Fappiano (May 19, 1977 – September 3, 1990) was an AmericanThoroughbredracehorse whose most important win was the 1981Metropolitan Handicap. When retired to stud, he became a major sire whose offspring includedKentucky Derby winnerUnbridled. He was named for Joseph C. Nichols (1905–1984), a long-time sportswriter forThe New York Times, who was born Giuseppe Carmine Fappiano.^[2]

Fappiano was bred and raced byU.S. Racing Hall of Fame trainerJohn Nerud and trained by his son, Jan. Bred inFlorida, he was from one of the first crops ofMr. Prospector, then based in Florida, and helped establish Mr. Prospector's reputation as one of North America'sleading sires. Fappiano was out Killaloe, an allowance race-winning daughter of Hall of Fame inducteeDr. Fager. Killaloe also produced stakes winners Torrential (FR-G1), Portroe (US-G3), Jedina and Royal Troon.^[3] Nerud had also bred Dr. Fager and Fappiano's second dam, Grand Splendor, while managing Tartan Farms.^[4] The family traces to the highly influential broodmare,Plucky Liege.^[5]

At age two in 1979, Fappiano went undefeated in four starts. Among those wins was theMorven Stakes with futureHall of Fame jockeyAngel Cordero Jr. aboard. Run on December 20, cold weather had frozen the track but in spite of the conditions Fappiano broke theMeadowlandstrack record for six furlongs with a time of 1:08 3/5.^[6] t. He went on to win several important races through 1980 and 1981, including theGrade IMetropolitan Handicap.^[7]

While successful in racing, Fappiano is best known as a sire and a sire of sires. At the end of 1981, he was retired and syndicated for a reported $300,000 per share. He stood atstud atTartan Farms nearOcala, Florida, where he remained until the summer of 1987. He was then moved toLane's End Farm inVersailles, Kentucky. Though himself a sprinter, he became known as a source of class (the ability to carry speed over distance). He was designated an Intermediate/Classicchef-de-race.^[3]

Fappiano was the grandsire of two different horses that combined to win all threeU.S. Triple Crown races in the same year whenReal Quiet won the 1998Kentucky Derby andPreakness Stakes, andVictory Gallop won the 1998Belmont Stakes. ThroughUnbridled, Fappiano is the great-great-grandsire of 2015Triple Crown winnerAmerican Pharoah.^[4]

In early September 1990, Fappiano was humanelyeuthanized whenlaminitis set in while he was recovering from a fractured leg.^[3]

Fappiano notably sired:

• Tasso (b. 1983) – won 1985Breeders' Cup Juvenile, votedAmerican Champion Two-Year-Old Colt;
• Cryptoclearance (b. 1984) – multiple Grade 1 stakes winner with career earnings of US$3,376,327, siredVictory Gallop,Volponi;
• Tappiano (b. 1984) – wonSpinaway Stakes,Demoiselle Stakes,Matron Stakes, career earnings of US$1,305,522;
• Aptostar (b. 1985) - won Grade 1Acorn Stakes.
• Quiet American (b. 1986) – wonNYRA Mile Handicap, sire ofReal Quiet;
• Some Romance (b. 1986) – wonFrizette Stakes,Matron Stakes;
• Defensive Play (b. 1987) – wonSandown Classic Trial andRose of Lancaster Stakes in U.K. andMan o' War Stakes,Strub Stakes in U.S., career earnings of US$1,695,557;
• Grand Canyon (b. 1987) – wonHollywood Futurity,Norfolk Stakes, career earnings of $1,019,540;
• Rubiano (b. 1987) – multiple stakes winner with career earnings US$1,203,457, votedAmerican Champion Sprint Horse in 1992;
• Unbridled (b. 1987) – won 1990Kentucky Derby andBreeders' Cup Classic, votedAmerican Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse, career earnings of US$4,489,475. sire ofEmpire Maker,Grindstone,Halfbridled, andUnbridled's Song;
• Serape (b. 1988) - won Grade 1Ballerina Handicap
• Cahill Road (b. 1988) – wonWood Memorial Stakes.
• Hum Along (b. 1989) Dam ofStorm SongAmerican Champion Two-Year-Old Filly
• Comet Shine (b. 1991) wonSummer Stakes andCup and Saucer Stakes. Champion at 2 in Can.

• Fappiano's pedigree and partial racing stats
• The Australian Blood Horse Review – October, 1998 article by pedigree specialist Rommy Faversham

• 1977 racehorse births
• 1990 racehorse deaths
• Racehorses bred in Florida
• Racehorses trained in the United States
• Horse racing track record setters
• Thoroughbred family 16-a
• Chefs-de-Race

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata