28/01/2025
The beautiful Mito, a TB stallion who was used with some success in QH circles.
In 1958, Mrs. Anson Bigelow purchased a gray son of Native Dancer for $50,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. She later named the c**t Mito, which she said meant “happy” in a language of the Pacific Islands as a nod to his grandsire, Polynesian. Bigelow and trainer George P. Odom had campaigned Mito’s half-brother, Nail, to the title of 1955 Champion Two-Year-Old C**t. Hopes were high that Mito could accomplish similar feats, but he was slower to mature. He did, however, become an outstanding sire of two breeds.
Mito was foaled on February 2nd, 1957. He was bred by Shawnee Farm in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. Mito was by Native Dancer, one of the most accomplished Thoroughbred racehorses in American history. Native Dancer won 21 of 22 starts, including the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. He was voted Horse of the Year in 1952 and 1954. Native Dancer went on to sire 43 stakes winners. His sons Raise a Native, Dancing Dervish and Texas Dancer were highly influential sires of Quarter Horses.
No Strings, the dam of Mito, was by Occupation, a multiple stakes winning son of Bull Dog. She was out of a daughter of Blue Larkspur, the 1929 Horse of the Year. No Strings won four races, including the 1949 Modesty Stakes. As a broodmare, she became a matriarch at Shawnee Farms. She produced eight Jockey Club registered foals, including the aforementioned Nail, who went on to sire stakes winners Bright Nail, Calvo, Mikes Nail, My First Trip, Rivet and Spike Nail. No Strings was also the dam of Globemaster, a stakes winner who earned $355,423 on the track. Globemaster and his half-brothers Arlo and Free Gallant also sired stakes winners. Daughters of No Strings were great producers as well. She was a true racing matron.
Mito only raced at age four. He won impressively at Chicago and Aqueduct. Most notably, he placed third in the seven-furlong Toboggan Handicap. After he retired from racing, he stood at Man o’ War Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. His first foals were born in 1964. His first foal crop included Lively Mite, winner of the 1967 Second Season Filly Stakes. Other early stakes winners by Mito included Demito, Galto, Silver Button, Red Charmer, Winking Aye, Bedknob, Shantung Silk, Mnt. Point, Mitos Joy, Albert H. B., Snow Doll, Mighty Mixup and Inner Spirit. His offspring were exceptionally fast. Jewel Prince, Dozen Dancer, Bay Charmer and Mito Sal set new records at tracks across the country.
Mito Paint, the most widely known son of Mito, was foaled in 1965. Mito Paint was out of Herb’s Miss, a multiple stakes winner. He made thirteen starts, won two races, and earned $8,487 on the track. While he was a second-rate racehorse, Mito Paint was an exceptional sire. He stood at the Phillips Ranch in Frisco, Texas. One of his first foals, Mito Wise Dancer, defeated two-time World Champion Dash for Cash to win the 1976 All American Derby. The success of Mito Wise Dancer sparked immediate interest in the Mito bloodline. Mito moved from Kentucky to the Mickle's Valley View Ranch in Weatherford, Texas to stand to both Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse mares for the 1977 breeding season. His foals were quickly recognized for their speed, substantial bone and good minds.
She Mite Go, the best Quarter Horse starter by Mito, was foaled in 1978. She was out of Parr Face, a daughter of multiple stakes winner Bar Face. She Mite Go won the Lubbock Downs Spring Derby, Walter Goodwin Handicap and C. L. Maddon’s Bright Eyes Handicap. In total, She Mite Go won thirteen races and earned $58,180, the equivalent of about $190,000 today. She Mite Go went on to produce twelve AQHA registered foals including stakes winner Miss Daylight Run and Register of Merit earners She Mite Go By Yawl, Frenchy Will Go, Ranny Needsome Cash, A Six Pack to Go and Any Old Name Will Do.
Other Quarter Horse stakes winner by Mito included Keldedo, Mito Isle and Otim. Mito Queen and Triple Strings, Quarter Horse racehorses by Mito, set new track records. While he was standing in Texas, he also sired a Thoroughbred stakes winner named Enchanted Lady. Altogether, Mito sired 380 foals in eighteen foal crops. They included 238 race winners, 43 ROM-earners, twenty black-type stakes winners, nine stakes finalists, two Superior Race Award earners and one graded stakes winner. Offspring of Mito earned $5,273,938 on the track. Flying Mito, his only performance point-earner, earned just 2.0 performance points.
