American Classic Pedigrees
  • Home
  • Books
    • American Classic Pedigrees
    • Dream Derby
    • Gold Rush
    • The Kentucky Oaks
    • The Kingmaker
    • Recommended Reading
  • Blogs
    • Mares on Monday
    • Horse Tales
  • Articles
  • Horse Profiles
    • Horse Profiles A-E
    • Horse Profiles F-K
    • Horse Profiles L-Q
    • Horse Profiles R-Z
  • Links
  • About ACP
    • Author
    • Contact
    • For Contributors
Proud Truth (USA)

March 11, 1982 – August 15, 2005

Graustark (USA) x Wake Robin (USA), by Summer Tan (USA)


Family 8-g

​A big, strong colt in the mold of his sire, Graustark, Proud Truth was considered a promising candidate for the Triple Crown races of 1985 but got a rough trip in the Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) and fractured a foreleg while winning his prep race for the Belmont Stakes (USA-G1), the Peter Pan Stakes (USA-G1). He came back in the fall to score an upset win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (USA-G1), becoming the first 3-year-old to win the race. He ended his 4-year-old campaign with a career-ending injury. Moderately successful as a sire in Kentucky and Maryland, he ended up being exported to Panama, where he sired 15 champions.


Race record

21 starts, 10 wins, 4 seconds, 0 thirds, US$2,198,895

1985:
  • Won Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1, 10FD, Aqueduct)
  • Won Florida Derby (USA-G1, 9FD, Gulfstream Park)
  • Won Fountain of Youth Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Gulfstream Park)
  • Won Peter Pan Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
  • Won Discovery Handicap (USA-G3, 9FD, Aqueduct)
  • 2nd Flamingo Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Hialeah)
  • 2nd Wood Memorial Invitational Stakes (USA-G1. 9FD, Aqueduct)

1986:
  • Won Tidal Handicap (USA-G2, 11FT, Belmont)
  • 2nd Gulfstream Park Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Gulfstream Park)
  • 2nd Suburban Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont)


Assessments

Rated at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1985, 1 pound below divisional champion and Horse of the Year Spend a Buck.

Rated at 120 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American older males of 1986, 6 pounds below highweighted Precisionist and 5 pounds below the official divisional champion, Turkoman.



As an individual

A powerfully made chestnut horse standing 16.2 hands, Proud Truth was described as a “problem child” as a 2-year-old and “not always agreeable” at 3. He was inclined to be lazy at morning workouts but had a powerful closing run.


As a stallion

According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, Proud Truth sired 285 winners (50.5%) and 43 stakes winners (7.6%) from 564 named foals of racing age. His progeny tended to need time to develop but typically stayed well.


Sire rankings

Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
  • Led the Panamanian general sire list in 2003-2005.


Notable progeny

Angelica Dennis (PAN), Ay Papa (PAN), Beatriz (PAN), Candy Blue (PAN), Di Stefano (PAN), Drago (PAN), Lord Gittens (PAN), Memento (PAN), Partnoi (PAN), Revulu (PAN), Salamera (PAN), Serenissima (PAN), Spago (PAN), Truth of It All (USA), Volveremos (PAN), Yeka I. (PAN)


Connections

Bred by Mrs. John W. Galbreath (née Dorothy Bryan Firestone), Proud Truth was owned by Darby Dan Farm. He was trained by John Veitch and was ridden to his Breeders’ Cup Classic triumph by Jorge Velazquez. He entered stud in Kentucky in 1987 at Darby Dan. In 1992, he moved to Lehr Jackson’s Corbett Farm in Maryland. In late 1998, he was purchased by Fernando Eleta Almaran and exported to Panama, where he stood at Haras Cerro Punto. He died of colic in August 2005.


Pedigree notes

Proud Truth is inbred 4x4 to six-time English/Irish champion sire Hyperion, winner of the 1933 Derby Stakes and St. Leger Stakes. He is a half brother to 1974 Regret Handicap (USA-G3) winner Arum Lily (by Bold Lad) and to Little Red Robin (by Ribot), dam of 1981 Lawrence Realization Stakes (USA-G2) winner Our Captain Willie (by Little Current) and Grade 2-placed stakes winner Robin’s Song (by Northern Dancer). Proud Truth is also a half brother to Summer Magic (by Roberto), dam of stakes winner Plairoh (by True Knight).

Wake Robin, the dam of Proud Truth, ran second in a division of the 1966 Test Stakes and is a half sister to the good California stakes winner Battle Dance (by Bolero) and to 1963 Vosburgh Handicap winner Ornamento (by Bold Ruler). She is also a half sister to Victory Medal (by Polynesian), third dam of Grade 3 winner Bea Quality.

Wake Robin and her siblings were produced from the Bimelech mare War Ribbon. A half sister to stakes winners Sagittarius (by Teddy’s Comet) and Masud (by Mahmoud), War Ribbon is also a half sister to Muti (by Mahmoud), dam of 1955 Quaker City Handicap winner Subahdar (by Alsab). She is out of 1939 Diana Handicap winner War Regalia (Man o’ War x Regal Lady, by Supremus), whose full sister Regal Lily won the 1937 Alabama Stakes and is the second dam of 1952 Alabama Stakes winner Lily White and 1960 Massachusetts Handicap winner Talent Show.




Last updated: April 25, 2023
© 2014-2023 by Avalyn Hunter. All rights reserved. Contributors' materials remain the property of the copyright owners and are used by permission.

Home     Books     Articles     Horse Profiles    Hoofprints    Contact    Links