Mira Femme (USA)
February 16, 1964 – 1991
Dumpty Humpty (USA) x Mlle. Somebody (USA), by Oil Capitol (USA)
Family 5-f
February 16, 1964 – 1991
Dumpty Humpty (USA) x Mlle. Somebody (USA), by Oil Capitol (USA)
Family 5-f
Mira Femme’s co-championship among American 2-year-old fillies of 1966 reflected a sharp difference of opinion among racing handicappers and journalists with the East Coast “old guard” favoring Regal Gleam for her late-season performances over longer distances. Mira Femme was the more consistent of the two in 1966, however, and defeated the following year’s Santa Anita Derby winner, Ruken, in the California Breeders’ Champion Stakes. A speedy sort, taking after her sire, she was not as effective over longer distances at 3 and 4 but became a good broodmare following the conclusion of her racing career.
Race record
31 starts, 14 wins, 6 seconds, 3 thirds, US$306,912
1966:
1967:
1968:
Honors
American co-champion 2-year-old filly (1966)
Assessments
Rated at 113 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1966, 3 pounds below the other co-champion filly, Regal Gleam.
Rated at 110 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1967, 14 pounds below co-champions Furl Sail and Gamely.
As an individual
A bay mare; no further information available.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Mira Femme produced 15 named foals, of which 14 raced and 10 won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in California, Mira Femme was bred and owned by Verne H. Winchell Jr. She was trained by I. Guiney at 2 and 3 and was later trained by Buster Millerick. After producing her first four foals for Winchell, Mira Femme was sold to Mitchell Wolfson. She bred three foals for Wolfson before passing to the ownership of Edward A. Seltzer, who bred her remaining foals alone or in partnership. Mira Femme died in 1991 and was buried at Adena Springs, Kentucky.
Pedigree notes
Mira Femme is by 1955 Anglesey Plate winner Dumpty Humpty, who set a world record of 1:08 flat for 6 furlongs on dirt in the 1957 Richmond Handicap at Golden Gate. She is inbred 4x5 to 1923 English champion 2-year-old filly Mumtaz Mahal, a great foundation mare, and 5x5 to two-time English champion sire Phalaris, considered the best English sprinter of his day. She is a half sister to Canadian juvenile stakes winner Body Bend (by Never Bend). She is also a half sister to Most Beautiful (by Donut King), dam of 1978 Sorority Stakes (USA-G1) winner Mongo Queen (by Mongo), and to Miss Mauna Lisa (by Hawaii), dam of multiple stakes winner Willamar (by Northjet), whose Gone West son Seeker’s Reward was a sire of some importance in Chile.
Mira Femme and her siblings are out of the winning Oil Capitol mare Mlle. Somebody, whose half sister Sweet Girl (by Heliopolis) is the dam of 1963 Paumonok Handicap winner Kisco Kid (by Mr. Busher). Mlle. Somebody is also a half sister to Blue Drag (by El Drag), dam of multiple stakes winner Vigilante Spirit (by Sir William).
Mlle. Somebody, in turn, is out of the winning Blue Larkspur mare Eyes of Blue, a half sister to multiple juvenile stakes winner Incidentally (by Mr. Busher). Produced from the winning Epinard mare Danise M., Eyes of Blue is also a half sister to Silver Queen (by War Admiral), dam of 1961 New Orleans Handicap winner Greek Star (by Heather Broom).
Last updated: December 17, 2024
Race record
31 starts, 14 wins, 6 seconds, 3 thirds, US$306,912
1966:
- Won Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Arlington Park)
- Won Astronaut Stakes (USA, 5FD, Hollywood)
- Won California Breeders' Champion Stakes (USA, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Hollywood Lassie Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Hollywood)
- Won Junior League Stakes (USA, 5FD, Hollywood)
- 3rd Lassie Trial Stakes (USA, 6FD, Arlington Park)
1967:
- Won Pasadena Stakes (USA, 6FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Santa Ynez Stakes (USA, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Santa Susana Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
1968:
- 2nd Palomar Handicap (USA, 6FD, Del Mar)
Honors
American co-champion 2-year-old filly (1966)
Assessments
Rated at 113 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1966, 3 pounds below the other co-champion filly, Regal Gleam.
