1940s Triple Crown Pedigrees
Count Fleet (1943), Citation (1948) Had High Profile Lineage
In the 1940s, four Thoroughbreds won the Triple Crown title. Count Fleet (1943), a sleek machine, and Citation (1948) were the more high profile champions in sophisticated pedigrees. But Whirlaway, Mr. Long Tail, may have been the most popular with the common horse racing public and the most handsome. Assault, "the Clubfoot Comet," had the most fascinating background.
Citation was hailed as the next Man o' War early in his career. He won 16 straight races that included the eighth Triple Crown championship. He ranks No.3 on The Blood-Horse magazine's Top 100 Racehorses of the 20th Century. Count Fleet is ranked No.5 on that list.
Here Are the Pedigrees of the 1940s Triple Crown Champs:
1941 Champion -- Whirlaway
Sire, Blenheim II (GB); Dam, Dustwhirl --- Blandford sired Blenheim II; Malva was his dam. Blandford was by Swynford, and out of Blanche; Malva was by Charles O'Mally, and out of Wild Arum.
Sweep, by Ben Brush, and out of Pink Domino, was Dustwhirl's sire. Ormonda, by Superman, and out of Princess Ormonde, was Dustwhirl's dam.
1943 Champion -- Count Fleet
Reigh Count sired Count Fleet, who sired Count Turf. Each were Kentucky Derby winners. Reigh Count's sire was Sunreigh, his dam, Contessina. Sunreigh was by Sundridge, and out of Sweet Briar II. Contessina was sired by Count Schomberg, and her dam was Pitti.
Quickly, Count Fleet's dam, was by Haste, and out of Stepanie. Maintenant sired Haste, and he was out of Miss Malaprop. Stepanie's sire was Stefan the Great. She was out of Malachite.
Sunreigh, Contessina, Sweet Briar II, Maintenant, and Stefan the Great were all foreign bred.
1946 Champion -- Assault
Sire, Bold Venture; Dam, Igual --- St. Germans sired Bold Venture, and Possible was his dam. St. Germans was by Swynford, and out of Hamoaze. Possible was sired by Ultimus, and was out of Lida Flush.
Igual was Assault's dam. Equipoise sired her. He was by Pennant, and out of Swinging.Equipoise's mate was Incandescent. She was by Chicle, and out of Masda.
St. Germans and Chicle were foreign breds.
1948 Champion -- Citation
Bull Lea, Citation's daddy, was by Bull Dog, and out of Rose Leaves. Bull Dog's sire was Teddy, and he was out of Plucky Liege. Rose Leaves was by Ballot, and out of Colonial.
Hydroplane II was Citation's dam. Hyperion, who sired her, was by Gainsborough, and out of Selene. Toboggan was Hyperion's mate, and she was by Hurry On, and out of Glacier.
Bull Dog, Hydroplane II, Teddy, and Colonial were foreign bred.
