Soaring Softly (USA)
March 21, 1995 – September 29, 2015
Kris S. (USA) x Wings of Grace (USA), by Key to the Mint (USA)
Family 12-c
March 21, 1995 – September 29, 2015
Kris S. (USA) x Wings of Grace (USA), by Key to the Mint (USA)
Family 12-c
On dirt, Soaring Softly was just another allowance filly. She did not make her first start on the turf until she was a 4-year-old, but she made up for lost time with a vengeance. She won seven of eight starts that year, including the inaugural Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (USA-G1), and was named champion of the turf female division in the United States. She was a modest success as a broodmare.
Race record
16 starts, 9 wins, 1 second, 3 thirds, US$1,270,433
1999:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion turf female (1999)
Assessments
Highweighted at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf females of 1999, 1 pound above second-rated Tuzla.
As an individual
A tall, rangy, feminine chestnut mare with a lovely shoulder, Soaring Softly was said to have strongly resembled her dam, Wings of Grace, but was more highly strung. She had a dominant, strong-willed personality and was not very friendly with people. She was capable of delivering a long, sustained drive when racing. She was retired from racing due to a soft tissue injury found after her Breeders' Cup win.
As a producer
Soaring Softly produced 10 named foals of racing age. Eight have started and six have won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Soaring Softly was bred by Dan Galbreath, Joan Galbreath Phillips and John Phillips of Darby Dan Farm under the name of Galbreath/Phillips Racing Partnership. She raced under the name of Phillips Racing Partnership. She was trained by Jimmy Toner. Soaring Softly spent her entire broodmare career at Darby Dan, where she was humanely destroyed after fracturing an elbow in a paddock accident in September 2015.
Pedigree notes
Soaring Softly is inbred 3x4 to Princequillo. She is a half sister to 1990 Yellow Ribbon Stakes (USA-G1) winner Plenty of Grace (by Kris S.' sire Roberto), second dam of Grade 2 winner Diabolical and multiple French Group 3 winner What a Name. Soaring Softly is also a half sister to Noble Wings (by Vaguely Noble), second dam of 2006 Puerto Rican champion 2-year-old filly Tonadilla, and to Jody G. (by Roberto), dam of Grade 2 winner Duality (by Seeking the Gold), Grade 3 winner Bound by Honor (by Woodman), and Canadian stakes winner Private Joe (by Private Account) and second dam of 2013 Australian Cup Stakes (AUS-G1) winner Super Cool. In addition, Soaring Softly is a half sister to Graceful Wings (by Groovy), dam of stakes winner River Rush (by Strodes Creek), and to Honor Bestowed (by Honor Grades), dam of Grade 3 winners Taqarub (by Aldebaran) and Recepta (by Speightstown).
Wings of Grace, the dam of Soaring Softly, won the 1981 Boiling Springs Handicap (USA-G3). Produced from the Nijinsky II matron Far Beyond, she is a half sister to stakes-placed Battle Creek Girl (by His Majesty), dam of 1989 Canadian champion 2-year-old filly Wavering Girl (by Wavering Monarch), multiple Grade 3 winner Tricky Creek (by Clever Trick); Grade 2 winners Speed Dialer (by Phone Trick), Parade Ground (by Kingmambo), and Parade Leader (by Kingmambo); and Grade 3-placed listed stakes winner Everhope (by Danzig). Battle Creek Girl is also the second dam of 11 stakes winners including 1998 Oak Tree Turf Championship Stakes (USA-G1) winner Military and Grade 3 winner Star of Valor and the third dam of 2010 Peruvian Horse of the Year Fahed Jr., 2015 La Troienne Stakes (USA-G1) winner Molly Morgan, Grade 3 winner Utopian, and Australian Group 3 winner Swiss Echo.
Far Beyond also produced Sunyata (by Proud Truth), dam of Grade 2 winner New Economy (by Red Ransom; dam of Canadian Grade 3 winner New Normal, by Forestry) and second dam of 2009 Dixiana Breeders' Futurity (USA-G1) winner Noble's Cause; Never Say Forever (by Graustark), second dam of Grade 3 winner Midway Magistrate; and Peggibonsi (by Proud Truth), dam of stakes winner Pulsatilla (by Gone West). The next dam in the tail-female line, the Swaps mare Soaring, also produced 1982 Monmouth Handicap (USA-G1) winner Mehmet and 1968 Ashland Stakes winner Miss Swapsco (by Cohoes), an important producer in her own right.