Mito Paint, of course, was Mito’s most successful son at stud. In addition to Mito Wise Dancer, he also sired stakes winners Amy Jo Mito, Big John Mito, Painted Rebel, Bartonville and Paint by Numbers. Mito Paint also sired AQHA Champions Mito Commander and Mr Mito Doll. His offspring earned $3,768,994 on the track and 1,195.5 points in the arena. Other Thoroughbred sires by Mito included Captivity, Hawamito, Mighty Lure, Mijack, Next Beauty, Red Charmer, Trade, Vantongerloo and White Spangles. Mito Isle was probably his best Quarter Horse son to stand stud. He sired Mito Suzy, a graded stakes placed mare that went on to produce multiple graded stakes winner Prima LD. Other Quarter Horse sires by Mito included Cannon Ball Coming, Miquito and Mito Motive. His sons sired numerous Quarter Horses, as well as Paints and Appaloosas.
Daughters of Mito produced racehorses and performance horses. Dainty Dotsie, the best Thoroughbred starter out of a Mito mare, won twenty races including the Gr. 3 Vagrancy Handicap at Aqueduct. Saint Bernard, the highest-earning Quarter Horse starter out of a Mito mare, was the 1992 West Southwest Hi-Point Three-Year-Old Gelding. Kellys Kisses, one of Mito’s best producing Quarter Horse daughters, was the dam of multiple graded stakes winner Kiptys Kisses and stakes winner Kiss Me Real Easy. Kellys Kisses also produced Racing ROM-earners Mr Quick Start, Shoot Naw and Lil Kisses, as well as Performance Point-earners Extra Kiss and Drifting Cloud.
I. J’s Mito, a Thoroughbred daughter of Mito, produced multiple stakes winner Mitojet Too and Racing ROM-earners Mitos Easy Credit and Miss Mitojet. Kelta Dawn, a Quarter Horse daughter of Mito, produced The Bayou Breeze, the 1994 Northwest Hi-Point Aged Stallion. Kelta Dawn also produced Superior Race Horses Red Eye Special and Byline Blue, as well as Racing ROM-earners Nightline Express, Mountain Miss, Redford Jones, Gin Ya, Matchless Miss FF, Divine Choice and Oh Flicka. Somebody Said, another Quarter Horse daughter of Mito, produced new track record setter Say For Sure and Racing ROM-earners Said It All, Who Said It, Rime Or Reason and Gossiper.
STK Justa Cruisin, the best performer out of a Mito mare, was a palomino gelding that competed in the Palomino Horse Breeders Association. He was the 1994 PHBA Amateur Reserve World Champion, 2002 PHBA Open Reserve World Champion and 2003 PHBA Youth Reserve World Champion. He earned a total of 3,052.0 performance points with the PHBA. He was also a National Snaffle Bit Association money earner. Queens Are Lucky Too, a half-sister to STK Justa Cruisin, earned $813.79 in the NSBA. Other AQHA Performance ROM-earners out of Mito mares included Mysterious Derby and This Rose Is High. Mito Hay Bug, Native Tip Tap, Hi High Darlin and Made to Go earned performance points.
In total, daughters of Mito produced 327 Quarter Horse foals. They included 89 ROM-earners, 83 race winners, thirteen Performance point-earners, six stakes winners, five Superior Race Award earners, two Performance ROM-earners and two Regional Champions. They earned $873,273 on the track and AQHA 63.0 points in the arena.
In 1980, Mito was purchased by Bob Walton and Ray Osborn. He stood at the Silver Springs Stallion Station in Chickasha, Oklahoma. In the winter of 1981, at the age of 23, he died at Oklahoma State University due to complications of colic. His last foals were born that spring. His most notable descendants that do not trace their lineage through Mito Paint include graded stakes winners Aint It Fun, First to Ramble, Hes Innocent, Heza Ramblin Man, LD Fire and LD Is Back. Through Mito Paint, Mito is the ancestor of great horses such as On a High, Yankee Win, Quite An Angel, Too Flashy to Zip, Up Next, Shiny Six, Barbs Bounce, Passem Dirty, Another Valentino and Judge Cash.
Read More: https://thewesternthoroughbred.com/2024/12/30/the-western-thoroughbred-history-mito/
Sources: Equineline, American Quarter Horse Association, Equibase, All Breed Database
Quarter Horse stud in the UK
