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Native Charger

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Native Charger
SireNative Dancer
GrandsirePolynesian
DamGreek Blond
DamsireHeliopolis
SexStallion
Foaled1962
CountryUnited States
ColourGray
BreederHubert B. Phipps
OwnerWarner Stable
TrainerRaymond F. Metcalf
Record20: 5-5-2
Earnings$278,893
Major wins
Tyro Stakes (1964)
Flamingo Stakes (1965)
Florida Derby (1965)

Native Charger was an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and son of Champion Thoroughbred Native Dancer that competed in the 1965 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes after winning two prep races that same year.

Native Charger, like his sire, was a gray, speckled colt bred by Hubert B. Phipps and owned by the Warner Stable of Hollywood film mogul Albert Warner. His dam, Greek Blond, finished in the money in 19 of 25 starts. He was a half-brother to noted sire Raise a Native and Dancer's Image, who crossed the line first in the 1968 Kentucky Derby but was disqualified.

Racing record

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Native Charger ran frequently as a 2-year-old with limited success, winning only three times in 13 starts. One of those wins was in the Tyro Stakes at Monmouth Park. Like his sire, he closed quickly over the tiring favorite, Golden Joey, and beat Time Tested by a half length. The time was 1:03 3/5, only one‐fifth of a second slower than the track record.[1]

As a 3-year-old, Native Charger surprised horse racing fans with a win in the Flamingo Stakes, defeating Sparkling Johnny by a half length. Staying in Florida, he repeated his performance by winning the Florida Derby by a neck over Hail To All. His victories thrust him into the Kentucky Derby spotlight, where he was considered one of the favorites behind Bold Lad, but finished second in his final Derby tuneup, the Stepping Stone one week before the Derby. He was blocked by horses in the backstretch and had to angle out to find running room, losing ground. He finished 1 3/4 lengths behind Tom Rolfe.[2]

In the Kentucky Derby, Native Charger was bumped early by Narushua, but recovered and managed to finish fourth behind winner Lucky Debonair.[3] He ran in the Preakness two weeks later, and the result was the same, as he finished fourth, this time behind Tom Rolfe. In uncharacteristic fashion, Native Charger went for the lead early but faded in the stretch.[4] He bowed a tendon in the race, ending his career. He finished the year with two wins, one second and one third in seven starts, and ended his career with 5 wins, 5 seconds and 2 thirds in 20 starts.

Stud record

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When he retired, Native Charger stood at Mare Haven Farm in Ocala, Fla. for a fee of $5,000. He sired 1970 American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly Forward Gal and 1970 Belmont Stakes winner High Echelon. He was also damsire of 1982 Preakness Stakes winner Aloma's Ruler.

Pedigree

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Pedigree of Native Charger, gray horse, 1962
Sire
Native Dancer
Gr. 1949
Polynesian
B. 1935
Unbreakable
B. 1935
Sickle (GB)
Br. 1924
Blue Glass (FR)
Br. 1917
Black Dolly
B. 1936
Polymelian (GB)
Ch. 1914
Black Queen
Blk/Br. 1930
Geisha
B. 1943
Discovery
Ch. 1927
Display
B. 1923
Ariadne
Br. 1926
Miyako
Gr. 1935
John P. Grier
Ch. 1917
La Chica
Gr. 1930
Dam
Greek Blond
B. 1946
Heliopolis
Br. 1936
Hyperion (GB)
Ch. 1930
Gainsborough (GB)
B. 1915
Selene (GB)
B. 1919
Drift (FR)
B. 1926
Swynford (GB)
Br. 1907
Santa Cruz (GB)
Ch. 1916
Peroxide
Br. 1937
High Quest
B. 1931
Sir Gallahad (FR)
B. 1920
Etoile Filante
Ch. 1918
Blonde Bell
Ch. 1932
North Star (GB)
Ch. 1914
Beaming Beauty
B. 1917

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Native Charger Upsets Golden Joey to Win Tyro by HaIf-Length at Monmouth; TIME TESTED NEXT IN $17,200 EVENT; Golden Joey, a 7‐10 Choice, is Overtaken in Stretch and Falls Back to 3d". The New York Times. 7 June 1964.
  2. ^ Tom Rolfe Tops Native Charger in Stepping Stone, The (Louisville) Courier-Journal, April 25, 1965.
  3. ^ Kentucky Derby Luck Finally Rides With Shoemaker, Chicago Tribune, May 2, 1965.
  4. ^ Preakness Race Chart, (Rochester) Democrat and Chronicle, May 16, 1965.