Lucky Debonair (USA)
May 2, 1962 – July 10, 1987
Vertex (USA) x Fresh as Fresh (USA), by Count Fleet (USA)
Family 3-d
May 2, 1962 – July 10, 1987
Vertex (USA) x Fresh as Fresh (USA), by Count Fleet (USA)
Family 3-d
While not remembered as a great Kentucky Derby winner, Lucky Debonair was a classy, consistent colt who won several other important races during his career. He was a good but not outstanding stallion and was the last major sire from the male line of St. Germans in the United States. He did not leave a successor in North America before being sent to Venezuela, although his son Pepenador was a successful sire in Argentina.
Race record
16 starts, 9 wins, 3 seconds, 0 thirds, US$370,960
1965:
1966:
Honors
Arcadia Historical Society's Racing Walk of Champions (inducted as part of the inaugural class in 2014).
Assessments
Weighted at 127 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1965, 1 pound below champion Tom Rolfe but tied for second with Belmont Stakes winner Hail to All.
Ranked second among American 3-year-old males of 1965 by The Blood-Horse.
Co-highweighted with champion Bold Bidder at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1966.
As an individual
A deep-bodied bay horse standing 15.3 hands, Lucky Debonair had a good shoulder, good bone and short cannons but had a bit too much angulation in his pasterns. He was too backward for much juvenile racing and ended up making only one unplaced start at 2 in which he bucked his shins. He bucked shins again and also ran down on his right heel while running in the 1965 Preakness Stakes and was sidelined by splints for the remainder of the year. He was retired due to another injury following his 1966 Santa Anita Handicap win. He had a kind and willing disposition and could be placed anywhere in a race as his jockey desired. His one fault as a racer was a tendency to pull himself up after making the lead.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Lucky Debonair sired 101 winners (56.7%) and 16 stakes winners (9.0%) from 178 named foals. Like a number of horses from his male line, he was not very fertile.
Notable progeny
Girl in Love (USA), Malacate (USA), Pepenador (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Go West Young Man (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Lucky Debonair was bred by Danada Farm (the breeding operation of Dan and Ada Rice) and was owned by Mrs. Rice. He was trained by Frank Catrone. He stood at Danada Farm until Mrs. Rice (by then a widow) disbanded her bloodstock interests in 1976. At that time, he was purchased for export to Venezuela. He died of old age in 1987.
Pedigree notes
Lucky Debonair is inbred 4x5 to 1923 French champion sire Teddy. He is a half brother to 1974 Top Flight Handicap (USA-G1) winner Lady Love (by Dr. Fager), dam of 1983 Bowling Green Handicap (USA-G1) winner Tantalizing (by Tom Rolfe) and second dam of Grade 2 winner Iron Gavel.
Fresh as Fresh, the dam of Lucky Debonair, is a winning half sister to stakes winners Proud Pomp (by Heliopolis) and Snugger (by Polynesian). Their dam Airy (by Bull Lea) is a full sister to Mims, dam of 1962 Pimlico Futurity winner Right Proud (by Olympia), and is out of Proud One (by Blenheim II), winner of the 1941 Acorn Stakes and a half sister to 1941 Futurity Stakes winner Some Chance (by Chance Play), multiple Canadian stakes winner Beau Dandy (by Bull Lea), and 1949 Arlington Lassie Stakes winner Duchess Peg (by Whirlaway). The last-named mare is the dam of stakes winners Fire Fire (by Reverse) and Painted Flag (by Dusty Canyon) and the second dam of 1962 Lowther Stakes winner Dunce Cap II and 1983 Vanity Invitational Handicap (USA-G1) winner A Kiss for Luck.
Returning to Proud One, she is also a full sister to Swanking, dam of 1964 Illinois Derby winner Nushka (by Needles), and a half sister to Avenue Bell (by Chance Play), second dam of 1961 Laurel Handicap winner Ashlar. Proud One and her siblings were produced from 1935 American co-champion handicap mare Some Pomp (by Pompey), a full sister to 1933 Havre de Grace Handicap winner Osculator and 1933 Latonia Championship Stakes winner Pomposity.
Books and media
Fun facts
Last updated: November 26, 2024
Race record
16 starts, 9 wins, 3 seconds, 0 thirds, US$370,960
1965:
- Won Kentucky Derby (USA, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Blue Grass Stakes (USA, 9FD, Keeneland)
- Won Santa Anita Derby (USA, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- Won San Vicente Stakes (USA, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd San Felipe Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
1966:
- Won Santa Anita Handicap (USA, 10FD, Santa Anita)
Honors
Arcadia Historical Society's Racing Walk of Champions (inducted as part of the inaugural class in 2014).
