Mar-Kell was the third consecutive champion in her tail-female line and one of two homebred champions for Calumet Farm in 1943 (the other was Twilight Tear, who shared American champion juvenile filly honors with Durazna that year). After her retirement, Mar-Kell became a successful broodmare but had less long-term impact than her Kentucky Oaks-winning full sister Nellie L.
Race record
53 starts, 17 wins, 17 seconds, 3 thirds, US$84,365
1941:
1942:
1943:
1944:
Honors
American champion handicap female (1943)
As an individual
A bay mare, Mar-Kell was well-balanced with good rein length, strong hindquarters with good muscling extending well into her gaskins, and short cannons.
As a producer
Mar-Kell produced 11 named foals, of which nine started and eight won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Mar-Kell was bred and owned by Warren Wright at his Calumet Farm. She was trained by Ben Jones.
Pedigree notes
Mar-Kell is outcrossed through five generations. She is a full sister to 1943 Kentucky Oaks winner Nellie L., dam of 1950 Narrangansett Handicap winner De Luxe (by Bull Lea) and second dam of 1976 American champion 3-year-old male Bold Forbes. Nellie L. is also the third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Life at the Top, 1982 William Hill Futurity (ENG-G1) winner Dunbeath and 1984 Del Mar Futurity (USA-G1) winner Saratoga Six. Returning to Mar-Kell, she is also a half sister to 1954 Top Flight Handicap winner Sunshine Nell (by Sun Again), dam of 1970 Brooklyn Handicap winner and useful sire Dewan (by Bold Ruler) and of multiple stakes winner Sunny (by Princequillo). In addition, Mar-Kell is a half sister to stakes producers Ore-the-Lea (by Bull Lea), Peppy Nell (by Sir Gallahad III) and Last Wave (by Bull Lea).
Mar-Kell and her siblings are out of 1934 American champion 2-year-old filly Nellie Flag, a half sister to multiple stakes winner Count Morse (by Reigh Count). Nellie Flag, in turn, is out of 1924 Preakness Stakes winner and American co-champion 3-year-old filly Nellie Morse (by Luke McLuke), a half sister to stakes winner Manager Waite (by Watercress).
Nellie Morse's dam La Venganza was sired by 1887 AJC Derby winner Abercorn, one of the best Australian runners of his time, out of the Trenton mare Colonial, dam of stakes winners Mary Davis (by Watercress) and Air Man (by Waterboy). Colonial also produced the excellent broodmare Rose Leaves (by Ballot), whose six stakes winners include the great sire Bull Lea (by Bull Dog) and the good stayer Espino (by Negofol), winner of the 1926 Lawrence Realization and Saratoga Cup.
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: November 21, 2020
Race record
53 starts, 17 wins, 17 seconds, 3 thirds, US$84,365
1941:
- Won Spinaway Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Schuylerville Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Saratoga)
1942:
- 2nd Lady Baltimore Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Pimlico)
1943:
- Won Beldame Handicap (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Top Flight Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Beldame)
- Won Cinderella Handicap (USA, 7FD, Arlington Park)
- 2nd Phoenix Handicap (USA, 6FD, Keeneland)
- 2nd Modesty Handicap (USA, 7FD, Washington Park)
- 2nd Arlington Matron Handicap (USA, 8FD, Arlington Park)
- 2nd Beverly Handicap (USA, 9FD, Washington Park)
1944:
- Won Evening Handicap (USA, 7FD, Hialeah)
- 2nd Philadelphia Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Pimlico)
- 2nd Coral Gables Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hialeah)
- 2nd Beverly Handicap (USA, 9FD, Washington Park)
- 2nd Top Flight Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Beldame)
Honors
American champion handicap female (1943)
As an individual
A bay mare, Mar-Kell was well-balanced with good rein length, strong hindquarters with good muscling extending well into her gaskins, and short cannons.
As a producer
Mar-Kell produced 11 named foals, of which nine started and eight won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Mark-Ye-Well (1949, by Bull Lea) won 11 stakes races including the 1952 American Derby and Arlington Classic and the 1953 Santa Anita Handicap and Santa Anita Maturity. He sired only three stakes winners from 150 foals.
- Amoret (1952, by Bull Lea) won the 1956 Beverly Handicap and the 1957 Black Helen and Columbiana handicaps. She is the dam of 1971 Florida Derby winner Eastern Fleet (by Fleet Nasrullah) and multiple juvenile stakes winner Another Love (by Tudor Minstrel). She is also the third dam of Oka Sho (Japanese One Thousand Guineas, JPN-G1) winner Shadai Sophia, Irish Group 2 winner National Wish and Grade 3 winner Moontee.
- Bonnie Beret (1961, by Tim Tam) produced 1971 Louisiana Handicap winner Bon Bon (by Herbager).
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Mar-Kell was bred and owned by Warren Wright at his Calumet Farm. She was trained by Ben Jones.
Pedigree notes
Mar-Kell is outcrossed through five generations. She is a full sister to 1943 Kentucky Oaks winner Nellie L., dam of 1950 Narrangansett Handicap winner De Luxe (by Bull Lea) and second dam of 1976 American champion 3-year-old male Bold Forbes. Nellie L. is also the third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Life at the Top, 1982 William Hill Futurity (ENG-G1) winner Dunbeath and 1984 Del Mar Futurity (USA-G1) winner Saratoga Six. Returning to Mar-Kell, she is also a half sister to 1954 Top Flight Handicap winner Sunshine Nell (by Sun Again), dam of 1970 Brooklyn Handicap winner and useful sire Dewan (by Bold Ruler) and of multiple stakes winner Sunny (by Princequillo). In addition, Mar-Kell is a half sister to stakes producers Ore-the-Lea (by Bull Lea), Peppy Nell (by Sir Gallahad III) and Last Wave (by Bull Lea).
Mar-Kell and her siblings are out of 1934 American champion 2-year-old filly Nellie Flag, a half sister to multiple stakes winner Count Morse (by Reigh Count). Nellie Flag, in turn, is out of 1924 Preakness Stakes winner and American co-champion 3-year-old filly Nellie Morse (by Luke McLuke), a half sister to stakes winner Manager Waite (by Watercress).
Nellie Morse's dam La Venganza was sired by 1887 AJC Derby winner Abercorn, one of the best Australian runners of his time, out of the Trenton mare Colonial, dam of stakes winners Mary Davis (by Watercress) and Air Man (by Waterboy). Colonial also produced the excellent broodmare Rose Leaves (by Ballot), whose six stakes winners include the great sire Bull Lea (by Bull Dog) and the good stayer Espino (by Negofol), winner of the 1926 Lawrence Realization and Saratoga Cup.
Fun facts
- Mar-Kell was named for Margaret Kelly, a friend of Calumet Farm owner Warren Wright and his wife Lucille.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: November 21, 2020