Avowal (CAN)
April 27, 1979 – c. 2003
L’Enjoleur (CAN) x Well in Hand (USA), by Bold Ruler (USA)
Family 3-j
April 27, 1979 – c. 2003
L’Enjoleur (CAN) x Well in Hand (USA), by Bold Ruler (USA)
Family 3-j
Avowal spent most of her racing career running against Canadian-bred competition, but within that restricted pool, she was talented, tough, and consistent. At her best at 3, when she was a Canadian Classic winner and picked up Sovereign Awards in two divisions, she was a successful broodmare following her retirement to the paddocks.
Race record
30 starts, 13 wins, 4 seconds, 5 thirds, US$470,762 (includes Canadian earnings)
1981:
1982:
1983:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 121 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for 2-year-old fillies of 1981, 3 pounds below co-highweights Choral Group (the official divisional champion) and Proud Lou but third overall.
Co-highweighted with Belle of Ranier at 126 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for 3-year-old fillies of 1982.
Rated at 122 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for sprinters of 1982, 5 pounds below Great Gladiator (a 5-year-old horse) and 1 pound below Eternal Search (a 4-year-old filly).
Rated at 119 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for older females of 1983, 8 pounds below champion Eternal Search.
Rated at 115 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for sprinters of 1983, 9 pounds below champion Fraud Squad.
As an individual
A dark bay or brown mare; no further information available.
As a producer
Avowal produced 13 named foals, of which 10 started and seven won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, Avowal was bred by Roy Kennedy and was owned by Richard Kennedy. She was trained by Arthur Warner and was ridden to her Canadian Oaks score by Brian Swituk. She produced seven foals for Richard Kennedy. After slipping her 1993 foal and going without produce in 1994, she was sold for US$75,000 at the 1994 Keeneland November mixed sale, in foal to Afleet. Her next three foals were bred by Don Robinson and Dr. Mel Epstein, and after changing hands again, she finished her broodmare career as the property of Bristol Farm.
Pedigree notes
Avowal is inbred 5x3 to the mare Alpoise and 5x4 to unbeaten Nearco, a two-time champion sire on the English/Irish combined list. She is also inbred 5x4 to 1943 American champion sire and three-time American champion broodmare sire Bull Dog. She is a half sister to Regal Line (by Prince John), dam of Grade 3 winner Aristocratical (by Haveago) and stakes winner Merry Thought (by Haveago).
Avowal is out of the winner Well in Hand, a half sister to 1961 Jersey Derby winner Ambiopoise (by Ambiorix). The siblings, in turn, are out of Bull Poise (by Bull Lea), an unraced half sister to multiple stakes winner Algasir (by Sir Gallahad III) and to 1953 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Gaga (by Bull Dog), dam of 1953 American Horse of the Year and important sire Tom Fool (by Menow) and 1950 American champion 2-year-old filly Aunt Jinny (by Heliopolis). The last-named mare is the dam of 1963 Clark Handicap winner Copy Chief and multiple stakes winner Grand Central, both by Hasty Road. Bull Poise is also a half sister to Close Ranks (by Phalanx), second dam of 1974 Wood Memorial Invitational Stakes (USA-G1) winner Rube the Great and 1965 New England Sweepstakes winner Pass the Word.
The next dam in Avowal’s tail-female line, Alpoise (by Equipoise), is a half sister to Captivation (by Stimulus), third dam of 1970 Kentucky Derby winner Dust Commander. The sisters are out of 1931 Selima Stakes winner Laughing Queen (by Sun Briar), a full sister to 1925 American champion 2-year-old male Pompey and to Sunny Queen, dam of multiple stakes winner Kings Blue (by Blue Larkspur). Also a half sister to stakes winner Caesarion (by Man o’ War). Laughing Queen is a daughter of 1920 American champion 3-year-old filly Cleopatra.
Fun facts
Last updated: August 6, 2021
Race record
30 starts, 13 wins, 4 seconds, 5 thirds, US$470,762 (includes Canadian earnings)
1981:
- Won Mazarine Stakes (CAN, 8.5FD, Woodbine)
- 2nd Princess Elizabeth Stakes (CAN-R, 8.5FD, Woodbine)
- 3rd My Dear Stakes (CAN, 5FD, Woodbine)
- 3rd Fanfreluche Stakes (CAN, 6FD, Woodbine)
1982:
- Won Canadian Oaks (CAN-R, 9FD, Woodbine)
- Won Ontario Colleen Handicap (second division) (CAN-R, 8FT, Woodbine)
- Won Fury Stakes (CAN-R, 7FD, Woodbine)
- Won Bison City Stakes (CAN-R, 8.5FD, Fort Erie)
- Won Ontario Damsel Stakes (second division) (CAN-R, 6.5FT, Woodbine; new course record 1:15-2/5)
- Won Ontario Fashion Handicap (CAN-R, 6FD, Woodbine)
- 3rd Selene Stakes (CAN, 8.5FD, Woodbine)
1983:
- Won Seaway Stakes (CAN-L, 7FD, Woodbine)
- 2nd, Suwannee River Handicap (second division) (USA-G3, 7FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 2nd Nearctic Stakes (CAN-L, 6FD, Woodbine)
- 3rd Belle Mahone Stakes (CAN-R, 9FD, Woodbine)
- 3rd Ontario Fashion Handicap (CAN-R, 6FD, Woodbine)
Honors
- Sovereign Award, Canadian champion 3-year-old filly (1982)
- Sovereign Award, Canadian champion sprinter (1982)
Assessments
Rated at 121 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for 2-year-old fillies of 1981, 3 pounds below co-highweights Choral Group (the official divisional champion) and Proud Lou but third overall.
