Mercedes Won (USA)
March 29, 1986 – October 16, 2006
Air Forbes Won (USA) x Bye Bye Mercedes (USA), by Roman Line (USA)
Family No. 22-b
March 29, 1986 – October 16, 2006
Air Forbes Won (USA) x Bye Bye Mercedes (USA), by Roman Line (USA)
Family No. 22-b
A tough, long-running racehorse, Mercedes Won had his best years at 2 and 3, becoming a champion and a multiple Grade 1 winner. After that his form declined, and he ended his racing career without the sort of reputation that might have gotten him a serious chance at stud in spite of a modest pedigree. Under those circumstances, his stud career was what might have been expected. Nevertheless, he had proved to be one of the turf’s great bargains, as he had been sold as a yearling for US$5,700 and ended his racing career as a millionaire.
Race record
52 starts, 12 wins, 7 seconds, 12 thirds, US$1,087,435 (includes converted Canadian earnings)
1988:
1989:
1990:
1991:
Honors
Sovereign Award, Canadian champion 2-year-old male (1988)
Assessments
Rated at 121 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American juvenile males of 1988, 5 pounds below champion Easy Goer.
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for juvenile males of 1988, 4 pounds above second-rated Charlie Barley.
Rated at 112 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1989, 17 pounds below divisional champion and Horse of the Year Sunday Silence.
Rated at 106 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1990, 22 pounds below co-highweights Easy Goer and Sunday Silence and 1 pound below Criminal Type, the official divisional champion and Horse of the Year.
Rated at 114 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for older males of 1990, 12 pounds below champion Charlie Barley.
Rated at 106 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1991, 20 pounds below co-highweights Black Tie Affair (the official divisional champion and Horse of the Year), Farma Way, and In Excess.
Rated at 111 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for older males of 1991, 16 pounds below highweighted Izvestia (the divisional champion, Sky Classic, earned a rating of 129 pounds in the turf division).
As an individual
A bay horse; no further information available.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by the Jockey Club, Mercedes Won sired 104 winners (49.1%) and six stakes winners (2.8%) from 212 named foals of racing age. His most notable runner was Cartofel, a Horse of the Year in the Dominican Republic.
Notable progeny
Cartofel (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Mercedes Won was bred by Oscar T. Penn, Jr. and was sold for US$5,700 through the 1987 Keeneland September yearling sale. He was owned by Christopher T. Spencer and was trained by Arnold Fink for all but his first start. He entered stud in 1992 at Farnsworth Farms, Ocala, Florida. Mercedes Won later stood in Iowa at Rail Head Ranch and Rockin River Quarter Horses. He was euthanized on October 16, 2006, due to cancer and the infirmities of old age; he had been pensioned since 2002 at the Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1982 Wood Memorial Stakes (USA-G1) winner Air Forbes Won (by Bold Forbes), Mercedes Won is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to Cross Country (by Ben Fab), dam of 2000 New Zealand Oaks (NZ-G1) winner She’s Country (by Kenfair) and 1996 Victoria Handicap (NZ-G3) winner Country Lane (by Success Express) and second dam of New Zealand Group 3 winner She Rules. Mercedes Won is also a half brother to Cryptianna (by Cryptoclearance), second dam of multiple Australian Group 3 winner Augusta Proud and third dam of Australian Group 3 winner Thyme for Roses. In addition, he is a half brother to Brocco’s Delight (by Brocco), dam of Australian listed stakes winner Kert (by General Nediym).
