Spoken Fur (USA)
March 22, 2000 – Living
Notebook (USA) x Siberian Fur (USA), by Siberian Express (USA)
Family 22-b
March 22, 2000 – Living
Notebook (USA) x Siberian Fur (USA), by Siberian Express (USA)
Family 22-b
It took Spoken Fur five tries to break her maiden, but her first win started a five-race streak that saw her win two Grade 1 races, both legs of the New York Triple Tiara series (which then consisted of the Mother Goose Stakes, Coaching Club American Oaks, and Alabama Stakes, all Grade 1 events). She was unable to complete the Tiara sweep but was still acknowledged as one of the best sophomore fillies of an unexceptional year for the division. She has had only limited success as a broodmare.
Race record
12 starts, 5 wins, 1 second, 4 thirds, US$675,880
2003:
As an individual
A gray or roan mare with rough ankles, Spoken Fur was nasty-tempered, aggressive, and difficult to manage as a youngster but became a more professional racer as she matured. She typically won her races with a strong turn of foot while coming from off the pace. She was retired due to a tendon tear suffered when running unplaced in the 2003 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (USA-G1), her only start on grass.
As a producer
Spoken Fur has produced nine named foals, of which seven have started and five have won. Her only foal of significance thus far is Serendip (2010, by Ghostzapper), winner of the listed Prairie Meadows Handicap in 2014.
Connections
Foaled in Florida, Spoken Fur was bred by Dr. Wilber Johnson and George Smith. She began her racing career as the property of Johnston, Smith, and William Ryan. In May 2003, she was purchased privately by John Amerman and afterward raced for his Amerman Racing Stables. Following her sale, she was trained by Bobby Frankel. She was ridden to her Coaching Club American Oaks score by Jerry Bailey. After producing her first three foals in the name of Amerman’s wife Jerry, Spoken Fur was sold to Southern Equine for US$1.65 million at the 2007 Keeneland November mixed sale, in foal to Smart Strike. In January 2010, Spoken Fur was initially entered in the Keeneland January mixed sale, in foal to Ghostzapper, but was withdrawn and sold privately for US$500,000 to Symboli Stud of Japan, with Narvinck International serving as agent.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1987 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (USA-G2) winner Notebook (by the useful Raja Baba horse Well Decorated, winner of the 1980 Arlington-Washington Futurity, USA-G1), Spoken Fur is inbred 4x4 to 1953 American Horse of the Year Tom Fool. She is a full sister to Spoken Softly, dam of listed stakes winner Street Strategy (by Street Sense). She is also a half sister to multiple Grade 3 winner Unbridled’s Note (by Unbridled’s Song) and to Brrneedfur (by Mecke), dam of stakes winner Warrens Puppy Love (by Mongol Warrior). In addition, Spoken Fur is a half sister to Graciously Soft (by Vindication), dam of listed stakes winner Justin Squared (by Zensational).
Spoken Fur and her siblings are out of the winner Siberian Fur, whose sire Siberian Express won the 1983 Prix Morny (FR-G1) and the 1984 Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas, FR-G1). The next dam in the tail-female line, the winning Quack mare Siksika, is a half sister to Grade 3 winner Sans Arc (by High Echelon), dam of listed stakes winner Quake Lake (by Quack) and Grade 3-placed multiple stakes winner Beveled (by Sharpen Up), and to listed stakes winner Crystal Stone (by Pappa Fourway), dam of Grade 3 winner Carborundum (by Best Turn) and Irish listed stakes winner Curio (by Majestic Light). Siksika is also a half sister to Salish (by Olden Times), dam of multiple stakes winner Elk Creek (by Hell Gate Canyon), and to Matoki (by Hail to Reason), dam of 1993 Premio Roma (ITY-G1) winner Knifebox (by Diesis), multiple Grade 3 winner Parochial (by Mehmet), and multiple German listed stakes winner Catoki (by Storm Cat). Matoki is also the second dam of Grade 2 winner Diversy Harbor and multiple Grade 3 winners Keertana and Snow Top Mountain.
Salmon Lake, the dam of Siksika and her siblings, is a daughter of Tom Fool out of Kootenai (by Royal Vale). She is a half sister to Seely Lake (by Determine), dam of Blue Chip Dan (by Blue Prince) and Sidle (by No Robbery)
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photo taken by Jessica Morgan at the 2007 Keeneland November mixed sale. Used by permission.
