Ole Liz (USA)
May 13, 1963 – 1997
Double Jay (USA) x Islay Mist (USA), by Roman (USA)
Family 4-m
“GENETIC GEM”
May 13, 1963 – 1997
Double Jay (USA) x Islay Mist (USA), by Roman (USA)
Family 4-m
“GENETIC GEM”
Ole Liz was bred to be a precocious juvenile and turned out to be exactly that on the racetrack. With champion broodmare sires as her sire and broodmare sire, she was also bred to be a good producer. She lived up to her bloodlines by producing three stakes winners and breeding on well through her daughters, founding a branch of Bruce Lowe Family 4-m that has continued to produce well in the 21st century.
Race record
12 starts, 6 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, US$98,271
1965:
Assessments
Rated at 113 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1965, 7 pounds below champion Moccasin (the co-Horse of the Year).
As an individual
A dark bay or brown mare; Ole Liz was speedy but presumably suffered a career-ending injury at the end of her juvenile season as she did not reappear on the track at age 3.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Old Liz produced 17 named foals, of which 15 started and seven won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Ole Liz was bred by J. V. Tigani. She was purchased for US$4,700 from the 1964 Keeneland fall yearling sale by Henry Forresy and raced for Forrest (also her trainer) and Elton Gordon. Following her racing career, Ole Liz was sold to Marvin Andersen and became a broodmare at his Maverick Farm in Ocala, Florida. After breeding four foals from her, Andersen sold her to the partnership of Hilary Boone, J. B. Faulconer, and W. W. Lockridge, et. al., and she produced the 1972 Graustark filly Starkling for this group. She next came into the hands of John R. Gaines and Nelson Bunker Hunt, who bred seven foals from her. Following the birth of her 1980 foal, F. Scott (by Vaguely Noble), Ole Liz changed hands again, becoming the property of Allen Cowan. Her final owner as a broodmare was First Security Bank, the breeder of record for her 1988 filly, Delray Delight (by Saratoga Six). Ole Liz was barren in 1989 and was apparently a pensioner after that, dying in 1997.
Pedigree notes
Ole Liz is inbred 5x5 to two-time American champion Ben Brush (the American champion sire of 1909) and to 1911 Two Thousand Guineas and Derby Stakes winner Sunstar, a champion broodmare sire in England. She is a full sister to Bourbon Mist, the dam of stakes winner Fire Water (by Tom Rolfe), the second dam of two-time American champion Life’s Magic and English Group 3 winner Romeo Romani, and the third dam of 2000 European champion sprinter Nuclear Debate, two-time Prix Royal-Oak (FR-G1) winner Amilynx, French Group 2 winner Amiwain, and Group 3 winners Chicarica and Frenchman’s Bay. Ole Liz is also a half sister to stakes winners I Want You (by Pago Pago) and Norman Regret (by Cornish Prince).
Ole Liz and her siblings were produced from the stakes-winning Roman mare Islay Mist, whose half sister Taboo (by Native Dancer) won a division of the 1961 Santa Monica Handicap. Islay Mist is also a half sister to Egyptian (by Heliopolis), dam of stakes winner Mongolia (by Mongo), second dam of 1977 Matchmaker Handicap (USA-G1) winner Mississippi Mud, and third dam of multiple Grade 2 winner and American champion broodmare sire Dixieland Band, 1980 Delaware Oaks (USA-G1) winner Bishop’s Ring, and Grade 3 winner Pewter Grey.
Islay Mist and her siblings are out of the unraced Eight Thirty mare Evening Mist, whose half sister Cosmic Missile (by Roman) won the 1947 Gazelle Stakes and is the second dam of 1962 Fall Highweight Handicap winner Be On Time. Evening Mist, in turn, is out of Misty Isle (by Sickle), whose six stakes wins include the 1940 Matron Stakes and the 1941 Sheridan Handicap at the expense of colts.
Last updated: February 3, 2026
Race record
12 starts, 6 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, US$98,271
1965:
- Won Bewitch Stakes (second division) (USA, 4.5FD, Keeneland)
- Won Debutante Stakes (USA, 5FD, Churchill Downs; new track record 0:58)
- Won Lassie Trial Stakes (USA, 6FD, Arlington Park)
- 2nd Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Arlington Park)
Assessments
Rated at 113 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1965, 7 pounds below champion Moccasin (the co-Horse of the Year).
As an individual
A dark bay or brown mare; Ole Liz was speedy but presumably suffered a career-ending injury at the end of her juvenile season as she did not reappear on the track at age 3.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Old Liz produced 17 named foals, of which 15 started and seven won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Kittiwake (1968, by Sea-Bird) won the 1973 Columbiana Handicap (USA-G2) and other good stakes races. She is the dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Miss Oceana (by Alydar), 1992 Prix Jearn Prat (FR-G1) winner Kitwood (by Nureyev), 1983 Orchid Handicap winner Larida (by Northern Dancer), and Group 1-placed stakes winner Ivory Wings (by Sir Ivor). She is the second dam of 1988 Coronation Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Magic of Life and the third dam of Grade/Group 2 winners Enthused, Prince of Andros, and Surya. Kittiwake’s more distant descendants include 2012 European champion 2-year-old male Dawn Approach, multiple South African Group 1 winner Inara, three-time Pattison Canadian International Stakes (CAN-G1) winner Joshua Tree, and 2011 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (USA-G1) winner Aruna.
