Lit de Justice (USA)
January 12, 1990 – July 20, 2012
El Gran Senor (USA) x Kanmary (FR), by Kenmare (FR)
Family 9-f
January 12, 1990 – July 20, 2012
El Gran Senor (USA) x Kanmary (FR), by Kenmare (FR)
Family 9-f
After winning only one of his 14 starts in France at ages 2, 3, and 4, Lit de Justice was sold by his French owners and sent to the United States. He proved to be a much better horse after being switched to dirt, his five graded stakes wins including a track-record-equaling performance in the 1996 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (CAN-G1) at Woodbine. Voted the Eclipse Award as American champion sprinter off that victory, he was retired to stud, where he accomplished relatively little.
Race record
36 starts, 10 wins, 8 seconds, 6 thirds, US$1,397,674 (includes converted Canadian and French earnings)
1992:
1993:
1994:
1995:
1996:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion sprinter (1996)
As an individual
A gray horse with more of the look of a miler than a pure sprinter, Lit de Justice typically came from off the pace. He was often difficult at the start.
As a stallion
According to records compiled by The Jockey Club, Lit de Justice sired 254 winners and 17 stakes winners from 404 named foals of racing age. His best runners were Grade 3 winners Hour of Justice and Injustice.
Notable progeny of daughters
Arezzo (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Lit de Justice was bred by Swettenham Stud. He began his racing career in France, where he raced for Mise de Moretalla and was trained by Alain de Royer-Dupré. In July 1994, he was sold to Evergreen Farms (C. N. and Carol Ray) and sent to the United States, where he was trained by Jenine Sahadi. He was ridden to his Breeders’ Cup win by Corey Nakatani. He entered stud in Kentucky in 1997 at Adena Springs. In 2002, Lit de Justice was privately purchased by Rich and Gaby Sulpizio and moved to their Magali Farms near Santa Ynez, CA. The stallion died July 20, 2012, due to the infirmities of old age. He was buried at Magali.
Pedigree notes
Lit de Justice is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to Group 1-placed listed stakes winner Colonel Collins and a half brother to 1998 Racing Post Trophy (ENG-G1) winner Commander Collins (by Sadler’s Wells) and English Group 2 winner City Leader (by Fasliyev). He is also a half brother to Tamari (by Nureyev), dam of 2005 Grand Prix Stakes (AUS-G2) winner Spuruson (by Flying Spur), and to Flying Kiss (by Sadler’s Wells), dam of Australian listed stakes winner Peck (by Pivotal). In addition, Lit de Justice is a half brother to Brigitta (by Sadler’s Wells), dam of 2010 Oettingen-Rennen (GER-G2) winner Emerald Commander (by Pivotal).
Kanmary, the dam of Lit de Justice, won the 1985 Prix du Bois (FR-G3) and is a half sister to 1989 CIGA Prix de Royallieu (FR-G2) Passionaria (by Beldale Flutter). A daughter of 1978 Prix Jacques Le Marois (FR-G1) winner and two-time French champion sire Kenmare, Kanmary is out of Djallybrook (by 1969 Grand Prix de Deauville winner Djakao), whose half sister Bambrook (by Hauban) is the dam of 1989 Prix du Cadran (FR-G1) winner Trebrook (by Trepan). Djallybrook is also a half sister to the top French steeplechaser Hollygood (by Goodly) and to La Thieve (by the successful Nasrullah horse Red God), dam of multiple Group 3 winner Kebir (by Bolkonski) and third dam of 2001 American champion older female Gourmet Girl and Peruvian Group 2 winner Beatrice Russo.
Djallybrook is out of Hollybrook II, a daughter of 1955 French champion miler Klairon. A half sister to 1966 La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte winner Red Vagabonde (by Red God), Hollybrook II is out of La Vagabonde, by 1959 French champion sire Vandale.
Books and media
Footage of Lit de Justice’s win in the 1996 Breeders’ Cup Sprint can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FuCL43aqj8.
