Heavenly Prize (USA)
February 17, 1991 – March 28, 2013
Seeking the Gold (USA) x Oh What a Dance (USA), by Nijinsky II (CAN)
Family 20-b
February 17, 1991 – March 28, 2013
Seeking the Gold (USA) x Oh What a Dance (USA), by Nijinsky II (CAN)
Family 20-b
Heavenly Prize was an admirable blend of precocity, speed, stamina, and consistency. Never out of the money in 18 starts, she was a Grade 1 winner every year she raced and a champion at 3 while running against a deep and talented crop of American fillies. She was a successful broodmare as well.
Race record
18 starts, 9 wins, 6 seconds, 3 thirds, US$1,825,940
1993:
1994:
1995:
1996:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 121 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile fillies of 1993, 2 pounds below champion Phone Chatter.
Co-highweighted at 126 pounds with Lakeway atop the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1994, 4 pounds above third-rated Inside Information.
Rated at 125 pounds in the 9.5-10.5F dirt division on the 1994 International Classification, 5 pounds below co-highweights Holy Bull and Balanchine and 1 pound below Lakeway (who received her rating in the 7-9F dirt division) among 3-year-old dirt fillies.
As an individual
A well-balanced, attractive bay mare, Heavenly Prize was at her best coming from off the pace. She had a strong turn of foot when called on. She trained well and did not need much work to stay in condition. The early part of her 3-year-old season was compromised by a viral infection.
As a producer
Heavenly Prize produced 10 named foals, of which eight started and seven won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Heavenly Prize was bred and owned by Ogden Phipps. She was trained by Shug McGaughey. During the first part of her career, she was ridden by Mike Smith; after her first eight races, she was ridden by Pat Day through the end of her racing career. Boarded at Claiborne Farm throughout her broodmare career, she died there in 2013 and was buried at the farm’s Marchmont division.
Pedigree notes
Heavenly Prize is inbred 4x5 to two-time American Horse of the Year Native Dancer and 5x5 to 1937 American champion 2-year-old male Menow. She is a full sister to 1998 Matron Stakes (USA-G1) winner Oh What a Windfall and to stakes-placed Dancinginmydreams, dam of 2008 Manhattan Handicap (USA-G1) winner Dancing Forever (by Rahy) and second dam of Grade 3 winner Carrumba.
Heavenly Prize and her siblings are out of the unraced Nijinsky II mare Oh What a Dance, a full sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Dancing Spree and to Grade 2 winner Dancing All Night, second dam of Grade 3 winner Bigger Picture. Oh What a Dance is also a half sister to 1990 Hempstead Handicap (USA-G1) winner Fantastic Find (by Mr. Prospector), dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Finder's Fee (by Storm Cat) and the good steeplechaser Tax Ruling (by Dynaformer), second dam of Grade 2 winner T. D. Vance and multiple Grade 3 winner Optimizer, and third dam of multiple Group 1 winner Junko and Grade/Group 3 winners Feathered, Doña True, and Cellist. In addition, Oh What a Dance is a half sister to 1999 Ballerina Stakes (USA-G1) winner Furlough (by Easy Goer), dam of Grade 3 winner Happy Hunting (by Seeking the Gold) and stakes winner Pardon (by Elusive Quality) and second dam of Grade 2 winners Annual Report and Thoughtfully, and to Home Leave (by Alydar), dam of multiple listed stakes winner Extend (by Unbridled's Song); second dam of 2004/05 Chilean co-champion 3-year-old male We Can Seek, 2007/2008 Chilean co-champion 3-year-old filly Weekend Trip, and Grade 2 winner Warning Zone; and third dam of 2015/2016 Chilean champion 3-year-old filly Wapi and Chilean Group 2 winner Soqui. Finally, Oh What a Dance is a half sister to Loping Along (by Easy Goer), second dam of Grade 2 winner Quiet Temper.
Oh What a Dance and her siblings were produced from multiple Grade 2 winner Blitey (by Riva Ridge). Produced from 1966 American champion 3-year-old filly Lady Pitt (by Sword Dancer), Blitey is a half sister to 1979 Brooklyn Handicap (USA-G1) winner The Liberal Member (by Bold Reason) and to Queen Pot (by Buckpasser), dam of 1985 Premio Emilio Turati (ITY-G1) winner King of Clubs (by Mill Reef). She is also a half sister to Bank of England (by Buckpasser), dam of Grade 3 winner Comptroller (by Reviewer) and third dam of 1996 Buick Meadowlands Gold Cup Handicap (USA-G1) winner Dramatic Gold and Grade 3 winner Reba's Gold.
Fun facts
Last updated: May 9, 2024
Race record
18 starts, 9 wins, 6 seconds, 3 thirds, US$1,825,940
1993:
- Won Frizette Stakes (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
1994:
- Won Alabama Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- Won Gazelle Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- Won Beldame Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Breeder's Cup Distaff (USA-G1, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Prioress Stakes (USA-G2, 6FD, Belmont)
- 2nd What a Summer Stakes (USA-R, 6FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 3rd Test Stakes (USA-G1, 7FD, Saratoga)
1995:
- Won Apple Blossom Handicap (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Oaklawn Park)
- Won Hempstead Handicap (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Belmont)
- Won John A. Morris Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- Won Go for Wand Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Breeders' Cup Distaff (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Beldame Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Oaklawn Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-L, 8.5FD, Oaklawn Park)
1996:
- 3rd Donn Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Gulfstream Park)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 2018)
- Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old filly
Assessments
Rated at 121 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile fillies of 1993, 2 pounds below champion Phone Chatter.
