Mary Jane was one of the better sophomore fillies of 1927, but her form is hard to assess because she scored her major victories in the Midwest and Kentucky, a circuit considered a step below racing at the major New York tracks. She was a good broodmare whose family has had sporadic successes in the past few decades.
Race record
30 starts, 10 wins, 5 seconds, 7 thirds, US$31,468
1926:
1927:
As an individual
A chestnut mare; no further information available.
As a producer
Mary Jane produced 13 named foals, of which eight started and six won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Mary Jane was bred by the Gallaher Brothers. She was owned by Allan Gallaher and Sewell Combs and was trained by Sewell Combs. She was ridden to her Kentucky Oaks score by Danny Connelly. As a broodmare, Mary Jane was owned by Lenox Stud, later passing to the ownership of Robert L. Gerry. Her last foal, Young Mary, was bred by Gerry's wife Cornelia, who was also Young Peter's owner of record.
Pedigree notes
Mary Jane is inbred 4x5 to seven-time English champion sire Hermit, winner of the 1867 Derby Stakes. She is a half sister to 1924 Latonia Derby and Latonia Championship Stakes winner Chilhowee (by Ballot) and to Glyn (by Delhi), dam of stakes winner Plumage (by Ballot) and second dam of multiple Canadian stakes winner Swamp Fox, American stakes winner Remunerate and Mexican stakes winner Manzanero.
Bourbon Lass, the dam of Mary Jane, is inbred 2x3 to the Hindoo mare Kentucky Belle II, a full sister to the great runner and sire Hanover and a notable producer. Bourbon Lass is out of Lassie (by Knight Errant) and is a half sister to 1926 Agua Caliente Cup Handicap winner All Over (by Zeus), to Little Ann (by Zeus), dam of 1930 American Derby winner Reveille Boy, and to Voteress (by Ballot), dam of stakes winner High Vote (by High Cloud). Both Bourbon Lass' sire Bourbon Beau (by Star Shoot) and her second dam Amaranth (by Sir Dixon) were out of Kentucky Belle II and were full siblings to stakes winners, but neither were of any significance other than their contributions to Mary Jane's pedigree.
Books and media
Mary Jane is profiled in Chapter 5 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Last updated: February 14, 2021
Race record
30 starts, 10 wins, 5 seconds, 7 thirds, US$31,468
1926:
- 3rd Jimmie Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Coney Island)
1927:
- Won Ashland Oaks (USA, 8.5FD, Lexington)
- Won Kentucky Oaks (USA, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Raceland Derby (USA, 10FD, Raceland)
- 2nd Illinois Oaks (USA, 9FD, Washington Park)
As an individual
A chestnut mare; no further information available.
As a producer
Mary Jane produced 13 named foals, of which eight started and six won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Lucky Chance (1930, by Chance Play) won the 1932 East View Stakes.
- Merry Chance (1936, by Chance Play) produced 1954 Jockey Club Cup Handicap winner Unbranded (by Unbreakable).
- Play Mary Jane (1937, by Chance Play) produced 1948 Santa Susana Stakes winner Mrs. Rabbit (by Milkman), dam of 1957 Santa Anita Maturity winner Spinney (by Cover Up), 1965 Del Mar Futurity winner Coursing (by Fleet Nasrullah), 1971 Santa Ana Handicap winner Mizzle (by Fleet Nasrullah) and multiple stakes winner Easter Hero (by Donut King). Play Mary Jane is also the second dam of five other stakes winners including 1959 Del Mar Derby and California Derby winner Mr. Eiffel and multiple Canadian stakes winner Langcrest and is the third dam of three stakes winners including Mexican Group 3 winner Mister Francis.
- Mistress Mary (1938, by Peanuts) produced 1954 Oceanport Handicap winner Master Ace (by Case Ace).
- Young Peter (1944, by Peanuts) won the 1947 Travers Stakes. He was of no importance as a sire.
Connections
Mary Jane was bred by the Gallaher Brothers. She was owned by Allan Gallaher and Sewell Combs and was trained by Sewell Combs. She was ridden to her Kentucky Oaks score by Danny Connelly. As a broodmare, Mary Jane was owned by Lenox Stud, later passing to the ownership of Robert L. Gerry. Her last foal, Young Mary, was bred by Gerry's wife Cornelia, who was also Young Peter's owner of record.
Pedigree notes
Mary Jane is inbred 4x5 to seven-time English champion sire Hermit, winner of the 1867 Derby Stakes. She is a half sister to 1924 Latonia Derby and Latonia Championship Stakes winner Chilhowee (by Ballot) and to Glyn (by Delhi), dam of stakes winner Plumage (by Ballot) and second dam of multiple Canadian stakes winner Swamp Fox, American stakes winner Remunerate and Mexican stakes winner Manzanero.
Bourbon Lass, the dam of Mary Jane, is inbred 2x3 to the Hindoo mare Kentucky Belle II, a full sister to the great runner and sire Hanover and a notable producer. Bourbon Lass is out of Lassie (by Knight Errant) and is a half sister to 1926 Agua Caliente Cup Handicap winner All Over (by Zeus), to Little Ann (by Zeus), dam of 1930 American Derby winner Reveille Boy, and to Voteress (by Ballot), dam of stakes winner High Vote (by High Cloud). Both Bourbon Lass' sire Bourbon Beau (by Star Shoot) and her second dam Amaranth (by Sir Dixon) were out of Kentucky Belle II and were full siblings to stakes winners, but neither were of any significance other than their contributions to Mary Jane's pedigree.
Books and media
Mary Jane is profiled in Chapter 5 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- Both Mary Jane's jockey, Danny Connelly, and her co-owner, Allan Gallaher, named daughters "Mary Jane" after their Oaks winner. Mary Jane Gallaher later became the first female turf writer for a major newspaper, writing for the Lexington Herald-Leader. Her column, "First Call," debuted in 1950.
Last updated: February 14, 2021