Urban Sea

Urban Sea (18 February 1989 – 2 March 2009) was an American bred Thoroughbred racemare best known for winning France's most prestigious race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, in 1993 and for her importance as a world-class broodmare. She is one of ten mares to produce two Derby winners, namely Galileo and Sea the Stars. She is the only mare in the 21st century to produce two Derby winners. None has produced three winners of this race. Background Bred by Paul de Moussac's Marystead Farm in Kentucky, Urban Sea was a chestnut filly by Miswaki, a stakes-winning son of the leading sire in North America, Mr. Prospector. Her dam was Allegretta, a Group 3-placed mare by the German sire Lombard. Allegretta also produced Classic winner King's Best by Kingmambo and established a thriving female family. In addition to Urban Sea, other notable broodmares by Allegretta include Group 3 winner Allez Les Trois by Riverman (dam of Classic winner of Anabaa Blue), Anzille by Plugged Nickle (dam German Group 1 winner Anzillero), Turbaine by Trempolino (dam of stakes winners Tertullian and Terek, and third dam of Arc winner Torquator Tasso), and Altruiste (dam of stakes winners Terrubi and Alpine Snow). French trainer Jean Lesbordes conditioned a small stable of Thoroughbreds in France for Hong Kong businessman David Tsui. In 1990 he purchased Urban Sea at the Deauville yearling sale on behalf of Tsui for the price of FF280,000 (approximately US$50,000). Racing career Winner of a maiden race at age two in 1991, the following year the three-year-old Urban Sea won two listed races in her seven starts, capturing the French Prix de la Seine at Longchamp Racecourse in May 1992 and the Challenge d'Or Piaget at Deauville-La Touques Racecourse. In June, Urban Sea ran in two Group One races, finishing sixth in the Prix de Diane and third in the Prix Vermeille. She was shipped to Düsseldorf, Germany where she finished third in the Arag Preis (German 1000 Guineas). Sent to North America in the fall to compete in races for fillies and mares, at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Urban Sea ran second to fellow French horse Hatoof in the 1992 E. P. Taylor Stakes. At Santa Anita Park in California, she finished last in the Yellow Ribbon Invitational Stakes.