Last week, “Mares on Monday” covered Lucky Red’s win in Chile’s El Derby (CHI-G1), but she was not the only filly of interest on that weekend’s racing card. The other Group stakes at Valparaiso on February 2 was the Premio Albero Solari M. for 3-year-old fillies going 1600 meters. It was won by Modelina, a product of Haras Paso Nevada who was picking up her first stakes win for her owner, Stud Vendaval. A daughter of 2016 American champion 2-year-old male Classic Empire, Modelina is the latest graded/Group stakes winner for the family of 2003 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Toussaud, whose history is well worth reviewing,
A daughter of Northern Dancer’s son El Gran Senor, who won four championship titles in England and Ireland, Toussaud was produced from 1980 Milady Handicap (USA-G2) winner Image of Reality (by In Reality). She lived up to her regal heritage on the track, though not without some interesting moments for trainer Bobby Frankel due to her quirky, stubborn disposition. She won four stakes races as a 4-year-old, topped by the 1993 Gamely Handicap (USA-G1), and was ranked second to champion Flawlessly in the 1993 American turf female division.
As a broodmare for breeder-owner Juddmonte Farms, Toussaud was nothing less than sensational in spite of chronically fragile feet that rendered her unable to rear her own foals (they were raised by nurse mares) and a tendency to pass on her temperament issues. From 10 named foals, she produced five stakes winners, four of them at the Grade/Group 1 level. The first, Chester House (by Mr. Prospector), won the 2000 Arlington Million Stakes (USA-G1). Unfortunately, he died in 2003, cutting short what would probably been an excellent stud career as he begot 28 stakes winners from 223 named foals. Next up was 2000 Santa Monica Handicap (USA-G1) winner Honest Lady (by Seattle Slew), dam of 2008 Forego Handicap (USA-G1) winner First Defence (by Unbridled’s Song) and listed stakes winners Phantom Rose (by Danzig), Honest Quality (by Elusive Quality), and Honest Mischief (by Into Mischief). On January 19, 2025, Honest Lady was represented by her great-granddaughter Toupie (Uncle Mo x Avertume, by Tapit x Honest Pursuit, by Storm Cat), who won the Las Cienegas Stakes (USA-G3) over Santa Anita’s downhill turf course.
Decarchy (by Distant View), the next of Toussaud’s black-type runners, won the 2002 Frank E. Kilroe Mile Handicap (USA-G2) but did not achieve anything noteworthy as a sire. He was followed by Chiselling (by Woodman), winner of the 2002 Secretariat Stakes (USA-G1), and then by Empire Maker. A first-rate racehorse when he cared to show his full ability, the son of Unbridled won the 2003 Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) and Florida Derby (USA-G1). He sired 75 stakes winners headed by three-time American champion Royal Delta and, through his Grade 1-winning son Pioneerof the Nile, is the paternal grandsire of 2015 American Horse of the Year American Pharoah, the first American Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.
Two of Toussaud’s unraced daughters have added to their dam’s produce record by having some success as broodmares. The elder, Tinge (by Kingmambo), is the second dam of 2024 Del Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes (USA-G3) winner Artislas (Catalina Cruiser x Moms Pride, by Into Mischief). The younger is Mesmeric (by A.P. Indy), dam of 2017 New Orleans Handicap (USA-G2) winner Honorable Duty (by Distorted Humor) and, through her Mizzen Mast daughter Modulate, the second dam of Modelina, Since producing Modelina, Modulate has given birth to the unraced 2022 Classic Empire colt Macanazo and to Moonlit, a 2024 filly by Tiz the Law.
Overall, Toussaud’s record for breeding on through her daughters is somewhat disappointing given her own great accomplishments as a broodmare, but no mare with four top-level winners, a Grade 1-producing daughter, and a couple of good sire sons to her credit needs to blush for her production. It is to be hoped that Toupie, Modulate, Modelina, and other female-line descendants will be able to come up with some more notable runners and producers who will carry Toussaud’s name forward to future generations.
A daughter of Northern Dancer’s son El Gran Senor, who won four championship titles in England and Ireland, Toussaud was produced from 1980 Milady Handicap (USA-G2) winner Image of Reality (by In Reality). She lived up to her regal heritage on the track, though not without some interesting moments for trainer Bobby Frankel due to her quirky, stubborn disposition. She won four stakes races as a 4-year-old, topped by the 1993 Gamely Handicap (USA-G1), and was ranked second to champion Flawlessly in the 1993 American turf female division.
As a broodmare for breeder-owner Juddmonte Farms, Toussaud was nothing less than sensational in spite of chronically fragile feet that rendered her unable to rear her own foals (they were raised by nurse mares) and a tendency to pass on her temperament issues. From 10 named foals, she produced five stakes winners, four of them at the Grade/Group 1 level. The first, Chester House (by Mr. Prospector), won the 2000 Arlington Million Stakes (USA-G1). Unfortunately, he died in 2003, cutting short what would probably been an excellent stud career as he begot 28 stakes winners from 223 named foals. Next up was 2000 Santa Monica Handicap (USA-G1) winner Honest Lady (by Seattle Slew), dam of 2008 Forego Handicap (USA-G1) winner First Defence (by Unbridled’s Song) and listed stakes winners Phantom Rose (by Danzig), Honest Quality (by Elusive Quality), and Honest Mischief (by Into Mischief). On January 19, 2025, Honest Lady was represented by her great-granddaughter Toupie (Uncle Mo x Avertume, by Tapit x Honest Pursuit, by Storm Cat), who won the Las Cienegas Stakes (USA-G3) over Santa Anita’s downhill turf course.
Decarchy (by Distant View), the next of Toussaud’s black-type runners, won the 2002 Frank E. Kilroe Mile Handicap (USA-G2) but did not achieve anything noteworthy as a sire. He was followed by Chiselling (by Woodman), winner of the 2002 Secretariat Stakes (USA-G1), and then by Empire Maker. A first-rate racehorse when he cared to show his full ability, the son of Unbridled won the 2003 Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) and Florida Derby (USA-G1). He sired 75 stakes winners headed by three-time American champion Royal Delta and, through his Grade 1-winning son Pioneerof the Nile, is the paternal grandsire of 2015 American Horse of the Year American Pharoah, the first American Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.
Two of Toussaud’s unraced daughters have added to their dam’s produce record by having some success as broodmares. The elder, Tinge (by Kingmambo), is the second dam of 2024 Del Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes (USA-G3) winner Artislas (Catalina Cruiser x Moms Pride, by Into Mischief). The younger is Mesmeric (by A.P. Indy), dam of 2017 New Orleans Handicap (USA-G2) winner Honorable Duty (by Distorted Humor) and, through her Mizzen Mast daughter Modulate, the second dam of Modelina, Since producing Modelina, Modulate has given birth to the unraced 2022 Classic Empire colt Macanazo and to Moonlit, a 2024 filly by Tiz the Law.
Overall, Toussaud’s record for breeding on through her daughters is somewhat disappointing given her own great accomplishments as a broodmare, but no mare with four top-level winners, a Grade 1-producing daughter, and a couple of good sire sons to her credit needs to blush for her production. It is to be hoped that Toupie, Modulate, Modelina, and other female-line descendants will be able to come up with some more notable runners and producers who will carry Toussaud’s name forward to future generations.
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