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Minnesota Mac (USA)

April 26, 1964 – April 25, 1996

Rough'n Tumble (USA) x Cow Girl II (IRE), by Mustang (GB)

Family 7-f

Although Minnesota Mac improved from a slow start as a racehorse to the point that he won his last four starts and went out as a stakes winner, he was not nearly as a good a racehorse as the similarly sired Dr. Fager (a member of the same foal crop at Tartan Farms), nor was he quite as good a stallion. Nonetheless, it was he and not Dr. Fager who succeeded in carrying on the male line of 1898 Kentucky Derby winner Plaudit. His best runner was American champion turf horse Mac Diarmida, but his most lasting contributions were as the paternal grandsire of 1994 American Horse of the Year Holy Bull and the maternal grandsire of 1980 Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) winner Codex, both sires of some importance. Minnesota Mac also sired the good runner and broodmare Katonka, whose branch of Blue Delight's family continues to prosper.


Race record

11 starts, 4 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds, US$63,275

1967:
  • Won Chicagoan Handicap (USA, 9FT, Arlington Park)


Assessments

Rated at 111 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf runners of 1967, 13 pounds below highweighted War Censor and 12 pounds below official divisional champion Assagai (a 3-year-old).


As an individual

A lengthy bay horse, Minnesota Mac had good shoulders, prominent withers, short cannons and a sloping croup. He had notable muscling down into his forearms but had more of an intermediate distance build than the blocky physique typical of a sprinter.



As a stallion

The Jockey Club credits Minnesota Mac with siring 172 winners (68.8%) and 18 stakes winners (7.2%) from 250 named foals.



Notable progeny

Great Above (USA), Katonka (USA), Mac Diarmida (USA)


Notable progeny of daughters

Codex (USA)



Connections

Foaled in Florida, Minnesota Mac was bred by Tartan Farms and raced in the colors of Tartan Stable. He was trained by John Nerud. He entered stud at Tartan in 1968 and was buried there after his death in 1996. His burial site is on land that later became part of Winding Oaks Farm.



Pedigree notes

Minnesota Mac is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to 1964 United Nations Handicap winner Western Warrior (by Decathlon).


Minnesota Mac's dam Cow Girl II (by the minor English stakes winner Mustang) was a minor stakes winner in England and is a full sister to the similar stakes winner Prairie Oyster and to Munch, winner of the 1958 Atlantic City Handicap. Prairie Oyster, in turn, is the second dam of three stakes winners and the third dam of 1985 Premio Periodistas Hipicos (VEN-G1) winner Giovanotto, while Munch produced multiple stakes winner Tastybit (by Noholme II).

Cow Girl II and her siblings were produced from Ate (by 1937 Irish champion 3-year-old male Phideas), a half sister to English stakes winners Kingsmead (by 1936 French champion 3-year-old male Mieuxcé) and King's Well (by Nasrullah). The last-named mare is the dam of English stakes winners Golden Leg (by Golden Cloud) and Vivat Rex (by Vimy). The next dam in Minnesota Mac's tail-female line, Messe (by two-time Eclipse Stakes winner Buchan), is out of Messaline, a daughter of 1920 St. Leger Stakes winner Caligula and the Gallinule mare Monisma.


Fun facts
  • Minnesota Mac was named after Tartan Farms owner William McKnight, who made his wealth as the head of the Minnesota-based 3M Corporation.



Last updated: June 10, 2024
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