Oil Capitol (USA)
March 19, 1947 – March 9, 1959
Mahmoud (FR) x Never Again II (FR), by Pharos (GB)
Family 9-e
March 19, 1947 – March 9, 1959
Mahmoud (FR) x Never Again II (FR), by Pharos (GB)
Family 9-e
A high-class juvenile, Oil Capitol was not as consistent in later years but was always dangerous on his day. He was admirably tough and sound but did not pass on enough of his better qualities with the consistency to be successful as a sire in a stallion career limited by his early death, although he sired a high percentage of small winners.
Race record
80 starts, 19 wins, 10 seconds, 9 thirds, US$580,756
1949:
1950:
1951:
1952:
1953:
Honors
American co-champion 2-year-old male (1949)
Assessments
Co-second weighted with Hill Prince at 124 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1949, 2 pounds below Middleground.
Ranked third among American 2-year-old males of 1949 by The Blood-Horse.
Ranked 7th among American 3-year-old males of 1950 by The Blood-Horse.
Rated at 117 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1953, 19 pounds below divisional champion and Horse of the Year Tom Fool.
As an individual
A medium-sized, wiry gray horse with a deep girth and powerful hindquarters, Oil Capitol had clean legs, but his hocks were well out behind him. He preferred fast tracks and was less effective in off going. Harry Trotsek described him as “easy to train.”
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, Oil Capitol sired five stakes winners (4.6%) and 86 winners (78.9%) from 109 named foals of racing age. None of his runners approached him in ability.
Notable progeny of daughters
Mira Femme (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Oil Capitol was bred by Elmendorf Farm (P. A. B. Widener III). A US$15,000 yearling at the 1948 Breeders’ Sales Company summer yearling sale at Keeneland, he was owned by Thomas Gray and then by Allie Reuben’s Hasty House Farm, both in partnership with Cora Trotsek, wife of trainer Harry Trotsek. Hasty House Farm bought out Mrs. Trotsek's share in late 1952 but retained Trotsek as the horse’s trainer. Oil Capitol entered stud in 1954 in Kentucky at Crown Crest Farm and died there from an enterolith on March 9, 1959.
Pedigree notes
Oil Capitol is inbred 5x5 to 1896 Oaks Stakes winner Canterbury Pilgrim. He is a half brother to multiple juvenile stakes winner Cigar Maid (by Pavot), dam of 1961 Donn Handicap winner General Arthur (by Count Fleet), second dam of 1970 Vanity Handicap winner Commissary and multiple French Group 3 winner General Holme, and third dam of 1992 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Lahib and multiple Grade 2 winner Double Discount. Oil Capitol is also a half brother to Pocket Edition (by Roman), dam of 1950 California Breeders Champion Stakes winner Gold Capitol (by Alibhai), 1953 Del Mar Futurity winner Double Speed (by Count Fleet’s full brother Count Speed), 1955 San Felipe Handicap winner Jean’s Joe (by Nasrullah), and 1958 Richmond Stakes winner Hieroglyph (by Heliopolis); second dam of Grade 3 winner Traffic Cop; and third dam of 1970 American champion 2-year-old filly Forward Gal, 1977 Irish Guinness Oaks (IRE-G1) winner Olwyn, Grade 2 winners Pretty Perfect and Tampoy, and Grade 3 winner Wicked Park.
Oil Capitol is out of French-bred Never Again II, who raced in France under the name of “New Deal.” She is a half sister to Destiny II (by Astérus), dam of juvenile stakes winner Summerhill (by Unbreakable), second dam of 1960 French champion 2-year-old filly Solitude, and third dam of Grade 2 winner Chum Salmon, multiple Grade 3 winner Sarre Green, and 1970 Prix La Fleche winner Flash Light.
Never Again II and Destiny II were produced from Confidence, winner of the 1931 Prix de Pomone and 1932 Grand Prix de Deauville. Sired by two-time Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Ksar, the best French racehorse of his time, out of Listen In (by three-time French champion sire Rabelais), Confidence is a half sister to Static (by Ksar’s sire Bruleur), dam of the good French stakes winner Galene (by Blue Skies) and second dam of 1956 French champion 2-year-old male Tyrone, 1954 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte winner Soleil Royal, and 1953 Prix de Fontainebleau winner Tosco. Confidence is also a half sister to Evangelist II (by Astérus), dam of stakes winner Sylvia Dear (by Unbreakable).
