Hollywood Wildcat, the North American champion 3-year-old filly in 1993, has died at age 22 at Hal Snowden Jr.’s Roseglade Farm in Wilmore, Ky. Bred in Florida by her owners Irving Cowan and his late wife Majorie Cowan of Hollywood, Fla., Hollywood Wildcat was perhaps most famous for her victory over defending champion Paseana in the 1993 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) at Santa Anita, a race she won despite jockey Eddie Delahoussaye having dropped his whip at the top of the stretch.
According to reports, the daughter of Kris S. and the Mr. Prospector mare Miss Wildcatter was in foal to Kitten’s Joy at the time of her death, believed to be caused by complications from cancer.
Hollywood Wildcat started her racing career in 1992 under trainer Emmanuel Tortora at Calder Race Course near Miami. She won her first four starts, including the Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs, the Melaluca Handicap at Calder and the Soritity Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park. She ended her juvenile campaign finishing sixth in the Susan’s Girl division of the Florida Stallion Stakes.
She would go winless in her first four starts as a 3-year-old before the Cowan’s sent her to Southern California and the barn of trainer Neil Drysdale. There her winning ways returned immediately and consistently as during her next five races she took the Hollywood Oaks (G1) at Hollywood Park; the $83,000 San Clemente Handicap and Del Mar Invitational Oaks (G2) at Del Mar; and the $106,000 Lady’s Secret at Santa Anita before winning the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
The dark bay or brown mare would start six times at age four and once at age five before being retired after winning the 1995, $65,000 Little Brianne Stakes at Santa Anita in her last start. She also won the 1994 Gamely Handicap (G1) at Hollywood Park and defended her title in the Lady’s Secret by winning that race again in 1994.
She retired with 12 wins from 21 career starts and earnings of $1,432,160.
As a broodmare, Hollywood Wildcat was sent to some of the best sires of that generation going to Danzig for her first two matings. Her second foal by Danzig turned out to be War Chant, winner of the 2000 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) and a multiple graded stakes winner who also raced for the Cowans. She also produced stakes winners Double Cat, by Storm Cat; Ministers Wild Cat, by Deputy Minister; and Group 2 winner Ivan Denisovich, by Danehill. She also produced Group 3 placed Shintoh and stakes-placed Bold Warrior.
