A minor stakes winner on the track, Uncle's Lassie proved a consistent broodmare. Best known in her own time as the dam of upset 1929 Kentucky Derby winner Clyde Van Dusen, she is now better known for her stakes-winning daughter Betty Derr, ancestress of the most important modern branch of American Family 4.
Race record
83 starts, 14 wins, US$18,254
1918:
As an individual
A chestnut mare. She raced for five years, suggesting toughness, soundness and durability if not great class.
As a producer
Uncle's Lassie produced 13 named foals. All 13 started and 12 won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Uncle's Lassie was bred by Headley and Miller and was later owned by William R. Coe. As a broodmare, she was owned by Herbert P. Gardner. After the birth of her 1934 foal, the Torchilla gelding Tartarus, she passed to the ownership of Charles T. Fisher and remained Mr. Fisher's property until her death in 1941.
Pedigree notes
Uncle's Lassie is inbred 4x4 to seven-time English champion sire Hermit, 5x4 to Sterling, and 5x5 to seven-time English champion sire Stockwell. She is a full sister to stakes winner Tracksend and a half sister to stakes winner Paavo (by The Finn). She is also a half sister to Queen of the Water (by Waterboy), dam of stakes winners Heeltaps and Salacia (both by Ultimus). Salacia in turn produced Sation (by Galetian), a stakes winner at ages 3 through 6, while Heeltaps produced two-time Carter Handicap winner Flying Heels (by Flying Ebony).
The dam of Uncle's Lassie, Planutess, won two stakes races and is a half sister to 1918 Gazelle Stakes winner Fairy Wand (by Star Shoot), dam of 1928 Dwyer Stakes winner Genie (by Man o' War) and 1930 Hopeful Stakes winner Epithet (by Épinard). Planutess' dam Countess Wanda (by Loyalist) is out of Wanda (by Mortemer), generally considered the American champion 2-year-old filly of 1884 and the American champion 3-year-old filly of 1885.
Race record
83 starts, 14 wins, US$18,254
1918:
- Won Mineola Selling Stakes (USA, 6FD, Belmont)
- Won Lynbrook Selling Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Jamaica)
- 2nd Kentucky Selling Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Bouquet Selling Stakes (USA, 5FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Tomboy Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Belmont)
As an individual
A chestnut mare. She raced for five years, suggesting toughness, soundness and durability if not great class.
As a producer
Uncle's Lassie produced 13 named foals. All 13 started and 12 won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Sixteen Sixty (1924, by Pennant) won the 1926 Louisiana Juvenile Stakes. She died in 1928 without issue.
- Seventeen Sixty (1925, by The Finn) won the 1927 Homewood Stakes. He does not appear to have stood at stud.
- Clyde Van Dusen (1926, by Man o' War) won the 1929 Kentucky Derby and four other stakes. He was a gelding.
- Betty Derr (1928, by Sir Gallahad III) won four stakes races including the 1931 Latonia Oaks. She produced the stakes-winning fillies Betty Sweep (by Sweep), Iron Maiden (by War Admiral) and Judy-Rae (by Nasrullah). The latter two founded important branches of the family. Iron Maiden was the more immediately successful as the dam of 1957 Kentucky Derby winner Iron Liege (by Bull Lea) and the second dam of 1956 Horse of the Year Swaps, whose dam Iron Reward was named Kentucky Broodmare of the Year in 1955. Iron Maiden is also the second dam of Track Medal, the 1962 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. Judy-Rae's branch of the family includes 1983 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Courtly Dee, 1983 American champion 2-year-old filly Althea, the important sire Green Desert, and 2014 dual Classic winner California Chrome.
- Ted Clark (1930, by Chatterton) was a six-time stakes winner. He was of no importance as a sire.
Connections
Uncle's Lassie was bred by Headley and Miller and was later owned by William R. Coe. As a broodmare, she was owned by Herbert P. Gardner. After the birth of her 1934 foal, the Torchilla gelding Tartarus, she passed to the ownership of Charles T. Fisher and remained Mr. Fisher's property until her death in 1941.
Pedigree notes
Uncle's Lassie is inbred 4x4 to seven-time English champion sire Hermit, 5x4 to Sterling, and 5x5 to seven-time English champion sire Stockwell. She is a full sister to stakes winner Tracksend and a half sister to stakes winner Paavo (by The Finn). She is also a half sister to Queen of the Water (by Waterboy), dam of stakes winners Heeltaps and Salacia (both by Ultimus). Salacia in turn produced Sation (by Galetian), a stakes winner at ages 3 through 6, while Heeltaps produced two-time Carter Handicap winner Flying Heels (by Flying Ebony).
The dam of Uncle's Lassie, Planutess, won two stakes races and is a half sister to 1918 Gazelle Stakes winner Fairy Wand (by Star Shoot), dam of 1928 Dwyer Stakes winner Genie (by Man o' War) and 1930 Hopeful Stakes winner Epithet (by Épinard). Planutess' dam Countess Wanda (by Loyalist) is out of Wanda (by Mortemer), generally considered the American champion 2-year-old filly of 1884 and the American champion 3-year-old filly of 1885.