Background Check: Frizette

In this continuing series, we examine the past winners of significant filly/mare races by the lasting influence they've had on the breed. Up today is Belmont's GI Frizette S., a race with a tremendous amount of repercussion on the sport.

The 1905 mare Frizette, for whom this 2-year-old filly race is named, may have been just a minor sprint stakes winner, but she was an absolute giant in the breeding shed. A foundation mare in both the U.S. and France, Frizette's descendants through her daughters include one of yesteryear's top French sires, Tourbillon (Fr), and modern U.S. stalwarts Mr. Prospector and Seattle Slew. Among the long list of top performers tracing to her are stars as varied as Dr. Fager and Dahlia, and many, many more.

How fitting then that among the 74 previous winners of the Frizette, which was inaugurated in 1945, a number would become breed-shaping broodmares in their own right.

Some of the Frizette winners who belong on this list were previously featured in our “Background Checks” for the GI Alabama S., GI Test S., and/or GIII Schuylerville S.; please see those earlier profiles for notes on Phipps homebreds Numbered Account and Heavenly Prize and the Florida-bred Meadow Star.

Following are the some of the other most important Frizette winners by what impact they have had on the sport through their sons and daughters.

Dreaming of Julia (2010, A.P. Indy–Dream Rush, by Wild Rush): This Stonestreet homebred's only foal to make it to the races thus far is Malathaat, last year's champion 3-year-old filly after her 2021 wins included the GI Kentucky Oaks, GI Alabama S., and the GI Ashland S. She was last seen taking Saratoga's GI Personal Ensign S. Sept. 27.

Preach (1989, Mr. Prospector–Narrate, by Honest Pleasure): A fourth-generation Claiborne homebred, Preach's indelible mark on the breed will forever be through her first foal, fellow Claiborne homebred and MGSW Pulpit. Not only did he have a number of top runners as a stallion, but he's been a noted sire of sires, most especially due to his exceptional multiple-leading sire son Tapit.

Personal Ensign (1984, Private Account–Grecian Banner, by Hoist the Flag): A horse can't do any more than this grand girl did. She was perfection: an undefeated champion as a racehorse and a Broodmare of the Year in her second career. A Phipps family homebred, Personal Ensign produced MGISW My Flag, as well as GISWs Miner's Mark and Traditionally. Her daughters have produced a number of top-flight runners, including champion Storm Flag Flying, who emulated her granddam and won the Frizette in 2002; GISWs Mr Speaker and Seeking the Soul; and this summer's GII Suburban S. winner Dynamic One.

Regal Gleam (1964, Hail to Reason–Miz Carol, by Stymie): A number of high-caliber horses trace to this Bieber-Jacobs Stable runner, none better than her grandson Caerleon. A Group 1 winner in both England and France, he later distinguished himself with leading sire titles in both England and Ireland.

Priceless Gem (1963, Hail to Reason–Searching, by War Admiral): Like Regal Gleam, above, Bieber-Jacobs Stable bred this lovely mare, whose most important foal was French Horse of the Year and G1 Prix d l'Arc de Triomphe victress Allez France. She's also the ancestress of GISWs Al Mamoon, La Gueriere, Ordway, Honor in War, and Icon Project, as well as of current top 10 leading sire Munnings.

My Dear Girl (1957, Rough'n Tumble–Iltis, by War Relic): Not too many mares produce seven stakes winners and not many leave a sire son as impactful as In Reality. Among his best runners and stallion sons were Relaunch, Known Fact, and Believe It, while the legacies left out of his daughters included Broodmare of the Year Toussaud. My Dear Girl was bred in Florida by Ocala Stud Farms.

Bimlette (1944, Bimelech–Bloodroot, by Blue Larkspur): Bred by E. R. Bradley's Idle Hour Stock Farm and out of the 1946 Broodmare of the Year, Bimlette delivered three stakes winners, including 1963 Wood Memorial winner and sire No Robbery. Champion and Breeders' Cup winner Beautiful Pleasure and her full-brother, MGISW Mecke, both trace to her, as does champion Tempest Queen, GISW Dream Dancing, a host of other GSWs, and a current leading sire in New York, Mission Impazible.