Proud Spell (USA)
Foaled May 13, 2005 – Living
Proud Citizen (USA) x Pacific Spell (USA), by Langfuhr (CAN)
Family 4-m
Foaled May 13, 2005 – Living
Proud Citizen (USA) x Pacific Spell (USA), by Langfuhr (CAN)
Family 4-m
A consistent and talented filly in spite of her tiny size and conformational issues, Proud Spell was among the best of her crop at 2 and was better still at 3, when she earned an Eclipse Award. Stopped by injury after one race at 4, she has been modestly successful as a broodmare.
Race record
13 starts, 7 wins, 4 seconds, 2 thirds, US$3,131,610
2007:
2008:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 119 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile fillies of 2007, 4 pounds below champion Indian Blessing but third overall.
Earned ratings of 118 pounds on the 2008 World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for her performances in the Kentucky Oaks and Alabama Stakes, 10 pounds below the topweighted female, Zarkava (who earned her rating in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, FR-G1), but tied with Music Note for the best among 3-year-old fillies on dirt.
As an individual
A bay mare who stood barely 15 hands at the time of her Kentucky Oaks victory, Proud Spell was described as having “funky legs” by Will Graves of the Associated Press. She preferred to come from off the pace when racing. She handled both fast and sloppy tracks well but was less effective in her one start on a synthetic surface. She was gritty and determined when in action.
As a producer
As of February 2023, Proud Spell has produced eight named foals, of which seven have started and six have won. Her most important foal thus far has been Indian Spell (by Indian Charlie), who won the 2013 Miss Woodford Stakes at Monmouth and is the dam of juvenile stakes winner Dak Attack (by Ghostzapper).
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Proud Spell was bred and owned by Brereton C. Jones. She was trained by Larry Jones and was ridden throughout her career by Gabriel Saez. After producing three foals for Brereton Jones, Proud Spell was sold privately and was exported to Japan.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 2002 Coolmore Lexington Stakes (USA-G2) winner and Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) runner-up Proud Citizen (by Gone West), Proud Spell is inbred 5x5x5 to 1958 Canadian Horse of the Year Nearctic and 5x5 to the important producer Natalma, and has the full sister and brother Arctic Dancer and Northern Dancer appearing 4x4 in her pedigree. She is a half sister to listed stakes winner No Distortion (by Distorted Humor).
Proud Spell is out of Pacific Spell, a winning half sister to listed stakes winner Call Her Magic (by Caller I.D.), dam of 2010 Del Mar Futurity (USA-G1) winner J P’s Gusto (by Successful Appeal) and second dam of two-time Canadian champion Miss Mischief and 2021 Apple Blossom Handicap (USA-G1) winner Letruska. The sisters are out of the winner Malibu Magic (by the Nijinsky II horse Encino), whose half sister Imaginary Lady (by Marfa) won the 1989 Santa Anita Oaks (USA-G1). Malibu Magic is also a half sister to Dream Dream (by Wajima), dam of restricted stakes winner Imaginary Dream (by Sky Classic); to Hurricane Judy (by Storm Cat), dam of listed stakes winner Ronton (by Cryptoclearance) and second dam of three-time Panamanian champion Forever Fixed; and to Hickory Hustler (by Capote), dam of multiple restricted stakes winner Hustle Now (by Creative).
Malibu Magic and her siblings are out of stakes-placed Dream Harder, whose sire Hard Work won the 1969 Breeders’ Futurity. A half sister to Puerto Rican stakes winner Ineabelle (by Times Roman). Dream Harder was produced from Great Squaw, a winner by 1951 Santa Anita Maturity winner Great Circle.
Books and media:
The New York Racing Association’s footage of Proud Spell’s victory in the 2008 Alabama Stakes can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axquTP8_WJI.
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photo taken by Jessica Morgan during the post parade for the 2008 Ashland Stakes. Used by permission.
