The Wicked North (USA)
May 25, 1989 – March 24, 2011
Far North (CAN) x Wicked Witchcraft (USA), by Good Behaving (USA)
Family 1-l
May 25, 1989 – March 24, 2011
Far North (CAN) x Wicked Witchcraft (USA), by Good Behaving (USA)
Family 1-l
In a rather weak year for the older male division, The Wicked North was the most consistent of the group—though in fairness to fellow contenders Colonial Affair and Devil His Due, The Wicked North’s California-based campaign kept him clear of the rampaging 3-year-old Holy Bull, the eventual Horse of the Year. Still, it said something for the quality of The Wicked North’s body of work during the first half of the year that he was voted the Eclipse Award in spite of being on the sidelines from July onward. A rather offbeat pedigree and disputes regarding his ownership that restricted his book until they were resolved probably did not help him as a stallion, a role in which he proved disappointing.
Race record
17 starts, 8 wins, 4 seconds, 1 third, US$1,180,750
1992:
1993:
1994:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion older male (1994)
Assessments
Rated at 108 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1992, 19 pounds below divisional champion and Horse of the Year A.P. Indy.
Rated at 113 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American male sprinters of 1993, 9 pounds below champion Cardmania.
Rated at 122 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American older males of 1994, 1 pound below highweighted Colonial Affair and tied with Devil His Due for second.
As an individual
High-strung and tending to leave his races in the paddock as a younger horse, The Wicked North showed greater consistency as he aged. He suffered a suspensory injury while running fourth in the 1994 Hollywood Gold Cup (USA-G1), ending his racing career. The handsome chestnut was kindly-natured and easy-going as a pensioner at Old Friends.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, The Wicked North sired 57 winners (36.3%) and two stakes winners (1.3%) from 157 named foals. None of his foals came remotely close to matching his own ability.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, The Wicked North was bred by Edward Zurek. Sold for US$10,000 through the 1990 Keeneland January mixed sale, he was owned by Phil Hersh and later by the Phil & Sophie Hersh Trust. He was trained by David Bernstein. He was piloted to his major wins at 5 by Kent Desormeaux.
The Wicked North entered stud in California in 1995 at Mira Loma Thoroughbred Farm. In 2001, he relocated to Silvernails Farm near Pine Plains, New York, under the ownership of Coffeepot Stable (a Michgan-based partnership group). He later stood at The Stallion Park, Millbrook, New York. In 2005, he moved to True North Farm, Versailles, Kentucky. He did not cover mares in 2006 due to a bout with equine protozoal myeloencephalitis and was pensioned in September 2006 due to lingering neurological effects. In October 2008, he moved to the Old Friends Thoroughbred retirement facility in Georgetown, Kentucky. He was euthanized on March 24, 2011, due to complications from strangulation of an intestinal lipoma.
Pedigree notes
Inbred 5x5x5 to 1933 Derby Stakes and St, Leger Stakes winner Hyperion (a six-time leader of the English/Irish general sire list), The Wicked North is arguably the best horse sired by Far North, a Group 3-winning full brother to The Minstrel. He is a half brother to 1999 Chula Vista Handicap (USA-G2) winner A Lady from Dixie (by Dixieland Band), dam of 2010 Chilukki Stakes (USA-G2) winner Distinctive Dixie (by Fusaichi Pegasus). He is also a half brother to 2003 Ohio Derby (USA-G2) winner Wild and Wicked (by Wild Again) and to listed stakes winner Wicked Destiny (by Top Command). In addition, The Wicked North is a half brother to Excessively Wicked (by In Excess), dam of restricted juvenile stakes winner Slammer Time (by Grand Slam).
The Wicked North and his siblings were produced from listed stakes winner Wicked Witchcraft, whose sire Good Behavior (by Ambehaving, by Ambiorix) won the 1971 Wood Memorial Stakes. Wicked Witchcraft is a half sister to Bold Array (by Bold Tactics), dam of multiple stakes winner Gala Array (by Somethingfabulous). The sisters’ dam Surrogate (by two-time Argentine Horse of the Year Yastasto) is a half sister to multiple stakes winners Lynnheim (by Jet Pilot) and Sight to See (by Tim Tam) and to Countess Lynn (by Count Fleet), second dam of Grade 3 winner Sharons Fare Well. Surrogate, in turn, is out of multiple stakes winner Alibhai Lynn (by Alibhai), a half sister to stakes winner Stirrup Cup (by Hunters Moon IV).
Books and media
Footage of The Wicked North’s win in the 1994 Californian Stakes can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHjbgdrjflQ.
