Striking (USA)
1947 – After April 20, 1968
War Admiral (USA) x Baby League (USA), by Bubbling Over (USA)
Family 1-x
"GENETIC GEM"
1947 – After April 20, 1968
War Admiral (USA) x Baby League (USA), by Bubbling Over (USA)
Family 1-x
"GENETIC GEM"
Striking wasn't in the same league with her older sister Busher as a race mare, but she was a good juvenile. An attack of colitis at 3 ended her racing career, and it was as a producer that she achieved championship honors. The Kentucky Broodmare of the Year for 1961, she produced five stakes winners and bred on through her daughters and granddaughters, establishing a vigorous branch of the La Troienne family.
Race record
15 starts, 3 wins, 6 seconds, 2 thirds, US$32,625
1949:
Honors
Kentucky Broodmare of the Year (1961)
Assessments
Rated at 114 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1949, 5 pounds below champion juvenile filly Bed o' Roses.
As an individual
A lengthy, feminine bay mare with a particularly attractive head, Striking was precocious and had marked speed. She was a front runner by preference but could come from off the pace.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Striking produced 15 named foals, of which 12 were starters and 11 were winners. Her important foals were as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Striking was bred and owned by Ogden Phipps. She was trained by James “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons.
Pedigree notes
Striking is inbred 3x4 to Sweep. She is a full sister to 1945 Horse of the Year Busher and 1948 Arlington Futurity winner Mr. Busher, generally considered the second-best American juvenile male of 1948. Striking and her siblings are bred on the same cross of War Admiral to daughters of La Troienne that also produced major stakes winners Busanda (dam of Buckpasser) and Searching (an excellent broodmare as well as a Hall of Fame racehorse). In addition, Striking is a half sister to 1960 Man o' War Stakes winner Harmonizing (by Counterpoint).
Books and media
Striking is profiled in Chapter 8 of John Sparkman's Foundation Mares: How Outstanding Female Families Shaped America's Breeding Industry (2008, Thoroughbred Times Books).
Fun facts
Last updated: February 14, 2024
Race record
15 starts, 3 wins, 6 seconds, 2 thirds, US$32,625
1949:
- Won Schuylerville Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Marguerite Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Pimlico)
- 2nd Selima Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Laurel)
- 2nd Spinaway Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Matron Stakes (USA, 6FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Pimlico Futurity (USA, 8.5FD, Pimlico)
Honors
Kentucky Broodmare of the Year (1961)
Assessments
Rated at 114 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1949, 5 pounds below champion juvenile filly Bed o' Roses.
As an individual
A lengthy, feminine bay mare with a particularly attractive head, Striking was precocious and had marked speed. She was a front runner by preference but could come from off the pace.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Striking produced 15 named foals, of which 12 were starters and 11 were winners. Her important foals were as follow:
- Glamour (1953, by Nasrullah), won the 1956 Test Stakes and Jasmine Stakes. She produced 1972 St. Leger Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Boucher (by Ribot), stakes winners Royal Ascot (by Princequillo) and Poker (by Round Table), and the good steeplechaser Jaunty (by Ambiorix). She also produced stakes-placed Intriguing (by Swaps), dam of champion 2-year-old filly Numbered Account, multiple Grade 2 winner Cunning Trick, and stakes winner How Curious, all by Buckpasser. Through Numbered Account and her full sisters Playmate, Fascinating Trick, and Special Account, Glamour is the ancestress of a vigorous branch of Striking's family that includes 1989 champion 2-year-old male Rhythm and the important sires Private Account, Mutakddim, Woodman, Not for Love, Polish Numbers, and Confidential Talk.
- So Chic (1954, by Nasrullah) is the dam of stakes winners Fashion Verdict (by Court Martial), Beau Brummel (by Round Table) and Pas de Deux (by Nijinsky II), as well as Classic-placed Dapper Dan. Through Fashion Verdict, she is the ancestress of a thriving family that includes 2003 American Horse of the Year Mineshaft, and Grade/Group 1 winners Runup the Colors, Flagbird, Tomisue's Delight, Mr. Sidney, and Prospectors Delite (the 2003 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year).
