Dearly Precious (1973–1992) was an American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse.

Dearly Precious
SireDr. Fager
GrandsireRough'n Tumble
DamImsodear
DamsireChieftain
SexFilly
Foaled1973
CountryUnited States
ColourBay
BreederJean R. Pancoast
OwnerRichard E. Bailey
TrainerStephen A. DiMauro
Record16: 12-2-1
EarningsUS$370,465
Major wins
Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes (1975)
Astoria Stakes (1975)
Colleen Stakes (1975)
Fashion Stakes (1975)
Sorority Stakes (1975)
Spinaway Stakes (1975)
Polly Drummond Stakes (1975)
Acorn Stakes (1976)
Prioress Stakes (1976)
Flirtation Stakes (1976)
Dark Mirage Stakes (1976)
Awards
American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly (1975)
Honours
Dearly Precious Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack

Background

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Bred in Florida by Mrs. Jean R. Pancoast, she was out of the mare Imsodear and sired by U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Dr. Fager. Richard E. Bailey, a cable television executive, purchased her as a yearling for $22,000 and entrusted her race conditioning to Stephen A. DiMauro.

Racing career

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On the way to being voted the Eclipse Award as 1975's American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly, Dearly Precious won eight of her nine starts. Her wins included important races for her age group under regular jockey Michael Hole, such the Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes, Astoria Stakes, and the Spinaway Stakes. As a three-year-old, Dearly Precious won her April 4, 1976 debut in the Flirtation Stakes at Baltimore's Pimlico Race Course. On April 25, she won her tenth straight race, capturing the Prioress Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack.[1] On May 5, Dearly Precious lost by half a length to Tell Me All in the Comely Handicap,[2] then on May 14 she was beaten by a nose in the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, handicapped by ten more pounds than the winner, What A Summer. On May 22, she came back to win the first leg of the Filly Triple Crown, the Acorn Stakes.[3]

Injury and retirement

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Rested after her tough win over Optimistic Gal in the Acorn Stakes, Dearly Precious was in the hunt for another annual Championship when she suffered a bowed tendon in her left foreleg on July 11, 1976 while winning the Dark Mirage Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack.[4] Her racing career over, Dearly Precious retired having won twelve of her sixteen starts, and eventually served as a broodmare. Her offspring met with limited success in racing, the best of which was a mating to Nijinsky that produced stakes winner Mister Modesty.

Pedigree

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Pedigree of Dearly Precious
Sire
Dr. Fager
Rough'n Tumble Free For all Questionnaire
Panay
Roused Bull Dog
Rude Awakening
Aspidistra Better Self Bimelech
Bee Mac
Tilly Rose Bull Brier
Tilly Kate
Dam
Imsodear
Chieftain Bold Ruler Nasrullah
Miss Disco
Pocahontas Roman
How
Ironically Intent War Relic
Liz F.
Itsabet Heliopolis
Jayjean

References

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  1. ^ Strauss, Michael (27 April 1976). "Dearly Precious Wins 10th in Row". The New York Times.
  2. ^ https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jxwTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4a0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6201,1070505&dq=dearly+precious+jerkens [dead link]
  3. ^ "Ocala Star-Banner - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  4. ^ "The Spokesman-Review - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.