Spearfish (USA)
April 27, 1963 – c. 1986
Fleet Nasrullah (USA) x Alabama Gal (USA), by Determine (USA)
Family 11
April 27, 1963 – c. 1986
Fleet Nasrullah (USA) x Alabama Gal (USA), by Determine (USA)
Family 11
A full sister to 1965 Swaps Handicap winner and leading California sire Gummo, Spearfish was of comparable merit both on the racetrack and in the paddocks. She is the dam of four stakes winners including the good racehorse and sire King’s Bishop. She has also had influence through her daughter Gaily, winner of the 1974 Irish One Thousand Guineas (IRE-G1) and the ancestress of three champions.
Race record
21 starts, 7 wins, 3 seconds, 3 thirds, US$122,907
1966:
Assessments
Rated at 116 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1966, 10 pounds below co-highweights Lady Pitt (the official divisional champion), Destro, Natashka, and Moccasin.
As an individual
A dark bay or brown mare; no further information available.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Spearfish produced 13 foals, of which 11 started and nine were winners. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in California, Spearfish was bred by Frank Sale. She was owned by Michael H. Silver and trained by William A. “Bill” Peterson. She bred her first seven foals as the property of Warner L. Jones Jr. and two more for the partnership of Jones and William Farish, Afterward, she passed to the ownership of Myron Rosenthal. Her last two foals were bred in the name of Glencoe Farm. She slipped foal in 1985, was barren in 1986, and afterward disappeared from the produce records.
Pedigree notes
Spearfish is inbred 4x4 to 1943 American champion sire Bull Dog and 4x5 to 1924 Champion Stakes winner Pharos, a champion sire in England and France. He is also inbred 4x5 to 1930 Derby Stakes winner Blenheim II, the American champion sire of 1941. She is a full sister to 1965 Swaps Handicap winner and leading California regional sire Gummo.
Alabama Gal, the dam of Spearfish, was a tiny daughter of Determine who never advanced beyond cheap claiming races as a racehorse. She was produced from the Priam II mare Trojan Lass, who produced seven winners from seven starters but nothing of any class. Trojan Lass is a half sister to Miss Berea (by Mr. Trouble), dam of 1966 Florida Derby winner Williamston Kid (by Piet), and to Intense (by Intent), second dam of Grade 3 winners First Intent and Gundaghia.
The dam of Trojan Lass, the Bull Dog mare Rompers, is a full sister to 1936 Alabama Stakes winner Floradora, dam of 1945 American champion juvenile male Star Pilot (by Sickle) and third dam of 1962 Delaware Oaks winner North South Gal. The next dam in Spearfish’s tail-female line is Gentle Play (My Play x Gentlewoman, by Sain), a half sister to 1924 New Orleans Handicap winner Frederickstown (by Pennant) and claiming stakes winner Eskimo (by North Star III). The female line traces back to 1880 American champion juvenile filly Spinaway.
Fun facts
Last updated: June 4, 2026
Race record
21 starts, 7 wins, 3 seconds, 3 thirds, US$122,907
1966:
- Won Hollywood Oaks (USA, 9FD, Hollywood)
- Won Santa Susana Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Santa Ynez Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Santa Anita)
- Won La Centinela Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Betsy Ross Stakes (first division) (USA, 6FD, Garden State)
- 3rd Prioress Stakes (USA, 6FD, Aqueduct; from 4th by disqualification)
Assessments
Rated at 116 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1966, 10 pounds below co-highweights Lady Pitt (the official divisional champion), Destro, Natashka, and Moccasin.
As an individual
A dark bay or brown mare; no further information available.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Spearfish produced 13 foals, of which 11 started and nine were winners. Her important foals are as follow:
- King’s Bishop (1969, by Round Table) won five stakes races including the 1973 Carter Handicap (USA-G2). He sired 29 stakes winners from 215 named foals of racing age, headed by Grade 1 winners King’s Swan and Queen to Conquer.
- Crown the Prince (1970, by Damascus) won the 1973 La Habra Stakes.
- Gaily (1971, by Sir Gaylord) won the 1974 Irish One Thousand Guineas (IRE-G1). She is the dam of 1985 Prix de Flore (FR-G3) winner Gay Hellene (by Ela-Mana-Mou) and the second dam of Canadian Grade 2 winner Moon Solitaire and English Group 3 winner Germano. She is the third dam of 1997 European champion older male Pilsudski, 2001 Japanese champion 2-year-old filly Tamuro Cherry, and 2002 Japanese champion 3-year-old filly Fine Motion; Group 1 winners Naaquos and Sir John Hawkwood; multiple New Zealand Group 2 winner Keyora; and Grade/Group 3 winners Barastraight, Glowing Ardour, Greek Renaissance, Side Saddle, and Street Poker. Gaily’s more distant descendants include multiple Group 1 winner Youmzain and 2008 Lockinge Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Creachadoir.
- Empire Glory (1981, by Nijinsky II) won the 1984 Royal Whip Stakes (IRE-G3). He sired only three stakes winners from 225 named foals of racing age.
- Sainte Croix (1982, by Nijinsky II) placed in six of her 10 starts. She is the dam of multiple French listed stakes winner Saintry (by Groom Dancer) and Norwegian listed stakes winner Royal Crusade (by Diesis). She is also the third dam of four-time Austrian champion Sure Danzig.
Connections
Foaled in California, Spearfish was bred by Frank Sale. She was owned by Michael H. Silver and trained by William A. “Bill” Peterson. She bred her first seven foals as the property of Warner L. Jones Jr. and two more for the partnership of Jones and William Farish, Afterward, she passed to the ownership of Myron Rosenthal. Her last two foals were bred in the name of Glencoe Farm. She slipped foal in 1985, was barren in 1986, and afterward disappeared from the produce records.
Pedigree notes
Spearfish is inbred 4x4 to 1943 American champion sire Bull Dog and 4x5 to 1924 Champion Stakes winner Pharos, a champion sire in England and France. He is also inbred 4x5 to 1930 Derby Stakes winner Blenheim II, the American champion sire of 1941. She is a full sister to 1965 Swaps Handicap winner and leading California regional sire Gummo.
Alabama Gal, the dam of Spearfish, was a tiny daughter of Determine who never advanced beyond cheap claiming races as a racehorse. She was produced from the Priam II mare Trojan Lass, who produced seven winners from seven starters but nothing of any class. Trojan Lass is a half sister to Miss Berea (by Mr. Trouble), dam of 1966 Florida Derby winner Williamston Kid (by Piet), and to Intense (by Intent), second dam of Grade 3 winners First Intent and Gundaghia.
The dam of Trojan Lass, the Bull Dog mare Rompers, is a full sister to 1936 Alabama Stakes winner Floradora, dam of 1945 American champion juvenile male Star Pilot (by Sickle) and third dam of 1962 Delaware Oaks winner North South Gal. The next dam in Spearfish’s tail-female line is Gentle Play (My Play x Gentlewoman, by Sain), a half sister to 1924 New Orleans Handicap winner Frederickstown (by Pennant) and claiming stakes winner Eskimo (by North Star III). The female line traces back to 1880 American champion juvenile filly Spinaway.
Fun facts
- Although the American Produce Records show Spearfish as not having been covered for a 1967 foal, the Santa Ana Register’s coverage of her Hollywood Oaks win reported that she was in foal to Gun Bow at the time of her victory on July 21, 1966.
Last updated: June 4, 2026