The best stayer of his crop, Phalanx came into his own as a 3-year-old, when he won the Belmont Stakes from his peers and the Jockey Club Gold Cup from open company. Like most of the males from his stamina-laden family, he proved a disappointing sire.
Race record
41 starts, 13 wins, 7 seconds, 10 thirds, US$409,275
1946:
1947:
1948:
Honors
American champion 3-year-old male (1947)
Assessments
Ranked seventh among American juvenile males of 1946 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A bay horse, Phalanx stood over 16 hands. He was more workmanlike than attractive in his make, with a large head and lop ears, but was a tough and courageous runner of the staying type. He had a long but rather rough stride.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Phalanx sired165 winners (64.0%) and 16 stakes winners (6.2%) from 258 named foals.
Notable progeny
Career Boy (USA), Fisherman (USA)
Connections
Foaled at Montana House Stud in Virginia, Phalanx was bred by Abram S. Hewitt and raced in the colors of C. V. “Sonny” Vanderbilt, who purchased a half interest in Phalanx from Hewitt when the horse was a yearling. Phalanx was trained by Sylvester Veitch. He retired to the Whitney stud in at the end of the 1948 racing season. He died in Ontario, Canada, in 1971.
Pedigree notes
Phalanx is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to Jaconda (by Belfonds), dam of 1952 Jersey Stakes winner King Jolie (by Pilate's son Platter), second dam of 1963 Chicagoan Stakes winner B. Major and third dam of 1977 American champion sprinter What a Summer and Grade 3 winners Proponent and Sweet Old Girl. He is also a half brother to Phoenix Girl (by Red Hannigan), dam of Grade 2 winner Mr. Lucky Phoenix (by Lucky Debonair) and Puerto Rican stakes winner Miss Maite (by Swoon's Son) and second dam of 1997 Puerto Rican champion 3-year-old filly Tintorera.
Phalanx's dam Jacola was voted the American champion 2-year-old filly of 1937. She is a full sister to La Boheme, dam of 1950 California Breeders' Champion Stakes winner Duplicator (by Beau Pere) and multiple minor stakes winner Why Alibi (by Alibhai) and second dam of two-time Ben Ali Handicap (USA-G3) winner Knight Counter. She is also a half sister to 1939 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Johnstown (by Jamestown) and to French Vamp, third dam of 1962 Kentucky Derby winner Decidedly and 1967 Del Mar Debutante Stakes winner Fast Dish. Jacola's dam La France (by Sir Gallahad III) is a full sister to Gallette, dam of 1946 champion handicap mare Gallorette (by Challenger II). La France is also a half sister to 1927 Gazelle Stakes winner Flambino (by Wrack), dam of 1935 Triple Crown winner Omaha (by Gallant Fox), 1938 Ascot Gold Cup winner Flares (by Gallant Fox), and 1934 Acorn Stakes winner Fleam (by General Lee).
La France and her siblings were produced from 1921 Coaching Club American Oaks winner Flambette (by Durbar II), a half sister to juvenile stakes winner Ned O. (by Campfire) and to 1919 Coaching Club American Oaks runner-up La Rablee (by Rabelais), dam of 1930 Newmarket Stakes winner The Scout (by Sir Gallahad III) and third dam of 1949 Irish St. Leger winner Brown Rover. Flambette, in turn, is out of La Flambee (by Ajax), whose full sister Parthenis is the second dam of 1935 Doncaster Cup winner Black Devil. Produced from French dual Classic winner Medeah (by Masque II), La Flambee is also a half sister to Medee (by Ksar), whose son Medicis (by Congreve) won the 1936 Polla de Potrillos (Argentine Two Thousand Guineas) and Gran Premio Jockey Club.