Fun facts
Last updated: December 17, 2024
Race record
80 starts, 19 wins, 10 seconds, 9 thirds, US$580,756
1949:
- Won Breeders' Futurity (USA, 6FD, Keeneland)
- Won Pimlico Futurity (USA, 8.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Lansing Stakes (USA, 5FD, Detroit)
- Won Keeneland Sales Colts and Geldings Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Keeneland; equaled track record 1:18-1/5)
1950:
- Won Flamingo Stakes (USA, 9FD, Hialeah)
- Won Equipoise Mile (USA, 8FD, Arlington Park)
- Won Everglades Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hialeah)
- 2nd Blue Grass Stakes (USA, 9FD, Keeneland)
- 3rd Empire City Handicap (USA, 9.5FD, Empire City)
- 3rd Dick Welles Stakes (USA, 7FD, Arlington Park)
- 3rd Benjamin Franklin Handicap (USA, 8f+70yD, Garden State)
1951:
- Won Butler Handicap (USA, 9.5FD, Jamaica)
- 2nd Arlington Handicap (USA, 10FD, Arlington Park)
- 2nd Washington Park Handicap (USA, 8FD, Washington Park)
- 2nd Whirlaway Stakes (USA, 9FD, Washington Park)
- 2nd Charles W. Bidwill Memorial Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hawthorne)
- 3rd Prince George Autumn Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Bowie)
1952:
- Won New Orleans Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Fair Grounds)
- Won Charles W. Bidwill Memorial Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hawthorne; new track record 1:49-1/5)
- 2nd Arlington Handicap (USA, 9FD, Arlington Park)
- 2nd Whirlaway Handicap (USA, 9.5FD, Washington Park)
- 2nd Exterminator Stakes (USA, 12FD, Pimlico)
- 3rd Buckeye Handicap (USA, 9FD, Randall Park)
- 3rd Palm Beach Handicap (USA, 7FD, Hialeah)
1953:
- Won Widener Handicap (USA, 10FD, Hialeah)
- Won Arlington Handicap (USA, 9.5FD, Arlington Park)
- Won Palm Beach Handicap (USA, 7FD, Hialeah)
- Won Ben Ali Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Keeneland)
- 2nd McLennan Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hialeah)
- 3rd New Orleans Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Fair Grounds)
Honors
American co-champion 2-year-old male (1949)
Assessments
Co-second weighted with Hill Prince at 124 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1949, 2 pounds below Middleground.
Ranked third among American 2-year-old males of 1949 by The Blood-Horse.
Ranked 7th among American 3-year-old males of 1950 by The Blood-Horse.
Rated at 117 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1953, 19 pounds below divisional champion and Horse of the Year Tom Fool.
As an individual
A medium-sized, wiry gray horse with a deep girth and powerful hindquarters, Oil Capitol had clean legs, but his hocks were well out behind him. He preferred fast tracks and was less effective in off going. Harry Trotsek described him as “easy to train.”
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, Oil Capitol sired five stakes winners (4.6%) and 86 winners (78.9%) from 109 named foals of racing age. None of his runners approached him in ability.
Notable progeny of daughters
Mira Femme (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Oil Capitol was bred by Elmendorf Farm (P. A. B. Widener III). A US$15,000 yearling at the 1948 Breeders’ Sales Company summer yearling sale at Keeneland, he was owned by Thomas Gray and then by Allie Reuben’s Hasty House Farm, both in partnership with Cora Trotsek, wife of trainer Harry Trotsek. Hasty House Farm bought out Mrs. Trotsek's share in late 1952 but retained Trotsek as the horse’s trainer. Oil Capitol entered stud in 1954 in Kentucky at Crown Crest Farm and died there from an enterolith on March 9, 1959.
Pedigree notes
Oil Capitol is inbred 5x5 to 1896 Oaks Stakes winner Canterbury Pilgrim. He is a half brother to multiple juvenile stakes winner Cigar Maid (by Pavot), dam of 1961 Donn Handicap winner General Arthur (by Count Fleet), second dam of 1970 Vanity Handicap winner Commissary and multiple French Group 3 winner General Holme, and third dam of 1992 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Lahib and multiple Grade 2 winner Double Discount. Oil Capitol is also a half brother to Pocket Edition (by Roman), dam of 1950 California Breeders Champion Stakes winner Gold Capitol (by Alibhai), 1953 Del Mar Futurity winner Double Speed (by Count Fleet’s full brother Count Speed), 1955 San Felipe Handicap winner Jean’s Joe (by Nasrullah), and 1958 Richmond Stakes winner Hieroglyph (by Heliopolis); second dam of Grade 3 winner Traffic Cop; and third dam of 1970 American champion 2-year-old filly Forward Gal, 1977 Irish Guinness Oaks (IRE-G1) winner Olwyn, Grade 2 winners Pretty Perfect and Tampoy, and Grade 3 winner Wicked Park.
Oil Capitol is out of French-bred Never Again II, who raced in France under the name of “New Deal.” She is a half sister to Destiny II (by Astérus), dam of juvenile stakes winner Summerhill (by Unbreakable), second dam of 1960 French champion 2-year-old filly Solitude, and third dam of Grade 2 winner Chum Salmon, multiple Grade 3 winner Sarre Green, and 1970 Prix La Fleche winner Flash Light.
Never Again II and Destiny II were produced from Confidence, winner of the 1931 Prix de Pomone and 1932 Grand Prix de Deauville. Sired by two-time Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Ksar, the best French racehorse of his time, out of Listen In (by three-time French champion sire Rabelais), Confidence is a half sister to Static (by Ksar’s sire Bruleur), dam of the good French stakes winner Galene (by Blue Skies) and second dam of 1956 French champion 2-year-old male Tyrone, 1954 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte winner Soleil Royal, and 1953 Prix de Fontainebleau winner Tosco. Confidence is also a half sister to Evangelist II (by Astérus), dam of stakes winner Sylvia Dear (by Unbreakable).
Fun facts
- The first horse ever bought or owned by Tom Gray, Oil Capitol was named in honor of Gray’s hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma, known as the “Oil Capital of the World.” According to Trotsek, the misspelling of “Oil Capital” as “Oil Capitol” was due to an error by The Jockey Club.
Last updated: December 17, 2024