Tempest Queen (USA)
April 26, 1975 – 1979
Graustark (USA) x Queen’s Paradise (USA), by Summer Tan (USA)
Family 19-b
April 26, 1975 – 1979
Graustark (USA) x Queen’s Paradise (USA), by Summer Tan (USA)
Family 19-b
Tempest Queen was not the most brilliant sophomore filly on record, but in 1978, she danced almost every major dance for her own division, defeated older females in the Spinster Stakes (USA-G1), and was out of the money only once. Her rugged consistency was rewarded with a championship in a fairly evenly matched division, but she was retired after only three starts as a 4-year-old. She had no chance to prove herself as a broodmare as she suffered an attack of colic shorty after her first mating and died.
Race record
19 starts, 8 wins, 3 seconds, 4 thirds, US$289,219
1978:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old filly (1978)
Assessments
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies, 1 pound above Caesar’s Wish, Lakeville Miss, and White Star Line.
Rated at 119 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American older females of 1979, 10 pounds below champion Waya.
As an individual
A strong, well-made, handsome bay filly standing 16 hands, Tempest Queen suffered from bucked shins as a juvenile and had to be brought along slowly as a result. She preferred going to the front early but became more amenable to rating during the early going as she gained racing experience. She was at her best at 9 furlongs or less. She was professional and calm as a racehorse.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Tempest Queen was bred by Mrs. John W. Galbreath (née Dorothy Bryan, and the widow of Russell Allen Firestone) and raced as a homebred for Darby Dan Farm. She was trained by Thomas “Lou” Rondinello. She gave most of her best performances under the handling of Jorge Velásquez.
Pedigree notes
Tempest Queen is inbred 4x4 to six-time English champion sire Hyperion, winner of the 1933 Derby Stakes and St. Leger Stakes, and 5x4 to 1936 Derby Stakes winner Mahmoud, the American champion sire of 1946. She is a full sister to 1987 Sheepshead Bay Handicap (USA-G2) winner Steal a Kiss and to Agretta, dam of 1988 Grand Prix d’Evry (FR-G2) winner Something True (by Sir Ivor) and listed stakes winner Open Forum (by Deputy Minister). Tempest Queen is also a full sister to Glorious Morning, dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Jambalaya Jazz (by Dixieland Band). In addition, Tempest Queen is a half sister to multiple Grade 2 winner Love You by Heart (by Nijinsky II), dam of listed stakes winner Makethemostofit (by Easy Goer), and to 1989 A Phenomenon Stakes (USA-G3) winner Kid Russell (by Topsider). Finally, Tempest Queen is a half sister to Pam’s Paradise (by Little Current), dam of 1993 Niagara Handicap (CAN-G3) winner Shiny Key (by Key to the Moon) and third dam of Grade 3 winner Paradise Dancer.
Tempest Queen was produced from the winner Queen’s Paradise, a mare that Mrs. Galbreath purchased privately from Sherrill Ward. Queen’s Paradise is a half sister to Classy Stamp (by Outing Class), dam of stakes winners Classy Craft (by Crafty Drone), Grey Rider (by Crafty Drone), and Burnt Adobe (by First Draft Choice); second dam of Grade 2 winner Zany Tactics; and third dam of Grade 2 winners Forest Camp and Mission Impazible and Grade 3 winner Spanish Empire. Queen’s Paradise, in turn, is out of the unraced Royal Coinage mare Regal Seal, a half sister to stakes winner Court Fool (by Tom Fool)
Regal Seal and Court Fool are out of the winning Mahmoud mare Moulette, a full sister to 1954 Everglades Handicap and 1955 Sussex Handicap winner Maharajah. Produced from 1946 Frizette Stakes winner Bimlette (by Bimelech), Moulette is also a half sister to 1963 Wood Memorial Stakes winner and successful sire No Robbery (by Swaps) and to stakes winner Strong Point (by Menow). In addition, Moulette is a half sister to Spoony (by Devil Diver), dam of multiple stakes winner Acknowledge (by Stymie), and to Musical Chairs (by Swaps), dam of 1981 Louisiana Derby (USA-G2) winner Woodchopper (by Hatchet Man) and second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Putting Green.
