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(NOTE from ABIGAIL: WE DID IT!!! Thanks to all the clicks by THE VAULT readers, we have made — as of today — $102.00 (216 clicks)!!!! This is VERY EXCITING. I will put up more information & some suggestions this coming Monday, April 11th so we can begin to decide together how we want to administer our funds to support horse rescue in the USA and CANADA. It’s just GREAT to know that over 216 people “clicked” their love for thoroughbreds and horses in a way that can make a difference. YOU ARE WONDERFUL, EACH & EVERY ONE.)
This is Pensive…
This is Pensive’s son, Ponder…
And this is Ponder’s son, Needles…
… three generations of Kentucky Derby winners.
In 1956, when Needles won the Kentucky Derby and thus completed the “hat trick” that began with Pensive in 1944, only one other sire line could lay claim to this feat. Reigh Count, who won the Derby in 1928 went on to sire the 1943 Triple Crown winner Count Fleet who, in turn, was the sire of Count Turf who won the Derby in 1951, besting the Pensive sire line by 5 years. But despite the rarity of three generations winning the Kentucky Derby, neither Pensive nor Ponder ever became household names. Both horses had erratic — some even said “unfathomable” — performance records and both lived rather short lives, limiting their influence on the breed as a whole.
Pensive (Hyperion {1930} ex. Penicuik II {1934}) was born at the famous Calumet Farm in 1941, one of a crop of Calumet foals that included the incomparable Twilight Tear (1941). Pensive’s dam showed no appetite for the turf in England, where she was started in several stakes races. However, her dam Pennycomequick(1926) had won the Epsom Oaks and her granddam, Plymstock (1918), had been a good stakes mare in her day.
As a 2 year-old, Pensive was described by commentator Ed Johnstone, writing in the February 18, 1950 Thoroughbred Times as “… one of the best developed two year-olds this writer has ever seen — not a tall colt but one that weighed a lot. He had a nice, intelligent head that he carried rather high, and his frame seemed to be bulging with muscles. His chestnut coat gleamed and everyone in the trainers’ stand seemed to know it was Ben Jones’ Hyperion colt…” But Pensive never lived up to the high expectations evoked by his looks and pedigree.
However, as a three year-old the handsome son of Hyperion did win both the 1944 Kentucky Derby and Preakness, losing the Belmont by only a half-length to a rather average thoroughbred named Bounding Home (1941). Even though he came within a hair’s breadth of becoming a Triple Crown champion, his 3 year-old season was baffling: he started out looking rather ordinary, followed by his Derby, Preakness and Belmont, only to close out the season with a string of losses.
As might be expected, Pensive was marginalized by breeders and it wasn’t until his son, Ponder, won the 1949 Kentucky Derby that he received the respect he deserved. Pensive died in the same year, prompting many to speculate that the industry had lost a promising sire. It was the highest compliment he probably ever got.
Pensive shown in the Pimlico winner’s circle after his Preakness victory with trainer Ben Jones, owner Warren Wright and ecstatic jockey, Conn McCreary |
Ponder, Pensive’s son, came into the world in 1946 — another “son” of Calumet — out of the unraced broodmare mare, Miss Rushin (1942), a daughter of Blenheim II (1927). Blenheim II was the first thoroughbred produced by HH Aga Khan III’s breeding program to win the Epsom Derby at Ascot for the dapper owner-breeder. HH Aga Khan III was a potent influence on the evolution of the modern thoroughbred, in part because he took his greatest pleasure in the business aspect of the sport. Even though he was an important breeder, his very best thoroughbreds — Blenheim II, Bahram (1932), Palestine (1947), Mahmoud (1933) and Tulyar (1949) — all found their way to different stables and breeders. Like Mahmoud, Blenheim II came to America. After standing only two seasons in France, Blenheim II was sold to an American consortium that included Claiborne, Calumet, Greentree and Stonercreek Stud.