Mercedes Won is out of unraced Bye Bye Mercedes, whose sire, Roman Line, won the 1961 Breeders’ Futurity and finished second in the 1962 Kentucky Derby. The dam of Bye Bye Mercedes, Menedict (by Ménétrier) won the 1963 Canadian Oaks and is a half sister to three-time Canadian champion Dance Act (by Northern Dancer). Menetrier is also a half sister to stakes winners Court Royal (by Chop Chop), Epic Queen (by Epic), Down North (by Victoria Park), and North of the Law (by Northern Dancer). In addition, Menedict is a half sister to Royal Statute (by Northern Dancer), dam of 1982 English champion 3-year-old filly and 1983 Awaasif (by Snow Knight) and Group 1-placed Konafa (by Damascus), both important producers in their own right; 1981 Fountain of Youth Stakes (USA-G3) winner Akureyri (by Buckpasser); and 1984 Premio Bagutta (ITY-G3) winner Royal Lorna (by Val de l’Orne), dam of 2000 Prix du Lys (FR-G3) winner Lycitus (by Lycius) and Australian listed stakes winner Forlorna (by Nashwan) and second dam of 2002 Premio Roma (ITY-G1) winner Sunstrach and English Group 3 winner Music Box. Royal Statute is also the dam of Baederwood (by Tentam), a useful regional sire in the Mid-Atlantic region; of Royal Stance (by Dr. Fager), dam of multiple Group 3 winner Majuscule (by Majestic Light), 1987 Falls City Handicap (USA-G3) winner Royal Cielo (by Conquistador Cielo), and multiple listed stakes winner Luhuk (by Forty Niner; an important sire in Argentina); and of Victoress (by Conquistador Cielo), second dam of 2011 Derby Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Pour Moi and Group 3 winners Dawn Patrol and Gagnoa.
Menedict was produced from Queen’s Statute (by 1946 Prix d’Arenberg winner Le Lavandou), who also produced Falafel (by Northern Dancer), dam of 1985 Premio Parioli (Italian Two Thousand Guineas, ITY-G1) winner Again Tomorrow (by Honest Pleasure) and 1992 St. James’s Palace Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Brief Truce (by Irish River) and third dam of multiple Japanese Group 3 winner Makoto Brillar. In addition, Queen’s Statute produced stakes-placed Queen’s Law (by Queen’s Own), dam of Canadian stakes winners Queen’s Splendour (by Impressive) and Queen’s Answer (by Northern Answer), second dam of Grade 2 winner With the Flow, and third dam of multiple Venezuelan Group 1 winner Mantle. A 3,500-guinea yearling purchase for E. P. Taylor from the 1955 Tattersalls October sale, Queen’s Statute never raced but is a full sister to English stakes winner Grand Statute.
Last updated: May 7, 2026
Race record
52 starts, 12 wins, 7 seconds, 12 thirds, US$1,087,435 (includes converted Canadian earnings)
1988:
- Won Hopeful Stakes (USA-G1, 6.5FD, Saratoga)
- Won Sanford Stakes (USA-G2, 6FD, Saratoga)
- Won Grey Stakes (CAN-G3, 8.5FD, Woodbine)
- Won Swynford Stakes (CAN-L, 6.5FD, Woodbine)
1989:
- Won Florida Derby (USA-G1, 9FD, Gulfstream Park)
- Won Crittenden Stakes (USA-L, 8.5FD, Finger Lakes)
- 2nd Fountain of Youth Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 2nd Palm Beach Stakes (second division) (USA, 8FT, Gulfstream Park)
- 3rd Jim Beam Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Turfway Park)
- 3rd Tampa Bay Derby (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Tampa Bay Downs)
1990:
- Won Rochester Cup Stakes (USA-L, 8.5FD, Finger Lakes)
- 2nd Fair Play Breeders' Cup Stakes (CAN-L, 8.5FD, Woodbine)
- 3rd Washington Park Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Arlington Park)
1991:
- 2nd Durham Cup Stakes (CAN-L, 9FD, Woodbine)
- 2nd Farmington Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Finger Lakes)
- 3rd Finger Lakes Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-L, 6FD, Finger Lakes)
- 3rd Creme Fraiche Handicap (USA-L, 8.5FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 3rd Wadsworth Memorial Handicap (USA, 9FD, Finger Lakes)
Honors
Sovereign Award, Canadian champion 2-year-old male (1988)
Assessments
Rated at 121 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American juvenile males of 1988, 5 pounds below champion Easy Goer.
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for juvenile males of 1988, 4 pounds above second-rated Charlie Barley.
Rated at 112 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1989, 17 pounds below divisional champion and Horse of the Year Sunday Silence.
Rated at 106 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1990, 22 pounds below co-highweights Easy Goer and Sunday Silence and 1 pound below Criminal Type, the official divisional champion and Horse of the Year.
Rated at 114 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for older males of 1990, 12 pounds below champion Charlie Barley.
Rated at 106 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1991, 20 pounds below co-highweights Black Tie Affair (the official divisional champion and Horse of the Year), Farma Way, and In Excess.
Rated at 111 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for older males of 1991, 16 pounds below highweighted Izvestia (the divisional champion, Sky Classic, earned a rating of 129 pounds in the turf division).
