After two nice stakes wins against her own sex and two placings against the best of the juvenile males, Rosie O'Grady was generally acclaimed the best American 2-year-old filly of 1917. She was unable to improve on that record later but produced two important daughters: Potheen, the 1947 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year, and Erin, whose branch of the family has been a fountainhead of class and is still going strong.
Race record
9 starts, 3 wins, 2 seconds 2 thirds, US$9,800
1917:
As an individual
A brown mare, Rosie O'Grady did not race after her juvenile season.
As a producer
Rosie O' Grady produced 12 named foals, of which 11 started and seven won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Rosie o' Grady was bred and owned by Harry Payne Whitney. She was trained by James Rowe, Sr. After Whitney's death in 1930, Rosie O'Grady passed to the ownership of his son, C. V. “Sonny” Whitney.
Pedigree notes
Rosie O'Grady is inbred 3x5 to the important broodmare Mannie Gray. She is a half sister to Rowes Bud (by Broomstick) dam of 1927 Champagne Stakes winner Oh Say (by Dis Donc) and 1932 Tremont Stakes winner Balios (by Chicle). Rowes Bud is also the second dam of four stakes winners including 1942 Vineland Handicap winner Rosetown and the third dam of 1949 American champion sprinter Delegate, 1945 Spinaway Stakes winner Sopranist, 1946 Spinaway Stakes winner Pipette, and 1956 Tropical Handicap winner Illusionist. Through her stakes-winning great-granddaughter Bolero Rose, Rowes Bud is the ancestress of the extremely fast Crimson Saint, an important producer whose descendants include two-time American champion sire Storm Cat.
Rosie O'Grady and Rowes Bud are out of Cherokee Rose II, a full sister to the fine racer and sire Pennant and a half sister to the classy sprinter Iron Mask (by Disguise) and the stakes-winning colt Transvaal (by Peter Pan's sire Commando). Cherokee Rose II was produced from the Royal Hampton mare Royal Rose, who was conceived in England and foaled in the United States following the importation of her dam Belle Rose (by Beaudesert) by James R. Keene. A stakes winner in her own right, Royal Rose is a half sister to Pink Domino (by Domino), dam of two-time American champion and two-time American leading sire Sweep (by Ben Brush).
Fun facts
Last updated: August 7, 2021
Race record
9 starts, 3 wins, 2 seconds 2 thirds, US$9,800
1917:
- Won Fashion Stakes (USA, 5FD, Belmont)
- Won Clover Stakes (USA, 5FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Saratoga Special (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Demoiselle Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Empire City)
- 3rd Futurity Stakes (USA, 6FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Spinaway Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Saratoga)
As an individual
A brown mare, Rosie O'Grady did not race after her juvenile season.
As a producer
Rosie O' Grady produced 12 named foals, of which 11 started and seven won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Weno (1922, by Whisk Broom II) is the second dam of two-time San Juan Capistrano Handicap winner Intent.
- Erin (1927, by Transmute) won the 1930 Gazelle Stakes. She is the dam of 1940 Pimlico Futurity winner Bold Irishman (by Sir Gallahad III) and stakes winners Mag Mell (by Pompey) and Eire (by Hard Tack). Erin is also the second dam of four stakes winners including 1950 Sysonby Handicap winner The Irishman (by Nasrullah) and 1944 Demoiselle Stakes winner Drumuir and of 1975 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Shenanigans. In addition, she is the third dam of 1975 American champion 3-year-old filly Ruffian, 1954 American champion 2-year-old filly High Voltage, 1963 American co-champion juvenile filly Castle Forbes, and the good racer and sire Icecapade.
- Potheen (1928, by Wildair) was stakes-placed as a 2-year-old. She is the dam of two-time American champion filly Bewitch (by Bull Lea), 1945 Classic Stakes and Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Pot o' Luck (by Chance Play), 1937 Arlington Lassie Stakes winner Theen (by Sickle), and 1950 Peabody Memorial winner Lot o Luck (by Chance Play).
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Rosie o' Grady was bred and owned by Harry Payne Whitney. She was trained by James Rowe, Sr. After Whitney's death in 1930, Rosie O'Grady passed to the ownership of his son, C. V. “Sonny” Whitney.
Pedigree notes
Rosie O'Grady is inbred 3x5 to the important broodmare Mannie Gray. She is a half sister to Rowes Bud (by Broomstick) dam of 1927 Champagne Stakes winner Oh Say (by Dis Donc) and 1932 Tremont Stakes winner Balios (by Chicle). Rowes Bud is also the second dam of four stakes winners including 1942 Vineland Handicap winner Rosetown and the third dam of 1949 American champion sprinter Delegate, 1945 Spinaway Stakes winner Sopranist, 1946 Spinaway Stakes winner Pipette, and 1956 Tropical Handicap winner Illusionist. Through her stakes-winning great-granddaughter Bolero Rose, Rowes Bud is the ancestress of the extremely fast Crimson Saint, an important producer whose descendants include two-time American champion sire Storm Cat.
Rosie O'Grady and Rowes Bud are out of Cherokee Rose II, a full sister to the fine racer and sire Pennant and a half sister to the classy sprinter Iron Mask (by Disguise) and the stakes-winning colt Transvaal (by Peter Pan's sire Commando). Cherokee Rose II was produced from the Royal Hampton mare Royal Rose, who was conceived in England and foaled in the United States following the importation of her dam Belle Rose (by Beaudesert) by James R. Keene. A stakes winner in her own right, Royal Rose is a half sister to Pink Domino (by Domino), dam of two-time American champion and two-time American leading sire Sweep (by Ben Brush).
Fun facts
- Rosie O'Grady's juvenile form was good enough that, according to the New York Times of April 14, 1918, owner Harry Payne Whitney was reportedly considering her as a candidate to follow in Regret's hoof prints in the Kentucky Derby. As it turned out, she did not make the Derby starting gate and did not race again.
- “The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady” was a popular song of 1917, though it may or may not have had any connection to the equine Rosie O'Grady's name.
Last updated: August 7, 2021