The birth of the first foal of each year is an event we await with an excitement multiplied by the 11 months we have been anticipating the arrival as well as by the hopes and dreams each baby carries for the future.
During the morning hours of February 4, Dame Ursula gave all of us at Runnymede everything we could wish for in the form of a strong, healthy filly by Scat Daddy to begin our foaling season in the best possible way.
“She is a beautiful, tall filly with plenty of bone,” said Runnymede General Manager Romain Malhouitre. “We hope they all come out looking as good as she does.”
A nine-year-old by Elusive Quality out of Chancey Squaw, by Chief’s Crown, Dame Ursula is a half sister to Japanese champion and Hong Kong Cup (G1) winner Agnes Digital, an earner of over $8 million, as well as to two other stakes winners and a Group 1-placed winner. We own Dame Ursula with our longtime partner and friend, Peter Callahan.
Both Dame Ursula and her foal were doing great in the hours after the birth, Malhouitre reported. The filly nursed within ten minutes of standing.
Dame Ursula is a mare who could give us something special in any season. Not only is she a half sister to a champion and other top quality runners, her second dam is a half sister to influential sire and French champion and classic winner Blushing Groom. Thus, she possesses genes that have made a mark in North America, Europe and Asia, and her potential is boundless.
While her first duty is to take care of her newborn foal, Dame Ursula has been booked to Lemon Drop Kid for this season.