Recess clearly had some talent, but how much was difficult to determine due to temperament issues that even Hall of Fame trainer Sylvester Veitch couldn't iron out. Her disposition did not impair her production as a broodmare in the least, however. The dam of four stakes winners during her own producing career, she stands at the head of the most vigorous branch of the family of Balancoire II.
Race record
16 starts, 3 wins, 0 seconds, 2 thirds, $11,550
1951:
As an individual
A chestnut mare, Recess was a bad actor at the gate, a habit that may have arisen after she was slammed at the break in her first start. By the time her 3-year-old season rolled around, she had apparently acquired a general distaste for racing.
As a producer
A Reine-de-Course as designated by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Recess produced 11 named foals, all of which started; seven won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Recess was bred and owned by C. V. “Sonny” Whitney. She was trained by Sylvester Veitch.
Pedigree notes
Recess is inbred 5x5 to two-time American champion sire Meddler and to 1913 English champion 2-year-old male and 1919 English/Irish champion sire The Tetrarch. She is a half sister to stakes winner Dance Rhythm (by Native Dancer) and to Mother Wit (by Count Fleet's champion son Counterpoint), who produced 1968 Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Quicken Tree (by Royal Orbit), 1966 Golden Gate Handicap winner Ask Father (by Determine), and multiple stakes winner Ready Wit (by Ruken) and is the third dam of 1983 Premio Parioli (Italian Two Thousand Guineas, ITY-G1) winner Drumalis and Brazilian Group 3 winner Nebulous. Recess is also a half sister to Fingerling (by Fisherman), second dam of Grade 2 winner Divine Grace, and to Far Ahead (by Counterpoint), third dam of Grade 3 winner Codys Key.
Recess' dam Recce won the 1946 Correction Handicap and is a full sister to 1951 Blue Grass Stakes and 1952 Metropolitan Handicap winner Mameluke. She is also a full sister to Mahratta, dam of 1968 Travers Stakes winner Chompion (by Tompion), 1960 Clark Handicap winner Counterrate (by Counterpoint), and stakes winners Little Wolf (by Phalanx) and Speed Point (by Counterpoint). Mahratta is also the third dam of 1983 Canadian champion sprinter Fraud Squad. Returning to Recce, she is also a half sister to Swistar (by Pavot), dam of 1960 Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap winner Dotted Swiss (by Counterpoint) and second dam of 1965 Brooklyn Handicap and Suburban Handicap winner Pia Star and 1969 Atlantic City Handicap winner Plucky Lucky, and to Stalingrad (by Peace Chance), dam of stakes winner Right Dress (by Cortil).
Recce is out of Schwester (by Pennant), an unraced full sister to two-time American Horse of the Year and 1942 American champion sire Equipoise. Schwester, in turn, is out of Swinging (by Broomstick), a stakes-placed full sister to 1926 Empire City Derby winner Blondin and a half sister to 1928 Wood Memorial Stakes winner Distraction (by Chicle). Swinging is also a half sister to Escarpolette (by Fitz Herbert), dam of three stakes winners and third dam of 1959 American champion sprinter Intentionally; to Balance (by Rabelais), dam of three stakes winners and second dam of 1938 American Horse of the Year Seabiscuit; to Hilee (by Mad Hatter), dam of 1938 Kentucky Oaks winner Flying Lee (by Pennant); and to See Saw II (by Fitz Herbert), dam of stakes winner Tonto Rock (by Trap Rock).
Books and media
Recess is profiled in Chapter 3 of John Sparkman's Foundation Mares: How Outstanding Female Families Shaped the American Breeding Industry (2008, Thoroughbred Times Books).
Last updated: August 24, 2024
Race record
16 starts, 3 wins, 0 seconds, 2 thirds, $11,550
1951:
- 3rd Spinaway Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd National Stallion Stakes (Fillies) (USA, 5FD, Belmont)
As an individual
A chestnut mare, Recess was a bad actor at the gate, a habit that may have arisen after she was slammed at the break in her first start. By the time her 3-year-old season rolled around, she had apparently acquired a general distaste for racing.
As a producer
A Reine-de-Course as designated by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Recess produced 11 named foals, all of which started; seven won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Momamamu (1956, by Mount Marcy) produced 1971 Clark Handicap winner Sado (by Mr. Brick). She is the second dam of eight stakes winners including 1985 American champion 3-year-old filly Mom's Command, 1971 Wood Memorial Stakes winner Good Behaving, and Grade 3 winner Misty Native and is the third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner I'm Splendid and Grade 2 winner Jonesboro.
