Too Bald (USA)
April 29, 1964 – 1989
Bald Eagle (USA) x Hidden Talent (USA), by Dark Star (USA)
Family 21-a
April 29, 1964 – 1989
Bald Eagle (USA) x Hidden Talent (USA), by Dark Star (USA)
Family 21-a
Like her sire Bald Eagle, Too Bald took some time coming to her best form. Unlike him, however, her best form was at one-turn distances, an aptitude handed down through her speedy female family. She was even better as a broodmare, passing high-class speed down to her progeny, and was named the 1986 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year.
Race record
24 starts, 13 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds, US$174,722
1986:
1969:
Honors
Kentucky Broodmare of the Year (1986)
Assessments
Rated at 115 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1968, 13 pounds below highweighted Politely and 11 pounds below the official divisional champion, Gamely.
Rated at 128 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American sprinters of 1969, 6 pounds below champion Ta Wee.
As an individual
A dark bay or brown mare with a sloping croup, a long, well-angled pelvis and a long stride, Too Bald knew only one way to run—as fast as she could, as long as she could. She was indifferent as to surface.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Too Bald produced 13 named foals of which 11 ran and won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Too Bald was bred and owned by Captain Harry F. Guggenheim, who raced her in the name of his Cain Hoy Stable. She was trained by Woody Stephens at 4 and by F. A. Bonsal at 5. When Guggenheim dispersed his stable in 1969, Too Bald topped the sale at US$225,000, going to Charles Engelhard. Too Bald's first three foals were bred by Engelhard's Cragwood Estates, and her next two, Baldski and Exceller, were bred by Engelhard's widow, the former Jane Mannheimer. Sold for US$67,000 in 1974, Too Bald became the property of Eugene Cashman prior to the birth of her sixth foal, Paavo. She produced two more foals for Cashman before becoming the property of Franklin Groves' North Ridge Farm, which bred her remaining foals. Too Bald died in 1989 and was buried on land that is now part of Vinery's Kentucky operation.
Pedigree notes
Too Bald is inbred 2x3 to Nasrullah and 4x4 to Bull Dog. She is a half sister to multiple stakes winner Turn to Talent (by Turn-to), whose stakes-winning daughter Hay Patcher (by Hoist the Flag) is the dam of multiple Grade 1 winner and 1994 American champion sire Broad Brush (by Ack Ack) and the good Maryland sire Hay Halo (by Halo) and is the second dam of English Group 2 winner Mull of Kintyre. Turn to Talent is also the dam of Winter Sparkle (by Northjet), dam of Grade 2 winner Williamstown (by Seattle Slew).
The next dam in Capote's tail-female line, Hidden Talent (by Dark Star), won a division of the 1959 Kentucky Oaks and is a full sister to 1959 Matron Stakes winner Heavenly Body, dam of French Group 3 winner A Thousand Stars (by Hoist the Flag) and second dam of English Group 2 winners Made of Gold, Thawakib and Celestial Storm, multiple French Group 3 winner Snow Day and Grade 3 winner Henschel. Hidden Talent is also a full sister to Dangerous Star, dam of multiple stakes winner Allegria de Deanna (by A Gambler) and stakes winner Perilous Star (by Top Avenger) and second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Lady Tak. In addition, Hidden Talent is a half sister to His Lady Fair (by Tom Fool), dam of 1984 Demoiselle Stakes (USA-G1) winner Diplomette (by Sr. Diplomat), and to Lost Love (by Dedicate), dam of Mexican stakes winner Esplendoroso (by Assagai).
Too Bald's female line entered the United States through Hidden Talent's dam Dangerous Dame, a winning daughter of Nasrullah and 1946 Irish champion 2-year-old filly Lady Kells (by His Highness). Lady Kells did not train in at 3 but is a half sister to 1949 Irish Two Thousand Guineas winner Solonaway (by Solferino).
Fun facts:
Last updated: October 5, 2024
Race record
24 starts, 13 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds, US$174,722
1986:
- Won Bed o' Roses Handicap (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Barbara Fritchie Handicap (USA, 7FD, Bowie)
1969:
- Won Barbara Fritchie Handicap (USA, 7FD, Bowie)
- Won Columbiana Handicap (USA, 8.5FT, Hialeah)
Honors
Kentucky Broodmare of the Year (1986)
Assessments
Rated at 115 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1968, 13 pounds below highweighted Politely and 11 pounds below the official divisional champion, Gamely.
Rated at 128 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American sprinters of 1969, 6 pounds below champion Ta Wee.
As an individual
A dark bay or brown mare with a sloping croup, a long, well-angled pelvis and a long stride, Too Bald knew only one way to run—as fast as she could, as long as she could. She was indifferent as to surface.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Too Bald produced 13 named foals of which 11 ran and won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Periwig (1971, by Buckpasser) never raced but is the second dam of 1985 Canadian champion older female Lake Country and third dam of 1995 Venezuelan champion 2-year-old filly Bonne Femme.
