Opening Verse (USA)
May 2, 1986 – c. 2001
The Minstrel (CAN) x Shy Dawn (USA), by Grey Dawn II (FR)
Family 21-a
May 2, 1986 – c. 2001
The Minstrel (CAN) x Shy Dawn (USA), by Grey Dawn II (FR)
Family 21-a
Considered very promising as a youngster, the cleverly named Opening Verse never reached the heights he had initially seemed destined for in England. Sent to the United States, he came up with one big score each at 4 and 5, winning the Oaklawn Handicap (USA-G1) on the dirt in 1990 and taking the 1991 Breeders’ Cup Mile at 26-1 odds. He was a better racehorse than sire.
Race record
30 starts, 10 wins, 7 seconds, 2 thirds, US$1,651,137 (includes converted English earnings)
1988:
1989:
1990:
1991:
Assessments
Rated at 118 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1990, 10 pounds below co-highweights Sunday Silence (the official divisional champion and Horse of the Year) and Easy Goer.
Rated at 122 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American turf males of 1991, 4 pounds below champion Tight Spot.
As an individual
A handsome chestnut horse who resembled his sire, Opening Verse was versatile, winning top-level races on dirt and turf, and had a good turn of foot.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Opening Verse sired 186 winners (62.4%) and 12 stakes winners (4.1%) from 296 named foals of racing age.
Notable progeny
Colstar (USA), Star Verse (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Opening Verse was bred by Jacques D. Wimpfheimer. Sold for US$880,000 as a yearling, he was owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and trained by Henry Cecil. Following Opening Verse's 3-year-old campaign, he was sold to Allen D. Paulsen and moved to the barn of Richard J. Lundy. He was ridden to his win in the 1991 Breeders’ Cup Mile by Pat Valenzuela. He stood at Northview Stallion Station in Maryland beginning in 1992. He remained there until he was sent to England in 2000. His last foals were registered in 2002.
Pedigree notes
Opening Verse is inbred 5x4 to 1936 Derby Stakes winner Mahmoud, the American champion sire of 1946. He is a half brother to 1986 Columbiana Handicap (USA-G3) winner So She Sleeps (by Seattle Slew) and to multiple stakes winner Dangerous Dawn (by Cox’s Ridge). He is also a half brother to 1986 Prix Morny (FR-G1) runner-up Shy Princess (by Irish River), dam of 1996 Racal Diadem Stakes (ENG-G2) winner Diffident (by Nureyev) and third dam of 2003 St. James’s Palace Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Zafeen, 2020 American Pharoah Stakes (USA-G1) winner Get Her Number, and Group 3 winners Victory Laurel and Ya Hajar.
A six-time Grade 3 winner during her racing career, Opening Verse’s dam Shy Dawn is a half sister to multiple Grade 3 winner Champagne Charlie (by Northern Dancer) and to 1963 Spinaway Stakes winner Petite Rouge (by Ballydam), dam of multiple French Group 3 winner Princess Arjumand (by Prince Taj), second dam of Grade 2 winners Smarten Up and Purple Mountain and Grade 3 winner French Cut, and third dam of Grade 3 winner Dawn Quixote. She is also a half sister to 1965 Adirondack Stakes winner Lady Dulcinea (by Nantallah), dam of 1980 American champion 2-year-old filly Heavenly Cause (by Grey Dawn II), 1983 Monmouth Oaks (USA-G2) winner Quixotic Lady (by Quadratic) and stakes winner Jacques Who (by Grey Dawn II); second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Bounding Basque, Grade 2 winner El Basco and three-time Maryland champion sire Two Punch; and third dam of 2006 Mexican champion imported 2-year-old male Winning Limit and Grade 2 winner Confide. In addition, Shy Dawn is a half sister to Prima Ballerina (by Royal Vale), dam of stakes winner Cordial Prince (by Cornish Prince) and third dam of Grade 2 winners Sir Cherokee and Miss Isella, and to Shy Vita (by Hail the Pirates), third dam of 2010 E. P. Taylor Stakes (CAN-G1) winner Reggane.
Shy Dawn and her siblings are out of Shy Dancer (by Bolero), a half sister to stakes winner Great Depths (by King of the Tudors). Shy Dancer, in turn, is out of stakes-placed Shy Bim, whose dam Bashful (by Man o' War) is a full sister to War Sky, second dam of 1956 Mexican champion handicap horse Free Country. Bashful's dam Mock Modesty (by Royal Minstrel x Prudish, by Peter Pan) is a full sister to Sourdine, dam of multiple stakes winner Beldine (by Bel Aethel), and is a half sister to multiple stakes winner Comstockery (by Chicle) and to False Modesty (by Whisk Broom II), dam of 1941 Dixie Handicap winner Haltal (by The Porter).
Books and media
Footage of Opening Verse's victory in the 1991 Breeders' Cup Mile can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bho2ZsWFlOk.
