Square Angel (CAN)
April 4, 1970 – c. 1983
Quadrangle (USA) x Nangela (CAN), by Nearctic (CAN)
Family 14-c
April 4, 1970 – c. 1983
Quadrangle (USA) x Nangela (CAN), by Nearctic (CAN)
Family 14-c
While not a great runner, Square Angel had enough ability to become a Classic winner and champion in Canada. She proved a first-rate broodmare after her retirement to the paddocks, perpetuating a highly successful branch of the family of the great English race mare Pretty Polly.
Race record
25 starts, 7 wins, 9 seconds, 3 thirds, US$106,559 (converted from Canadian earnings)
1972:
1973:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 110 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for juveniles of 1972,12 pounds below champion filly La Prevoyante.
Rated at 120 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for 3-year-olds of 1973, tops among sophomore fillies.
As an individual
A strong-bodied bay mare, Square Angel had a good disposition.
As a producer
A Reine-de-Course as designated by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Square Angel produced seven named foals, of which six started and won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled at Windfields Farm in Ontario, Square Angel was bred by E. P. Taylor. A CAN$20,000 auction yearling from the 1971 Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Sale, she was owned by General Preston Gilbride. She was trained by Frank Merrill. Following her racing career, Square Angel was repurchased by Taylor.
Pedigree notes
Square Angel is inbred 3x5 to five-time American champion sire and four-time American champion broodmare sire Bull Lea and 5x5 to 1918 English Triple Crown winner Gainsborough. She is a full sister to Happy Vixen, dam of Grade 3 winner Minutes Away (by Just the Time). She is also a half sister to Dancing Angela (by Dancer's Image), dam of Grade 3 winner Bejilla (by Quadrangle) and stakes winners Le Danseur (by Lord Durham) and Regal Angela (by Regal Intention) and second dam of Italian Group 3 winner Blue Daisy. In addition, Square Angel is a half sister to Miss Nanith (by Victoria Park), second dam of seven stakes winners including Grade 3 winners Scottish Monk and Wire Me Collect.
Square Angel is the first foal of Nangela, who won the Carleton Stakes as a juvenile. Nangela is a half sister to Northern Niece (by Northern Dancer), dam of stakes winners Knightly Marvin (by Knightly Manner) and Great Northern Gal (by Cormorant) and second dam of Irish Group 3 winner Cretan Gift.
Nangela and Northern Niece were produced from the winning Tim Tam mare Angela's Niece, whose half sister Nearctica (by Nearctic) is the dam of Canadian Grade 3 winner Neatice (by Banaldo) and the second dam of multiple Brazilian Group 1 winner Boticao de Ouro. Produced from the English import Great Niece (a full sister to 1967 French champion miler and successful sire Great Nephew, by Honeyway x Sybil's Niece), Angela's Niece is also a half sister to Gay Niece (by Sir Gaylord), second dam of 1987 William Hill Futurity Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Emmson and French Group 3 winner Family Friend.
Books and media
Square Angel is one of 22 important broodmares profiled in Edward Bowen's Matriarchs Volume II: More Great Mares of Modern Times (2008, Blood-Horse Publications).
Fun facts
Last updated: September 26, 2023
Race record
25 starts, 7 wins, 9 seconds, 3 thirds, US$106,559 (converted from Canadian earnings)
1972:
- Won Shady Well Stakes (CAN, 6.5FD, Fort Erie)
- 2nd Yearling Sales Stakes (CAN, 6FD, Fort Erie)
- 2nd Natalma Stakes (CAN, 8.5FT, Woodbine)
1973:
- Won Canadian Oaks (CAN, 9FD, Woodbine)
- Won Fury Stakes (CAN, 7FD, Woodbine)
- Won Nettie Handicap (CAN, 10FT, Woodbine)
- 2nd Star Shoot Stakes (CAN, 6FD, Fort Erie)
- 2nd Bison City Stakes (CAN, 8.5FD, Fort Erie)
- 2nd Tattling Handicap (CAN, 9.5FD, Greenwood)
- 2nd Wonder Where Stakes (CAN, 10FT, Woodbine; disqualified from first)
- 2nd Selene Stakes (CAN, 7FD, Woodbine)
Honors
- Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 2011)
- Canadian champion 3-year-old filly (1973)
Assessments
Rated at 110 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for juveniles of 1972,12 pounds below champion filly La Prevoyante.
Rated at 120 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for 3-year-olds of 1973, tops among sophomore fillies.
As an individual
A strong-bodied bay mare, Square Angel had a good disposition.
