Although she was attractive and well-made, Parlo was far from physically imposing, but she let her exploits speak for her. A very good filly in the latter half of her 3-year-old season, she continued her fine form until July of her 4-year-old season, when she toyed with a field of the best distaffers available in the rich Delaware Handicap. She began experiencing physical issues after that and was never quite the same. She was a better racer than broodmare but had several daughters with some influence as producers.
Race record
34 starts, 8 wins, 6 seconds, 3 thirds, US$309,240
1953:
1954:
1955:
1956:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 105 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1953, 13 pounds below champion juvenile filly Evening Out.
Co-highweighted with Miz Clementine (also a 3-year-old) at 128 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American fillies and mares of 1954, 4 pounds above co-champion handicap mare Lavender Hill (a 5-year-old) and 6 pounds above the next-rated 3-year-old filly, Evening Out.
Highweighted on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American fillies and mares of 1955 with 128 pounds, 2 pounds above co-champion handicap female Misty Morn (a 3-year-old and the champion of that division as well).
Rated at 118 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American fillies and mares of 1956, 8 pounds below champion handicap female Blue Sparkler.
As an individual
A light, delicately made chestnut mare, Parlo stood about 15.2 hands. She had a well-sloped shoulder, a long pelvis, and powerful hindquarters for her size and build. Her hocks were somewhat out behind her, but her legs were otherwise correct; her feet were shelly. She did best when she could control a race from the front end. She handled both fast and sloppy surfaces well but did not care for very deep going or for tracks that lacked any cushion.
As a producer
Parlo produced 11 named foals, of which seven started and five won. Her important foals were as follow::
Connections
Foaled in Virginia, Parlo was bred and owned by William duPont Jr. and raced in the name of his Foxcatcher Farm. She was trained by Richard E. Handlen. After duPont's death, she was purchased for US$68,000 by Martin Andersen; she was barren at the time. She died in 1978.
Pedigree notes
Parlo’s pedigree is outcrossed through five generations. She is a full sister to stakes-placed Lopar, dam of Grade 2 winner Mongongo (by Mongo). She is also a half sister to 1965 California Derby winner Perfect Sky (by Western Sky II), to stakes winner Pan Dancer (by Native Dancer), and to Pahala, third dam of 1978 Venezuelan champion 2-year-old male Kemal.
Parlo is out of Fairy Palace, a mare too high-strung and nervous to show whatever racing ability she had to advantage. Fairy Palace is a half sister to two-time American champion Fairy Chant (by Chance Shot; dam of the good stakes winner Chevation, by Alibhai), to 1937 Santa Anita Derby winner Fairy Hill (by Messenger), and to 1943 Lawrence Realization Stakes winner Fairy Manhurst (by Man o’ War).
Fairy Palace and her siblings were produced from Star Fairy (by The Satrap), a half sister to 1941 Hollywood Derby winner Staretor (by Messenger) and to Star Galla (by Sir Gallahad III), second dam of 1949 Ladies Handicap winner Gaffery. Star Fairy, in turn, is out of Fair Star (by Wrack), generally considered the American champion 2-year-old filly of 1926. A half sister to 1934 Preakness Stakes winner High Quest (by Sir Gallahad III) and to 1937 Test Stakes winner Evening Tide, Fair Star is out of the Fair Play mare Etoile Filante, a full sister to 1932 American champion sire Chatterton.
Last updated: April 3, 2024
Race record
34 starts, 8 wins, 6 seconds, 3 thirds, US$309,240
1953:
- 2nd Demoiselle Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Empire City)
1954:
- Won Beldame Handicap (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Delaware Oaks (USA, 9FD, Delaware)
- Won Firenze Handicap (USA, 9FD, Jamaica)
- Won Alabama Stakes (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Miss Woodford Stakes (USA, 6FD, Monmouth)
- 3rd Betsy Ross Stakes (USA, 6FD, Garden State)
1955:
- Won Delaware Handicap. (USA, 10FD, Delaware)
- Won Top Flight Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Belmont; new track record 1:41-4/5)
- 3rd Saratoga Handicap (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Vagrancy Handicap (first division) (USA, 7FD, Aqueduct)
1956:
- Won Bellerose Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Jamaica)
- 2nd Top Flight Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Belmont)
Honors
- American champion 3-year-old filly (1954)
- American co-champion handicap female (1954, 1955)
Assessments
Rated at 105 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1953, 13 pounds below champion juvenile filly Evening Out.