As an individual
A bay horse; no further information available.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by the Jockey Club, Mercedes Won sired 104 winners (49.1%) and six stakes winners (2.8%) from 212 named foals of racing age. His most notable runner was Cartofel, a Horse of the Year in the Dominican Republic.
Notable progeny
Cartofel (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Mercedes Won was bred by Oscar T. Penn, Jr. and was sold for US$5,700 through the 1987 Keeneland September yearling sale. He was owned by Christopher T. Spencer and was trained by Arnold Fink for all but his first start. He entered stud in 1992 at Farnsworth Farms, Ocala, Florida. Mercedes Won later stood in Iowa at Rail Head Ranch and Rockin River Quarter Horses. He was euthanized on October 16, 2006, due to cancer and the infirmities of old age; he had been pensioned since 2002 at the Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1982 Wood Memorial Stakes (USA-G1) winner Air Forbes Won (by Bold Forbes), Mercedes Won is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to Cross Country (by Ben Fab), dam of 2000 New Zealand Oaks (NZ-G1) winner She’s Country (by Kenfair) and 1996 Victoria Handicap (NZ-G3) winner Country Lane (by Success Express) and second dam of New Zealand Group 3 winner She Rules. Mercedes Won is also a half brother to Cryptianna (by Cryptoclearance), second dam of multiple Australian Group 3 winner Augusta Proud and third dam of Australian Group 3 winner Thyme for Roses. In addition, he is a half brother to Brocco’s Delight (by Brocco), dam of Australian listed stakes winner Kert (by General Nediym).
Mercedes Won is out of unraced Bye Bye Mercedes, whose sire, Roman Line, won the 1961 Breeders’ Futurity and finished second in the 1962 Kentucky Derby. The dam of Bye Bye Mercedes, Menedict (by Ménétrier) won the 1963 Canadian Oaks and is a half sister to three-time Canadian champion Dance Act (by Northern Dancer). Menetrier is also a half sister to stakes winners Court Royal (by Chop Chop), Epic Queen (by Epic), Down North (by Victoria Park), and North of the Law (by Northern Dancer). In addition, Menedict is a half sister to Royal Statute (by Northern Dancer), dam of 1982 English champion 3-year-old filly and 1983 Awaasif (by Snow Knight) and Group 1-placed Konafa (by Damascus), both important producers in their own right; 1981 Fountain of Youth Stakes (USA-G3) winner Akureyri (by Buckpasser); and 1984 Premio Bagutta (ITY-G3) winner Royal Lorna (by Val de l’Orne), dam of 2000 Prix du Lys (FR-G3) winner Lycitus (by Lycius) and Australian listed stakes winner Forlorna (by Nashwan) and second dam of 2002 Premio Roma (ITY-G1) winner Sunstrach and English Group 3 winner Music Box. Royal Statute is also the dam of Baederwood (by Tentam), a useful regional sire in the Mid-Atlantic region; of Royal Stance (by Dr. Fager), dam of multiple Group 3 winner Majuscule (by Majestic Light), 1987 Falls City Handicap (USA-G3) winner Royal Cielo (by Conquistador Cielo), and multiple listed stakes winner Luhuk (by Forty Niner; an important sire in Argentina); and of Victoress (by Conquistador Cielo), second dam of 2011 Derby Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Pour Moi and Group 3 winners Dawn Patrol and Gagnoa.
Menedict was produced from Queen’s Statute (by 1946 Prix d’Arenberg winner Le Lavandou), who also produced Falafel (by Northern Dancer), dam of 1985 Premio Parioli (Italian Two Thousand Guineas, ITY-G1) winner Again Tomorrow (by Honest Pleasure) and 1992 St. James’s Palace Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Brief Truce (by Irish River) and third dam of multiple Japanese Group 3 winner Makoto Brillar. In addition, Queen’s Statute produced stakes-placed Queen’s Law (by Queen’s Own), dam of Canadian stakes winners Queen’s Splendour (by Impressive) and Queen’s Answer (by Northern Answer), second dam of Grade 2 winner With the Flow, and third dam of multiple Venezuelan Group 1 winner Mantle. A 3,500-guinea yearling purchase for E. P. Taylor from the 1955 Tattersalls October sale, Queen’s Statute never raced but is a full sister to English stakes winner Grand Statute.
Last updated: May 7, 2026