He was out of the mare Crawfish and sired by Whitney's Phalanx, the winner of the 1947 Belmont Stakes voted American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse.
Despite Fisherman's performances in 1953, in the balloting for American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt he finished behind Hasty Road in one major poll and Porterhouse in the other two.
Triple Crown series he finished seventh in the Kentucky Derby and did not run in the Preakness Stakes.
Ridden by Eddie Arcaro, Fisherman remained within striking distance of the pacesetter before taking the lead and holding off a charge in the homestretch by Banassa to win the race.
Fisherman finished off the board with Career Boy taking fourth behind winner, Ribot, one of the best horses in European racing history.