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Princequillo by Kathleen Jones Princequillo was born in Ireland, but was sent to America as a weanling because of the war in Europe. He arrived at his new home looking a most pathetic and skinny runt, but some generous attention turned him into a strong and gorgeous physical specimen. He began his career at age two, but never made it into stakes races that season, remaining in claiming races and allowance events in New York. He raced ten times in 1942 and "won" four times, but lost one victory to a disqualification due to interference during a $3,500 claiming race. He moved to Florida for the winter and reappeared in March. His first major victory (other than maiden race or claiming) was in the second division of the Sarasota Purse at Tropical Park, going 6 furlongs. Off that victory Princequillo returned to New York and won the Tryster Purse at Jamaica Park, going 1 mile. Taking a jump in class, Princequillo was tried next in the Peter Pan Stakes and received the mild impost of 107 lb. Despite the longer distance and the light weight, he could only manage a 4th place finish behind Derby-placed Slide Rule, who was carrying 120 lb. So he was returned to allowance company next, and scored an easy win. The connections opted for a try again at stakes racing and placed Princequillo in the long-distance Old Rosebud Handicap. This time Princequillo overhauled the great 6yo handicapper Bolingbroke by two and half lengths. This lead to a run for the Dwyer Stakes in which he finished third to Vincentive and Famous Victory. Unplaced in an allowance race, then third in the Empire City Handicap, he faced Bolingbroke again in the Whitney. The going was heavy and Princequillo could not find racing room at all. Pocketed mercilessly by the competition, and the victim of interference, he was unlucky to finish 2nd by a nose to Bolingbroke. They met again in the Saratoga Handicap, and without the troubles of the Whitney to plague him, Princequillo ran off to a 5 length victory in stakes record equalling time over Bolingbroke. Dual classic winner Shut Out ran third. The pair clashed again in the Saratoga Gold Cup, and again Princequillo came out on top, setting a new track record in the process. Now the colt traveled to Arlington Park, in Chicago, for the 8 furlong Washington Park Handicap, but could only manage a fourth place finish. He had clearly wanted more distance and was sent back to New York for the 2 mile Jockey Club Gold Cup. He won by two and half lengths from Lawrence Realization winner Fairy Manhurst. Bolingbroke was third. But in winning this important race, Princequillo injured himself and so was put away for the remainder of the year. His beginning at four was nowhere near as impressive as his conclusion at three. He ran last in the Stromboli Handicap (won by Bolingbroke), then third of three in the Tenny Handicap (won by Four Freedoms). For the Longstreet Handicap, he was again last of three runners, and improved to 6th of nine in the Brooklyn Handicap. It looked for the world that Princequillo was a has-been at age four. Those races were all a distances of 9 and 10 furlongs, and Princequillo had already proven he was a stayer who liked lots of distance. So he was entered next in the 13 furlong Questionnaire Handicap, and the change in him was radical. He obviously appreciated the longer distance, running off to win easily in time which equalled the track record. Perhaps fearing the race took something out of Princequillo, his connections shortened him up a bit, to 9½ furlongs, for the Merchants' And Citizens' Handicap. He conceded weight to all his opposition and won anyway. The Whitney was his next race, and carrying level weights with Bolingbroke and Devil Diver, Princequillo came up a half length short behind Devil Diver, with Bolingbroke three and half lengths away in third. He next ran fourth in the Saratoga Handicap (defeating Devil Diver), but pulled up lame and that proved to be his final race. At stud, Princequillo was the sire of 60 stakes winners. His outstanding offspring were capable of getting a classic distance, which is not surprising considering his own distance preference. Among the best were ROUND TABLE, PRINCE JOHN, HILL PRINCE, DEDICATE, THIRD BROTHER, MISTY FLIGHT, PRINCESSNESIAN, PRINCE SIMON, QUILL, PRINCE JOHN, TAMBOURINE, WHODUNIT and others. As a broodmare sire, he was responsible for the likes of SECRETARIAT, SHAM, MILL REEF, KEY TO THE MINT, FORT MARCY, KRIS S., and SIR GAYLORD. Princequillo was the leading American sire in 1957, 1958 and 1959, and for a span of fourteen years 1964-1977 he was always among the top ten broodmare sires, leading this list eight times. He is considered to be a stamina influence in pedigrees, and was named a "Chef-de-Race" in the dosage categories Intermediate and Solid. Pedigree:
(female family # 1) Born: 1940, in Ireland Died: 1964, (age 24) Claiborne Farm, Paris, Kentucky, of heart trouble. Trainer: Horatio Luro, Dave Englander Owner: Anthony Pelleteri, Boone Hall Stable Jockey: C. McCreary, S. Brooks Breeder: L.L. Lawrence (Ireland) Racing Record:
Stakes Record: at 3:
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