White Star Line (USA)
April 4, 1975 – c. 1996
Northern Dancer (CAN) x Fast Line (USA), by Mr. Busher (USA)
Family 4-m
April 4, 1975 – c. 1996
Northern Dancer (CAN) x Fast Line (USA), by Mr. Busher (USA)
Family 4-m
White Star Line raced only at 3, but she proved of near-championship class while withstanding a long, hard campaign during that single season. While she was not quite as outstanding as a broodmare as she was as a racer, her daughters have bred on well enough to allow her to establish a major branch of Fast Line's family.
Race record
18 starts, 9 wins, 1 second, 2 thirds, US$256,780
1978:
Assessments
Rated at 125 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1978, 1 pound below champion Tempest Queen but tied for second with Caesar's Wish and Lakeville Miss.
As an individual
A bay mare standing no more than 15.2 hands, White Star Line had extremely powerful hindquarters but was somewhat back at the knee. She did not race at 2 due to back soreness. She possessed excellent acceleration.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, White Star Line produced 15 named foals, of which 13 started and 11 won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Virginia, White Star Line was bred and owned by Newstead Farm. She was trained by Woody Stephens and was ridden to her Kentucky Oaks win by Eddie Maple. Following her racing career, White Star Line returned to Newstead Farm, which bred her first five foals. In November 1985, she was sent to the Newmarket sales in foal to Spectacular Bid and was purchased for US$3 million by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum. She produced her last foal, the Darshaan filly White Star, in 1996.
Pedigree notes
White Star Line is outcrossed through five generations. She is a half sister to 1972 Prix Morny (FR-G1) winner Filiberto (by Ribot) and to stakes winner Fairway Fun (by Prince John), dam of 1974 Diana Handicap (USA-G2) winner Fairway Flyer (by Nashua), 1974 Paumonok Handicap (USA-G3) winner Torsion (by Never Bend), and Grade 3-placed stakes winners Fairway Fable and Fun Forever (both by Never Bend); second dam of Grade 2 winner Devil's Cup and Grade 3 winner Northern Fable; and third dam of Grade 3 winner Adhocracy and English Group 3 winner Majmu. White Star Line is also a.half sister to Trick Chick (by Prince John), dam of 1984 French Horse of the Year Northern Trick (by Northern Dancer), 1977 Jockey Club Gold Cup winner On the Sly (by Roi Dagobert), listed stakes winner Trick Question (by Lyphard) and stakes winner Sweet Slew (by Seattle Slew). Trick Chick is also the third dam of two-time Brazilian champion Jeune-Turc, 2007 Oaks Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Light Shift, 1999 Tattersalls Gold Cup (IRE-G1) winner Shiva, 2005 Grande Prêmio ABCPCC (BRZ-G1) winner Nonno Luigi, Grade/Group 2 winners Limnos and Clark Street, and English Group 3 winner Chicmond.
Returning to White Star Line, she is also a half sister to Day Line (by Day Court), dam of 1973 Coaching Club American Oaks (USA-G1) winner Magazine (by Prince John), second dam of English Group 3 winner Martha Stevens, and third dam of Grade 2 winner Wait Til Monday and Irish Group 3 winner Token Gesture. In addition, White Star Line is a half sister to Near Lyn (by Nearctic), Saratoga Trunk (by Raise a Native), and Mlle. Vitesse (by Tom Rolfe), all the second or third dams of graded or Group stakes winners.
White Star Line is out of Fast Line, a half sister to 1948 American champion 3-year-old filly Miss Request (by Requested), who is the second dam of 1972 Nassau County Handicap winner Towzie Tyke and third dam of multiple Puerto Rican champion Moment of True. Fast Line is also a half sister to Nimble Feet (by Spy Song), dam of multiple stakes winner Big Tim (by Tim Tam); second dam of 1983 Apple Blossom Handicap (USA-G1) winner Miss Huntingdon, French Group 3 winner Black Sulphur and English Group 3 winner Tecorno; and third dam of 1993 Gran Criterium (ITY-G1) winner Torrismondo and 1997 Cigar Mile Handicap (USA-G1) winner Devious Course. In addition, Fast Line is a half sister to Peridot (by Balladier), dam of stakes winner Flying Chief (by Chief Barker).