Blenheim II in a traditional pose |
So outstanding a sire did Blenheim II prove to be that the British have still not entirely forgiven the Aga Khan for letting him go to the USA rather than to England. In his first two crops alone, Blenheim II sired Mumtaz Begum (1932) the dam of Mahmoud and Donatello II (1934) — a thoroughbred the great Frederic Tesio considered his pride and joy. In the USA, Blenheim II is best known for his most famous son, Calumet’s 1941 Triple Crown winner, Whirlaway (1938), but he also sired the champions A Gleam (1949), Jet Pilot (1944), Saratoga2 (1952), Fervent (1944), Rose Beam (1945) and Thumbs Up (1939).
Blenheim II’s most famous son: Triple Crown champion, Whirlaway (1942) |
Another champion sired by Blenheim II was Fervent, pictured above (1947) |
The outstanding Twilight Tear, shown here with A Gleam as a filly foal (1949) |
Despite the promise of Blenheim II’s influence, Ponder’s own racing history — like that of Pensive — was one of highs and lows. Joe H. Palmer, writing in American Race Horses of 1950, showed his ambivalence thus “… Ponder and Stymie resembled each other considerably more than either resembled Whirlaway. Put a slow pace ahead of them and either could be beaten by quite ordinary horses. Set the pace ablaze and either could whip the best horses in training…” (pp.47)
The colt’s 2 year-old season was slow to get going, so trainer Ben Jones decided to keep him in training into his three year-old campaign. Ponder finally broke his maiden at 3, followed by another 6 starts and one win before arriving at Churchill Downs for the 1949 Kentucky Derby. At this point, even his trainer had soured on the colt’s ability. Shortly before Derby day, Jones is reported to have said, “My horse hasn’t got any more chance than a Shetland pony. The only reason he’s going to run is that I don’t have to pay the $1,000 starting fee. If it was my money he’d never start.”
Ponder in action at Hialeah |
Ponder shown winning the Kentucky Derby |
Ponder was a closer in terms of running style and it was a colt called Capot (1946) who set things up for him on Derby day. The favourite (Capot) finished off second-choice, Olympia (1946), as the field turned for home. Ponder, coming off fourteenth place made his move, charging passed Capot to win by three lengths. By the time he was sent to stud, Ponder had also beaten the likes of Citation (1945), On Trust (1944), Noor (1945), Solidarity (1945) and the wonderful filly, Two Lea (1946). But that didn’t matter much. Even at stud, Joe Palmer’s view of Ponder persisted — he was seen as a horse of dubious ability, one who relied on pace-setters to set him up for a win.
It was Ponder’s son, Needles (1953) who saved sire and grandsire from obscurity. Needles was the first Florida thoroughbred to ever win the Kentucky Derby — a “state treasure” who put Florida owners and breeders on the map. There had been other great thoroughbreds associated with Florida like Fred Hooper’s Crozier (1958) — a key stallion in the growth of the Florida thoroughbred industry and sire of Precisionist (1981), as well as his champion filly, Susan’s Girl (1969), the first filly to ever win over a million dollars. Too, there was Golden Shoe Farm’s Mucho Gusto(1932) who had beaten Seabiscuit as a 4 year-old. The Florida Derby was quick to become a hothouse for future Kentucky Derby winners. But Needles was Florida’s own — the pride of Marion County, where he was born.
Needles’ dam, Noodle Soup (1944) was a daughter of Jack High (1926) and her grandsire was the impressive and influential John P. Grier (1917). Noodle Soup had absolutely no interest in racing. For years during and after Needles’ racing career, his dam came in for harsh knocks from pedigree experts. That aside, it is likely that it was Noodle Soup’s family that balanced out the inherent inconsistencies of the Pensive-Ponder sire line. Jack High had, after all, descended from the Bramble (1875) – Ben Brush (1893) sire line, a bloodline noted for precocity, speed and durability — all qualities that young Needles showed he had in abundance. Ben Brush sired Broomstick (1901) and Sweep (1907), and these two still figure prominently in modern pedigrees. Broomstick was leading sire from 1913-1915 and leading broodmare sire in 1932, -33, producing 25% stakes winners during his stud career. Too, both Broomstick and his outstanding son, Whisk Broom II (1907) merited induction into the Hall of Fame, while Whisk Broom II was also awarded Horse of the Year and U.S. Champion Older Male in 1913. As a sire, Whisk Broom’s most important progeny — other than John P. Grier — are 1927 Kentucky Derby winner, Whiskery (1924), and Preakness and multiple stakes winner, Victorian (1925). He also sired Man O’ War’s nemesis, Upset (1917).
