CORMORANT 1974 - 2007 by Rab Hagin

CORMORANT 1974 - 2007

On Friday, May 4 -- almost exactly 13 years after his New York-conceived son Go for Gin had scored a front-running two-length victory in the 1994 Kentucky Derby -- 33-year-old pensioned New York stallion CORMORANT died of old age at Dr. Jerry Bilinski's Waldorf Farm in North Chatham, New York. The Grade 1-winning stallion had stood in New York since 1980, and his longevity at Waldorf Farm was clearly a source of pride to the farm's veterinarian owner, Dr. Bilinski, who reported: "I had hoped to get him to 35 (years old), but it was not to be."

Cormorant's well-cared-for retirement was also a labor of love, since according to The Jockey Club's annual reports on mares-bred, the old syndicated stallion had not covered a registered mare in at least a decade. He was 20 years old when Go for Gin won the Kentucky Derby and already had sired an Eclipse Champion plus a Grade 1-winning millionaire, but his Derby winner finally put him on the national radar at a time when his declining fertility was imminent and biologically inevitable. For a stallion that rarely -- if ever -- stood for more than $7,500, the son of His Majesty - Song Sparrow, by Tudor Minstrel, had an amazing impact on the breed.

Bred by the late Dr. Ben Roach at Parrish Hill Farm in Midway, Kentucky, Cormorant was consigned and sold as a ridgling for $16,000 at Keeneland's 1975 September yearling sale to Charles T. Berry Jr., a building contractor from Upperville, Virginia. The ridgling condition (an undescended testicle) eventually corrected itself, and Cormorant embarked on a juvenile season in which he bolted in his debut but won his next four consecutive outings, including the seven-furlong Marlboro Nursery Stakes in stakes record time.

Dr. Bilinski with
CORMORANT

Cormorant's winning streak continued into his three-year-old season through his next three races, all stakes, including Aqueduct's Grade 2 Gotham and Grade 3 Bay Shore Stakes. He came down with a fever following the Gotham and was sidelined for more than a month, missing the 1977 Kentucky Derby won by Seattle Slew before returning to competition to miss by a nose in the Withers Stakes and then taking on "Slew" a week later in the Preakness. The plan was to run right at Slew, and Cormorant -- probably alone among his crop -- had the speed to do it, swapping leads with the eventual Triple Crown winner and setting a six-furlong fraction of 1:09-4/5 before fading to fourth. Nine days after the Preakness, Cormorant won the Grade 1 Jersey Derby by 3-1/2 lengths and shortly thereafter placed second in the Grade 2 Ohio Derby while breaking from the outside post. A slab fracture to his right knee, incurred during a workout at Laurel Park in July, required surgery, and he bowed a tendon in a comeback attempt while being galloped at Laurel in March of 1978. Cormorant was retired to stud at the Virginia Stallion Station in Middleburg, and in that abbreviated first season he conceived his first of 47 eventual stakes winners. Two years later he was in New York.

Standing first under Tom Martin's Kinderhill management at Schoenborn Brothers Farm in Climax and then at Kinderhill Farm in Old Chatham before going to Dutch Acres Farm in North Chatham and finally to Dr. Bilinski's nearby New York Stallion Station, Cormorant saw his stud career take off in New York. His first Grade 1 winner was Grecian Flight ($1,320,215), who was followed by 1992 Eclipse Champion Three-Year-Old Filly Saratoga Dew -- both New York-bred females. When Saratoga Dew was a yearling, Yonkers native Pamela Darmstadt du Pont shipped her mare Never Knock the 600-plus miles from Kentucky to breed her to Cormorant, the result of which was Go for Gin ($1,380,866). Following Go for Gin came yet another millionaire son, New York-bred Grade 2 winner Gander ($1,824,011), who placed second behind Go for Gin's son Albert the Great in Belmont's Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup in 2000, as a son and grandson of Cormorant ran one-two in that $1-million event.

Albert the Great ($3,012,490) has sired recent Grade 1 winner Nobiz Like Shobiz in his second crop, and graded winners produced from Cormorant's daughters include Grade 1 winners Silver Train ($1,259,345) and Bishop Court Hill. New York handicappers still wistfully recall Cormorant's offspring, which could win on wet tracks or turf, could sprint or route, were frequently good as two-year-olds but better as three-year-olds, and stayed sound long enough for racing fans to become familiar with them. Through successive generations, Cormorant's legacy continues.