Fun facts
Last updated: February 14, 2025
Race record
36 starts, 10 wins, 8 seconds, 6 thirds, US$1,397,674 (includes converted Canadian and French earnings)
1992:
- 2nd Criterium d'Evry (FR-L, Evry)
1993:
- 2nd Prix Contessina (FR-L)
- 2nd Prix Tantieme (FR-L)
1994:
- 3rd Prix du Chemin de Fer du Nord (FR-G3, 1400mT. Chantilly)
1995:
- Won Potrero Grande Handicap (USA-G3, 6.5FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Pat O' Brien Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G3, 7FD, Del Mar; new track record 1:20.06)
- 2nd Hollywood Park Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-L, 5.5FT, Holltywood)
- 3rd Breeders' Cup Sprint (USA-G1, 6FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Commonwealth Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G2, 7FD, Keeneland)
1996:
- Won Breeders' Cup Sprint (CAN-G1, 6FD, Woodbine; equaled track record 1:08.60)
- Won Palos Verdes Handicap (USA-G3, 6FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Bing Crosby Breeders' Cup Handicap. (USA-G3, 6FD, Del Mar)
- Won El Conejo Handicap (USA-L, 5.5FD, Santa Anita; new track record 1:01.85)
- 3rd San Carlos Handicap (USA-G2, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Pat O' Brien Handicap (USA-G3, 7FD, Del Mar)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion sprinter (1996)
As an individual
A gray horse with more of the look of a miler than a pure sprinter, Lit de Justice typically came from off the pace. He was often difficult at the start.
As a stallion
According to records compiled by The Jockey Club, Lit de Justice sired 254 winners and 17 stakes winners from 404 named foals of racing age. His best runners were Grade 3 winners Hour of Justice and Injustice.
Notable progeny of daughters
Arezzo (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Lit de Justice was bred by Swettenham Stud. He began his racing career in France, where he raced for Mise de Moretalla and was trained by Alain de Royer-Dupré. In July 1994, he was sold to Evergreen Farms (C. N. and Carol Ray) and sent to the United States, where he was trained by Jenine Sahadi. He was ridden to his Breeders’ Cup win by Corey Nakatani. He entered stud in Kentucky in 1997 at Adena Springs. In 2002, Lit de Justice was privately purchased by Rich and Gaby Sulpizio and moved to their Magali Farms near Santa Ynez, CA. The stallion died July 20, 2012, due to the infirmities of old age. He was buried at Magali.
Pedigree notes
Lit de Justice is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to Group 1-placed listed stakes winner Colonel Collins and a half brother to 1998 Racing Post Trophy (ENG-G1) winner Commander Collins (by Sadler’s Wells) and English Group 2 winner City Leader (by Fasliyev). He is also a half brother to Tamari (by Nureyev), dam of 2005 Grand Prix Stakes (AUS-G2) winner Spuruson (by Flying Spur), and to Flying Kiss (by Sadler’s Wells), dam of Australian listed stakes winner Peck (by Pivotal). In addition, Lit de Justice is a half brother to Brigitta (by Sadler’s Wells), dam of 2010 Oettingen-Rennen (GER-G2) winner Emerald Commander (by Pivotal).
Kanmary, the dam of Lit de Justice, won the 1985 Prix du Bois (FR-G3) and is a half sister to 1989 CIGA Prix de Royallieu (FR-G2) Passionaria (by Beldale Flutter). A daughter of 1978 Prix Jacques Le Marois (FR-G1) winner and two-time French champion sire Kenmare, Kanmary is out of Djallybrook (by 1969 Grand Prix de Deauville winner Djakao), whose half sister Bambrook (by Hauban) is the dam of 1989 Prix du Cadran (FR-G1) winner Trebrook (by Trepan). Djallybrook is also a half sister to the top French steeplechaser Hollygood (by Goodly) and to La Thieve (by the successful Nasrullah horse Red God), dam of multiple Group 3 winner Kebir (by Bolkonski) and third dam of 2001 American champion older female Gourmet Girl and Peruvian Group 2 winner Beatrice Russo.
Djallybrook is out of Hollybrook II, a daughter of 1955 French champion miler Klairon. A half sister to 1966 La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte winner Red Vagabonde (by Red God), Hollybrook II is out of La Vagabonde, by 1959 French champion sire Vandale.
Books and media
Footage of Lit de Justice’s win in the 1996 Breeders’ Cup Sprint can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FuCL43aqj8.
Fun facts
- In history, the lit de justice was a formal session of the Parlement of Paris under the French monarchy, during which the king would impose his sovereignty on the parlement and compel registration of royal edicts. During the Middle Ages, the lit de justice was also the setting for the trial of great aristocrats for major crimes. The last lit de justice was held in 1788 during the reign of Louis XVI, the last king of France.
- Lit de Justice’s win in the 1996 Breeders’ Cup Sprint made Jenine Sahadi the first woman to train a Breeders’ Cup winner. The following year, Sahadi won the Sprint again with Elmhurst.
- Lit de Justice’s time in the 1996 Breeders’ Cup Sprint tied a track record that had stood for 23 years.
- Lit de Justice was also the first Breeders’ Cup winner for jockey Corey Nakatani, who was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in 2003.
Last updated: February 14, 2025