 California Oaks winner Whydidju (by Tom Rolfe). She is the second dam of 1983 English and Irish champion 3-year-old male Shareef Dancer, 2001 Malibu Stakes (USA-G1) winner Mizzen Mast, Grade 2 winner Star Standing, and Grade/Group 3 winners Helenska, Lady Roberta, Tamayaz, Tursanah, and War Deputy. In addition, she is the third dam of 2008 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Vertigineux, 1994/1995 South African champion 3-year-old male Teal, 1996/1997 Argentine champion 2-year-old filly Slew of Reality, and 2002 Gran Premio Gilberto Lerena (ARG-G1) winner Slew the Moon; Group 2 winners Arriba Baby, Bold Russian, and Spice Girl; and Grade/Group 3 winners Aluminium and Ice Bear. Mrs. Peterkin's more distant descendants include 2010 American Horse of the Year Zenyatta and multiple Grade 1 winner Balance.
Connections
Foaled in Virginia, Legendra was bred by William S. Brann. Following Brann's death, A. B. "Bull" Hancock privately acquired his broodmare band, Legendra included, and resold most of them through the 1953 Keeneland Nove,ber mixed sale. Purchased from the sale for US$8,000, Legendra spent the rest of her broodmare career as the property of Mr. and Mrs. Taylor Hardin's Newstead Farm, becoming its foundation mare. She was pensioned after being reported barren in 1973 and died in 1976.
Pedigree notes
Legendra is outcrossed through five generations. She is a full sister to nine-time stakes winner Pictor and to stakes-placed Pictotee, a horse tough enough to make 243 starts.
Lady Legend, the dam of Legendra, was sired by the Dark Ronald horse Dark Legend, an influential sire in France and one of the few horses raced in India to become a stud success in a major racing nation. A winner in one of 10 starts, she is one of just two foals produced from Sweepless, an unraced daughter of 1912 Two Thousand Guineas winner Sweeper II. The next dam in Legendra's tail-female line is Artless (by Hamburg), a full sister to 1904 American co-champion 2-year-old filly Artful.
Books and media
Legendra is one of 22 broodmares profiled in Edward Bowen's Matriarchs II: More Great Mares of Modern Times (2008, Blood-Horse Publications).
Last updated: September 14, 2024