- Mauna Loa (1972, by Hawaii) won one of her 17 starts. She is the third dam of Grade 3 winner Senbei.
- Exceller (1973, by Vaguely Noble) was a multiple Grade/Group 1 winner on both dirt and turf. Although he never won an official championship, he was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in 1999. He sired 15 stakes winners from 391 named foals including Grade 1 winner Slew's Exceller.
- Baldski (1974, by Nijinsky II) won the 1977 Gold Coast Handicap and was Grade 2-placed. A good regional sire in Florida, Baldski sired 49 stakes winners from 577 named foals.
- Blazon (1976, by Ack Ack) is the second dam of Italian Group 2 winner Stanott and multiple Grade 3 winner D'Hallevant and the third dam of multiple Irish Group 3 winner Cheyenne Star.
- Bald Facts (1979, by In Reality) is the dam of Grade 3 winner General Royal (by A.P. Indy) and listed stakes winner Fortunate Facts (by Sir Ivor).
- American Standard (1980, by In Reality) won the 1984 Orange County Handicap. He sired 11 stakes winners from 305 named foals including the popular gelding Bluesthestandard, a multiple Grade 2 winner.
- Capote (1984, by Seattle Slew) was the American champion 2-year-old male of 1986. He sired 63 stakes winners from 846 foals of racing age including 1995 South African Horse of the Year Surfing Home and 1996 American champion 2-year-old male Boston Harbor.
- Vaguely Hidden (1985, by Vaguely Noble) won the 1990 New Jersey Turf Classic Stakes (USA-G3). He was exported to Spain in 1993.
- My Song for You (1987, by Seattle Song) was stakes-placed on the track. She is the dam of Grade 3 winner Minister's Melody (by Deputy Minister) and the second dam of 2006 Wood Memorial Stakes (USA-G1) winner Bob and John.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Too Bald was bred and owned by Captain Harry F. Guggenheim, who raced her in the name of his Cain Hoy Stable. She was trained by Woody Stephens at 4 and by F. A. Bonsal at 5. When Guggenheim dispersed his stable in 1969, Too Bald topped the sale at US$225,000, going to Charles Engelhard. Too Bald's first three foals were bred by Engelhard's Cragwood Estates, and her next two, Baldski and Exceller, were bred by Engelhard's widow, the former Jane Mannheimer. Sold for US$67,000 in 1974, Too Bald became the property of Eugene Cashman prior to the birth of her sixth foal, Paavo. She produced two more foals for Cashman before becoming the property of Franklin Groves' North Ridge Farm, which bred her remaining foals. Too Bald died in 1989 and was buried on land that is now part of Vinery's Kentucky operation.
Pedigree notes
Too Bald is inbred 2x3 to Nasrullah and 4x4 to Bull Dog. She is a half sister to multiple stakes winner Turn to Talent (by Turn-to), whose stakes-winning daughter Hay Patcher (by Hoist the Flag) is the dam of multiple Grade 1 winner and 1994 American champion sire Broad Brush (by Ack Ack) and the good Maryland sire Hay Halo (by Halo) and is the second dam of English Group 2 winner Mull of Kintyre. Turn to Talent is also the dam of Winter Sparkle (by Northjet), dam of Grade 2 winner Williamstown (by Seattle Slew).
The next dam in Capote's tail-female line, Hidden Talent (by Dark Star), won a division of the 1959 Kentucky Oaks and is a full sister to 1959 Matron Stakes winner Heavenly Body, dam of French Group 3 winner A Thousand Stars (by Hoist the Flag) and second dam of English Group 2 winners Made of Gold, Thawakib and Celestial Storm, multiple French Group 3 winner Snow Day and Grade 3 winner Henschel. Hidden Talent is also a full sister to Dangerous Star, dam of multiple stakes winner Allegria de Deanna (by A Gambler) and stakes winner Perilous Star (by Top Avenger) and second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Lady Tak. In addition, Hidden Talent is a half sister to His Lady Fair (by Tom Fool), dam of 1984 Demoiselle Stakes (USA-G1) winner Diplomette (by Sr. Diplomat), and to Lost Love (by Dedicate), dam of Mexican stakes winner Esplendoroso (by Assagai).
Too Bald's female line entered the United States through Hidden Talent's dam Dangerous Dame, a winning daughter of Nasrullah and 1946 Irish champion 2-year-old filly Lady Kells (by His Highness). Lady Kells did not train in at 3 but is a half sister to 1949 Irish Two Thousand Guineas winner Solonaway (by Solferino).
Fun facts:
- Too Bald was the second Kentucky Broodmare of the Year to have raced in Guggenheim's colors. The first was Siama, who was awarded the honors in 1960 based on the championship season of her best son—Too Bald's sire Bald Eagle.
Last updated: October 5, 2024