| Cougar II | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Tale of Two Cities |
| Grandsire | Tehran |
| Dam | Cindy Lou |
| Damsire | Madara |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 1966 |
| Country | Chile |
| Colour | Dark Bay/Brown |
| Breeder | Haras General Cruz |
| Owner | Mary F. Jones |
| Trainer | Charlie Whittingham |
| Record | 50: 20-7-17 |
| Earnings | $1,162,725 |
| Major wins | |
| Cabrillo Handicap (1970) Clasico Municipal de Vina Del Mar (1970) Escondido Handicap (1970) Hollywood Invitational Turf Handicap (1971) Oak Tree Invitational Stakes (1971, 1972) Californian Handicap (1971, 1972)) San Gabriel Handicap (1971) San Juan Capistrano Handicap (1971) Carleton F. Burke Handicap (1972) Century Handicap (1972, 1973) San Marcos Stakes (1972) Santa Anita Handicap (1973) Sunset Handicap (1973) |
|
| Awards | |
| American Champion Male Turf Horse (1972) | |
| Honours | |
| U.S. Racing Hall of Fame (2006) Cougar II Handicap at Del Mar Racetrack |
|
| Horse (Equus ferus caballus) | |
Cougar II (1966–1989) was a Chilean Thoroughbred racehorse who also competed in the United States where he was inducted in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. He was sired by Tale of Two Cities, a son of Tehran, winner of the 1944 St. Leger Stakes and the Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland.
He raced in the late 1960s in Chile and was brought to the United States in 1970, where he was conditioned by future Hall of Fame inductee Charlie Whittingham. A tremendous "closer," Cougar II's career was somewhat overshadowed by his runner-up finishes to Horse of the Year Ack Ack. Muscular and with a long tail that touched the ground, uncommon for most horses of this time, he was voted the 1972 Eclipse Award as American Champion Male Turf Horse.
In his honor, Del Mar Racetrack renamed the Escondido Handicap the Cougar II Handicap, which can be used as a prep race for the Breeders' Cup Marathon.