Last updated: February 4, 2023
Race record
13 starts, 7 wins, 4 seconds, 2 thirds, US$3,131,610
2007:
- Won Matron Stakes (USA-G2, 7FD, Belmont)
- Won White Clay Creek Stakes (USA, 6FD, Delaware Park)
- 2nd Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Monmouth)
2008:
- Won Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Alabama Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- Won Fair Grounds Oaks (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Fair Grounds)
- Won Delaware Oaks (USA-G2, 8FD, Delaware Park)
- 2nd Fitz Dixon Cotillion Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Philadelphia Park)
- 2nd Silverbulletday Stakes (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Fair Grounds)
- 3rd Ashland Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FA, Keeneland)
- 3rd Mother Goose Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont, disqualified from second)
Honors
- Fair Grounds Hall of Fame (inducted in 2014)
- Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old filly (2008)
Assessments
Rated at 119 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile fillies of 2007, 4 pounds below champion Indian Blessing but third overall.
Earned ratings of 118 pounds on the 2008 World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for her performances in the Kentucky Oaks and Alabama Stakes, 10 pounds below the topweighted female, Zarkava (who earned her rating in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, FR-G1), but tied with Music Note for the best among 3-year-old fillies on dirt.
As an individual
A bay mare who stood barely 15 hands at the time of her Kentucky Oaks victory, Proud Spell was described as having “funky legs” by Will Graves of the Associated Press. She preferred to come from off the pace when racing. She handled both fast and sloppy tracks well but was less effective in her one start on a synthetic surface. She was gritty and determined when in action.
As a producer
As of February 2023, Proud Spell has produced eight named foals, of which seven have started and six have won. Her most important foal thus far has been Indian Spell (by Indian Charlie), who won the 2013 Miss Woodford Stakes at Monmouth and is the dam of juvenile stakes winner Dak Attack (by Ghostzapper).
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Proud Spell was bred and owned by Brereton C. Jones. She was trained by Larry Jones and was ridden throughout her career by Gabriel Saez. After producing three foals for Brereton Jones, Proud Spell was sold privately and was exported to Japan.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 2002 Coolmore Lexington Stakes (USA-G2) winner and Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) runner-up Proud Citizen (by Gone West), Proud Spell is inbred 5x5x5 to 1958 Canadian Horse of the Year Nearctic and 5x5 to the important producer Natalma, and has the full sister and brother Arctic Dancer and Northern Dancer appearing 4x4 in her pedigree. She is a half sister to listed stakes winner No Distortion (by Distorted Humor).
Proud Spell is out of Pacific Spell, a winning half sister to listed stakes winner Call Her Magic (by Caller I.D.), dam of 2010 Del Mar Futurity (USA-G1) winner J P’s Gusto (by Successful Appeal) and second dam of two-time Canadian champion Miss Mischief and 2021 Apple Blossom Handicap (USA-G1) winner Letruska. The sisters are out of the winner Malibu Magic (by the Nijinsky II horse Encino), whose half sister Imaginary Lady (by Marfa) won the 1989 Santa Anita Oaks (USA-G1). Malibu Magic is also a half sister to Dream Dream (by Wajima), dam of restricted stakes winner Imaginary Dream (by Sky Classic); to Hurricane Judy (by Storm Cat), dam of listed stakes winner Ronton (by Cryptoclearance) and second dam of three-time Panamanian champion Forever Fixed; and to Hickory Hustler (by Capote), dam of multiple restricted stakes winner Hustle Now (by Creative).
Malibu Magic and her siblings are out of stakes-placed Dream Harder, whose sire Hard Work won the 1969 Breeders’ Futurity. A half sister to Puerto Rican stakes winner Ineabelle (by Times Roman). Dream Harder was produced from Great Squaw, a winner by 1951 Santa Anita Maturity winner Great Circle.
Books and media:
The New York Racing Association’s footage of Proud Spell’s victory in the 2008 Alabama Stakes can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axquTP8_WJI.
Fun facts
- Brereton Jones had originally intended to sell Proud Spell as a yearling but pulled her from the sale because she was so small and had faulty legs. Later, three different buyers made offers for the filly and then withdrew them, only to see Proud Spell romp easily in her next race following each withdrawal.
- The runner-up to Proud Spell in Eclipse Award voting for champion 3-year-old filly was her stablemate Eight Belles, who ran second behind Big Brown in the Kentucky Derby but suffered a fatal breakdown during the gallop-out. Proud Spell got 90 first-place votes to Eight Belles’ 71.
Photo credit
Photo taken by Jessica Morgan during the post parade for the 2008 Ashland Stakes. Used by permission.
Last updated: February 4, 2023