Fun facts
Last updated: December 12, 2024
Race record
30 starts, 10 wins, 7 seconds, 2 thirds, US$1,651,137 (includes converted English earnings)
1988:
- Won Somerville Tattersall Stakes (ENG-L, 7FT, Newmarket)
1989:
- Won Reference Point Strensall Stakes (ENG-L, 8FT, York)
- 2nd Coral-Eclipse Stakes (ENG-G1, 10FT, Sandown)
- 2nd Feliden Stakes (ENG-L, Newmarket)
1990:
- Won Oaklawn Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Oaklawn Park)
- Won Razorback Handicap (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Oaklawn Park)
- 2nd Michigan Mile and One-Eighth Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Detroit)
- 3rd Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Hollywood)
1991:
- Won Breeders' Cup Mile (USA-G1, 8FT, Churchill Downs)
- Won Early Times Turf Classic Stakes (USA-G3, 9FT, Churchill Downs; new course record 1:47.22)
- Won Fort Harrod Stakes (USA-G3, 8FT, Keeneland)
- 2nd Del Mar Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G2, 8FT, Del Mar)
- 2nd Keeneland Budweiser Breeders' Cup Stakes (USA-G3, 9FT, Keeneland)
- 2nd Stars and Stripes Handicap (USA-G3, 9.5FT, Arlington Park)
- 3rd Early Times Dixie Handicap (USA-G2, 9FT, Pimlico)
Assessments
Rated at 118 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1990, 10 pounds below co-highweights Sunday Silence (the official divisional champion and Horse of the Year) and Easy Goer.
Rated at 122 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American turf males of 1991, 4 pounds below champion Tight Spot.
As an individual
A handsome chestnut horse who resembled his sire, Opening Verse was versatile, winning top-level races on dirt and turf, and had a good turn of foot.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Opening Verse sired 186 winners (62.4%) and 12 stakes winners (4.1%) from 296 named foals of racing age.
Notable progeny
Colstar (USA), Star Verse (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Opening Verse was bred by Jacques D. Wimpfheimer. Sold for US$880,000 as a yearling, he was owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and trained by Henry Cecil. Following Opening Verse's 3-year-old campaign, he was sold to Allen D. Paulsen and moved to the barn of Richard J. Lundy. He was ridden to his win in the 1991 Breeders’ Cup Mile by Pat Valenzuela. He stood at Northview Stallion Station in Maryland beginning in 1992. He remained there until he was sent to England in 2000. His last foals were registered in 2002.
Pedigree notes
Opening Verse is inbred 5x4 to 1936 Derby Stakes winner Mahmoud, the American champion sire of 1946. He is a half brother to 1986 Columbiana Handicap (USA-G3) winner So She Sleeps (by Seattle Slew) and to multiple stakes winner Dangerous Dawn (by Cox’s Ridge). He is also a half brother to 1986 Prix Morny (FR-G1) runner-up Shy Princess (by Irish River), dam of 1996 Racal Diadem Stakes (ENG-G2) winner Diffident (by Nureyev) and third dam of 2003 St. James’s Palace Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Zafeen, 2020 American Pharoah Stakes (USA-G1) winner Get Her Number, and Group 3 winners Victory Laurel and Ya Hajar.
A six-time Grade 3 winner during her racing career, Opening Verse’s dam Shy Dawn is a half sister to multiple Grade 3 winner Champagne Charlie (by Northern Dancer) and to 1963 Spinaway Stakes winner Petite Rouge (by Ballydam), dam of multiple French Group 3 winner Princess Arjumand (by Prince Taj), second dam of Grade 2 winners Smarten Up and Purple Mountain and Grade 3 winner French Cut, and third dam of Grade 3 winner Dawn Quixote. She is also a half sister to 1965 Adirondack Stakes winner Lady Dulcinea (by Nantallah), dam of 1980 American champion 2-year-old filly Heavenly Cause (by Grey Dawn II), 1983 Monmouth Oaks (USA-G2) winner Quixotic Lady (by Quadratic) and stakes winner Jacques Who (by Grey Dawn II); second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Bounding Basque, Grade 2 winner El Basco and three-time Maryland champion sire Two Punch; and third dam of 2006 Mexican champion imported 2-year-old male Winning Limit and Grade 2 winner Confide. In addition, Shy Dawn is a half sister to Prima Ballerina (by Royal Vale), dam of stakes winner Cordial Prince (by Cornish Prince) and third dam of Grade 2 winners Sir Cherokee and Miss Isella, and to Shy Vita (by Hail the Pirates), third dam of 2010 E. P. Taylor Stakes (CAN-G1) winner Reggane.
Shy Dawn and her siblings are out of Shy Dancer (by Bolero), a half sister to stakes winner Great Depths (by King of the Tudors). Shy Dancer, in turn, is out of stakes-placed Shy Bim, whose dam Bashful (by Man o' War) is a full sister to War Sky, second dam of 1956 Mexican champion handicap horse Free Country. Bashful's dam Mock Modesty (by Royal Minstrel x Prudish, by Peter Pan) is a full sister to Sourdine, dam of multiple stakes winner Beldine (by Bel Aethel), and is a half sister to multiple stakes winner Comstockery (by Chicle) and to False Modesty (by Whisk Broom II), dam of 1941 Dixie Handicap winner Haltal (by The Porter).
Books and media
Footage of Opening Verse's victory in the 1991 Breeders' Cup Mile can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bho2ZsWFlOk.
Fun facts
- The 1991 Breeders’ Cup Mile snapped a five-race losing streak for Opening Verse, who had last won on May 3 when he took the Early Times Turf Classic Stakes, also at Churchill Downs, in course-record time. Of the horse’s intervening races, trainer Richard Lundy said during the post-race interview for the Mile, “They were strictly to get him here.”
- In 1991, the Breeders’ Cup Mile and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile were run back-to-back, and Allen Paulson missed the post-race owner’s interview after the Mile in his haste to get to the paddock and see his Arazi being saddled. (Arazi won.)
- Opening Verse became the namesake for a turf stakes at (where else?) Churchill Downs.
Last updated: December 12, 2024