Little Request was a multiple stakes winner and track record setter. He is best known as the dam sire of leading sire and broodmare sire Streakin Six. A leading sire in his own right, Little Request had a huge impact on the western industry. He sired champions on the track and performers in the arena.
Little Request was foaled in 1950. He was by Requested, a multiple stakes winner and sire of Quarter Horses and Quarter Horse sires. Most notably, Requested sired the legendary Custus Rastus who in turn sired Bull Rastus, Jaguar, Capital Gain and many others. Like Custus Rastus, Little Request also had ties to early twentieth-century speedsters through his dam, Little Wichita. Little Wichita was a race-winner by Royal Ford and out of a Sweep mare. She produced winners Littletown, Boomtown Gal, Little James, Hand in Glove and Sweep the Sky. Little Request was Little Wichita’s last foal and her most successful.
Little Request was a beautiful chestnut with great conformation. He had a big shoulder, a strong hip and a balanced frame. A white blaze accentuated his intelligent, expressive face. As a two-year-old, Little Request won the Haggin Stakes and the Starlet Stakes. He set a new track record at Hollywood Park for 5 furlongs in 0:57.20 seconds. He won two races at age three but did not duplicate his juvenile success. In 1954, Little Request retired from racing with a total of 32 starts, 5 wins and $51,275 in earnings, the equivalent of about $530,000 today.
Little Request stood stud at Bresa Del Mar Ranch in Escondido, California and later at Mickle’s Valley View Ranch in Scottsdale, Arizona. His first foal crop arrived in 1956 and included El Diablito and Lip Request. El Diablito, a colt out of Dawn Reed, won the PCQHRA Futurity and set a new track record at Sacramento for 350 yards in 0:18.000 seconds. In 1958, El Diablito was named the AQHA Racing Champion Two-Year-Old Colt. Lip Request, a filly out of Miss Lipstick, won the Kindergarten Futurity, the Johnny Dial Stakes and the PCQHRA California Bred Futurity. Little Request’s second foal crop included Silver Beau, the 1959 AQHA Racing Champion Two-Year-Old Gelding. The achievements of his early foal crops generated enough interest in Little Request that he was able to limit his books to approved mares only.
Bar Request, Little Request’s chief earner, was a colt out of Sweetie Bar, by Three Bars. Bar Request won the Los Alamitos Futurity, the Bardella Handicap and the State Fair Stallion Stakes. In total, Bar Request won 13 races and earned $118,116 on the track, the equivalent of about $990,000 today. Bar Request also earned AQHA Halter and Performance points. He went on to sire stakes winners Jody Quest, Noble Request and Speed Request.
Little Request was a proven sire of speed. He sired four track record setters which, aside from El Diablito, included Third Martini, Little Emmy and Hy Request. Hy Request was the 1965 AQHA Racing Champion Three-Year-Old Gelding. Other successful starters by Little Request included Dial Anna, Sweetie Bar Miss, Bold Adventure, Cocktail Susie, Hava’s Request, Time Request and Little Bar Leta. In total, Little Request sired 372 registered Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse foals in 23 foal crops. Those included 276 starters, 185 winners, 179 Race ROM earners, 14 stakes winners and 3 champions. His get earned $1,287,239 on the track which ranked Little Request high among leading sires of his time.
Little Request also sired APHA Champion Diamond Request. His sons Barquest, Big Order, Bresa Bar, Drill and Fame Goldquest all sired ROM earners on the track. Flicka’s Request and Little Wild sired ROM earners in the arena. While his sons were successful, Little Request is best known for the accomplishments of his daughters. Two of his daughters, Parr’s Request and Barbarra Lam, were leading dams of AQHA Race ROM earners. Miss Assured, a chestnut mare by Little Request and out of Assured, was the dam of stakes winners Assured Copy, State of Mind and the great Streakin Six. Other notable racehorses produced by his daughters include Winning Copy, A Zure Request and Windy’s Request.
Little Request passed away in 1977 leaving an lasting legacy of runners and performers. According to Speedhorse Magazine, his grandson Streakin Six is ranked 6th among All-Time Leading barrel broodmare sires, 12th among All-Time Leading race broodmare sires, and 31st among All-Time Leading race sires. Through Streakin Six, Little Request’s descendants include A Streak of Fling, Streaking Ta Fame, Tres Seis and many more!
Sources: Equineline, Equibase, The Quarter Horse Journal, Speedhorse Magazine
The Western Thoroughbred 
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