Background Check: Alcibiades

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 Keeneland's GI Darley Alcibiades S., a race with a number of notable producers to its credit.

Keeneland's first president, Hal Price Headley, held that position until 1951. The next year, the Alcibiades S. was inaugurated in honor of his exceptional homebred two-time champion. The Kentucky Oaks winner was an even better broodmare than racehorse. Among her best foals were champion and influential sire Menow, while European champion, Epsom Derby winner, and excellent sire Sir Ivor hailed from a line established by her Alabama S.-winning daughter Salaminia.

Headley must have had a proud moment in 1959 when Rash Statement, a granddaughter of Alcibiades bred by his daughter, Alice Chandler, won the race. Another of the mare's granddaughters, Supple, had been third in 1955.

The Alcibiades is in its 20th year of being sponsored by Darley. Four Alcibiades winners have gone on to capture the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, most recently in 2019 (British Idiom).

With 70 previous winners of the Alcibiades, two have already been featured in our “Background Checks” for the GI Test S. and GIII Schuylerville S.; please see those earlier profiles for notes on the sensational Claiborne homebred Moccasin and the instrumental Erdenheim Farms homebred Patelin.

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

Runway Model (2002, Petionville–Ticket to Houston, by Houston): Her Street Sense son, McKinzie, won four Grade I races and placed in another four. He's a popular new stallion at Gainesway, having bred over 200 mares in his first season at stud, the results of which will first hit the market as weanlings next month. McKinzie's breeder, Summer Wind, had purchased the Everest Stables-bred Runway Model for $2.7 million in 2006 at Keeneland November.

Take Charge Lady (1999, Dehere–Felicita, by Rubiano): Bred by William Schettine, this Broodmare of the Year has been spectacular in her second career. She produced three GISWs–champion Will Take Charge, Take Charge Indy, and As Time Goes By–and her daughters have been tremendous conduits for class. She is the granddam of champion Take Charge Brandi, MGISW and young sire Omaha Beach, and this year's 23-length GIII Dwyer S. winner and GI Florida Derby runner-up Charge It. Take Charge Lady famously sold for $4.2 million in 2004; daughter Lady Take Charge sold for $3.2 million in 2015; daughter I'll Take Charge for $2.2 million in 2013; daughter Charming for $3.2 million in 2006; and granddaughter Take Charge Brandi has sold three times as a broodmare for a combined total of $10,350,000.

Cara Rafaela (1993, Quiet American–Oil Fable, by Spectacular Bid): Mike G. Rutherford bred and sold this lovely gray, whose fifth foal, champion and Classic winner Bernardini, propelled her to Broodmare of the Year honors in 2006. Despite siring a number of top runners, Bernardini's heaviest impact seems as if it will be through his daughters and he currently leads the broodmare sire list in North America. Bernardini died at only 18 in 2021; Cara Rafaela is also the granddam of MGISW Love and Pride.

Eliza (1990, Mt. Livermore–Daring Bidder, by Bold Bidder): An Allen Paulson homebred during his decade or so reign at the top of the sport, Eliza initially didn't have much success as a broodmare, but a growing number of stakes performers trace to her. Most significant is GI Florida Derby winner and current top 30 active North American sire of 2022, Dialed In.

Spinning Round (1989, Dixieland Band–Take Heart, by Secretariat): Her first daughter, Dream Supreme, won the GI Test, GI Ballerina, and more, then made the transition into a lovely producer of three stakes winners, the best of which was 2007 GI Hopeful S. winner Majestic Warrior, now a stallion in Japan. Spinning Round, also granddam of Peruvian champion Kung Fu Mambo (Arg), was bred in Florida by Kinsman Stud Farm.

Reigning 2yo filly champ Echo Zulu traces to the 1956 Alcibiades winner | Coady

Silent Account (1983, Private Account–Ciao, by Silent Screen): Several nice stakes winners trace to this Mill Ridge Farm-bred winner, the best of which is $4.2-million Whisper Hill purchase Plum Pretty, whose wins included the GI Kentucky Oaks and GI Apple Blossom H.

Fairway Fun (1962, Prince John–Fast Line, by Mr. Busher): This Elmendorf-bred mare might be the most prolific stakes producer of the Alcibiades aggregate. She produced four black-type winners herself–MGSW Fairway Flyer (who also won the Clark H. as a 3-year-old filly over older males before the graded system kicked in), GSW Torsion, SW & MGSP Fairway Fable, and SW Fun Forever–as well as quite a number of top-notch descendants, including European champion Muhtathir (GB) and GISW and producer Cara Rafaela (above).

Journalette (1959, Summer Tan–Manzana, by Count Fleet): Leslie Combs II and Brownell Combs bred the 1961 winner, whose only two foals were 1972 champion older mare Typecast and additional SW Society Column. The former produced Japanese champion Pretty Cast, while the latter produced G1 Irish St. Leger winner Leading Counsel and has an eye-catching 75 stakes performers tracing to her.

Leallah (1954, Nasrullah {GB}–Lea Lark, Bull Lea): Champion Echo Zulu; Breeders' Cup winner Singletary; MGISW Voodoo Dancer; GISWs Engine One, Sippican Harbor, Pool Play, and Echo Town; and English G1 winner Peter Davies are just a few of the more modern stakes winners tracing to Leallah. Bred by Charlton Clay, the mare's most successful runner among her immediate offspring was MSW Go Marching, who won a trio of turf stakes that would eventually be graded.