Desert Vixen (FL)

An Eclipse Award winner at ages 3 and 4, the front-running Desert Vixen was purchased for $40,000 as a 2-year-old by Harry Mangurian, Jr, from the estate of breeder Muriel Vanderbilt Adams.

Desert Vixen in the winner's circle (NYRA/Bob Coglianese /Museum Collection)
Inducted

1979

Foaled

1970

Sire

In Reality

Dam

Desert Trial

Damsire

Moslem Chief

Breeder

Muriel
Vanderbilt Adams

Owner

Harry Mangurian, Jr.

Trainer

Thomas F. Root, Sr.

Career

1972-1975

Earnings

$421,538

Racing Record

28

Starts

Year Starts First Second Third Earnings
Year Sts 1 2 3 $
1972 5 1 1 2 $10561 $10,561
1973 11 9 2 0 $256147 $256,147
1974 11 3 3 1 $154830 $154,830
1975 1 0 0 0 $0 $0

Biography

An Eclipse Award winner at ages 3 and 4, the front-running Desert Vixen was purchased for $40,000 as a 2-year-old by Harry Mangurian, Jr, from the estate of breeder Muriel Vanderbilt Adams.

After achieving only moderate success as a 2-year-old in 1972, Desert Vixen won eight in a row in 1973, including the Monmouth Oaks, Delaware Oaks, Test Stakes, Alabama Stakes, Gazelle Handicap, and Beldame Stakes. In the weight-for-age Beldame, Desert Vixen defeated older Hall of Famer Susan’s Girl by 11½ lengths in track-record time. She posted an overall record of 9-2-0 from 11 starts that year with earnings of $256,147 to win the Eclipse Award for Champion 3-Year-Old Filly.

Desert Vixen started slowly in her 4-year-old campaign in 1974, but she repeated her victory in the Beldame (by 12 lengths this time) and tied a track record at Atlantic City Race Course in winning the Matchmaker Stakes. She finished her season with a ledger of 3-3-1 from 11 starts and earnings of $154,830 to win the Eclipse Award for Champion Older Female.

After one start as a 5-year-year-old in 1975, Desert Vixen was retired with a career record of 13-6-3 from 28 starts and earnings of $421,538. She died in 1982 at the age of 12 and was buried at Breckinridge Farm near Lexington, Kentucky.

Achievements

Eclipse Award Champion 3-Year-Old Filly — 1973
Eclipse Award Champion Older Female — 1974

Media

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