Silver Spoon (USA)
March 6, 1956 – January 1978
Citation (USA) x Silver Fog (USA), by Mahmoud (FR)
American Family 1
March 6, 1956 – January 1978
Citation (USA) x Silver Fog (USA), by Mahmoud (FR)
American Family 1
Silver Spoon had an awkward walk due to an injury suffered when young, and for a while it was thought that she would never be able to withstand training. Even after she proved able to carry a rider at a gallop, there was some question as to whether she could maintain racing speed around a turn. Most outfits would have kept her for the broodmare bands anyway purely on the strength of her pedigree. It is a measure of the depth of the Whitney breeding program and the rigor of its standards that, instead of being sent straight to the paddocks, Silver Spoon was dropped into a US$8,000 maiden claiming race with the intent of putting her into a paddock sale scheduled thereafter. She won easily and was not claimed, and C. V. Whitney promptly withdrew her from the paddock sale, thereby retaining a future champion and fine broodmare.
Race record
27 starts, 13 wins, 3 seconds, 4 thirds, US$313,390
1959:
1960:
Honors
Assessments
Highweighted with High Bid at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1959, 1 pound above the other official divisional co-champion, Royal Native.
Rated at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1960, 5 pounds below champion Royal Native.
As an individual
A chestnut mare standing 16.2 hands, Silver Spoon had a deep girth, a good shoulder, short cannons and exceptionally powerful hindquarters with a long, level pelvis and great leverage from hip to hock. She had the level croup of her sire Citation. She had a long, light stride that was not well suited to off or deep tracks. While some observers considered her to be a rather masculine-looking individual, she was not coarse and did not carry a great deal of flesh while in training. She was light in the flank, rather light of bone and had sickle hocks. While she had a good disposition in the barn, she was high-strung, a poor shipper and not a particularly good doer. Charles Hatton of the Daily Racing Form attributed her decline in form during the summer and fall of 1959 to a viral infection, stating that she weighed 150 pounds less after her last race of the season than in the spring.
As a producer
Silver Spoon produced seven named foals, of which six started and four won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Silver Spoon was bred and owned by C. V. Whitney. She was initially trained by Sylvester Veitch but was taken over by Robert Wheeler after her first start. She remained in the Whitney broodmare band throughout her producing career.
Pedigree notes
Silver Spoon is inbred 4x4 to 1918 English Triple Crown winner Gainsborough. She is a half sister to 1964 Spinaway Stakes winner Silver True (by Hail to Reason), dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Silver Buck (by Buckpasser) and stakes winner Silver Badge (by Poker) and third dam of Grade 2 winner Mark Valeski and Grade 3 winner Albano. She is also a half sister to 1965 Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes winner Silver Bright (by Barbizon), dam of multiple Grade 1 winner State Dinner (by Buckpasser) and 1976 Hopeful Stakes (USA-G1) winner Banquet Table (by Round Table) and second dam of Grade 2 winners Mio Robertino and Star of Manila and French Group 3 winner Gamberta. In addition, Silver Spoon is a half sister to multiple stakes winner The Searcher (by Phalanx) and to stakes producers Misty (by Burg-el-Arab), Day Flight (by Priam II) and Yellow Mist (by Hierocles). The last-named mare is the third dam of 1982 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) winner Gato del Sol and of 1988 French champion 2-year-old filly Tersa, dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Rock Hard Ten.
Silver Spoon's dam Silver Fog is a winning half sister to 1949 San Antonio Handicap winner Dinner Gong (by Eight Thirty) and to Little Saint (by St. Germans), dam of 1953 Sellima Stakes winner Small Favor (by Priam II) and 1956 Ohio Derby winner Born Mighty (by Mahmoud) and third dam of Grade 2 winners Sharp Gary and Cathy Baby and Grade 3 winner Free Journey. She is also a half sister to Future Policy (by Requested), dam of multiple stakes winner Refute (by Mahmoud).
Silver Fog and her siblings were produced from Equilette, a half sister to 1939 Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Cravat (by Sickle), a horse generally ranked second only to Kayak II among the American older males of 1939. She is also a half sister to 1933 Selima Stakes winner Jabot (by Sickle), dam of 1951 American Horse of the Year Counterpoint (by Count Fleet) and second dam of 1960 Santa Anita Derby and Travers Stakes winner Tompion, and to stakes winner Hindu Kush (by Mahmoud). In addition, Equilette is a half sister to stakes-placed Peplum (by Sickle), third dam of 1965 Kentucky Oaks winner Amerivan and 1966 Schuylerville Stakes winner Vanilla. She is out of the Man o' War mare Frilette, winner of the 1926 Beldame Handicap and runner-up in the 1927 Coaching Club American Oaks and Gazelle Stakes.
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. Taken during a pre-Kentucky Derby workout at Churchill Downs. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: August 24, 2021
Race record
27 starts, 13 wins, 3 seconds, 4 thirds, US$313,390
1959:
- Won Santa Anita Derby (USA, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Cinema Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hollywood)
- Won Santa Susana Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- Won La Centinela Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Santa Ynez Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Delaware Oaks (USA, 9FD, Delaware)
- 3rd Monmouth Oaks (USA, 9FD, Monmouth)
1960:
- Won Santa Margarita Handicap (USA, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Santa Maria Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Santa Monica Handicap (USA, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Milady Handicap (USA, 8FD, Hollywood)
- Won Vanity Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hollywood)
- 2nd Sequoia Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hollywood)
- 3rd Arlington Matron Handicap (USA, 9FD, Arlington Park)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1978)
- Arcadia Historical Society's Racing Walk of Champions (inducted as part of the inaugural class in 2014)
- American co-champion 3-year-old filly (1959)
Assessments
Highweighted with High Bid at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1959, 1 pound above the other official divisional co-champion, Royal Native.