Assessments
Weighted at 127 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1965, 1 pound below champion Tom Rolfe but tied for second with Belmont Stakes winner Hail to All.
Ranked second among American 3-year-old males of 1965 by The Blood-Horse.
Co-highweighted with champion Bold Bidder at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1966.
As an individual
A deep-bodied bay horse standing 15.3 hands, Lucky Debonair had a good shoulder, good bone and short cannons but had a bit too much angulation in his pasterns. He was too backward for much juvenile racing and ended up making only one unplaced start at 2 in which he bucked his shins. He bucked shins again and also ran down on his right heel while running in the 1965 Preakness Stakes and was sidelined by splints for the remainder of the year. He was retired due to another injury following his 1966 Santa Anita Handicap win. He had a kind and willing disposition and could be placed anywhere in a race as his jockey desired. His one fault as a racer was a tendency to pull himself up after making the lead.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Lucky Debonair sired 101 winners (56.7%) and 16 stakes winners (9.0%) from 178 named foals. Like a number of horses from his male line, he was not very fertile.
Notable progeny
Girl in Love (USA), Malacate (USA), Pepenador (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Go West Young Man (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Lucky Debonair was bred by Danada Farm (the breeding operation of Dan and Ada Rice) and was owned by Mrs. Rice. He was trained by Frank Catrone. He stood at Danada Farm until Mrs. Rice (by then a widow) disbanded her bloodstock interests in 1976. At that time, he was purchased for export to Venezuela. He died of old age in 1987.
Pedigree notes
Lucky Debonair is inbred 4x5 to 1923 French champion sire Teddy. He is a half brother to 1974 Top Flight Handicap (USA-G1) winner Lady Love (by Dr. Fager), dam of 1983 Bowling Green Handicap (USA-G1) winner Tantalizing (by Tom Rolfe) and second dam of Grade 2 winner Iron Gavel.
Fresh as Fresh, the dam of Lucky Debonair, is a winning half sister to stakes winners Proud Pomp (by Heliopolis) and Snugger (by Polynesian). Their dam Airy (by Bull Lea) is a full sister to Mims, dam of 1962 Pimlico Futurity winner Right Proud (by Olympia), and is out of Proud One (by Blenheim II), winner of the 1941 Acorn Stakes and a half sister to 1941 Futurity Stakes winner Some Chance (by Chance Play), multiple Canadian stakes winner Beau Dandy (by Bull Lea), and 1949 Arlington Lassie Stakes winner Duchess Peg (by Whirlaway). The last-named mare is the dam of stakes winners Fire Fire (by Reverse) and Painted Flag (by Dusty Canyon) and the second dam of 1962 Lowther Stakes winner Dunce Cap II and 1983 Vanity Invitational Handicap (USA-G1) winner A Kiss for Luck.
Returning to Proud One, she is also a full sister to Swanking, dam of 1964 Illinois Derby winner Nushka (by Needles), and a half sister to Avenue Bell (by Chance Play), second dam of 1961 Laurel Handicap winner Ashlar. Proud One and her siblings were produced from 1935 American co-champion handicap mare Some Pomp (by Pompey), a full sister to 1933 Havre de Grace Handicap winner Osculator and 1933 Latonia Championship Stakes winner Pomposity.
Books and media
- Lucky Debonair: Champion Thoroughbred of Danada Farm—The Story of the 1965 Kentucky Derby Winner was released in 2015. It was written by Eileen White and was self-published. Proceeds from sales of the paperback book were donated to Equine-Assisted Therapy Programs for U. S. Military Veterans.
- Lucky Debonair is profiled in Chapter 9 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- Lucky Debonair was both the first foal of his dam and the first stakes winner for his sire.
- Lucky Debonair's Kentucky Derby day was enlivened by a fire caused by a stray cigarette in the clubhouse next to the first turn, about two hours before post time. Flames shot 10 feet into the air before being extinguished, and post time was put back by 30 minutes to allow the soaked section of the track to be gotten back into racing order.
- In 2002, Lucky Debonair was honored by a plaque and memorial rock at the Danada Equestrian Center in Wheaton, Illinois, the hometown of his breeders and owner.
Last updated: November 26, 2024