Last updated: November 22, 2025
Race record
19 starts, 8 wins, 3 seconds, 4 thirds, US$289,219
1978:
- Won Acorn Stakes (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Spinster Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Keeneland)
- Won Gazelle Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Belmont)
- Won Poinsettia Stakes (USA-G3, 9FD, Hialeah)
- Won Prioress Stakes (USA, 6FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Comely Stakes (USA-G3, 7FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Alabama Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Coaching Club American Oaks (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Mother Goose Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Ruffian Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old filly (1978)
Assessments
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies, 1 pound above Caesar’s Wish, Lakeville Miss, and White Star Line.
Rated at 119 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American older females of 1979, 10 pounds below champion Waya.
As an individual
A strong, well-made, handsome bay filly standing 16 hands, Tempest Queen suffered from bucked shins as a juvenile and had to be brought along slowly as a result. She preferred going to the front early but became more amenable to rating during the early going as she gained racing experience. She was at her best at 9 furlongs or less. She was professional and calm as a racehorse.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Tempest Queen was bred by Mrs. John W. Galbreath (née Dorothy Bryan, and the widow of Russell Allen Firestone) and raced as a homebred for Darby Dan Farm. She was trained by Thomas “Lou” Rondinello. She gave most of her best performances under the handling of Jorge Velásquez.
Pedigree notes
Tempest Queen is inbred 4x4 to six-time English champion sire Hyperion, winner of the 1933 Derby Stakes and St. Leger Stakes, and 5x4 to 1936 Derby Stakes winner Mahmoud, the American champion sire of 1946. She is a full sister to 1987 Sheepshead Bay Handicap (USA-G2) winner Steal a Kiss and to Agretta, dam of 1988 Grand Prix d’Evry (FR-G2) winner Something True (by Sir Ivor) and listed stakes winner Open Forum (by Deputy Minister). Tempest Queen is also a full sister to Glorious Morning, dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Jambalaya Jazz (by Dixieland Band). In addition, Tempest Queen is a half sister to multiple Grade 2 winner Love You by Heart (by Nijinsky II), dam of listed stakes winner Makethemostofit (by Easy Goer), and to 1989 A Phenomenon Stakes (USA-G3) winner Kid Russell (by Topsider). Finally, Tempest Queen is a half sister to Pam’s Paradise (by Little Current), dam of 1993 Niagara Handicap (CAN-G3) winner Shiny Key (by Key to the Moon) and third dam of Grade 3 winner Paradise Dancer.
Tempest Queen was produced from the winner Queen’s Paradise, a mare that Mrs. Galbreath purchased privately from Sherrill Ward. Queen’s Paradise is a half sister to Classy Stamp (by Outing Class), dam of stakes winners Classy Craft (by Crafty Drone), Grey Rider (by Crafty Drone), and Burnt Adobe (by First Draft Choice); second dam of Grade 2 winner Zany Tactics; and third dam of Grade 2 winners Forest Camp and Mission Impazible and Grade 3 winner Spanish Empire. Queen’s Paradise, in turn, is out of the unraced Royal Coinage mare Regal Seal, a half sister to stakes winner Court Fool (by Tom Fool)
Regal Seal and Court Fool are out of the winning Mahmoud mare Moulette, a full sister to 1954 Everglades Handicap and 1955 Sussex Handicap winner Maharajah. Produced from 1946 Frizette Stakes winner Bimlette (by Bimelech), Moulette is also a half sister to 1963 Wood Memorial Stakes winner and successful sire No Robbery (by Swaps) and to stakes winner Strong Point (by Menow). In addition, Moulette is a half sister to Spoony (by Devil Diver), dam of multiple stakes winner Acknowledge (by Stymie), and to Musical Chairs (by Swaps), dam of 1981 Louisiana Derby (USA-G2) winner Woodchopper (by Hatchet Man) and second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Putting Green.
Last updated: November 22, 2025