Sheet Anchor (USA)
March 24, 1961 – c. 1982
Ambiorix (FR) x Anchors Aweigh (USA), by Devil Diver (USA)
Family 7-c
March 24, 1961 – c. 1982
Ambiorix (FR) x Anchors Aweigh (USA), by Devil Diver (USA)
Family 7-c
A durable runner who stayed well but was not particularly talented racehorse, Sheet Anchor had a good enough pedigree to be attractive to the export market and was sent to Argentina. There, he became a champion sire and continued his male line through 1980 Argentine Horse of the Year Mountdrago, himself a champion sire in Argentina.
Race record
105 starts, 17 wins, 11 seconds, 15 thirds, US$126,535
1965:
Honors
Pellegrini Award, Argentine Stallion of the Year (1980)
As an individual
A brown horse; no further information available.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, Sheet Anchor sired 50 winners (26.6%) and 21 stakes winners (11.2%) from 188 named foals of racing age; these statistics may be incomplete.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Notable progeny
Almira (ARG), Mountdrago (ARG), Sandunguera (ARG), Stein (ARG), Surera (ARG)
Notable progeny of daughters
Military Muse (SAF), Piñuela (ARG), Seriote (ARG)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Sheet Anchor was bred by Harry F. Guggenheim. He was sent to Argentina in 1969. In Argentina, he stood at Haras San José del Socorro (later Haras Don Yeye).
Pedigree notes
Sheet Anchor is inbred 4x4 to 1910 St. Leger Stakes winner and 1923 English champion sire Swynford. He is a full brother to 1960 Kentucky Oaks and Alabama Stakes winner Make Sail, dam of 1967 Futurity Stakes winner Captain’s Gig (by Turn-to) and second dam of Irish Group 2 winner Huguenot. He is a half brother to 1970 Widener Handicap and 1971 Brooklyn Handicap winner Never Bow (by Never Bend). He is also a half brother to Deep Blue Sea (by Nasrullah), dam of stakes winners Admiral Diver (by Admiral Vee), Peace Movement (by Admiral's Voyage), and Hearts of Lettuce (by Graustark); to Sail Navy (by Princequillo), dam of 1972 French champion 3-year-old filly San San (by Bald Eagle) and second dam of Irish Group 3 winner Current Charge and multiple Japanese Group 3 winner Windsor Knot; and to Quonset (by Graustark), dam of stakes winner Petite Quonset (by Full Out).
Anchors Aweigh, the dam of Sheet Anchor, was a stakes winner at 3. She is a half sister to Sharon Mary (by Blenheim II), second dam of Grade 2 winner Golden Don. The sisters, in turn, are out of the unraced Sir Gallahad III mare True Bearing, whose dam Dead Reckoning (by Man o' War) also produced multiple stakes winner Director J. E. (by Sickle) and stakes-placed Moonsight (by Mahmoud), dam of stakes winner Moon Mad (by The Doge).
Fun facts
Last updated: May 15, 2025
Race record
105 starts, 17 wins, 11 seconds, 15 thirds, US$126,535
1965:
- 3rd Gallant Fox Handicap (USA, 13FD, Aqueduct)
Honors
Pellegrini Award, Argentine Stallion of the Year (1980)
As an individual
A brown horse; no further information available.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, Sheet Anchor sired 50 winners (26.6%) and 21 stakes winners (11.2%) from 188 named foals of racing age; these statistics may be incomplete.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- Led the Argentine general sire list in 1980; 2nd on the Argentine general sire list in 1976; 5th in 1979 and 1981; 6th in 1978; 7th in 1977.
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the Argentine general sire list in 1980.
Notable progeny
Almira (ARG), Mountdrago (ARG), Sandunguera (ARG), Stein (ARG), Surera (ARG)
Notable progeny of daughters
Military Muse (SAF), Piñuela (ARG), Seriote (ARG)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Sheet Anchor was bred by Harry F. Guggenheim. He was sent to Argentina in 1969. In Argentina, he stood at Haras San José del Socorro (later Haras Don Yeye).
Pedigree notes
Sheet Anchor is inbred 4x4 to 1910 St. Leger Stakes winner and 1923 English champion sire Swynford. He is a full brother to 1960 Kentucky Oaks and Alabama Stakes winner Make Sail, dam of 1967 Futurity Stakes winner Captain’s Gig (by Turn-to) and second dam of Irish Group 2 winner Huguenot. He is a half brother to 1970 Widener Handicap and 1971 Brooklyn Handicap winner Never Bow (by Never Bend). He is also a half brother to Deep Blue Sea (by Nasrullah), dam of stakes winners Admiral Diver (by Admiral Vee), Peace Movement (by Admiral's Voyage), and Hearts of Lettuce (by Graustark); to Sail Navy (by Princequillo), dam of 1972 French champion 3-year-old filly San San (by Bald Eagle) and second dam of Irish Group 3 winner Current Charge and multiple Japanese Group 3 winner Windsor Knot; and to Quonset (by Graustark), dam of stakes winner Petite Quonset (by Full Out).
Anchors Aweigh, the dam of Sheet Anchor, was a stakes winner at 3. She is a half sister to Sharon Mary (by Blenheim II), second dam of Grade 2 winner Golden Don. The sisters, in turn, are out of the unraced Sir Gallahad III mare True Bearing, whose dam Dead Reckoning (by Man o' War) also produced multiple stakes winner Director J. E. (by Sickle) and stakes-placed Moonsight (by Mahmoud), dam of stakes winner Moon Mad (by The Doge).
Fun facts
- In nautical terminology, a sheet anchor is a large, heavy anchor set aside for emergency use. This definition became an epithet for a person or thing that can be relied on as the last resort in a difficult situation or an emergency.
Last updated: May 15, 2025