Prayer Bell (USA)
1954 – c. 1982
Better Self (USA) x Sunday Evening (USA), by Eight Thirty (USA)
Family 9-b
1954 – c. 1982
Better Self (USA) x Sunday Evening (USA), by Eight Thirty (USA)
Family 9-b
Produced from a good Greentree Stud family, Prayer Bell never made it to the track but was a prolific and successful broodmare. Her three stakes winners included the champion and useful sire Silent Screen, and five of her daughters had some significance as producers.
Race record
Unraced
As an individual
A bay mare; no further information available.
As a producer
A Reine-de-Course as designated by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Prayer Bell produced 13 named foals, of which 12 started and won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Prayer Bell was bred Greentree Stud. She began her broodmare career as the property of Duval Headley, who bred her first four foals. Headley and his wife Betty then gave Prayer Bell to their daughter Sara and their son-in-law Dennis Noviello as a wedding gift, and Noviello bred or co-bred the mare's next four foals. Following the birth of Silent Screen, Prayer Bell was acquired by Edward Evans, who bred her remaining foals.
Pedigree notes
Prayer Bell is inbred 4x5 to 1920 American Horse of the Year Man o’ War, the American champion sire of 1926. She is a half sister to 1964 Test Stakes winner Time for Bed (by Bold Ruler), the second dam of Grade 3 winner Firgie’s Jule. Prayer Bell is also a half sister to the fine broodmare Home by Dark (by Hill Prince), dam of 1968 American champion 3-year-old filly Dark Mirage (by Persian Road II) and stakes winners Bold Impulse and Gray Mirage (both by Bold Bidder); second dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Javamine; and third dam of multiple champion Indian Skimmer, 1987 Irish champion sprinter Bluebird, multiple Grade 1 winners Java Gold and Timely Writer, 1987 Santa Anita Oaks (USA-G1) winner Timely Assertion, and 1995 Ballerina Handicap (USA-G1) winner Classy Mirage among others. In addition, Prayer Bell is a half sister to Royal Society (by Royal Charger), second dam of 1979 Puerto Rican champion imported 2-year-old male Lazy Eyes and Grade 2 winner Nordic Prince.
Prayer Bell is out of 1949 Spinaway Stakes winner Sunday Evening, a half sister to multiple stakes winner Mesmer (by Third Degree). Sunday Evening is also a half sister to Aching Back (by War Admiral), dam of 1962 Del Mar Futurity winner Slipped Disc (by Decathlon) and 1969 Summer Stakes winner Admiral's Road (by Lord Quillo) and second dam of 1967 Illinois Derby winner Royal Malabar.
Sunday Evening, in turn, is out of 1937 Ashland Stakes winner Drowsy (by Royal Minstrel), a half sister to juvenile stakes winner Condiment (by Eight Thirty) and to Turnplate (by Bull Lea), second dam of five stakes winners including 1971 Puerto Rican champion older male Ray Jeter and 1955 Hollywood Lassie Stakes winner Miss Todd. The next dam in Prayer Bell's tail-female line, Lazy Susan (by St. Germans) is out of the Delhi mare Idle Dell and is, thus, a half sister to 1927 Matron Stakes and Pimlico Futurity winner Glade (by Touch Me Not), dam of 1932 Spinaway Stakes winner Easy Day (by St. Germans) and 1933 Futurity Stakes winner Singing Wood (by Royal Minstrel).
Last updated: August 31, 2022
Race record
Unraced
As an individual
A bay mare; no further information available.
As a producer
A Reine-de-Course as designated by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Prayer Bell produced 13 named foals, of which 12 started and won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Vestry (1959, by Needles) won nine of 78 starts. She is the dam of stakes winners Vestry’s best (by Groton) and Straight Needles (by Going Straight).
- Prayer Cap (by 1962, Thinking Cap) won three minor stakes races on the Southwestern circuit. She is the dam of stakes winners Silent Prayer (by Binary), Prayer Leader (by Scout Leader), and Zonic (by Swaps).
- Silent Screen (1967, by Prince John) was the American champion 2-year-old male of 1969. He sired 43 stakes winners from 702 named foals of racing age, headed by multiple Grade 1 winner Taisez Vous.
