Sweet Catomine (USA)
February 14, 2002 – Living
Storm Cat (USA) x Sweet Life (USA), by Kris S. (USA)
Family 21
February 14, 2002 – Living
Storm Cat (USA) x Sweet Life (USA), by Kris S. (USA)
Family 21
Recognized as a potential star almost from birth, Sweet Catomine delivered on that promise in the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (USA-G1). In that race, the filly found traffic trouble in the opening stages, had to check sharply on the far turn, and still delivered an impressive victory in time nearly half a second faster than that posted by the victorious Wilko in the Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (USA-G1). After opening her 3-year-old season with two more wins against her own division, she was under strong consideration as a potential Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) candidate and was entered in the Santa Anita Derby (USA-G1). Her connections’ Derby dreams came crashing down when she ran an uninspired fifth, and it was alleged that she had been experiencing physical issues prior to the race. She did not run again, and her broodmare career was much less distinguished than her racing career had been.
Race record
7 starts, 5 wins, 1 seconds, 0 thirds, US$1,059,600
2004:
2005:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 2-year-old filly (2004)
Assessments
Highweighted at 124 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile fillies of 2004, 7 pounds above Balletto, Sense of Style, and Splendid Blended, who shared second place.
As an individual
A large, powerful, wide-chested bay mare, Sweet Catomine had a lengthy build and plenty of substance. Donnie Snellings, who handled her while she was being raised at Mill Ridge Farm, said of her, "She breathed a different air," adding that she was very easy to handle and was "very willing."
As a producer
Sweet Catomine produced eight named foals, of which seven started and three won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled at Mill Ridge Farm in Kentucky, Sweet Catomine was bred and owned by Martin & Pam Wygod. She was trained by Julio Canani and was ridden to her win in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies by Corey Nakatani. Following her fifth-place finish in the Santa Anita Derby (USA-G1), she was transferred to the barn of John Shirreffs but was retired on April 21, 2005, without racing again after veterinary examination. She was pensioned from broodmare duty after failing to conceive for 2019.
Pedigree notes
Sweet Catomine is inbred 5x4 to 1943 Jockey Club Gold Cup winner and two-time American champion sire Princequillo, an eight-time champion as a broodmare sire. She is a full sister to 2009 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (USA-G1) winner Life Is Sweet and to Calmonico, a Grade 2-placed listed stakes winner. Sweet Catomine is also a full sister to Ain’t She Sweet, second dam of Grade 3 winner Waves of Mischief. In addition, Sweet Catomine is a half sister to Symbolic Gesture (by Bernardini), dam of 2020 Risen Star Stakes (USA-G2) winner Modernist (by Uncle Mo).
Sweet Life, the dam of Sweet Catomine and her siblings, was honored as the 2009 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. A grade 1-placed stakes winner, she is a half sister to 1995 Milady Handicap (USA-G1) winner Pirate’s Revenge and to restricted stakes winners Echo of Yesterday and Caribbean Pirate, all by Pirate’s Bounty. Sweet Life is also a half sister to Symbolic (by Silver Deputy), second dam of Grade 3 winner Fahan Mura.
Sweet Life and her siblings were produced from stakes-placed Symbolically (by Flying Paster), whose full sister, Radiantly, is the dam of stakes winner Mr. Vic (by Victorian Line). A daughter of stakes winner Hail to the Queen (by 1971 Michigan Mile and One-Eighth Handicap winner Native Royalty, by Raise a Native), Symbolically is also a half sister to Exquisitively (by Topsider), dam of multiple Venezuelan stakes winner Soul Provider (by Chayim).
Books and media
Footage of Sweet Catomine’s win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR75IINADnY.
Fun facts
Last updated: December 4, 2025
Race record
7 starts, 5 wins, 1 seconds, 0 thirds, US$1,059,600
2004:
- Won Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Lone Star)
- Won Del Mar Debutante Stakes (USA-G1, 7FD, Del Mar)
- Won Oak Leaf Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
2005:
- Won Santa Anita Oaks (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Santa Ysabel Stakes (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 2-year-old filly (2004)
Assessments
Highweighted at 124 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile fillies of 2004, 7 pounds above Balletto, Sense of Style, and Splendid Blended, who shared second place.
