[1] 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.

[2] French trainer Jean Lesbordes conditioned a small stable of Thoroughbreds in France for Hong Kong businessman David Tsui.

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.

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.

After taking second place in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot, she won a French listed race in July, and in August the Prix Gontaut-Biron.

Following her Arc victory, Urban Sea was invited to compete in the Japan Cup at the end of November at Tokyo Racecourse, where she ran eighth.

Sent back to the track at age five, Urban Sea began her 1994 racing season in May with a win in the Prix d'Harcourt.

Her 1997 filly, Melikah, was auctioned in 1998 for €1,500,000, the highest-ever price paid for a yearling at the Deauville sales; she won the Pretty Polly Stakes.