Books and media
Phalanx is profiled in Chapter 7 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: September 21, 2024
Race record
41 starts, 13 wins, 7 seconds, 10 thirds, US$409,275
1946:
- Won Remsen Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Jamaica)
- Won Ardsley Handicap (USA, 8f+70yD, Jamaica)
- 2nd Champagne Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- 3rd East View Stakes (USA, 6FD, Jamaica)
1947:
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA, 12FD, Belmont)
- Won Dwyer Stakes (USA, 10FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Empire City Stakes (USA, 9.5FD, Empire City)
- Won Wood Memorial Stakes (1st division) (USA, 8.5FD, Jamaica)
- Won Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA, 16FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Kentucky Derby (USA, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Travers Stakes (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Lawrence Realization Stakes (USA, 13FD, Belmont)
- 3rd New York Handicap (USA, 18FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Preakness Stakes (USA, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- 3rd American Derby (USA, 10FD, Washington Park)
- 3rd Discovery Handicap (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Experimental Free Handicap #2 (USA, 8.5FD, Jamaica)
- 3rd Peter Pan Handicap (USA, 9FD, Belmont)
1948:
- Won Daingerfield Handicap (USA, 16.5FD, Empire City)
- 2nd Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA, 16FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Gold Cup (USA, 13FD, Empire City)
- 2nd Butler Handicap (USA, 9.5FD, Empire City)
- 3rd Westchester Handicap (USA, 9.5FD, Empire City)
Honors
American champion 3-year-old male (1947)
Assessments
Ranked seventh among American juvenile males of 1946 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A bay horse, Phalanx stood over 16 hands. He was more workmanlike than attractive in his make, with a large head and lop ears, but was a tough and courageous runner of the staying type. He had a long but rather rough stride.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Phalanx sired165 winners (64.0%) and 16 stakes winners (6.2%) from 258 named foals.
Notable progeny
Career Boy (USA), Fisherman (USA)
Connections
Foaled at Montana House Stud in Virginia, Phalanx was bred by Abram S. Hewitt and raced in the colors of C. V. “Sonny” Vanderbilt, who purchased a half interest in Phalanx from Hewitt when the horse was a yearling. Phalanx was trained by Sylvester Veitch. He retired to the Whitney stud in at the end of the 1948 racing season. He died in Ontario, Canada, in 1971.
Pedigree notes
Phalanx is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to Jaconda (by Belfonds), dam of 1952 Jersey Stakes winner King Jolie (by Pilate's son Platter), second dam of 1963 Chicagoan Stakes winner B. Major and third dam of 1977 American champion sprinter What a Summer and Grade 3 winners Proponent and Sweet Old Girl. He is also a half brother to Phoenix Girl (by Red Hannigan), dam of Grade 2 winner Mr. Lucky Phoenix (by Lucky Debonair) and Puerto Rican stakes winner Miss Maite (by Swoon's Son) and second dam of 1997 Puerto Rican champion 3-year-old filly Tintorera.
Phalanx's dam Jacola was voted the American champion 2-year-old filly of 1937. She is a full sister to La Boheme, dam of 1950 California Breeders' Champion Stakes winner Duplicator (by Beau Pere) and multiple minor stakes winner Why Alibi (by Alibhai) and second dam of two-time Ben Ali Handicap (USA-G3) winner Knight Counter. She is also a half sister to 1939 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Johnstown (by Jamestown) and to French Vamp, third dam of 1962 Kentucky Derby winner Decidedly and 1967 Del Mar Debutante Stakes winner Fast Dish. Jacola's dam La France (by Sir Gallahad III) is a full sister to Gallette, dam of 1946 champion handicap mare Gallorette (by Challenger II). La France is also a half sister to 1927 Gazelle Stakes winner Flambino (by Wrack), dam of 1935 Triple Crown winner Omaha (by Gallant Fox), 1938 Ascot Gold Cup winner Flares (by Gallant Fox), and 1934 Acorn Stakes winner Fleam (by General Lee).
La France and her siblings were produced from 1921 Coaching Club American Oaks winner Flambette (by Durbar II), a half sister to juvenile stakes winner Ned O. (by Campfire) and to 1919 Coaching Club American Oaks runner-up La Rablee (by Rabelais), dam of 1930 Newmarket Stakes winner The Scout (by Sir Gallahad III) and third dam of 1949 Irish St. Leger winner Brown Rover. Flambette, in turn, is out of La Flambee (by Ajax), whose full sister Parthenis is the second dam of 1935 Doncaster Cup winner Black Devil. Produced from French dual Classic winner Medeah (by Masque II), La Flambee is also a half sister to Medee (by Ksar), whose son Medicis (by Congreve) won the 1936 Polla de Potrillos (Argentine Two Thousand Guineas) and Gran Premio Jockey Club.
Books and media
Phalanx is profiled in Chapter 7 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- A phalanx is a massed formation of heavy infantry or similarly armed personnel. It was used to great effect by Alexander the Great in his conquests.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: September 21, 2024