Hall of Fame Profile: Royalty

Original article written by Shiloh Grevertz posted 8 years 3 weeks ago

If we jump back all the way to Year 8,a regal and outstanding filly was born. Her name would be Royalty. This black filly was outstanding on the track, in 10 starts she was only off the board once, the other times she didn't win, she would finish second. Lets look at a blast from the past, in Royalty.

The black mares epic sire was the amazing Sunday Silence. She would be his second highest money earner, an epic feat considering he had 11 millionaires. In the SIM, Sunday Silence proved to be a reliable stallion to look to when wanting a good horse to go the classic dirt distance.

Royalty’s dam was The Princess (by One In A Million). This chestnut mare would win 6 of her 10 starts, never finishing off the board. She was a Grade 2 winner at 2, then at 3 won one Grade 1 event. Keeping tradition at four she would win Grade 1 and 3 races. Once again, Royalty would be the second highest money earner, this time behind For What Its Worth.

Royalty started her career in a six furlong MSW. She would win the race over a seven horse field easily showing potential in her. Next up for her was the mile (Grade 3) My Dear Girl Stakes. She would toy with the four horse field for fillies, and win handily.

Starting her three year old season, her next race would be a step up in class, and a challenge. Arcadia Oaks (Grade 1) boasted a Grade 1, and 3 winner, Okibi Senshi (who was runner up in that years Steward’s Cup Juvenile Fillies) Both of these talented horses were owned by Jess Paquette. Royalty would prove she's the best by staying undefeated, getting the win by a nose over her stablemate.

Coming off a 1 1/16th mile victory, she would be asked to go farther in the Coaching Club American Oaks (Grade 1) at 1 ½ miles. Reaching for Stars was the only other horse out of the seven horse field that boasted a graded win. The distance would be no problem as the black filly rolled home an easy winner.

Sadly, almost all the greats get beat. The first horse to defeat Royalty would be Inspired Moment, who before already had a Grade 1 win. Even with the cutback in distance, the (Grade 1) 1 1/16th mile edition of the Ruffian Handicap would prove to be too much as she lost by a valiant ¾ of a length.

Capping of her 3 year season would be the (Grade 1) Steward’s Cup Distaff. Familiar horses would be Okibi Senshi. Other notable mares in this field were Valiant Risk (undefeated with a win in the Louisville Oaks, and Steward’s Cup Juvenile Fillies), Attracting (3rd placer in Louisville Derby), and Les Batons Magique (Grade 1 winner). Royalty would run the race of her life as she added the Distaff to her list of Grade 1 wins, by winning ½ a length over Attracting. Les Batons Magique would be third. Okibi Senshi would finish a well beaten 5th, Valiant Risk ran 6th.

Coming back as four, at some time between the Distaff and her first race back she was sold to Alysse Peverell. During her 4 year old season, Royalty would race exclusively Grade 1. Her first race back after taking home the Simmy for Champion Three Year Old Filly, was the (Grade 1) Santa Margarita Handicap. However it would be Grade 1 winner, Skyscraper would turn the tables on Royalty to take home the win by just a neck.

With just three races left to run in her career, she was well rested for the (Grade 1) Go for Wand Handicap. Staying at the distance of 1 ⅛ miles, she would get revenge by holding on to the win, prevailing a neck over Sahara Flame.

Cutting back the distance to 1 1/16 miles, Royalty was ready for the (Grade 1) Ruffian Handicap, hoping to win it this time. Sent from the gate it was clear she would win and she did by ½ lengths. The runner up was Eachquarterfaster, who going back to Royalty’s MSW, you would see was her runner up back then.

For her career finale, it was the (Grade 1) Stewards Cup Distaff at the distance of 1 ⅛ miles. If she was going to repeat she would need to top familiar rivals: Eachquarterfaster, Les Batons Magique, and Sahara Flame. It would not be fate, as Royalty despite her best efforts, would have to settle for fourth. Les Batons Magique would cross the wire the winner, ahead of Sahara Flame, and Eachquarterfaster who finished second and third respectively.


With that Royalty was retired with the record of 10:7-2-0. She gathered $2,591,000 million in purse earnings. Before she died, she had three Simmy Awards: Hall of Fame, Champion Three Year Old Filly, and Broodmare of the Year.

As a broodmare, she was outstanding. She would have produced all millionaires, if it weren't more Royally, a Loki Dynasty colt who never hit the track. Listed in order of birth are her foals:

* Crown- (By Symbol) won two Grade 1’s, including Louisville Oaks and Ruffian Handicap in just seven starts, lost only 2 times. Won over $1.5 million on the track. Dam of Throne, who won over $9.03 million, and is in the Hall of Fame

*Cloak- (Tremendous) in 7 starts, won 3 Grade 1’s, including Louisville Oaks, and Ruffian Handicap. Won $1,005,500 million.

*Tiara-(Walkover) was Champion Three-Year-Old Filly, Broodmare of the Year, and in Hall of Fame. Won 8 of 9 starts, 7 of her wins her Grade 1’s which included SC Juvenile Fillies, Louisville Oaks, Ruffian Handicap, and SC Distaff. Earned over $3.3 million. Dam of Buckingham.

*Sceptre- (Five Circles) her first colt was a Grade 3 winner in the Federico Tesio Stakes once at 3. One time Grade 3 due to the Clasico Dia de Reyes, and stake winner at 4. At 5 won two stakes, and in his career finale won the Grade 3 Breeder’s Handicap. He retired win the record of 20:8-5-3, and earnings of over $1.15 million.

*Empire- (Chesapeake Bay) undefeated at two, including a win in the Grade 1 Remsen Stakes. At 3 won two Grade 1’s (Wood Memorial Stakes, Baltimore Crown), first loss came in a 2nd place in the Louisville Derby. As a 5 year old, would win the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes, and have a runner up effort in the SC Dirt Mile. Then at 6, would win 3 of 5 stars, won his career debut in the Widener Handicap, second in (Grade 1)Metropolitan Handicap, won (Grade 1) Whitney Handicap, fourth in Woodward (Grade 1), and won his career finale, in Grade 1 Clasico Verset’s. Retired with stats of 20:12-5-1, and earned over $3.53 million.

*Royally-(Loki Dynasty) foaled progeny who earned over $2,268,980 million.

Royalty was a classy mare who proved it on and off the track. She raced at the highest of class and won a Graded race every season she raced. Her progeny includes a Hall of Famer and 5 Grade 1 winners. She will always be remembered for her class and grace way back in Years 9- 11.

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