Rated at 110 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1967, 14 pounds below co-champions Furl Sail and Gamely.
As an individual
A bay mare; no further information available.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Mira Femme produced 15 named foals, of which 14 raced and 10 won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Native Splendor (1970, by Raise a Native) never raced but is the second dam of 1993 Philip H. Iselin Handicap (USA-G1) winner Valley Crossing.
- Classic Perfection (1972, by Never Bend) won one of her nine starts. She is the dam of Grade 2-placed multiple stakes winner Classic Go Go (by Pago Pago), Group 3-placed stakes winner Premium Win (by Lyphard), listed stakes winner Melo Melody (by Mr. Leader), and Canadian stakes winner Aironlass (by Proud Clarion). She is the second dam of 1991 American champion turf male Tight Spot and 1993 Hollywood Futurity (USA-G1) winner Valiant Nature (both by His Majesty) and of Grade 3 winner Classy Women (by Relaunch) and is the third dam of multiple English Group 1 winner Ad Valorem. Her more distant descendants include two-time Saudi Arabian champion and multiple Grade 1 winner Premium Tap, 2010 Puerto Rican champion 3-year-old male El Inspirado, and Grade/Group 3 winners Mr Vargas and Our Mate Art.
- Batonnier (1975, by His Majesty) won the 1978 Illinois Derby (USA-G3) and was Grade 1-placed. He sired 20 stakes winners from 355 named foals of racing age, headed by 1987 Remsen Stakes (USA-G1) winner Batty and 1996 Santa Anita Derby (USA-G1) winner Cavonnier.
- Femme Pleasure (1976, by What a Pleasure) failed to win in five starts but is the second dam of Grade 3 winner National Treasure.
- Mira Irish Key (1978, by Irish Castle) won one of her nine starts. She is the dam of Grade 1-placed stakes winner Puffy Doodle (by Northjet).
- Endurable Heights (1979, by Graustark) failed to win in three tries but is the dam of French listed stakes winner Barodet (by Afleet).
- Femme Elite (1983, by Northjet) won the 1985 Grand Criterium (FR-G1). She is the dam of multiple French Group 3 winner Steinbeck (by Mr. Prospector), a prominent sire in India.
Connections
Foaled in California, Mira Femme was bred and owned by Verne H. Winchell Jr. She was trained by I. Guiney at 2 and 3 and was later trained by Buster Millerick. After producing her first four foals for Winchell, Mira Femme was sold to Mitchell Wolfson. She bred three foals for Wolfson before passing to the ownership of Edward A. Seltzer, who bred her remaining foals alone or in partnership. Mira Femme died in 1991 and was buried at Adena Springs, Kentucky.
Pedigree notes
Mira Femme is by 1955 Anglesey Plate winner Dumpty Humpty, who set a world record of 1:08 flat for 6 furlongs on dirt in the 1957 Richmond Handicap at Golden Gate. She is inbred 4x5 to 1923 English champion 2-year-old filly Mumtaz Mahal, a great foundation mare, and 5x5 to two-time English champion sire Phalaris, considered the best English sprinter of his day. She is a half sister to Canadian juvenile stakes winner Body Bend (by Never Bend). She is also a half sister to Most Beautiful (by Donut King), dam of 1978 Sorority Stakes (USA-G1) winner Mongo Queen (by Mongo), and to Miss Mauna Lisa (by Hawaii), dam of multiple stakes winner Willamar (by Northjet), whose Gone West son Seeker’s Reward was a sire of some importance in Chile.
Mira Femme and her siblings are out of the winning Oil Capitol mare Mlle. Somebody, whose half sister Sweet Girl (by Heliopolis) is the dam of 1963 Paumonok Handicap winner Kisco Kid (by Mr. Busher). Mlle. Somebody is also a half sister to Blue Drag (by El Drag), dam of multiple stakes winner Vigilante Spirit (by Sir William).
Mlle. Somebody, in turn, is out of the winning Blue Larkspur mare Eyes of Blue, a half sister to multiple juvenile stakes winner Incidentally (by Mr. Busher). Produced from the winning Epinard mare Danise M., Eyes of Blue is also a half sister to Silver Queen (by War Admiral), dam of 1961 New Orleans Handicap winner Greek Star (by Heather Broom).
Last updated: December 17, 2024