Valkyr (USA)
1925 – 1946
Man o' War (USA) x Princess Palatine (FR), by Prince Palatine (IRE)
Family 13-c
1925 – 1946
Man o' War (USA) x Princess Palatine (FR), by Prince Palatine (IRE)
Family 13-c
A consistent and talented filly, Valkyr was a perennial bridesmaid in major events though her victories included a four-length trouncing of 1928 Belmont Stakes winner Vito. Her greater importance lies in her producing career. The dam of 1942 American champion 3-year-old filly and notable producer Vagrancy, she also threw three other good stakes winners and several other useful broodmares.
Race record
27 starts, 9 wins, 6 seconds, 8 thirds, US$13,005
1927:
1928:
1929:
As an individual
A tall, handsome chestnut mare, Valkyr was lengthy and substantial with the deep shoulder and excellent legs of her sire.
As a producer
A Reine-de-Course as designated by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Valkyr produced 11 named foals, of which nine started and seven won. Her important foals were as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Valkyr was bred and owned by Gifford Cochran. With her 1931 Flying Ebony colt (the future stakes winner Vicar) at foot, she was purchased from the dispersal of Cochran's estate by William Woodward. Valkyr remained the property of Woodward's Belair Stud for the rest of her life, dying in 1946.
Pedigree notes
Valkyr is inbred 5x4x4 to nine-time English champion sire St. Simon, 4x5 to 1880 Derby Stakes winner Bend Or and 5x5 to 1887 English champion sire Hampton. She is out of unraced Princess Palatine, also the dam of stakes winner Count Palatine (by Under Fire) and Epitine (by Épinard), dam of stakes winner Zacatine (by Zacaweista), second dam of 1958 Fall Highweight Handicap winner Bull Strength and third dam of 1952 San Luis Rey Stakes winner Dark Count and 1963 Michigan Derby winner Sonny Fleet. Princess Palatine is also the dam of Breathless Moment (by Black Toney), second dam of 1937 Arlington Futurity winner Tiger and third dam of 1944 Walden Stakes winner Rick's Raft, and of Chara, third dam of 1955 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Chingacgook and 1958 Grand Prix de Deauville winner Chippendale.
Princess Palatine was produced from Frizette (by Hamburg), a minor stakes winner who spent her producing career in France and proved a great foundation mare for both French and American bloodlines. Aside from Princess Palatine, she produced 1913 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas) winner Banshee (by Irish Lad), a notable producer in her own right, and Durzetta (by Durbar II), winner of the 1920 Prix Morny and Prix de la Forêt and also an important producer. In addition, Frizette produced the stakes winners Frizzle (by Biniou), Mary Maud (by Irish Lad) and Ondulation (by Sweeper II) as well as the important producers Frizeur (by Sweeper II) and Frizelle (by Durbar II).
Fun facts
Last updated: July 14, 2020
Race record
27 starts, 9 wins, 6 seconds, 8 thirds, US$13,005
1927:
- 2nd Rosedale Stakes (USA, 5FD, Jamaica)
1928:
- 2nd Alabama Stakes (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Coaching Club American Oaks (USA, 11FD, Belmont)
- 3rd October Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Jamaica)
1929:
- 2nd Mt. Kisco Stakes (USA, 8F+70yD, Empire City)
- 2nd Yonkers Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Empire City)
- 3rd Tijuana Handicap (MEX, Tijuana)
As an individual
A tall, handsome chestnut mare, Valkyr was lengthy and substantial with the deep shoulder and excellent legs of her sire.
As a producer
A Reine-de-Course as designated by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Valkyr produced 11 named foals, of which nine started and seven won. Her important foals were as follow:
- Vicar (1931, by Flying Ebony) won four stakes races including the 1935 Saratoga Handicap. He was of no importance as a sire.
- Vicaress (1932, by Flying Ebony) won the 1934 Spinaway Stakes. She is the second dam of four stakes winners including 1964 Gazelle Handicap winner Face the Facts, dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Judger and Grade 2 winners Bicker and Proof.