- Ringing Bells (1971, by Bold Lad) won three of her 24 starts. Through her stakes-placed Raise a Native daughter Luv Luvin’, she is the third dam of 1993 Prix de la Forêt (FR-G1) winner Dolphin Street, 1999 E. P. Taylor Stakes (CAN-G1) winner Insight, 1999 Irish Two Thousand Guineas (IRE-G1) winner Saffron Walden, 2000 Moyglare Stud Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Sequoyah, and 2007 Fillies’ Mile Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Listen. She is also the third dam of Grade 2 winner Dance Master and Grade/Group 3 winners Brazilian Bride, Naninja, and Psalm.
- Belle Gallante (1972, by Gallant Man) won two of her four starts. She is the dam of listed stakes winner Boom and Bust (by Mr. Prospector); the second dam of 2013 Carter Handicap (USA-G1) winner Swagger Jack, Grade 2 winner Tap Dance, and Grade 3 winner With Flair; and the third dam of 2010 Spanish Horse of the Year Silverside, 2010 Ruffian Invitational Handicap (USA-G1) winner Malibu Prayer, and Grade 2 winner Valid.
- Belladora (1976, by Stage Door Johnny) won the 1979 Poinsettia Stakes (USA-G3). She is the second dam of 2001 Mercury Sprint (SAF-G1) winner All Will Be Well and Grade 2 winners Silver Music and Musical Ghost and is the third dam of Grade 2 winner Noble Moon.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Prayer Bell was bred Greentree Stud. She began her broodmare career as the property of Duval Headley, who bred her first four foals. Headley and his wife Betty then gave Prayer Bell to their daughter Sara and their son-in-law Dennis Noviello as a wedding gift, and Noviello bred or co-bred the mare's next four foals. Following the birth of Silent Screen, Prayer Bell was acquired by Edward Evans, who bred her remaining foals.
Pedigree notes
Prayer Bell is inbred 4x5 to 1920 American Horse of the Year Man o’ War, the American champion sire of 1926. She is a half sister to 1964 Test Stakes winner Time for Bed (by Bold Ruler), the second dam of Grade 3 winner Firgie’s Jule. Prayer Bell is also a half sister to the fine broodmare Home by Dark (by Hill Prince), dam of 1968 American champion 3-year-old filly Dark Mirage (by Persian Road II) and stakes winners Bold Impulse and Gray Mirage (both by Bold Bidder); second dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Javamine; and third dam of multiple champion Indian Skimmer, 1987 Irish champion sprinter Bluebird, multiple Grade 1 winners Java Gold and Timely Writer, 1987 Santa Anita Oaks (USA-G1) winner Timely Assertion, and 1995 Ballerina Handicap (USA-G1) winner Classy Mirage among others. In addition, Prayer Bell is a half sister to Royal Society (by Royal Charger), second dam of 1979 Puerto Rican champion imported 2-year-old male Lazy Eyes and Grade 2 winner Nordic Prince.
Prayer Bell is out of 1949 Spinaway Stakes winner Sunday Evening, a half sister to multiple stakes winner Mesmer (by Third Degree). Sunday Evening is also a half sister to Aching Back (by War Admiral), dam of 1962 Del Mar Futurity winner Slipped Disc (by Decathlon) and 1969 Summer Stakes winner Admiral's Road (by Lord Quillo) and second dam of 1967 Illinois Derby winner Royal Malabar.
Sunday Evening, in turn, is out of 1937 Ashland Stakes winner Drowsy (by Royal Minstrel), a half sister to juvenile stakes winner Condiment (by Eight Thirty) and to Turnplate (by Bull Lea), second dam of five stakes winners including 1971 Puerto Rican champion older male Ray Jeter and 1955 Hollywood Lassie Stakes winner Miss Todd. The next dam in Prayer Bell's tail-female line, Lazy Susan (by St. Germans) is out of the Delhi mare Idle Dell and is, thus, a half sister to 1927 Matron Stakes and Pimlico Futurity winner Glade (by Touch Me Not), dam of 1932 Spinaway Stakes winner Easy Day (by St. Germans) and 1933 Futurity Stakes winner Singing Wood (by Royal Minstrel).
Last updated: August 31, 2022