- Bases Full (1957, by Ambiorix) was a stakes winner at 2. She produced multiple stakes winner Bold and Brave (by Bold Ruler) and is the second dam of six stakes winners including 1985 Delaware Handicap (USA-G1) winner Basie. She is the third dam of Grade 3 winners Jeano, Lakenheath, and Cowboy Cop and Venezuelan Group 3 winner Doña Martha. Her more distant descendants include three-time Japanese champion Contrail, two-time American champion Essential Quality, two-time Venezuelan champion Gran Will, 2004 American champion 3-year-old male Smarty Jones, 2005 American champion 2-year-old filly Folklore, and 2013 Mexican champion imported 3-year-old male Ketal.
- Hitting Away (1958, by Ambiorix) won nine stakes races including the 1961 Withers Stakes and Dwyer Handicap. He was a moderately successful sire, getting 14 stakes winners from 187 named foals.
- Batter Up (1959, by Tom Fool) was a good stakes winner at 2 and 3. She produced stakes winner Daring Young Man (by Bold Lad) and is the second dam of stakes-placed Naevus, whose son Airdrie Apache was an important sire of white and paint Thoroughbreds. She is the third dam of multiple Australian Group 1 winner Bravery. Her more distant descendants include 2006 American champion older female Fleet Indian; 2018 American champion 2-year-old male Game Winner; 2018 Railway Stakes (AUS-G1) winner Galaxy Star; 2021 Churchill Downs Stakes (USA-G1) winner Flagstaff; Group 2 winners Media, Perfect Jewel, Ready to Rock, Star Exhibit, and Timbourina; and Grade/Group 3 winners Brave Prince, Brave Song, Cherokee’s Boy, Global Quest, Noire, Safin, and Special Matter.
- My Boss Lady (1963, by Bold Ruler) was a two-time stakes winner at 3. She produced 1978 Century Handicap (USA-G1) winner Landscaper (by Herbager) and is the second dam of Norsk Two Thousand Guineas (NOR-G2) winner River Scape. Her more distant descendants include 2021 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (USA-G1) winner Golden Pal and Grade 3 winner Lady Shipman.
- Sparkling (1967, by Bold Ruler) was a winner on the track. She produced 1976 Man o' War Stakes (USA-G1) winner Effervescing (by Le Fabuleux) and Grade 3 winner Bubbling (by Stage Door Johnny) and is the second dam of Argentine Group 2 winner Sinoptico and stakes winner Chelan. She is the third dam of Argentine Group 2 winner Solarana, multiple Argentine Group 3 winner Sweetly, Brazilian Group 3 winner Holy Hope, and UAE One Thousand Guineas winner So Shiny. Her more distant descendants include 2010/11 Peruvian champion older female Patola; 2018 Peruvian champion grass female Smart Choice; Group 2 winners Dolce Diva, Licca-Chan, and Surprising; and Group 3 winners Grand Splendid, Public State, Sweet Beauty, and Uchumayo.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Striking was bred and owned by Ogden Phipps. She was trained by James “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons.
Pedigree notes
Striking is inbred 3x4 to Sweep. She is a full sister to 1945 Horse of the Year Busher and 1948 Arlington Futurity winner Mr. Busher, generally considered the second-best American juvenile male of 1948. Striking and her siblings are bred on the same cross of War Admiral to daughters of La Troienne that also produced major stakes winners Busanda (dam of Buckpasser) and Searching (an excellent broodmare as well as a Hall of Fame racehorse). In addition, Striking is a half sister to 1960 Man o' War Stakes winner Harmonizing (by Counterpoint).
Books and media
Striking is profiled in Chapter 8 of John Sparkman's Foundation Mares: How Outstanding Female Families Shaped America's Breeding Industry (2008, Thoroughbred Times Books).
Fun facts
- Although Ogden Phipps is Striking's breeder of record, the mating that produced Striking was actually one of the last planned by Colonel Edward Riley Bradley, who died in August 1946. Phipps purchased most of Bradley's remaining horses in partnership with John Hay Whitney of Greentree Stable and Robert Kleberg, Jr., of the King Ranch, and Phipps acquired Striking in utero when Baby League fell to his share during the division of Bradley's stock.
- Many of Striking's foals and descendants received names related to the game of baseball.
Last updated: February 14, 2024