Fast Line and her siblings were produced from the minor stakes winner Throttle Wide, a daughter of 1929 Pimlico Futurity winner Flying Heels (by Flying Ebony). Throttle Wide, in turn, is out of the non-winning Pataud mare Let Her Fly, a half sister to stakes winners Houston (by Theo. Cook) and Lady Hannibal (by Hannibal) and to Mary's Last (by Terry), dam of multiple stakes winner Kewey Dee (by Okapi). The next dam in the tail-female line, the Fatherless mare Mary King, is out of Merry Maid (by Eolus), a half sister to multiple stakes winner Eonic (by Eon; dam of stakes winner Penn, by Cunard) and a daughter of the St. Blaise mare Mermaid.
Books and media
White Star Line is profiled in Chapter 10 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Last updated: February 25, 2024
Race record
18 starts, 9 wins, 1 second, 2 thirds, US$256,780
1978:
- Won Alabama Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- Won Delaware Oaks (USA-G1, 9FD, Delaware Park)
- Won Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Test Stakes (USA-G3, 7FD, Saratoga)
- Won La Troienne Stakes (USA, 7FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Busher Handicap (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Acorn Stakes (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Boiling Springs Handicap (USA, 8.5FT, The Meadowlands)
Assessments
Rated at 125 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1978, 1 pound below champion Tempest Queen but tied for second with Caesar's Wish and Lakeville Miss.
As an individual
A bay mare standing no more than 15.2 hands, White Star Line had extremely powerful hindquarters but was somewhat back at the knee. She did not race at 2 due to back soreness. She possessed excellent acceleration.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, White Star Line produced 15 named foals, of which 13 started and 11 won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Native Wizard (1983, by In Reality) won the listed Acomb Stakes as a juvenile in England and was Grade 3-placed at 5.
- Urjwan (1984, by Seattle Slew) won one of her two starts. She is the dam of the stakes-winning hurdler Historic (by Sadler's Wells) and the second dam of 2003 Deutches Derby (German Derby, GER-G1) winner Dai Jin and 2010 Derby Italiano (Italian Derby, ITY-G2) winner Worthadd. She is also the third dam of 2009 Grande Prêmio Jockey Club de São Paulo (BRZ-G1) winner Vupt Vapt.
- Lustre (1985, by Halo) was stakes-placed in England. She is the dam of 1995 Oaks d'Italia (Italian Oaks, ITY-G1) winner Valley of Gold (by Shirley Heights) and English Group 3 winner Dublin (by Carson City). She is also the second dam of English Group 2 winner Duff and English Group 3 winners Splendid Era and Cap O'Rushes.
- Star Spectacle (1986, by Spectacular Bid) placed second twice in three starts. She is the dam of 2003 Holsten-Trophy (GER-G3) winner Capricho (by Lake Coniston).
- Whitehaven (1987, by Top Ville) won the 1990 Prix de Pomone (FR-G2). She is the dam of multiple listed stakes winner Copeland (by Generous) and is the second dam of Australian Group 2 winner Samara Dancer and Australian Group 3 winner Eclair Big Bang. She is also the third dam of 2024 Otaki-Maori Classic (NRZ-G1) winner La Crique.
- Hill of Snow (1992, by Reference Point) won one of her nine starts. She is the dam of 1999 Moyglare Stud Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Preseli (by Caerleon), 2005 Derby Trial Stakes (ENG-G3) winner Kong (by Sadler's Wells), and listed stakes winner Mount Kilimanjaro (by Sadler's Wells).
- White Star (1996, by Darshaan) was Group 2-placed in France. She is the dam of 2007 Prix Eugene Adam (FR-G2) winner Harland (by Halling) and 2018 Prix de la Grotte (FR-G3) winner winner Musis Amica (by Dawn Approach).
Connections
Foaled in Virginia, White Star Line was bred and owned by Newstead Farm. She was trained by Woody Stephens and was ridden to her Kentucky Oaks win by Eddie Maple. Following her racing career, White Star Line returned to Newstead Farm, which bred her first five foals. In November 1985, she was sent to the Newmarket sales in foal to Spectacular Bid and was purchased for US$3 million by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum. She produced her last foal, the Darshaan filly White Star, in 1996.
