Star Pilot was a high-class juvenile who came into his best form during the fall and took championship honors in what was considered a better than average group of 2-year-old males. Unfortunately, he failed to train on at 3 and was equally disappointing as a sire before dying young.
Race record
17 starts, 6 wins, 4 seconds, 2 thirds, US$187,885
1945:
1946:
Honors
American champion 2-year-old male (1945)
As an individual
An elegant type typical of the progeny of his sire, Star Pilot was considered generally well-conformed but had front pasterns which were both upright and unusually long. He had a sloping rump with a low-set tail. He showed good courage in his races as a juvenile and could be placed as his jockey desired.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by the Jockey Club, sire of 32 winners (43.8%) and one stakes winner (1.4%) from 73 named foals of racing age.
Connections
Bred by Coldstream Stud, Star Pilot was owned by Elizabeth N. Graham, who purchased the colt as an auction yearling for US$26,000 for her Maine Chance Farm. He was trained by Thomas "Silent Tom" Smith for most of his 2-year-old season but was transferred to Roy Waldron after Smith was given a controversial suspension for alleged use of a stimulant on another horse. At 3, Star Pilot was trained by Smith’s son, James W. Smith. The horse stood in Kentucky at Spendthrift Farm. He died in 1953.
Pedigree notes
Star Pilot is inbred 5x5 to nine-time English/Irish champion sire and unbeaten racehorse St. Simon. He is a half brother to Gracie Vee (by Heliopolis), dam of multiple stakes winner Ring King (by Alsab) and second dam of 1962 Delaware Oaks winner North South Gal and 1970 Juvenile Stakes winner Helio Rise.
Star Pilot was produced from 1936 Alabama Stakes winner Floradora (by Bull Dog), whose full sister Rompers is the second dam of 1966 Florida Derby winner Williamston Kid and the third dam of 1965 Swaps Handicap winner and good California sire Gummo; 1966 Hollywood Oaks winner Spearfish, an important broodmare; and Grade 3 winners First Intent and Gundaghia.
Floradora, in turn, is out of Gentle Play (by My Play), a half sister to 1924 New Orleans Handicap winner Frederickstown (by Pennant) and claiming stakes winner Eskimo (by North Star III). Gentle Play’s dam, the Sain mare Gentlewoman, is out of the Hanover mare Homespun (a full sister to 1895 Tennessee Oaks winner Handspun, dam of 1905 Belmont Stakes winner Tanya, by Meddler, and 1906 American co-champion 3-year-old filly Tangle, by Meddler), whose dam, Spinaway (by Leamington), is generally considered to be the American champion juvenile filly of 1880.
Last updated: July 1, 2026
Race record
17 starts, 6 wins, 4 seconds, 2 thirds, US$187,885
1945:
- Won Futurity Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Belmont)
- Won Pimlico Futurity (USA, 8.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Hopeful Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Saratoga)
- Won Ardsley Handicap (USA, 8f+70yD, Jamaica)
- 2nd Champagne Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Grand Union Hotel Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
1946:
- 2nd Santa Anita Derby (USA, 9FD, Santa Anita)
Honors
American champion 2-year-old male (1945)
As an individual
An elegant type typical of the progeny of his sire, Star Pilot was considered generally well-conformed but had front pasterns which were both upright and unusually long. He had a sloping rump with a low-set tail. He showed good courage in his races as a juvenile and could be placed as his jockey desired.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by the Jockey Club, sire of 32 winners (43.8%) and one stakes winner (1.4%) from 73 named foals of racing age.
Connections
Bred by Coldstream Stud, Star Pilot was owned by Elizabeth N. Graham, who purchased the colt as an auction yearling for US$26,000 for her Maine Chance Farm. He was trained by Thomas "Silent Tom" Smith for most of his 2-year-old season but was transferred to Roy Waldron after Smith was given a controversial suspension for alleged use of a stimulant on another horse. At 3, Star Pilot was trained by Smith’s son, James W. Smith. The horse stood in Kentucky at Spendthrift Farm. He died in 1953.
Pedigree notes
Star Pilot is inbred 5x5 to nine-time English/Irish champion sire and unbeaten racehorse St. Simon. He is a half brother to Gracie Vee (by Heliopolis), dam of multiple stakes winner Ring King (by Alsab) and second dam of 1962 Delaware Oaks winner North South Gal and 1970 Juvenile Stakes winner Helio Rise.
Star Pilot was produced from 1936 Alabama Stakes winner Floradora (by Bull Dog), whose full sister Rompers is the second dam of 1966 Florida Derby winner Williamston Kid and the third dam of 1965 Swaps Handicap winner and good California sire Gummo; 1966 Hollywood Oaks winner Spearfish, an important broodmare; and Grade 3 winners First Intent and Gundaghia.
Floradora, in turn, is out of Gentle Play (by My Play), a half sister to 1924 New Orleans Handicap winner Frederickstown (by Pennant) and claiming stakes winner Eskimo (by North Star III). Gentle Play’s dam, the Sain mare Gentlewoman, is out of the Hanover mare Homespun (a full sister to 1895 Tennessee Oaks winner Handspun, dam of 1905 Belmont Stakes winner Tanya, by Meddler, and 1906 American co-champion 3-year-old filly Tangle, by Meddler), whose dam, Spinaway (by Leamington), is generally considered to be the American champion juvenile filly of 1880.
Last updated: July 1, 2026