- Valse (1933, by Sir Gallahad III) was stakes-placed on the track and produced 1944 Alabama Stakes winner Vienna (by Menow). She is the second dam of Ambler, winner of the 1954 Craven Stakes in England; of 1952 Saranac Handicap winner Golden Gloves; and of 1958 Cleopatra Handicap winner Milly K.
- War Vixen (1934, by Gallant Fox) produced multiple Canadian stakes winner Warrigan (by Osiris II).
- Valkara (1937, by Gallant Fox) is the dam of 1944 Starlet Stakes winner Post Graduate (by Rhodes Scholar) and the second dam of 1962 Governor's Gold Cup winner Daddy R.
- Vagrancy (1939, by Sir Gallahad III) was both the American champion 3-year-old filly and the American champion handicap female of 1942. She is the dam of Black Tarquin (by Rhodes Scholar), the English champion 3-year-old male of 1948. She also produced the steeplechase stakes winner Hyvania (by Hypnotist II) and Vulcania (by Some Chance), winner of the 1951 Test Stakes and Diana Handicap. She is the second dam of 1966 Alabama Stakes winner Natashka, the 1981 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year, and the third dam of 1972 Irish co-champion 3-year-old filly Arkadina, multiple Grade 1 winner Tallahto, the high-class turf horse Fiddle Isle, 1980 Joe McGrath Memorial Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Gregorian and 1987 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Banja Luka.
- Bellicose (1942, by Boswell) was stakes-placed on the track, She produced multiple stakes winner Torch of War (by Bimelech) and is the second dam of the good stakes filly Sarcastic, whose son Vitriolic was the American champion 2-year-old male of 1967.
- Hypnotic (1943, by Hypnotist II) won the 1946 Coaching Club American Oaks and Alabama Stakes but was a disappointing producer.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Valkyr was bred and owned by Gifford Cochran. With her 1931 Flying Ebony colt (the future stakes winner Vicar) at foot, she was purchased from the dispersal of Cochran's estate by William Woodward. Valkyr remained the property of Woodward's Belair Stud for the rest of her life, dying in 1946.
Pedigree notes
Valkyr is inbred 5x4x4 to nine-time English champion sire St. Simon, 4x5 to 1880 Derby Stakes winner Bend Or and 5x5 to 1887 English champion sire Hampton. She is out of unraced Princess Palatine, also the dam of stakes winner Count Palatine (by Under Fire) and Epitine (by Épinard), dam of stakes winner Zacatine (by Zacaweista), second dam of 1958 Fall Highweight Handicap winner Bull Strength and third dam of 1952 San Luis Rey Stakes winner Dark Count and 1963 Michigan Derby winner Sonny Fleet. Princess Palatine is also the dam of Breathless Moment (by Black Toney), second dam of 1937 Arlington Futurity winner Tiger and third dam of 1944 Walden Stakes winner Rick's Raft, and of Chara, third dam of 1955 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Chingacgook and 1958 Grand Prix de Deauville winner Chippendale.
Princess Palatine was produced from Frizette (by Hamburg), a minor stakes winner who spent her producing career in France and proved a great foundation mare for both French and American bloodlines. Aside from Princess Palatine, she produced 1913 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas) winner Banshee (by Irish Lad), a notable producer in her own right, and Durzetta (by Durbar II), winner of the 1920 Prix Morny and Prix de la Forêt and also an important producer. In addition, Frizette produced the stakes winners Frizzle (by Biniou), Mary Maud (by Irish Lad) and Ondulation (by Sweeper II) as well as the important producers Frizeur (by Sweeper II) and Frizelle (by Durbar II).
Fun facts
- According to the Miami Times of July 28, 1929, Valkyr was actually the best horse in that year's Mt. Kisco Stakes but was eased to allow her stablemate Healy to win. Healy had won the Empire City Derby earlier in the meeting.
- The Valkyr Handicap was a minor stakes race for fillies and mares at Aqueduct.
Last updated: July 14, 2020