Fancy Quality's second dam, Danuta, was sired by Sunday Silence, giving the great Japanese sire considerable influence in her pedigree.
How unfortunate that this accomplished horse was not considered "commercially viable" to American breeders. As the saying goes, our loss was Japan's gain. Maybe it's a blessing that his blood is now carried in the breed through great sons like Deep Impact. Someday our loss will come back to haunt us when a descendant of Sunday Silence wins the Kentucky Derby or Triple Crown. That day may be coming soon.
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Article written by @CWCPCCL "Lexi" via X
Sunday Silence’s beginnings were less than auspicious. Foaled in Kentucky at Stone Farm in 1986, he survived a near-lethal virus as a weanling. His conformation—knock-kneed and pigeon-toed—was less than ideal, and so when he was originally up for sale as a yearling at Keeneland in Kentucky and Hollywood Park in California, no one bought him.
En route to his planned return in Kentucky after these disappointments, the driver of his transport van suffered a fatal heart attack, flipping the vehicle. Miraculously, Sunday Silence emerged more or less unscathed, and went back to California to train under Charlie Whittingham.
His racing career got off to a positive start—as a 2 year old, he broke his maiden (won his first race) on his second try. Heading into Kentucky Derby season in 1989, he won the San Felipe Handicap and Santa Anita Derby—the latter by 11 lengths.
That was when things started to get interesting! Sunday Silence was now pitted against Easy Goer, the Champion 2 Year Old of the previous year and favorite for the Kentucky Derby. Despite a slow pace, a sloppy track, and several bumps, it was Sunday Silence who prevailed, winning the 1989 Kentucky Derby with Pat Valenzuela up. Onward he went, to Pimlico and the Preakness.
What followed was one of the most thrilling races of the 1980s Battling desperately down the stretch, Sunday Silence and Easy Goer hit the wire as nearly one. Again, though, it was Sunday Silence who came out on top. He was now primed for a potential Triple Crown. Alas, it was not to be. In their next meeting, at the Belmont Stakes, Easy Goer romped, coming out on top by 8 lengths and running what was at the time the fastest Belmont behind Secretariat’s.
The pair would meet for a final time in the 1989 Breeder’s Cup Classic. Following a second place finish in the Swaps Stakes and a win in the Super Derby in Louisiana, Sunday Silence prepared to face off against his rival at Gulfstream Park. A massive burst of energy propelled Easy Goer forward at the very end of the stretch, but Sunday Silence held on to his previously established lead, winning the Classic. For his efforts, Sunday Silence was voted Champion 3 Year Old Male and Horse of the Year.
Sunday Silence continued to race as a 4 year old, but an injured ligament forced his retirement. He was sold to Kenya Yoshida, owner of the Shadai Stallion Station, in Hokkaido, Japan. There Sunday Silence lived out his days, becoming Japan’s leading sire for 13 years straight. He died in 2002, but left an indomitable mark on the world of Thoroughbred racing, both via his personal accomplishments and through his stud career.
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| Sunday Silence |
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| Fancy Quality Wootton Bassett x One Last Night Dam is by Elusive Quality x Danuta by Sunday Silence |
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