Champion Hollywood Wildcat Dies

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Photo: The Blood-Horse Library

Hollywood Wildcat racing in the Breeders' Cup Distaff.

Hollywood Wildcat, who beat defending champion older female Paseana in the 1993 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (gr. I) to clinch champion 3-year-old filly honors, died June 23 at Hal Snowden Jr.’s Roseglade Farm near Wilmore, Ky., because of complications from cancer. Owned by Irving Cowan, Hollywood Wildcat was 22 and in foal to Kitten's Joy   from a Feb. 28 cover.

A homebred for Cowan and his wife, Marjorie, Hollywood Wildcat went into the Distaff off four consecutive wins under Eddie Delahoussaye. She started out winning the Hollywood Oaks (gr. I) and then reeled off scores in the San Clemente Handicap on turf, the Del Mar Invitational Oaks (gr. IIT), and the Lady Secret’s Handicap. Ridden by Delahoussaye in the Distaff, Hollywood Wildcat held on to win by a nose as the 6-5 favorite.

The Distaff proved so inspiring that it was chosen by readers of The Blood-Horse as the "Race of the Year."

Hollywood Wildcat was a stakes winner in her three other years of racing. At 2 she won the Sorority Stakes (gr. III) and two other stakes. At 4 she captured the Gamely Handicap (gr. IT) and another Lady’s Secret. As a 5-year-old she took the Little Brianne Stakes in her sole start that year.

Trained by Neil Drysdale, Hollywood Wildcat (Kris S.—Miss Wildcatter, by Mr. Prospector) was retired with a record of 12-3-3 from 21 starts and earnings of $1,432,160.

It didn’t take long for Hollywood Wildcat to earn fame as a broodmare for the Cowans. Her second foal, homebred War Chant  , won the 2000 Breeders’ Cup Mile (gr. IT). It was only the second time that a Breeders’ Cup-winning filly or mare had produced a Breeders’ Cup winner. The first was 1988 Distaff winner Personal Ensign, whose daughter, My Flag, won the 1995 Juvenile Fillies (gr. I).

War Chant, by Danzig, stands at Robert N. Clay's Three Chimneys Farm near Midway, Ky.

Hollywood Wildcat produced other stakes winners Double Cat, Ministers Wild Cat  , and Ivan Denisovich, a group II winner in England. Hollywood Wildcat’s other offspring include stakes-placed Bold Warrior and Shintoh.

Hollywood Wildcat’s youngest offspring is an unraced Street Cry 2-year-old colt named Profound.

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