Co-highweighted with Belle of Ranier at 126 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for 3-year-old fillies of 1982.
Rated at 122 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for sprinters of 1982, 5 pounds below Great Gladiator (a 5-year-old horse) and 1 pound below Eternal Search (a 4-year-old filly).
Rated at 119 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for older females of 1983, 8 pounds below champion Eternal Search.
Rated at 115 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for sprinters of 1983, 9 pounds below champion Fraud Squad.
As an individual
A dark bay or brown mare; no further information available.
As a producer
Avowal produced 13 named foals, of which 10 started and seven won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Adarling (1985, by Alleged) won the Broadway Lullaby Stakes as a 3-year-old at Rockingham Park. She is the dam of 1996 San Vicente Stakes (USA-G3) winner Afleetaffair (by Afleet), listed stakes winners Darling Alice (by Northern Answer) and A Song for Billy (by Unbridled’s Song), and multiple minor stakes winner Justadarling (by Afleet). She is also the second dam of Australian Group 3 winner Mica’s Pride and the third dam of 2019 Venezuelan champion older female Endrygol, multiple Australian Group 1 winner Criterion, 2018 Doomben Cup Stakes (AUS-G1) winner Comin’ Through, Australian Group 2 winners Glenfiddich and Varenna Miss, and Australian Group 3 winners Bull Point and Siege of Quebec.
- Freedom Fleet (1992, by Afleet; a gelding) won the 1995 Autumn Stakes (CAN-L).
- Restraint (1998, by Unbridled’s Song) never raced but produced 2009 Lane’s End Stakes (USA-G2) winner Hold Me Back (by Giant’s Causeway). She is also the second dam of 2021 Grande Prêmio de São Paulo (BRZ-G1) winner Head Office.
- Black Spicy (2000, by Arch) was a stakes winner in Panama at 3.
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, Avowal was bred by Roy Kennedy and was owned by Richard Kennedy. She was trained by Arthur Warner and was ridden to her Canadian Oaks score by Brian Swituk. She produced seven foals for Richard Kennedy. After slipping her 1993 foal and going without produce in 1994, she was sold for US$75,000 at the 1994 Keeneland November mixed sale, in foal to Afleet. Her next three foals were bred by Don Robinson and Dr. Mel Epstein, and after changing hands again, she finished her broodmare career as the property of Bristol Farm.
Pedigree notes
Avowal is inbred 5x3 to the mare Alpoise and 5x4 to unbeaten Nearco, a two-time champion sire on the English/Irish combined list. She is also inbred 5x4 to 1943 American champion sire and three-time American champion broodmare sire Bull Dog. She is a half sister to Regal Line (by Prince John), dam of Grade 3 winner Aristocratical (by Haveago) and stakes winner Merry Thought (by Haveago).
Avowal is out of the winner Well in Hand, a half sister to 1961 Jersey Derby winner Ambiopoise (by Ambiorix). The siblings, in turn, are out of Bull Poise (by Bull Lea), an unraced half sister to multiple stakes winner Algasir (by Sir Gallahad III) and to 1953 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Gaga (by Bull Dog), dam of 1953 American Horse of the Year and important sire Tom Fool (by Menow) and 1950 American champion 2-year-old filly Aunt Jinny (by Heliopolis). The last-named mare is the dam of 1963 Clark Handicap winner Copy Chief and multiple stakes winner Grand Central, both by Hasty Road. Bull Poise is also a half sister to Close Ranks (by Phalanx), second dam of 1974 Wood Memorial Invitational Stakes (USA-G1) winner Rube the Great and 1965 New England Sweepstakes winner Pass the Word.
The next dam in Avowal’s tail-female line, Alpoise (by Equipoise), is a half sister to Captivation (by Stimulus), third dam of 1970 Kentucky Derby winner Dust Commander. The sisters are out of 1931 Selima Stakes winner Laughing Queen (by Sun Briar), a full sister to 1925 American champion 2-year-old male Pompey and to Sunny Queen, dam of multiple stakes winner Kings Blue (by Blue Larkspur). Also a half sister to stakes winner Caesarion (by Man o’ War). Laughing Queen is a daughter of 1920 American champion 3-year-old filly Cleopatra.
Fun facts
- Avowal's 13-length margin in the Canadian Oaks was a record victory margin for the race.
- Avowal became the namesake for a stakes race for fillies and mares at Woodbine.
Last updated: August 6, 2021