As a producer
A Reine-de-Course as designated by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Square Angel produced seven named foals, of which six started and won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Kamar (1976, by Key to the Mint) was the Canadian champion 3-year-old filly of 1979). The 1990 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year, she is the dam of 1984 Canadian champion 3-year-old male Key to the Moon (by Wajima), multiple Grade 1 winner Gorgeous (by Slew o' Gold), 1990 Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1) winner Seaside Attraction (by Seattle Slew) and 1986 Princess Margaret Stakes (ENG-G3) winner Hiaam (by Alydar). She is the second dam of 2001 European Horse of the Year Fantastic Light, 1995 American champion 2-year-old filly Golden Attraction, 1998 Florida Derby (USA-G1) winner Cape Town, and Grade/Group 3 winners Red Carnival, Cape Canaveral and Morning Pride. She is also the third dam of 2016 Venezuelan champion older female La Alpujarra, multiple Grade 1 winner Flashing, 2010 Falmouth Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Music Show, 2009 Ruffian Handicap (USA-G1) winner Swift Temper and 2006 Prix de l'Abbye de Longchamp (FR-G1) winner Desert Lord.
- Stellarette (1978, by Tentam) won the 1983 Barbara Fritchie Handicap (USA-G3). She is the dam of 1990 Hollywood Starlet Stakes (USA-G1) winner Cuddles (by Mr. Prospector) and the second dam of 1998 Gazelle Handicap (USA-G1) winner Tap to Music and Grade 2 winners Northern Afleet, Katz Me If You Can and Buffythecenterfold. She is also the third dam of multiple French Group 2 winner Rajsaman, of Canadian Grade 2 winner Bear's Kid, of Grade 3 winner Cause to Believe, and of Bamboleo, the champion imported sprinter of 2008 in the Dominican Republic.
- Love Smitten (1981, by Key to the Mint) won the 1986 Apple Blossom Handicap (USA-G1). She is the dam of multiple Group 1 winner Swain (by Nashwan), French Group 3 winner Thief of Hearts (by In the Wings) and multiple French listed stakes winner Water Poet (by Sadler's Wells). Through her Alydar daughter Alamosa, Love Smitten is also the second dam of three stakes winners including Grade 3 winner Trafalger.
- Dancing on a Cloud (1983, by Nijinsky II) won the 1987 Beverly D. Stakes, then a listed race. She is the dam of Grade 3-placed stakes winner Antitrust (by Affirmed) and the third dam of Grade 3 winners Rich in Spirit, City of Weston and Shadowless.
Connections
Foaled at Windfields Farm in Ontario, Square Angel was bred by E. P. Taylor. A CAN$20,000 auction yearling from the 1971 Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Sale, she was owned by General Preston Gilbride. She was trained by Frank Merrill. Following her racing career, Square Angel was repurchased by Taylor.
Pedigree notes
Square Angel is inbred 3x5 to five-time American champion sire and four-time American champion broodmare sire Bull Lea and 5x5 to 1918 English Triple Crown winner Gainsborough. She is a full sister to Happy Vixen, dam of Grade 3 winner Minutes Away (by Just the Time). She is also a half sister to Dancing Angela (by Dancer's Image), dam of Grade 3 winner Bejilla (by Quadrangle) and stakes winners Le Danseur (by Lord Durham) and Regal Angela (by Regal Intention) and second dam of Italian Group 3 winner Blue Daisy. In addition, Square Angel is a half sister to Miss Nanith (by Victoria Park), second dam of seven stakes winners including Grade 3 winners Scottish Monk and Wire Me Collect.
Square Angel is the first foal of Nangela, who won the Carleton Stakes as a juvenile. Nangela is a half sister to Northern Niece (by Northern Dancer), dam of stakes winners Knightly Marvin (by Knightly Manner) and Great Northern Gal (by Cormorant) and second dam of Irish Group 3 winner Cretan Gift.
Nangela and Northern Niece were produced from the winning Tim Tam mare Angela's Niece, whose half sister Nearctica (by Nearctic) is the dam of Canadian Grade 3 winner Neatice (by Banaldo) and the second dam of multiple Brazilian Group 1 winner Boticao de Ouro. Produced from the English import Great Niece (a full sister to 1967 French champion miler and successful sire Great Nephew, by Honeyway x Sybil's Niece), Angela's Niece is also a half sister to Gay Niece (by Sir Gaylord), second dam of 1987 William Hill Futurity Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Emmson and French Group 3 winner Family Friend.
Books and media
Square Angel is one of 22 important broodmares profiled in Edward Bowen's Matriarchs Volume II: More Great Mares of Modern Times (2008, Blood-Horse Publications).
Fun facts
- Square Angel was the fourth Canadian Oaks winner for the great Canadian jockey Desmond “Sandy” Hawley, who had earlier won the race with South Ocean (1970), Lauries Dancer (1971), and Happy Victory (1972). He later won Canada's top filly Classic with Trudie Tudor (1974), Square Angel's daughter Kamar (1979), Tilt My Halo (1988) and Tiffany's Secret (1990), giving him eight Canadian Oaks winners in all.
Last updated: September 26, 2023