As an individual
A large, powerful, wide-chested bay mare, Sweet Catomine had a lengthy build and plenty of substance. Donnie Snellings, who handled her while she was being raised at Mill Ridge Farm, said of her, "She breathed a different air," adding that she was very easy to handle and was "very willing."
As a producer
Sweet Catomine produced eight named foals, of which seven started and three won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Sweet Thoughts (2006, by A.P. Indy) placed three times from five starts. She is the dam of stakes winner Naughty Thoughts (by The Factor).
- Sweet Bernardini (2012, by Bernardini) never raced but produced multiple stakes winner Inthewinnerscircle (by Medaglia d’Oro).
Connections
Foaled at Mill Ridge Farm in Kentucky, Sweet Catomine was bred and owned by Martin & Pam Wygod. She was trained by Julio Canani and was ridden to her win in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies by Corey Nakatani. Following her fifth-place finish in the Santa Anita Derby (USA-G1), she was transferred to the barn of John Shirreffs but was retired on April 21, 2005, without racing again after veterinary examination. She was pensioned from broodmare duty after failing to conceive for 2019.
Pedigree notes
Sweet Catomine is inbred 5x4 to 1943 Jockey Club Gold Cup winner and two-time American champion sire Princequillo, an eight-time champion as a broodmare sire. She is a full sister to 2009 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (USA-G1) winner Life Is Sweet and to Calmonico, a Grade 2-placed listed stakes winner. Sweet Catomine is also a full sister to Ain’t She Sweet, second dam of Grade 3 winner Waves of Mischief. In addition, Sweet Catomine is a half sister to Symbolic Gesture (by Bernardini), dam of 2020 Risen Star Stakes (USA-G2) winner Modernist (by Uncle Mo).
Sweet Life, the dam of Sweet Catomine and her siblings, was honored as the 2009 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. A grade 1-placed stakes winner, she is a half sister to 1995 Milady Handicap (USA-G1) winner Pirate’s Revenge and to restricted stakes winners Echo of Yesterday and Caribbean Pirate, all by Pirate’s Bounty. Sweet Life is also a half sister to Symbolic (by Silver Deputy), second dam of Grade 3 winner Fahan Mura.
Sweet Life and her siblings were produced from stakes-placed Symbolically (by Flying Paster), whose full sister, Radiantly, is the dam of stakes winner Mr. Vic (by Victorian Line). A daughter of stakes winner Hail to the Queen (by 1971 Michigan Mile and One-Eighth Handicap winner Native Royalty, by Raise a Native), Symbolically is also a half sister to Exquisitively (by Topsider), dam of multiple Venezuelan stakes winner Soul Provider (by Chayim).
Books and media
Footage of Sweet Catomine’s win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR75IINADnY.
Fun facts
- Sweet Catomine's racing career ended in an ugly controversy after a dull-seeming fifth-place run in the Santa Anita Derby. Following the race, it was disclosed that she had bled during her final work before the race and had been taken to Alamo Pintado Equine Clinic for treatment. Making the situation worse, the van driver who took Sweet Catomine from Santa Anita to the clinic misidentified her as a “stable pony” when signing her out, in violation of normal procedures; he was later fined US$500 for this action. Two bettors filed lawsuits alleging that Martin Wygod had engaged in fraud and unfair business practices by withholding information about his filly from the betting public; however, a review by the California state racing commission dismissed complaints of misconduct against Wygod as unsubstantiated by the available evidence.
- Sweet Catomine and Life Is Sweet are one of two pairs of full sisters to win Breeders’ Cup races. The other pair is Banks Hill and Intercontinental (Danehill x Hasili), who won the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (USA-G1) in 2001 and 2005, respectively.
Last updated: December 4, 2025