Fun facts
Last updated: September 13, 2025
Race record
17 starts, 8 wins, 4 seconds, 1 third, US$1,180,750
1992:
- 2nd Malibu Stakes (USA-G2, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Lazaro S. Barrera Handicap (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
1993:
- Won Bing Crosby Handicap (USA-G3, 6FD, Del Mar)
- Won San Francisco Handicap (USA-G3, 8.5FT, Bay Meadow)
- 2nd Smile Handicap (USA-L, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd San Fernando Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Santa Anita)
1994:
- Won Oaklawn Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Oaklawn Park)
- Won Californian Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Hollywood Park; new track record 1:46.68)
- Won San Antonio Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd San Carlos Handicap (USA-G2, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- Also finished first in the Santa Anita Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Santa Anita) but disqualified to fourth for interference
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion older male (1994)
Assessments
Rated at 108 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1992, 19 pounds below divisional champion and Horse of the Year A.P. Indy.
Rated at 113 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American male sprinters of 1993, 9 pounds below champion Cardmania.
Rated at 122 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American older males of 1994, 1 pound below highweighted Colonial Affair and tied with Devil His Due for second.
As an individual
High-strung and tending to leave his races in the paddock as a younger horse, The Wicked North showed greater consistency as he aged. He suffered a suspensory injury while running fourth in the 1994 Hollywood Gold Cup (USA-G1), ending his racing career. The handsome chestnut was kindly-natured and easy-going as a pensioner at Old Friends.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, The Wicked North sired 57 winners (36.3%) and two stakes winners (1.3%) from 157 named foals. None of his foals came remotely close to matching his own ability.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, The Wicked North was bred by Edward Zurek. Sold for US$10,000 through the 1990 Keeneland January mixed sale, he was owned by Phil Hersh and later by the Phil & Sophie Hersh Trust. He was trained by David Bernstein. He was piloted to his major wins at 5 by Kent Desormeaux.
The Wicked North entered stud in California in 1995 at Mira Loma Thoroughbred Farm. In 2001, he relocated to Silvernails Farm near Pine Plains, New York, under the ownership of Coffeepot Stable (a Michgan-based partnership group). He later stood at The Stallion Park, Millbrook, New York. In 2005, he moved to True North Farm, Versailles, Kentucky. He did not cover mares in 2006 due to a bout with equine protozoal myeloencephalitis and was pensioned in September 2006 due to lingering neurological effects. In October 2008, he moved to the Old Friends Thoroughbred retirement facility in Georgetown, Kentucky. He was euthanized on March 24, 2011, due to complications from strangulation of an intestinal lipoma.
Pedigree notes
Inbred 5x5x5 to 1933 Derby Stakes and St, Leger Stakes winner Hyperion (a six-time leader of the English/Irish general sire list), The Wicked North is arguably the best horse sired by Far North, a Group 3-winning full brother to The Minstrel. He is a half brother to 1999 Chula Vista Handicap (USA-G2) winner A Lady from Dixie (by Dixieland Band), dam of 2010 Chilukki Stakes (USA-G2) winner Distinctive Dixie (by Fusaichi Pegasus). He is also a half brother to 2003 Ohio Derby (USA-G2) winner Wild and Wicked (by Wild Again) and to listed stakes winner Wicked Destiny (by Top Command). In addition, The Wicked North is a half brother to Excessively Wicked (by In Excess), dam of restricted juvenile stakes winner Slammer Time (by Grand Slam).
The Wicked North and his siblings were produced from listed stakes winner Wicked Witchcraft, whose sire Good Behavior (by Ambehaving, by Ambiorix) won the 1971 Wood Memorial Stakes. Wicked Witchcraft is a half sister to Bold Array (by Bold Tactics), dam of multiple stakes winner Gala Array (by Somethingfabulous). The sisters’ dam Surrogate (by two-time Argentine Horse of the Year Yastasto) is a half sister to multiple stakes winners Lynnheim (by Jet Pilot) and Sight to See (by Tim Tam) and to Countess Lynn (by Count Fleet), second dam of Grade 3 winner Sharons Fare Well. Surrogate, in turn, is out of multiple stakes winner Alibhai Lynn (by Alibhai), a half sister to stakes winner Stirrup Cup (by Hunters Moon IV).
Books and media
Footage of The Wicked North’s win in the 1994 Californian Stakes can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHjbgdrjflQ.
Fun facts
- The Wicked North beat out Colonial Affair in Eclipse Award voting for champion older male by just three votes out of 247 cast.
Last updated: September 13, 2025