Pedigree notes
White Star Line is outcrossed through five generations. She is a half sister to 1972 Prix Morny (FR-G1) winner Filiberto (by Ribot) and to stakes winner Fairway Fun (by Prince John), dam of 1974 Diana Handicap (USA-G2) winner Fairway Flyer (by Nashua), 1974 Paumonok Handicap (USA-G3) winner Torsion (by Never Bend), and Grade 3-placed stakes winners Fairway Fable and Fun Forever (both by Never Bend); second dam of Grade 2 winner Devil's Cup and Grade 3 winner Northern Fable; and third dam of Grade 3 winner Adhocracy and English Group 3 winner Majmu. White Star Line is also a.half sister to Trick Chick (by Prince John), dam of 1984 French Horse of the Year Northern Trick (by Northern Dancer), 1977 Jockey Club Gold Cup winner On the Sly (by Roi Dagobert), listed stakes winner Trick Question (by Lyphard) and stakes winner Sweet Slew (by Seattle Slew). Trick Chick is also the third dam of two-time Brazilian champion Jeune-Turc, 2007 Oaks Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Light Shift, 1999 Tattersalls Gold Cup (IRE-G1) winner Shiva, 2005 Grande Prêmio ABCPCC (BRZ-G1) winner Nonno Luigi, Grade/Group 2 winners Limnos and Clark Street, and English Group 3 winner Chicmond.
Returning to White Star Line, she is also a half sister to Day Line (by Day Court), dam of 1973 Coaching Club American Oaks (USA-G1) winner Magazine (by Prince John), second dam of English Group 3 winner Martha Stevens, and third dam of Grade 2 winner Wait Til Monday and Irish Group 3 winner Token Gesture. In addition, White Star Line is a half sister to Near Lyn (by Nearctic), Saratoga Trunk (by Raise a Native), and Mlle. Vitesse (by Tom Rolfe), all the second or third dams of graded or Group stakes winners.
White Star Line is out of Fast Line, a half sister to 1948 American champion 3-year-old filly Miss Request (by Requested), who is the second dam of 1972 Nassau County Handicap winner Towzie Tyke and third dam of multiple Puerto Rican champion Moment of True. Fast Line is also a half sister to Nimble Feet (by Spy Song), dam of multiple stakes winner Big Tim (by Tim Tam); second dam of 1983 Apple Blossom Handicap (USA-G1) winner Miss Huntingdon, French Group 3 winner Black Sulphur and English Group 3 winner Tecorno; and third dam of 1993 Gran Criterium (ITY-G1) winner Torrismondo and 1997 Cigar Mile Handicap (USA-G1) winner Devious Course. In addition, Fast Line is a half sister to Peridot (by Balladier), dam of stakes winner Flying Chief (by Chief Barker).
Fast Line and her siblings were produced from the minor stakes winner Throttle Wide, a daughter of 1929 Pimlico Futurity winner Flying Heels (by Flying Ebony). Throttle Wide, in turn, is out of the non-winning Pataud mare Let Her Fly, a half sister to stakes winners Houston (by Theo. Cook) and Lady Hannibal (by Hannibal) and to Mary's Last (by Terry), dam of multiple stakes winner Kewey Dee (by Okapi). The next dam in the tail-female line, the Fatherless mare Mary King, is out of Merry Maid (by Eolus), a half sister to multiple stakes winner Eonic (by Eon; dam of stakes winner Penn, by Cunard) and a daughter of the St. Blaise mare Mermaid.
Books and media
White Star Line is profiled in Chapter 10 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- The White Star Line was the popular name of the Oceanic Steam Navigation Firm, an English-based shipping company founded in 1845 which used a white star on a red pennant as its logo. The name will be forever associated with the RMS Titanic and its ill-fated maiden voyage in 1912, but the White Star Line continued sailing until 1934, when it merged with Cunard Line. Modern Cunard ships (now part of Carnival Corporation) still use “White Star Service” to refer to their standard for customer care.
- White Star Line's Kentucky Oaks was the first to be made a Grade 1; the race had been a Grade 2 from the inception of the modern graded race system in 1973 through 1977. It has remained a Grade 1 ever since.
- White Star Line was the fourth of a record five Kentucky Oaks winners for trainer Woody Stephens, who also won the race with Hidden Talent (1959), Make Sail (1960), Sally Ship (1963) and Heavenly Cause (1981).
Last updated: February 25, 2024