Affectionately (KY)

Biography

A winner of 18 stakes races, Affectionately was a dark bay daughter of Swaps out of the War Admiral mare Searching. Bred by the partnership of trainer Hirsch Jacobs and Isidor Bieber, Affectionately was foaled in 1960 at Dr. Charles Hagyard’s farm near Lexington, Kentucky.

Affectionately, who was campaigned by Ethel D. Jacobs, arrived at the races Jan. 17, 1962, at Santa Anita. She won the first six starts of her career, prompting Hirsch Jacobs to describe her as “the best horse I’ve ever trained.”

After suffering her first career loss in June 1962, Affectionately rebounded to win the Astoria, Sorority, and Spinaway, finishing her juvenile campaign with a record of 9-1-3 from 13 starts.

Affectionately raced exclusively in New York as a 3-year-old in 1963, winning the first of back-to-back editions of the Interborough Handicap. At 4, she won the Vosburgh and Sport Page handicaps against males and five added-money races. Concluding her season, Affectionately finished in a dead heat with Chop House in the Las Flores Handicap at Santa Anita.

In 1965, Affectionately became the first distaffer since 1910 to win the Toboggan Handicap, defeating Chieftain by five lengths. She also added an eight-length victory in the Top Flight Handicap and carried 137 pounds to win the Vagrancy Handicap.

Affectionately became only the second female — joining Hall of Famer Cicada — to surpass $500,000 in career earnings with a total of $546,660. She finished her career with a record of 28-8-6 from 52 starts.

Following her retirement, Affectionately was bred to Hail to Reason and produced Personality, who won the 1970 Preakness, Woodward, Wood Memorial, Jersey Derby, and Jim Dandy.

Affectionately died March 31, 1979, at Spendthrift Farm near Lexington, Kentucky.

Achievements

Champion 2-Year-Old Filly (Turf and Sport Digest) — 1962
Champion Sprint Horse — 1965