Co-highweighted with Miz Clementine (also a 3-year-old) at 128 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American fillies and mares of 1954, 4 pounds above co-champion handicap mare Lavender Hill (a 5-year-old) and 6 pounds above the next-rated 3-year-old filly, Evening Out.
Highweighted on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American fillies and mares of 1955 with 128 pounds, 2 pounds above co-champion handicap female Misty Morn (a 3-year-old and the champion of that division as well).
Rated at 118 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American fillies and mares of 1956, 8 pounds below champion handicap female Blue Sparkler.
As an individual
A light, delicately made chestnut mare, Parlo stood about 15.2 hands. She had a well-sloped shoulder, a long pelvis, and powerful hindquarters for her size and build. Her hocks were somewhat out behind her, but her legs were otherwise correct; her feet were shelly. She did best when she could control a race from the front end. She handled both fast and sloppy surfaces well but did not care for very deep going or for tracks that lacked any cushion.
As a producer
Parlo produced 11 named foals, of which seven started and five won. Her important foals were as follow::
- Art Dancer (1958, by Native Dancer) never raced but is the second dam of seven stakes winners including three-time American champion steeplechaser Zaccio, multiple Japanese Group 3 winner Hokkai Pegasus and English Group 3 winner Zahdam.
- All Beautiful (1959, by Battlefield) was named the 1969 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. She is the dam of 1969 American Horse of the Year Arts and Letters (by Ribot). She is the second dam of Grade 2 winner Rokeby Rose and Italian Group 3 winner Erodoto and the third dam of two-time American champion Silverbulletday and Grade 3 winner Robannier.
- Parlomia (by Graustark) never raced but is the second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Waquoit.
Connections
Foaled in Virginia, Parlo was bred and owned by William duPont Jr. and raced in the name of his Foxcatcher Farm. She was trained by Richard E. Handlen. After duPont's death, she was purchased for US$68,000 by Martin Andersen; she was barren at the time. She died in 1978.
Pedigree notes
Parlo’s pedigree is outcrossed through five generations. She is a full sister to stakes-placed Lopar, dam of Grade 2 winner Mongongo (by Mongo). She is also a half sister to 1965 California Derby winner Perfect Sky (by Western Sky II), to stakes winner Pan Dancer (by Native Dancer), and to Pahala, third dam of 1978 Venezuelan champion 2-year-old male Kemal.
Parlo is out of Fairy Palace, a mare too high-strung and nervous to show whatever racing ability she had to advantage. Fairy Palace is a half sister to two-time American champion Fairy Chant (by Chance Shot; dam of the good stakes winner Chevation, by Alibhai), to 1937 Santa Anita Derby winner Fairy Hill (by Messenger), and to 1943 Lawrence Realization Stakes winner Fairy Manhurst (by Man o’ War).
Fairy Palace and her siblings were produced from Star Fairy (by The Satrap), a half sister to 1941 Hollywood Derby winner Staretor (by Messenger) and to Star Galla (by Sir Gallahad III), second dam of 1949 Ladies Handicap winner Gaffery. Star Fairy, in turn, is out of Fair Star (by Wrack), generally considered the American champion 2-year-old filly of 1926. A half sister to 1934 Preakness Stakes winner High Quest (by Sir Gallahad III) and to 1937 Test Stakes winner Evening Tide, Fair Star is out of the Fair Play mare Etoile Filante, a full sister to 1932 American champion sire Chatterton.
Last updated: April 3, 2024