Bewitch (KY)

Biography

One of three Hall of Fame foals from the 1945 crop of Calumet Farm sire Bull Lea — along with Citation and Coaltown — Bewitch retired in 1951 with the highest career earnings of any filly or mare at $462,605.

Bred and raced by Calumet, Bewitch won her first eight starts as a 2-year-old in 1947, including six stakes races. One of those victories was in the Washington Park Futurity, as Bewitch defeated stablemate and future Triple Crown winner Citation, handing him his only loss of the year. As a 2-year-old, Bewitch also won the Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes, Pollyanna Stakes, Princess Pat Stakes, Hyde Park Stakes, and Debutante Stakes. She finished her season with a record of 8-0-1 from 10 starts and earnings of $213,675.

After winning the Ashland Stakes to open her 3-year-old season in 1948, Bewitch was sidelined until June with bucked shins. When she returned, Bewitch won the Modesty Stakes, Artful Handicap, and Cleopatra Handicap, compiling an overall record of 4-0-1 from six starts and earnings of $69,000 as a sophomore.

As a 4-year-old, Bewitch won the Vineland Handicap, Misty Isle Handicap, and Beverly Handicap. She added wins in the Black Helen Handicap at age 5 and the Vanity Handicap as a 6-year-old in 1951. Bewitch finished second to Citation in the Hollywood Gold Cup that year. In that race, Citation became the first horse to earn $1 million, while Bewitch surpassed Gallorette’s career earnings record for a filly or mare.

Bewitch was retired in 1951 with a record of 20-10-11 from 55 starts. She had only two foals, but both of them died before ever racing. Bewitch died at Calumet Farm in 1959 at the age of 14.

Achievements

Champion 2-Year-Old Filly — 1947
Champion Older Female — 1949