- Fun House (1958, by The Doge) won the 1961 Santa Susana Stakes and Del Mar Oaks and the 1962 Ramona Handicap. She is the dam of 1974 Hollywood Invitational Turf Handicap (USA-G1) winner Court Ruling (by Traffic Judge), 1968 Camden Handicap winner King's Palace (by Nilo), 1969 Falls City Handicap winner Yes Sir (by Sir Gaylord), 1968 Haggin Stakes winner and 1979 Argentine champion sire Good Manners (by Nashua), 1973 Bonnie Miss Stakes winner Fun Palace (by Nashua), and Grade 1-placed stakes winner Funny Cat (by Tom Cat). She is the third dam of 1996 Canadian champion older mare and turf mare Windsharp, a multiple Grade 1 winner and the dam of 2003 Breeders' Cup Turf (USA-G1) winner Johar and 2003 Del Mar Oaks (USA-G1) winner Dessert. Fun House's more distant descendants include Puerto Rican champions Collect the Brass and Divac, Group 2 winners Poker Mommy and Fusilano, and multiple Peruvian Group 3 winner Erasmus.
- Chop House (1960, by Porterhouse) won the Las Flores Handicap and the Santa Monica Handicap twice each. She is the second dam of two stakes winners.
- Swoon's Tune (1962, by Swoon's Son) was a juvenile stakes winner. She is the dam of 1973 Kentucky Oaks (USA-G2) winner Bag of Tunes (by Herbager) and 1978 Santa Maria Handicap (USA-G2) winner Swingtime (by Buckpasser). She is the second dam of 1977 Jersey Derby (USA-G1) winner Cormorant, Grade/Group 2 winners Queen of Song and Triumphal March, and Grade/Group 3 winners Festive and Andaleeb and is the third dam of 2010/11 Brazilian champion older female Inchatillon, 1993 Shadwell Stud Cheveley Park Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Prophecy, English Group 3 winner Applaud, and Brazilian Group 3 winner Deuteronomio.
- Court Recess (1965, by Traffic Judge) won the 1969 Gulfstream Park Handicap. He sired seven stakes winners from 108 named foals.
Connections
Recess was bred and owned by C. V. “Sonny” Whitney. She was trained by Sylvester Veitch.
Pedigree notes
Recess is inbred 5x5 to two-time American champion sire Meddler and to 1913 English champion 2-year-old male and 1919 English/Irish champion sire The Tetrarch. She is a half sister to stakes winner Dance Rhythm (by Native Dancer) and to Mother Wit (by Count Fleet's champion son Counterpoint), who produced 1968 Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Quicken Tree (by Royal Orbit), 1966 Golden Gate Handicap winner Ask Father (by Determine), and multiple stakes winner Ready Wit (by Ruken) and is the third dam of 1983 Premio Parioli (Italian Two Thousand Guineas, ITY-G1) winner Drumalis and Brazilian Group 3 winner Nebulous. Recess is also a half sister to Fingerling (by Fisherman), second dam of Grade 2 winner Divine Grace, and to Far Ahead (by Counterpoint), third dam of Grade 3 winner Codys Key.
Recess' dam Recce won the 1946 Correction Handicap and is a full sister to 1951 Blue Grass Stakes and 1952 Metropolitan Handicap winner Mameluke. She is also a full sister to Mahratta, dam of 1968 Travers Stakes winner Chompion (by Tompion), 1960 Clark Handicap winner Counterrate (by Counterpoint), and stakes winners Little Wolf (by Phalanx) and Speed Point (by Counterpoint). Mahratta is also the third dam of 1983 Canadian champion sprinter Fraud Squad. Returning to Recce, she is also a half sister to Swistar (by Pavot), dam of 1960 Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap winner Dotted Swiss (by Counterpoint) and second dam of 1965 Brooklyn Handicap and Suburban Handicap winner Pia Star and 1969 Atlantic City Handicap winner Plucky Lucky, and to Stalingrad (by Peace Chance), dam of stakes winner Right Dress (by Cortil).
Recce is out of Schwester (by Pennant), an unraced full sister to two-time American Horse of the Year and 1942 American champion sire Equipoise. Schwester, in turn, is out of Swinging (by Broomstick), a stakes-placed full sister to 1926 Empire City Derby winner Blondin and a half sister to 1928 Wood Memorial Stakes winner Distraction (by Chicle). Swinging is also a half sister to Escarpolette (by Fitz Herbert), dam of three stakes winners and third dam of 1959 American champion sprinter Intentionally; to Balance (by Rabelais), dam of three stakes winners and second dam of 1938 American Horse of the Year Seabiscuit; to Hilee (by Mad Hatter), dam of 1938 Kentucky Oaks winner Flying Lee (by Pennant); and to See Saw II (by Fitz Herbert), dam of stakes winner Tonto Rock (by Trap Rock).
Books and media
Recess is profiled in Chapter 3 of John Sparkman's Foundation Mares: How Outstanding Female Families Shaped the American Breeding Industry (2008, Thoroughbred Times Books).
Last updated: August 24, 2024