Turnback the Alarm (horse)

Won Schuylerville Stakes (USA-G2, 6FD, Saratoga)
2nd Spinaway Stakes (USA-G1, 6FD, Saratoga)
2nd Demoiselle Stakes (USA-G3 9FD, Aqueduct)
2nd Tempted Stakes (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Aqueduct)
2nd Gardenia Breeders' Cup Stakes (USA-L, 8f+70yD, Calder)
3rd Adirondack Stakes (USA-G2, 6FD, Saratoga)

1992:

Won Coaching Club American Oaks (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont)
Won Mother Goose Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
Won Althea Stakes (USA-L, Auueduct)
2nd Family Style Stakes (USA-L, Aqueduct)
3rd Acorn Stakes (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont)

1993:

Won Go for Wand Stakes (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont)
Won Shuvee Handicap (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Belmont)
Won Hempstead Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
2nd Ladies Handicap (USA-G2, 10FD, Aqueduct)
3rd Ruffian Handicap (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Belmont)

Honors

Florida-bred champion handicap female (1993)

Assessments

Rated at 116 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile fillies of 1991, 7 pounds below champion Pleasant Stage.

Co-rated with Jolypha at 122 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1992, 1 pound below highweighted November Snow and 1 pound above the official divisional champion, Saratoga Dew.

Rated at 122 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1993, 4 pounds below champion Paseana but second overall.

As an individual

A gray mare (registered as gray/roan), Turnback the Alarm was described by New York Times sportswriter Joseph Durso as “not exactly an oil painting” when it came to her appearance. Her trainer, Red Terrell, described her as having “nice manners” and a professional attitude. As a youngster, Turnback the Alarm was a front runner by preference, but Terrell was able to get her to relax and come from off the pace at 3 and 4. She made a successful comeback from a right hind cannon fracture that ended her 3-year-old season; a second injury at 4 sent her into retirement.

As a producer

Turnback the Alarm produced five named foals, of which four started but only one won. That one was Japanese stakes winner Hallelujah Sunday (by Sunday Silence).

Connections

Foaled in Florida, Turnback the Alarm was bred and owned by Walter "Buzz" Burke, who campaigned the filly under the name of Valley View Farm. Burke sold a one-third interest to Dr. Richard Coburn after Turnback the Alarm won the 1991 Schuylerville Stakes. The filly was trained by William "Red" Terrell. Turnback the Alarm sold for US$700,000 through the 1996 Keeneland November mixed sale and was exported to Japan in 1997. Her last known foal was born in 2004.

Pedigree notes

A daughter of 1984 Fountain of Youth Stakes (USA-G2) winner Darn That Alarm (by the stakes-winning Native Dancer horse Jig Time), Turnback the Alarm is inbred 4x4 to 1943 American Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year Count Fleet, the American champion sire of 1951 and American champion broodmare sire of 1963. She is also inbred 5x5 to 1936 Derby Stakes winner Mahmoud, the American champion sire of 1946 and American champion broodmare sire of 1957.

Turnback the Alarm was produced from Boomie's Girl E., whose sire Figonero won the 1969 Hollywood Gold Cup. Boomie's Girl E., in turn, was produced from the stakes-placed Counterpoint mare Counter Call, whose full sister Counter Cry produced multiple stakes winners Mr. Forsman (by Jay Fox) and Easy Ern (by Revel). Counter Call is also a half sister to 1968 Brighton Beach Handicap winner Ski Lift (by Dotted Swiss) and stakes winner Cast Ahead (by Amarullah) and to Round the Bend (by Hail to Reason), dam of Grade 2-placed stakes winner Round Stake (by Jean-Pierre) and second dam of 1989 Peruvian champion 3-year-old male That Police.

The next dam in Turnback the Alarm's tail-female line is Hurry By, one of the few foals sired by 1949 American co-Horse of the Year Capot. A winning half sister to 1961 Hollywood Juvenile Championship winner Rattle Dancer (by Native Dancer), 1953 Westchester Handicap winner Cold Command (by War Admiral) and stakes winner Madison (by Porterhouse), Hurry By is out of 1947 Santa Margarita Handicap winner Monsoon (by Mahmoud), one of five stakes winners produced from 1924 American co-champion 2-year-old filly Maud Muller.

Books and media

Turnback the Alarm is profiled in Chapter 12 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).

Fun facts

The Turnback the Alarm Handicap is a Grade 3 race for fillies and mares aged 3 and older. Inaugurated in 1995, it was initially run at Aqueduct. The 2010 and 2017 renewals were run at Belmont Park. It was most recently run at Aqueduct over 9 furlongs on the main track.
As a 2-year-old, Turnback the Alarm was actually sold through the 1991 Ocala Breeders' Sales April sale of 2-year-olds in training to Billy Terrill, son of Red Terrill, for US$29,000, but Walter Burke agreed to take her back after a standard X-ray revealed an unexplained line on the filly's leg. Her name was derived from this incident. Ironically, the line disappeared in subsequent X-rays.

Last updated: October 7, 2023