Co-highweighted at 126 pounds with Lakeway atop the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1994, 4 pounds above third-rated Inside Information.
Rated at 125 pounds in the 9.5-10.5F dirt division on the 1994 International Classification, 5 pounds below co-highweights Holy Bull and Balanchine and 1 pound below Lakeway (who received her rating in the 7-9F dirt division) among 3-year-old dirt fillies.
As an individual
A well-balanced, attractive bay mare, Heavenly Prize was at her best coming from off the pace. She had a strong turn of foot when called on. She trained well and did not need much work to stay in condition. The early part of her 3-year-old season was compromised by a viral infection.
As a producer
Heavenly Prize produced 10 named foals, of which eight started and seven won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Pure Prize (1998, by Storm Cat) won the 2002 Kentucky Cup Classic Handicap (USA-G2). He was the champion sire of 2012 and 2013 in Argentina.
- Just Reward (1999, by Deputy Minister) won one of her three starts. She produced 2010 Personal Ensign Stakes (USA-G1) winner Persistently (by Smoke Glacken) and is the second dam of Grade 3 winner Stays in Vegas. She is also the third dam of Grade 2 winner Queen Goddess.
- Good Reward (2001, by Storm Cat) won the 2004 Hollywood Derby (USA-G1) and the 2005 Manhattan Handicap (USA-G1). After shuttling to Brazil early in his stud career, he was exported permanently to that country in 2013.
- Cosmic (2005, by El Prado) won the 2010 King Cotton Stakes at Oaklawn Park. He was exported to Argentina at the conclusion of his racing career.
- Distinctively (2006, by Awesome Again) was stakes-placed on the track and is the dam of multiple Grade 1-placed restricted stakes winner Faithfully (by Smart Strike).
- Enhancing (2008, by Forestry) won one of her seven starts and is the dam of 2020 Manhattan Stakes (USA-G1) winner Instilled Regard (by Arch).
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Heavenly Prize was bred and owned by Ogden Phipps. She was trained by Shug McGaughey. During the first part of her career, she was ridden by Mike Smith; after her first eight races, she was ridden by Pat Day through the end of her racing career. Boarded at Claiborne Farm throughout her broodmare career, she died there in 2013 and was buried at the farm’s Marchmont division.
Pedigree notes
Heavenly Prize is inbred 4x5 to two-time American Horse of the Year Native Dancer and 5x5 to 1937 American champion 2-year-old male Menow. She is a full sister to 1998 Matron Stakes (USA-G1) winner Oh What a Windfall and to stakes-placed Dancinginmydreams, dam of 2008 Manhattan Handicap (USA-G1) winner Dancing Forever (by Rahy) and second dam of Grade 3 winner Carrumba.
Heavenly Prize and her siblings are out of the unraced Nijinsky II mare Oh What a Dance, a full sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Dancing Spree and to Grade 2 winner Dancing All Night, second dam of Grade 3 winner Bigger Picture. Oh What a Dance is also a half sister to 1990 Hempstead Handicap (USA-G1) winner Fantastic Find (by Mr. Prospector), dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Finder's Fee (by Storm Cat) and the good steeplechaser Tax Ruling (by Dynaformer), second dam of Grade 2 winner T. D. Vance and multiple Grade 3 winner Optimizer, and third dam of multiple Group 1 winner Junko and Grade/Group 3 winners Feathered, Doña True, and Cellist. In addition, Oh What a Dance is a half sister to 1999 Ballerina Stakes (USA-G1) winner Furlough (by Easy Goer), dam of Grade 3 winner Happy Hunting (by Seeking the Gold) and stakes winner Pardon (by Elusive Quality) and second dam of Grade 2 winners Annual Report and Thoughtfully, and to Home Leave (by Alydar), dam of multiple listed stakes winner Extend (by Unbridled's Song); second dam of 2004/05 Chilean co-champion 3-year-old male We Can Seek, 2007/2008 Chilean co-champion 3-year-old filly Weekend Trip, and Grade 2 winner Warning Zone; and third dam of 2015/2016 Chilean champion 3-year-old filly Wapi and Chilean Group 2 winner Soqui. Finally, Oh What a Dance is a half sister to Loping Along (by Easy Goer), second dam of Grade 2 winner Quiet Temper.
Oh What a Dance and her siblings were produced from multiple Grade 2 winner Blitey (by Riva Ridge). Produced from 1966 American champion 3-year-old filly Lady Pitt (by Sword Dancer), Blitey is a half sister to 1979 Brooklyn Handicap (USA-G1) winner The Liberal Member (by Bold Reason) and to Queen Pot (by Buckpasser), dam of 1985 Premio Emilio Turati (ITY-G1) winner King of Clubs (by Mill Reef). She is also a half sister to Bank of England (by Buckpasser), dam of Grade 3 winner Comptroller (by Reviewer) and third dam of 1996 Buick Meadowlands Gold Cup Handicap (USA-G1) winner Dramatic Gold and Grade 3 winner Reba's Gold.
Fun facts
- Heavenly Prize is the namesake for a stakes race for fillies and mares on the New York Racing Association’s calendar.
Last updated: May 9, 2024