Willamette (USA)
February 26, 1954 – 1962?
Doswell (USA) x Sister Union (USA), by Blenheim II (GB)
Family 9-f
February 26, 1954 – 1962?
Doswell (USA) x Sister Union (USA), by Blenheim II (GB)
Family 9-f
Willamette was the result of a mating that was apparently planned to see if the famous Bull Lea/Blenheim II nick could be extended to further generations. As with most such experiments, success was sufficiently limited that it was not persisted with. Willamette's Coaching Club American Oaks win was the only major victory of her career, and she accomplished little as a broodmare.
Race record
55 starts, 7 wins, 6 seconds, 5 thirds, US$81,015
1956:
1957:
Assessments
Rated at 113 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American fillies and mares of 1957, 7 pounds below the topweighted 3-year-old filly, divisional champion Bayou.
As an individual
A bay mare; no further information available.
As a producer
Willamette produced only three foals, all colts. All were winners, headed by stakes-placed Will Dance (by Native Dancer), but none were of any great significance.
Connections
Foaled in Virginia, Willamette was bred and owned by Christopher T. Chenery. She was trained by C. W. Parish.
Pedigree notes
Willamette's pedigree is outcrossed through five generations. A daughter of the Bull Lea horse Doswell, she is a half sister to Chicella (by Chicuelo), dam of six-time stakes winner Count Chic (by Count Speed) and Canadian stakes winner Ferment (by Colonel Mack), and to Sweet Overa (by Blue Larkspur), dam of 1956 Prioress Stakes winner Royal Lark (by Royal Blood) and third dam of Grade II winner Listcapade. Willamette is also a half sister to stakes-placed War Union (by War Jeep), dam of eight-time Canadian stakes winner Costa Rica (by Akimbo) and third dam of Grade III winner Black Jack Road.
Sister Union, the dam of Willamette and her siblings, won once from 12 starts. She is a half sister to 1938 Merchants' and Citizens' Handicap winner Great Union (by Sir Gallahad III); to Gradation (by Gallant Fox), dam of multiple stakes winner Yellmantown (by Chicuelo); to Owner's Aboard (by Sir Gallahad III), dam of 1958 Withers Stakes winner Sir Robby (by Papa Redbird); and to Indian Trail (by Apache), dam of five-time stakes winner Pollux (by Jet Jewel) and second dam of Italian Group II winner Cool Guy.
Sister Union and her siblings are out of the unraced American Flag mare My Flag, a half sister to two-time American champion filly Bateau (by American Flag's sire Man o' War) and to stakes winner Jean Bart (by Man o' War). My Flag is also a half sister to Betsy Ross (by Man o' War), dam of multiple steeplechase stakes winner Banner Waves (by Swing and Sway) and second dam of 1950 Pimlico Cup winner Double Brandy and multiple French stakes winner Shut Up, and to Escadrille (by Man o' War), dam of stakes winner Giant Killer (by St. Germans) and the stakes-winning steeplechaser Knight's Quest (by Sir Gallahad III) and second dam of three stakes winners including 1959 Wood Memorial Stakes winner Manassa Mauler (by Count Turf). In addition, My Flag is a half sister to Quaker Lady (by Isard II), second dam of the good handicapper Loyal Legion, multiple stakes winner Gray Wing and juvenile stakes winner Frenchtown.
Fun facts
Race record
55 starts, 7 wins, 6 seconds, 5 thirds, US$81,015
1956:
- 2nd Jeanne d'Arc Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Narragansett Park)
1957:
- Won Coaching Club American Oaks (USA, 11FD, Belmont)
Assessments
Rated at 113 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American fillies and mares of 1957, 7 pounds below the topweighted 3-year-old filly, divisional champion Bayou.
As an individual
A bay mare; no further information available.
As a producer
Willamette produced only three foals, all colts. All were winners, headed by stakes-placed Will Dance (by Native Dancer), but none were of any great significance.
Connections
Foaled in Virginia, Willamette was bred and owned by Christopher T. Chenery. She was trained by C. W. Parish.
Pedigree notes
Willamette's pedigree is outcrossed through five generations. A daughter of the Bull Lea horse Doswell, she is a half sister to Chicella (by Chicuelo), dam of six-time stakes winner Count Chic (by Count Speed) and Canadian stakes winner Ferment (by Colonel Mack), and to Sweet Overa (by Blue Larkspur), dam of 1956 Prioress Stakes winner Royal Lark (by Royal Blood) and third dam of Grade II winner Listcapade. Willamette is also a half sister to stakes-placed War Union (by War Jeep), dam of eight-time Canadian stakes winner Costa Rica (by Akimbo) and third dam of Grade III winner Black Jack Road.
Sister Union, the dam of Willamette and her siblings, won once from 12 starts. She is a half sister to 1938 Merchants' and Citizens' Handicap winner Great Union (by Sir Gallahad III); to Gradation (by Gallant Fox), dam of multiple stakes winner Yellmantown (by Chicuelo); to Owner's Aboard (by Sir Gallahad III), dam of 1958 Withers Stakes winner Sir Robby (by Papa Redbird); and to Indian Trail (by Apache), dam of five-time stakes winner Pollux (by Jet Jewel) and second dam of Italian Group II winner Cool Guy.
Sister Union and her siblings are out of the unraced American Flag mare My Flag, a half sister to two-time American champion filly Bateau (by American Flag's sire Man o' War) and to stakes winner Jean Bart (by Man o' War). My Flag is also a half sister to Betsy Ross (by Man o' War), dam of multiple steeplechase stakes winner Banner Waves (by Swing and Sway) and second dam of 1950 Pimlico Cup winner Double Brandy and multiple French stakes winner Shut Up, and to Escadrille (by Man o' War), dam of stakes winner Giant Killer (by St. Germans) and the stakes-winning steeplechaser Knight's Quest (by Sir Gallahad III) and second dam of three stakes winners including 1959 Wood Memorial Stakes winner Manassa Mauler (by Count Turf). In addition, My Flag is a half sister to Quaker Lady (by Isard II), second dam of the good handicapper Loyal Legion, multiple stakes winner Gray Wing and juvenile stakes winner Frenchtown.
Fun facts
- The Willamette is a river of northwestern Oregon and is a tributary of the Columbia River. The surrounding Willamette Valley played an important role in the early history of Oregon and is famous for its wineries.
- As a 2-year-old, Willamette raced for claiming tags of as little as US$6,000, causing Daily Racing Form writer Charles Hatton to refer to her as “an emancipated plater” after her Oaks victory.