Rated at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1960, 5 pounds below champion Royal Native.
As an individual
A chestnut mare standing 16.2 hands, Silver Spoon had a deep girth, a good shoulder, short cannons and exceptionally powerful hindquarters with a long, level pelvis and great leverage from hip to hock. She had the level croup of her sire Citation. She had a long, light stride that was not well suited to off or deep tracks. While some observers considered her to be a rather masculine-looking individual, she was not coarse and did not carry a great deal of flesh while in training. She was light in the flank, rather light of bone and had sickle hocks. While she had a good disposition in the barn, she was high-strung, a poor shipper and not a particularly good doer. Charles Hatton of the Daily Racing Form attributed her decline in form during the summer and fall of 1959 to a viral infection, stating that she weighed 150 pounds less after her last race of the season than in the spring.
As a producer
Silver Spoon produced seven named foals, of which six started and four won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Silver Coin (1965, by Never Bend) is the dam of 1977 Florida Derby (USA-G1) winner Coined Silver (by Herbager)
- Inca Queen (by 1968, Hail to Reason), won the 1972 Top Flight Handicap. She is the dam of Grade 2 winners Exile King (by Exclusive Native; a successful sire in Brazil ) and Hail Bold King (by Bold Bidder) and Grade 3 winner Metfield (by Seattle Slew). Inca Queen is also the second dam of five stakes winners including multiple German Group 1 winner Germany, 1999 Ruffian Handicap (USA-G1) winner Catinca and Grade 3 winner Manny's Prospect and is the third dam of Grade 3 winner April Pride.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Silver Spoon was bred and owned by C. V. Whitney. She was initially trained by Sylvester Veitch but was taken over by Robert Wheeler after her first start. She remained in the Whitney broodmare band throughout her producing career.
Pedigree notes
Silver Spoon is inbred 4x4 to 1918 English Triple Crown winner Gainsborough. She is a half sister to 1964 Spinaway Stakes winner Silver True (by Hail to Reason), dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Silver Buck (by Buckpasser) and stakes winner Silver Badge (by Poker) and third dam of Grade 2 winner Mark Valeski and Grade 3 winner Albano. She is also a half sister to 1965 Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes winner Silver Bright (by Barbizon), dam of multiple Grade 1 winner State Dinner (by Buckpasser) and 1976 Hopeful Stakes (USA-G1) winner Banquet Table (by Round Table) and second dam of Grade 2 winners Mio Robertino and Star of Manila and French Group 3 winner Gamberta. In addition, Silver Spoon is a half sister to multiple stakes winner The Searcher (by Phalanx) and to stakes producers Misty (by Burg-el-Arab), Day Flight (by Priam II) and Yellow Mist (by Hierocles). The last-named mare is the third dam of 1982 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) winner Gato del Sol and of 1988 French champion 2-year-old filly Tersa, dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Rock Hard Ten.
Silver Spoon's dam Silver Fog is a winning half sister to 1949 San Antonio Handicap winner Dinner Gong (by Eight Thirty) and to Little Saint (by St. Germans), dam of 1953 Sellima Stakes winner Small Favor (by Priam II) and 1956 Ohio Derby winner Born Mighty (by Mahmoud) and third dam of Grade 2 winners Sharp Gary and Cathy Baby and Grade 3 winner Free Journey. She is also a half sister to Future Policy (by Requested), dam of multiple stakes winner Refute (by Mahmoud).
Silver Fog and her siblings were produced from Equilette, a half sister to 1939 Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Cravat (by Sickle), a horse generally ranked second only to Kayak II among the American older males of 1939. She is also a half sister to 1933 Selima Stakes winner Jabot (by Sickle), dam of 1951 American Horse of the Year Counterpoint (by Count Fleet) and second dam of 1960 Santa Anita Derby and Travers Stakes winner Tompion, and to stakes winner Hindu Kush (by Mahmoud). In addition, Equilette is a half sister to stakes-placed Peplum (by Sickle), third dam of 1965 Kentucky Oaks winner Amerivan and 1966 Schuylerville Stakes winner Vanilla. She is out of the Man o' War mare Frilette, winner of the 1926 Beldame Handicap and runner-up in the 1927 Coaching Club American Oaks and Gazelle Stakes.
Fun facts
- Silver Spoon's poor action at her slow paces was due to her having been kicked in the left hip as a foal. The injury was severe enough that she actually dragged the foot on that side at a walk. Even after she reached maturity, the foot-dragging would reappear when she was tired.
- Silver Spoon was the first filly to start in the Kentucky Derby since Misstep in 1945. While she finished fifth, she was only beaten two heads for the show spot and about 2½ lengths for everything.
- Silver Spoon was the first American filly or mare to win twice under 130 pounds or more during the same season since Princess Doreen in 1925.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. Taken during a pre-Kentucky Derby workout at Churchill Downs. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: August 24, 2021