 

CORMORANT (retired)

(Click for Larger Image)
  Tenerani
Ribot
Romanella
His Majesty
Alibhai
Flower Bowl
Flower Bed
CORMORANT
1974 BAY
Owen Tudor
Tudor Minstrel
Sansonnet
Song Sparrow
Swoon's Son
Swoon's Tune
Recess

CORMORANT'S RACE RECORD
in North America

Age Starts 1st(SW) 2nd(sp) 3rd(sp) Earnings
2 5 4 (1) 0 0 $30,258
3 7 4(4) 2(2) 0 $212,916

SIRE LINE

CORMORANT is by HIS MAJESTY, stakes winner of 5 races, $99,430, and sire of 51 stakes winners, including champions PLEASANT COLONY, TIGHT SPOT, PANIANDRUM (in Italy), DIANNE'S LAW (in Can), ASALTANTE (in Mex), PI PHI PRINCE in Pan), and 1995 stakes-winner PENN FIFTY THREE.

HIS MAJESTY'S other sons as stallions include PLEASANT COLONY, COUNTRY PINE, MEHMET, etc.

STUD ANALYSIS
15 Crops
To Date		 In 1995 1995 2yos.
Foals 461 - 26
Rnrs 365 (79%) 68 4
Wnrs 283 (61%) 39 2
2 yo. Wnrs 78 (17%) 1 2
Sw 39 (8%) 2 0

By Foal Crop
Year Named Foals Runners Winners 2 yo. Winners Stakes Winners
1979 11 9 6 0 1
1980 18 14 11 6 2
1981 34 29 24 10 2
1982 28 26 20 2 1
1983 31 28 24 5 3
1984 30 24 18 4 2
1985 38 30 25 6 2
1986 31 23 19 4 3
1987 39 31 24 8 5
1988 42 33 26 6 2
1989 37 33 25 7 7
1990 37 35 30 9 5
1991 34 31 20 5 3
1992 25 15 9 2 1
1993 26 4 2 2 0

By Racing Year
Year Rank Wins Earned
1981 0 $13,200
1982 23 $240,342
1983 39 $511,409
1984 55 $720,412
1985 76 $1,163,069
1986 99 $1,620,043
1987 102 $1,587,548
1988 101 1,708,038
1989 104 1,736,353
1990 117 $1,901,494
1991 102 $2,054,649
1992 121 $2,534,559
1993 118 $2,313,159
1994 NA-10th 107 $3,253,604
1995 70 $1,265,919
Totals 1,234 $22,623,778


CORMORANT Has Sired:

SARATOGA DEW, 89, f (dam by In Reality, 2nd dam by Riva Ridge): $541,580, champion 3 yo. filly, Gazelle H (gr. I), Beldame S (gr. I), Comely S (gr. I I), Hyde Park H, Over All S, etc.
GO FOR GIN, 91, c (Stage Door Johnny, Never Bend): $1,380,866, Kentucky Derby (gr. I), Remsen S (gr. II), Chief's Crown S, Preview S, 2nd Preakness (gr. I) Belmont S (gr. I), etc. to 4,1995.
GRECIAN FLIGHT, 84, f (Green Ticket, On-and-On, 4X4 Alibhai): $1,320,215, Acorn S (gr. I), Black-Eyed Susan S (gr. II), Vagrancy H (gr. III), etc.
SOCIAL RETIREE, 87, 9 (Northfields, Kythnos): $536 560 Gallant Man S (gr. I I I), Pennsylvania Governor's Cup H, Kingston S, etc.
SEA HUNTER, 86, c (Noble Jay, Eighty Grand): $543163 Farmington Breeders' Cup H, George W. Barker S twice, Wadsworth Memorial H, Genesee Valley Breeders' H three times, etc., to 9,1995.
MR. ANGEL 91, c (Silent Screen Never Bend): $378,662, Palm Beach S (gr. IIII), Pembroke Pines Breeders' Cup H etc., to 4, 1995.
PREPORANT, 89, c (Rollicking, Bold Lad): $340,035, Philosophy S, Hudson H, etc. to 6 1995.
COMPANY GIRL, 87, f (Talc, Dead Ahead): $329,196, Bouwerie S, 3rd Schenectady H.
JAY GEE 89 c (Laramie Trail Imbroglio): $319,341 Kingston H, New York Stallion S, 2nd Bertram F. Bongard S, New York Stallion S, etc., to 6, 1995.
TOES KNOWS, 83, f (Rose Argent, Quarter Deck): $311,892, Cotillion H (gr. III), Anne Arundel H (gr. III) City of Laurel S Constitution H, etc.
CORMA RAY, 90, c (Last Dance, Royal Union): $308,590, General Douglas MacArthur H, Hudson H etc., to 5, 1995.
SCARLET IBIS, 86, c (Cornish Prince, Your Host): $307,750, Empire S, Damon Runyon S, New York Stallion S twice sire 1.49 AEI.
APPLEBRED, 87, c (Fast Passer, Misty Flight): $271,348, Bertram F. Bongard S, 3rd Gallant Fox H (gr III), Damon Runyon S, Albany H.
MY MOGUL, 90, c (Naskra, T. V. Lark): $264,818, Mohawk H, 2nd Kingston H, etc., to 5, 1995.
PRINCESS SYBIL 87 f (Elocutionist Never Bend): $256,110, Mill Race H, Tulip S, etc., to 8, 1995.
CORMORANT'S FLIGHT, 90, f (Double Zeus, Sail On Sail On): $222,015, Jameela S etc. to 5, 1995.
WILD WOOD, 83 9 (Reviewer, Boston Doge): $197,964, Bertram F. Bongard S.
COPPER MOUNT, 91, 9 (King's Bishop, Olden Times): $188,041, Albany H, New York Derby, 2nd Colin S (gr. III), to 4,1995.
AL BING, 88, c (The Axe II, Olympia): $185,850, Isaac Murphy S, Chief llliniwek S, etc., to 7 1995.
LORD BEER, 90, c (Barrera, Guerrero),: $179,183, Seattle Slew S to 5, 1995.
BOULABALLY, 86, c (Salem, One-Eyed King): $177,063, Mistletoe S, Ivy S, etc., to 9, 1995.
I ENCLOSE, 80 c (No Robbery Round Table): $173,606, Nashua S (gr. III), Colin S, 2nd Withers S (gr. II), Peter Pan S (gr. II), etc. Sire, 1.96 AEI.
HILBYS BRITE FLITE 89, f (Gunflint, Bold Commander): $167,319, Affectionately H (gr. III), 2nd Next Move Breeders' Cup H (gr. III), etc.
MIGHTY MAGEE, 90, c (Halo, Executioner): $162 984, Sir Barton S (Can-III), Broad Brush S, 2nd Nashua S (gr. III), 3rd Remsen S (gr. II), etc. at 3, 1995.
DONNA'S WORLD, 81, f (Limit to Reason, Misty Flight): $156,629, Damon Runyon S, etc.
BIRD OF PAY, 90, f (Koluctoo Bay, Clem Pac): $155,455, Jack Diamond Futurity (Can-III), Yearling Sales S, Lotto 649 Classic S, etc.
CORAX, 88, c (Hold Your Peace, Snow Cat): $143,260, Evan Shipman S, 2nd Empire S.
COMORIN CAPE, 85, f (Search for Gold, Disciplinarian): $120,620, Mount Vernon S, etc.
MARGARET'S HOPE, 83, f (Sir Wiggle, Kauai King): $118,073, Callowhill S, 2nd New Hope S, etc.
ZINC TAMON O., 89, c (Northern Dancer, Round Table): in Japan, Kokura Sansai S (Jpn-III).

Cormorant also has sired the winners KEEP IT S. S. ($110,992, to 6, 1995), JUST CUZ, PARTING SONG, CAROUSEL MADNESS, SUNDAE FLYER, BUDGERIGAR, BROWN AND BLUE, CORRALERA, GREAT NORTHERN GAL, Val de Cor (champion older mare in Pan, 3rd Clasico Dia de la Madre, Pan-l), Whiz Along ($581,115, 2nd Michigan Mile and One Eighth H, gr. II, etc.), Cazzy B. ($299,628), Love Bird ($220,137), Affy ($182,976), The Zimmerman Note ($166 176), Hurricane Disaster ($162 562), In all Respects ($145,835), Casa Key ($115,755), Mistletoe n Holly ($108 159) Come on Joy ($105,822, to 4, 1995), Jesuit ($105,393), Ashley's Obsession (at 7,1995), Misty Amour, Sole Bird (to 4, 1995), Cormorant's Party, Heir to the Throne, Escada, Cassowary, Royal Cormorant (to 6, 1995), Currant Mountain (to 4, 1995), Centerfoal, Indian Cloud Bird, Tocatchacormorant, etc., and 1995 2 year-old winners T. J.'s Cormorant(2nd Jim Bowie S, 3rd T. V. Lark S), Hooray for Evan.

FAMILY

1st dam
Song Sparrow. 2 wins at 2, $18,800, 2nd Alcibiades S. Dam of 6 foals, including-
QUEEN OF SONG (by His Majesty). 14 wins, 2 thru 5, $603,405, Shuvee H (gr. II), Sixty Sails H twice (once gr. III), Marica H, etc. Dam of LADYAGO ($116,439, Audubon Oaks, etc.), Wise Words ($133,909).
CORMORANT (Subject stallion).
Mojingo (Exclusive Native). Winner at 2, $11,500, 2nd Rancho Santa Fe S.
Broodmare sire

TUDOR MINSTREL (GB), br, 44-71. See Blue Pages.