- Starkling (1972, by Graustark) never raced but is the third dam of 2010 Triple Bend Handicap (USA-G1) winner E Z’s Gentleman.
- Oilfield (1973, by Hail to Reason) won the 1976 Knickerbocker Handicap (USA-G3) and the 1977 Brighton Beach Handicap (USA-G3).
- Beaconaire (1974, by Vaguely Noble) won two stakes races in France. She is the dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Sabin (by Lyphard) and Group 3 winners Fatah Flare (by Alydar) and Binya (by Royal Solo) and is the second dam of two-time American champion steeplechaser Flat Top and multiple Group 3 winner Asema, Beaconaire is also the third dam of 2015 New Zealand Stakes (NZ-G1) winner Sakhee’s Soldier, 2017 Sword Dancer Stakes (USA-G1) winner Sadler’s Joy, Grade 2 winner Wolfie’s Dynaghost, and Grade 3 winners Luftikus and Where’s Sterling. Her more distant descendants include two-time Saudi Arabian champion older female Al Jabreiah, 2020 Canadian champion 2-year-old male Gretzky the Great, 2024 Panamanian champion 3-year-old male Dancer War, 2012 Vanity Handicap (USA-G1) winner Love Theway Youare, and 2019 Frizette Stakes (USA-G1) winner Wicked Whisper.
- Galexcel (1982, by Exceller) placed twice from five starts. She is the second dam of Irish Group 3 winner Red Feather. Her more distant descendants include multiple Group 3 winner Nayef Road.
- Blanche Du Bois (1983, by Green Dancer) won twice from 10 starts. She is the second dam of 2003 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (USA-G1) winner Film Maker and multiple Argentine Group 3 Woodgreen. She is also the third dam of Grade 2 winner Focus Group. Her more distant descendants include multiple Argentine Group 1 winner El Kodigo.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Ole Liz was bred by J. V. Tigani. She was purchased for US$4,700 from the 1964 Keeneland fall yearling sale by Henry Forresy and raced for Forrest (also her trainer) and Elton Gordon. Following her racing career, Ole Liz was sold to Marvin Andersen and became a broodmare at his Maverick Farm in Ocala, Florida. After breeding four foals from her, Andersen sold her to the partnership of Hilary Boone, J. B. Faulconer, and W. W. Lockridge, et. al., and she produced the 1972 Graustark filly Starkling for this group. She next came into the hands of John R. Gaines and Nelson Bunker Hunt, who bred seven foals from her. Following the birth of her 1980 foal, F. Scott (by Vaguely Noble), Ole Liz changed hands again, becoming the property of Allen Cowan. Her final owner as a broodmare was First Security Bank, the breeder of record for her 1988 filly, Delray Delight (by Saratoga Six). Ole Liz was barren in 1989 and was apparently a pensioner after that, dying in 1997.
Pedigree notes
Ole Liz is inbred 5x5 to two-time American champion Ben Brush (the American champion sire of 1909) and to 1911 Two Thousand Guineas and Derby Stakes winner Sunstar, a champion broodmare sire in England. She is a full sister to Bourbon Mist, the dam of stakes winner Fire Water (by Tom Rolfe), the second dam of two-time American champion Life’s Magic and English Group 3 winner Romeo Romani, and the third dam of 2000 European champion sprinter Nuclear Debate, two-time Prix Royal-Oak (FR-G1) winner Amilynx, French Group 2 winner Amiwain, and Group 3 winners Chicarica and Frenchman’s Bay. Ole Liz is also a half sister to stakes winners I Want You (by Pago Pago) and Norman Regret (by Cornish Prince).
Ole Liz and her siblings were produced from the stakes-winning Roman mare Islay Mist, whose half sister Taboo (by Native Dancer) won a division of the 1961 Santa Monica Handicap. Islay Mist is also a half sister to Egyptian (by Heliopolis), dam of stakes winner Mongolia (by Mongo), second dam of 1977 Matchmaker Handicap (USA-G1) winner Mississippi Mud, and third dam of multiple Grade 2 winner and American champion broodmare sire Dixieland Band, 1980 Delaware Oaks (USA-G1) winner Bishop’s Ring, and Grade 3 winner Pewter Grey.
Islay Mist and her siblings are out of the unraced Eight Thirty mare Evening Mist, whose half sister Cosmic Missile (by Roman) won the 1947 Gazelle Stakes and is the second dam of 1962 Fall Highweight Handicap winner Be On Time. Evening Mist, in turn, is out of Misty Isle (by Sickle), whose six stakes wins include the 1940 Matron Stakes and the 1941 Sheridan Handicap at the expense of colts.
Last updated: February 3, 2026