Last updated: January 16, 2021
Race record
12 starts, 5 wins, 1 second, 4 thirds, US$675,880
2003:
- Won Mother Goose Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- Won Coaching Club American Oaks (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Alabama Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Gazelle Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
As an individual
A gray or roan mare with rough ankles, Spoken Fur was nasty-tempered, aggressive, and difficult to manage as a youngster but became a more professional racer as she matured. She typically won her races with a strong turn of foot while coming from off the pace. She was retired due to a tendon tear suffered when running unplaced in the 2003 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (USA-G1), her only start on grass.
As a producer
Spoken Fur has produced nine named foals, of which seven have started and five have won. Her only foal of significance thus far is Serendip (2010, by Ghostzapper), winner of the listed Prairie Meadows Handicap in 2014.
Connections
Foaled in Florida, Spoken Fur was bred by Dr. Wilber Johnson and George Smith. She began her racing career as the property of Johnston, Smith, and William Ryan. In May 2003, she was purchased privately by John Amerman and afterward raced for his Amerman Racing Stables. Following her sale, she was trained by Bobby Frankel. She was ridden to her Coaching Club American Oaks score by Jerry Bailey. After producing her first three foals in the name of Amerman’s wife Jerry, Spoken Fur was sold to Southern Equine for US$1.65 million at the 2007 Keeneland November mixed sale, in foal to Smart Strike. In January 2010, Spoken Fur was initially entered in the Keeneland January mixed sale, in foal to Ghostzapper, but was withdrawn and sold privately for US$500,000 to Symboli Stud of Japan, with Narvinck International serving as agent.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1987 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (USA-G2) winner Notebook (by the useful Raja Baba horse Well Decorated, winner of the 1980 Arlington-Washington Futurity, USA-G1), Spoken Fur is inbred 4x4 to 1953 American Horse of the Year Tom Fool. She is a full sister to Spoken Softly, dam of listed stakes winner Street Strategy (by Street Sense). She is also a half sister to multiple Grade 3 winner Unbridled’s Note (by Unbridled’s Song) and to Brrneedfur (by Mecke), dam of stakes winner Warrens Puppy Love (by Mongol Warrior). In addition, Spoken Fur is a half sister to Graciously Soft (by Vindication), dam of listed stakes winner Justin Squared (by Zensational).
Spoken Fur and her siblings are out of the winner Siberian Fur, whose sire Siberian Express won the 1983 Prix Morny (FR-G1) and the 1984 Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas, FR-G1). The next dam in the tail-female line, the winning Quack mare Siksika, is a half sister to Grade 3 winner Sans Arc (by High Echelon), dam of listed stakes winner Quake Lake (by Quack) and Grade 3-placed multiple stakes winner Beveled (by Sharpen Up), and to listed stakes winner Crystal Stone (by Pappa Fourway), dam of Grade 3 winner Carborundum (by Best Turn) and Irish listed stakes winner Curio (by Majestic Light). Siksika is also a half sister to Salish (by Olden Times), dam of multiple stakes winner Elk Creek (by Hell Gate Canyon), and to Matoki (by Hail to Reason), dam of 1993 Premio Roma (ITY-G1) winner Knifebox (by Diesis), multiple Grade 3 winner Parochial (by Mehmet), and multiple German listed stakes winner Catoki (by Storm Cat). Matoki is also the second dam of Grade 2 winner Diversy Harbor and multiple Grade 3 winners Keertana and Snow Top Mountain.
Salmon Lake, the dam of Siksika and her siblings, is a daughter of Tom Fool out of Kootenai (by Royal Vale). She is a half sister to Seely Lake (by Determine), dam of Blue Chip Dan (by Blue Prince) and Sidle (by No Robbery)
Fun facts
- Spoken Fur was actually transferred to Bobby Frankel’s barn by her original ownership group, which wanted to sell the filly. Frankel did not want to buy her, but shortly after Spoken Fur came under his care, he got a phone call from John Amerman, who said that he was in the market for a 3-year-old filly. Realizing that another buyer might choose to move the filly elsewhere, Frankel told Amerman what he had and ended up negotiating the sale.
- Spoken Fur ran third in the Alabama Stakes (USA-G1), losing her bid for the Triple Tiara. The winner? Island Fashion, whose trainer, Barclay Tagg, had seen his hopes for a Triple Crown come to nothing earlier that year when his Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) and Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) winner Funny Cide ran third behind the Frankel-trained Empire Maker in the Belmont Stakes (USA-G1).
Photo credit
Photo taken by Jessica Morgan at the 2007 Keeneland November mixed sale. Used by permission.
Last updated: January 16, 2021