War Plumage won only three times in her career, but she saved her best efforts for the biggest races. After breaking her maiden in the Coaching Club American Oaks, she found her way back to the winner's circle in the historic Alabama Stakes. That was enough for her to share American champion 3-year-old filly honors with Unerring in 1939. The following year, she defeated males in the Washington Park Handicap and earned American champion handicap mare honors off that victory. She was a fairly successful broodmare after her retirement.
Race record
16 starts, 3 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third, US$48,600
1938:
1939:
1940:
Honors
As an individual
A brown mare, War Plumage was rangy with a well-sloped shoulder, a smoothly tapered barrel, strong hindquarters and a stayer's flat musculature. Her pasterns were somewhat long.
As a producer
War Plumage produced 11 named foals, of which 10 started and nine won.. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, War Plumage was bred by Howard Oots. She was owned by James Cox Brady, who retained Oots as trainer after buying the filly.
Pedigree notes
War Plumage is inbred 4x5 to nine-time English/Irish champion sire St. Simon, an unbeaten champion on the race course. She is a half sister to 1938 Stars and Stripes Handicap winner War Minstrel (by Royal Minstrel), 1938 Diamond State Stakes winner War Magic (by Pharamond II), and three-time steeplechase stakes winner Boom Boom (by Case Ace). War Plumage is also a half sister to Miss Kid (by Atwell), dam of 1943 Modesty Handicap winner Burgoo Maid (by Burgoo King). Through Burgoo Maid, Miss Kid is the second dam of 1953 Acorn Stakes winner Secret Meeting, dam in turn of juvenile stakes winner Gay Meeting and the ancestress of 1999 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Anne Campbell.
War Plumage was produced from War Feathers, a half sister to the minor stakes winner Chianti (by High Time) and to Tuscan Maiden (by Maiden Erlegh), dam of stakes winner Fairy Maiden (by Gnome). She is also a half sister to stakes-placed Leghorn (by Celt), dam of multiple minor stakes winner Bulwark (by Bull Dog), second dam of 1945 Selima Stakes and 1946 Modesty Stakes winner Athene, and third dam of 1954 San Juan Capistrano Handicap winner By Zeus, 1956 Camino Real Handicap winner Lychnus, and juvenile stakes winner Banquet Bell, dam of two American champions in Primonetta and Chateaugay. In addition, War Feathers is a half sister to Bright Red (by Bright Knight), dam of the minor stakes winner Schoolmom (by Jean Valjean).
War Feathers and her siblings are out of the William Rufus mare Tuscan Red, whose dam Fine Feathers (by Gallinule) also produced Doreid (by Galloping Simon), dam of 1934 Saratoga Special winner Boxthorn (by Blue Larkspur). The next dam in War Plumage's tail-female line, the Sheen mare Splendid, is a half sister to Sceptre (by Persimmon), the winner of four of the five English Classic races in 1902 and still regarded as one of the greatest mares ever to grace the Turf anywhere in the world.
Books and media
War Plumage is profiled in Chapter 6 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Last updated: September 19, 2023
Race record
16 starts, 3 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third, US$48,600
1938:
- 2nd Polly Drummond Stakes (USA, 5FD, Delaware)
- 3rd Jeanne d'Arc Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Narragansett Park)
1939:
- Won Coaching Club American Oaks (USA, 11FD, Belmont)
- Won Alabama Stakes (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
1940:
- Won Washington Park Handicap (USA, 10FD, Washington Park)
Honors
- American co-champion 3-year-old filly (1939)
- American champion handicap female (1940)
As an individual
A brown mare, War Plumage was rangy with a well-sloped shoulder, a smoothly tapered barrel, strong hindquarters and a stayer's flat musculature. Her pasterns were somewhat long.
As a producer
War Plumage produced 11 named foals, of which 10 started and nine won.. Her important foals are as follow:
- Cutty Hunk (1944, by Bahram) won the 1947 Golden Gate Derby, his only accomplishment of any significance.
- Gold Crest (1945, by King Cole) produced 1954 Charles H. Bidwell Memorial Handicap winner Vantage (by Okapi). She is the second dam of four stakes winners including 1981 Haskell Invitational Handicap (USA-G1) winner Fivestarflight and Grade 2 winner Whatsyourpleasure and is the third dam of English Group 3 winner Freefourracing and Grade 3 winner Western Larla.
- Plumed (1950, by Alsab) produced 1962 Comely Stakes winner Upswept (by Royal Charger) and is the second dam of seven stakes winners. Plumed is also the third dam of Group 1-placed English Group 3 winner Long Pond and Venezuelan Group 3 winner Modena.
- Foreword (1955, by General Staff) is the third dam of 1982 Remsen Stakes (USA-G1) winner Pax in Bello, Grade 2 winner Cojak and Argentine Group 3 winner Potentilla.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, War Plumage was bred by Howard Oots. She was owned by James Cox Brady, who retained Oots as trainer after buying the filly.
Pedigree notes
War Plumage is inbred 4x5 to nine-time English/Irish champion sire St. Simon, an unbeaten champion on the race course. She is a half sister to 1938 Stars and Stripes Handicap winner War Minstrel (by Royal Minstrel), 1938 Diamond State Stakes winner War Magic (by Pharamond II), and three-time steeplechase stakes winner Boom Boom (by Case Ace). War Plumage is also a half sister to Miss Kid (by Atwell), dam of 1943 Modesty Handicap winner Burgoo Maid (by Burgoo King). Through Burgoo Maid, Miss Kid is the second dam of 1953 Acorn Stakes winner Secret Meeting, dam in turn of juvenile stakes winner Gay Meeting and the ancestress of 1999 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Anne Campbell.
War Plumage was produced from War Feathers, a half sister to the minor stakes winner Chianti (by High Time) and to Tuscan Maiden (by Maiden Erlegh), dam of stakes winner Fairy Maiden (by Gnome). She is also a half sister to stakes-placed Leghorn (by Celt), dam of multiple minor stakes winner Bulwark (by Bull Dog), second dam of 1945 Selima Stakes and 1946 Modesty Stakes winner Athene, and third dam of 1954 San Juan Capistrano Handicap winner By Zeus, 1956 Camino Real Handicap winner Lychnus, and juvenile stakes winner Banquet Bell, dam of two American champions in Primonetta and Chateaugay. In addition, War Feathers is a half sister to Bright Red (by Bright Knight), dam of the minor stakes winner Schoolmom (by Jean Valjean).
War Feathers and her siblings are out of the William Rufus mare Tuscan Red, whose dam Fine Feathers (by Gallinule) also produced Doreid (by Galloping Simon), dam of 1934 Saratoga Special winner Boxthorn (by Blue Larkspur). The next dam in War Plumage's tail-female line, the Sheen mare Splendid, is a half sister to Sceptre (by Persimmon), the winner of four of the five English Classic races in 1902 and still regarded as one of the greatest mares ever to grace the Turf anywhere in the world.
Books and media
War Plumage is profiled in Chapter 6 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Last updated: September 19, 2023