Polynesian (March 8, 1942 – December 29, 1959) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse and sire.

Polynesian
SireUnbreakable
GrandsireSickle
DamBlack Polly
DamsirePolymelian
SexStallion
Foaled8 March 1942
CountryUnited States
ColourBrown
BreederElmendorf Farm
OwnerGertrude T. Widener
TrainerMorris H. Dixon
Record58: 27-10-10
Earnings$310,410
Major wins
Withers Stakes (1945)
Riggs Handicap (1946)
Roseben Handicap (1946)
Toboggan Handicap (1946)
Scarsdale Handicap (1946)
Long Branch Handicap (1947)
Camden Handicap (1947)
Oceanport Handicap (1947)

American Classic Race wins:
Preakness Stakes (1945)

Awards
American Champion Sprint Horse (1947)

Background

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He was owned by Gertrude T. Widener, of the prominent Widener family of Philadelphia, and bred by her father-in-law Joseph E. Widener at his Elmendorf Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. He was trained by Morris H. Dixon.[1]

Racing career

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1944: two-year-old season

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At age two, Polynesian lost his first three races, then bucked his shins.

1945: three-year-old season

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Back in training at age three, Polynesian won five of his next seven starts, one of which was a division of the Sagamore Stakes. In the Experimental Free Handicap he came in third to Jeep and Greek Warrior, and fourth in a division of the Wood Memorial won by Hoop Jr. He skipped the Kentucky Derby (won by Hoop Jr.), instead competing in one mile Withers Stakes where he defeated Pavot. Polynesian then took the mile and three sixteenths second leg of the U.S. Triple Crown series, the Preakness Stakes, in a front running victory.[2] Because of its demanding one and a half miles, Polynesian was not entered in the third leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes. Later that year he won the Saranac Handicap.

Later career

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Polynesian developed into a champion sprinter, winning a number of important sprint races in 1946 and in 1947 and was named the U.S. Champion Sprint Horse.[3] In his last year of racing, he went through a streak of five wins, 10 seconds, and 10 thirds.

Stud career

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Retired to stud duty, Polynesian sired 37 stakes winners including one of the greatest horses in American racing history, Native Dancer. Some of Polynesian's offspring were:

Foaled Name Sex Major Wins/Achievements
1950 Imbros Stallion
1950 Native Dancer Stallion Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes
1951 Banquet Bell Mare Dam of Chateaugay and Primonetta
1953 Polly's Jet Stallion
1954 Alanesian Mare Dam of Boldnesian
1954 Barbizon Stallion American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt (1956)

At age seventeen, Polynesian Died on December 29, 1959, from colic and was buried at Gallaher Farm in Lexington, Kentucky.

Breeding

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Pedigree of Polynesian
Sire
Unbreakable

black 1935

Sickle

brown 1924

Phalaris Polymelus
Bromus
Selene Chaucer
Serenissima
Blue Grass

bay 1917

Prince Palatine Persimmon
Lady Lightfoot
Hour Glass Rock Sand
Hautesse
Dam
Black Polly

bay 1936

Polymelian

ch. 1914

Polymelus Cyllene
Maid Marian
Pasquita Sundridge
Pasquil
Black Queen

drk.brn. 1930

Pompey Sun Briar
Cleopatra
Black Maria Black Toney
Bird Loose (Family 14-a)

References

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  1. ^ "Philadelphia Inquirer: Search Results". nl.newsbank.com.
  2. ^ "St. Petersburg Times - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  3. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-04. Retrieved 2009-11-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)