Needles’ broodmare sire, Jack High |
Maternal grandsire, John P. Grier |
The handsome Whisk Broom II, great grandsire and his sire, Broomstick, below |
Ben Brush, who started it all |
Needles actually looks like he’s working here…and that was a rarity! (Copyright the Chicago Tribune) |
Needles was also a Florida hero by the close of his first racing season and a big part of his appeal — other than his obvious ability to win — was his personality. For starters, the colt had a mind of his own, reflected in his absolute disdain for training norms. What Needles liked to do was watch the world go by on the racetrack, not work himself into a sweat. The press enjoyed his antics and reported them with the greatest affection — how trainer and groom had been on the track pushing him from behind to get him to move, only to have Needles gallop a few feet and come to a dead halt. How Needles kicked and bounced his way to the track in the morning. How Needles loved to nap — something he seemed to do more than a good many young colts, much to the chagrin of visiting fans. And, of course, there was Needles’ passion for cats. At Belmont, the champion clearly fell in love with Boots the cat and the little tabby seemed quite happy to accept the attention Needles lavished on her. There are several photos of other felines in Needles’ company and the look on his face is always one of pure bliss.
Needles and Boots (Copyright the Chicago Tribune) |
Derby superstition was against the Florida colt on the big day, worsened by the fact that — inexplicably — Needles had switched his flexible 2 year-old running style to the come-from-behind style favoured by his sire and grandsire. And, as everyone knew, no Florida thoroughbred had ever won a Derby.
Needles and jockey Dave Erb in the winner’s circle (Copyright Sports Illustrated) |
Needles would lose the Preakness to Fabius largely because, coming from another 20 lengths off the lead, he ran out of ground. But in the Belmont, Needles would not be denied. The great horse had taken 2/3 of the Triple Crown.
In a world where logic is bound by cause-and-effect, the perfect recipe for a champion thoroughbred still belongs to the gods.
Derby cover boy! (Copyright Sports Illustrated) |
NEXT WEEK: A long-shot captures the Kentucky Derby and, although not the only surprise winner in its long history, this fine son of Holy Bull was readied to give the Run for the Roses his best shot by trainer John Shirreffs.
>Abigail, I've been looking forward to your next Horsetory and my patience is once again rewarded! I do study a lot of pedigree charts and very much appreciate the way you bring those old names to life. Keep it up (and I'll keep clicking ads)!
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>As ever, congrats! Your articles are SO readable…and that's from someone who has the most superficial of racing knowledge. Awesome, Abigail.
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>Thank you, Abigail, for another opportunity to learn about the champions of the past, the names on a pedigree that may or may stand out. I enjoy your research and writing and I appreciate this blog – keep it up! Thanks!
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I own a grandson of Needles–before his retirement, he was my eventing horse, rescued after a short career at the track. Reading this article made me realize where his personality sure came from! Fun reading.
To see pictures of Solomon (aka Bob’s Dandy), go to my website, or even better, my Facebook page. The family resemblance is simply amazing!
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Elizabeth: I spent a good deal of time on your FB page and enjoyed seeing Solomon very much. He certainly descends from a remarkable family. You are doing such important work and it is an honour to meet you. Please excuse the delay. I’ve had some pretty miserable computer woes and it took almost 2 months to get myself up & running again! Abigail
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needles was the sire of the mare stitching time who gave birth to Timely Writer the derby Favorite after destroying the fields in the Florida Derby and Flamingo Stakes sadly a case of colic did what the opposition could not, and stopped him from competing in the triple crown
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Rae: How interesting to learn more about Needles and the descendants of the quirky albeit talented Pensive. Thank you so much for sharing this slice of racing history with me! Abigail
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