Fun facts
Last updated: April 22, 2023
Race record
16 starts, 9 wins, 1 second, 3 thirds, US$1,270,433
1999:
- Won Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (USA-G1, 11FT, Gulfstream Park)
- Won Flower Bowl Invitational Handicap (USA-G1, 10FT, Belmont)
- Won New York Handicap (USA-G2, 10FT, Belmont)
- Won Sheepshead Bay Handicap (USA-G2, 11FT, Belmont)
- Won Vineland Handicap (USA-L, 8.5FT, Garden State)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion turf female (1999)
Assessments
Highweighted at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf females of 1999, 1 pound above second-rated Tuzla.
As an individual
A tall, rangy, feminine chestnut mare with a lovely shoulder, Soaring Softly was said to have strongly resembled her dam, Wings of Grace, but was more highly strung. She had a dominant, strong-willed personality and was not very friendly with people. She was capable of delivering a long, sustained drive when racing. She was retired from racing due to a soft tissue injury found after her Breeders' Cup win.
As a producer
Soaring Softly produced 10 named foals of racing age. Eight have started and six have won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Seek to Soar (2002, by Seeking the Gold) won two of her eight starts. She is the dam of multiple listed stakes winner Spring to the Sky (by Langfuhr).
- Much Rejoicing (2007, by Distorted Humor) won the 2011 Glia Stakes at Belmont.
- Manitoulin (2013, by Awesome Again; a gelding) won the 2017 Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (USA-G2).
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Soaring Softly was bred by Dan Galbreath, Joan Galbreath Phillips and John Phillips of Darby Dan Farm under the name of Galbreath/Phillips Racing Partnership. She raced under the name of Phillips Racing Partnership. She was trained by Jimmy Toner. Soaring Softly spent her entire broodmare career at Darby Dan, where she was humanely destroyed after fracturing an elbow in a paddock accident in September 2015.
Pedigree notes
Soaring Softly is inbred 3x4 to Princequillo. She is a half sister to 1990 Yellow Ribbon Stakes (USA-G1) winner Plenty of Grace (by Kris S.' sire Roberto), second dam of Grade 2 winner Diabolical and multiple French Group 3 winner What a Name. Soaring Softly is also a half sister to Noble Wings (by Vaguely Noble), second dam of 2006 Puerto Rican champion 2-year-old filly Tonadilla, and to Jody G. (by Roberto), dam of Grade 2 winner Duality (by Seeking the Gold), Grade 3 winner Bound by Honor (by Woodman), and Canadian stakes winner Private Joe (by Private Account) and second dam of 2013 Australian Cup Stakes (AUS-G1) winner Super Cool. In addition, Soaring Softly is a half sister to Graceful Wings (by Groovy), dam of stakes winner River Rush (by Strodes Creek), and to Honor Bestowed (by Honor Grades), dam of Grade 3 winners Taqarub (by Aldebaran) and Recepta (by Speightstown).
Wings of Grace, the dam of Soaring Softly, won the 1981 Boiling Springs Handicap (USA-G3). Produced from the Nijinsky II matron Far Beyond, she is a half sister to stakes-placed Battle Creek Girl (by His Majesty), dam of 1989 Canadian champion 2-year-old filly Wavering Girl (by Wavering Monarch), multiple Grade 3 winner Tricky Creek (by Clever Trick); Grade 2 winners Speed Dialer (by Phone Trick), Parade Ground (by Kingmambo), and Parade Leader (by Kingmambo); and Grade 3-placed listed stakes winner Everhope (by Danzig). Battle Creek Girl is also the second dam of 11 stakes winners including 1998 Oak Tree Turf Championship Stakes (USA-G1) winner Military and Grade 3 winner Star of Valor and the third dam of 2010 Peruvian Horse of the Year Fahed Jr., 2015 La Troienne Stakes (USA-G1) winner Molly Morgan, Grade 3 winner Utopian, and Australian Group 3 winner Swiss Echo.
Far Beyond also produced Sunyata (by Proud Truth), dam of Grade 2 winner New Economy (by Red Ransom; dam of Canadian Grade 3 winner New Normal, by Forestry) and second dam of 2009 Dixiana Breeders' Futurity (USA-G1) winner Noble's Cause; Never Say Forever (by Graustark), second dam of Grade 3 winner Midway Magistrate; and Peggibonsi (by Proud Truth), dam of stakes winner Pulsatilla (by Gone West). The next dam in the tail-female line, the Swaps mare Soaring, also produced 1982 Monmouth Handicap (USA-G1) winner Mehmet and 1968 Ashland Stakes winner Miss Swapsco (by Cohoes), an important producer in her own right.
Fun facts
- The Soaring Softly Stakes is a Grade 3 turf race at Belmont Park for 3-year-old fillies. As of 2023, it is carded for 7 furlongs.
Last updated: April 22, 2023