Jewel’s Reward (USA)
March 10, 1955 – September 16, 1959
Jet Jewel (USA) x Belle Jeep (USA), by War Jeep (USA)
American Family 11
March 10, 1955 – September 16, 1959
Jet Jewel (USA) x Belle Jeep (USA), by War Jeep (USA)
American Family 11
Undoubtedly the American juvenile colt with the best body of work during the 1957 season, Jewel’s Reward ended up sharing the 2-year-old championship with Nadir, winner of the season’s richest race, the Garden State Stakes, and considered much likelier as a prospect for the Classics on both conformation and bloodlines. Admittedly, Jewel’s Reward was in the beaten field that day but had an excuse in the form of a damaged hoof, and he had already defeated Nadir twice during the season. The debate came down to whether the award should go to the two-year-old colt with the best record that season or to the colt who seemed the best prospect for the big 3-year-old events. Nadir was certainly the better stayer at 3 and beyond, but each colt won a single major stakes race at 3 and was stakes-placed at 4, leaving the matter about as tangled as it had been before. Jewel’s Reward had no chance to carry the rivalry forward through the two horses’ stud careers as he died of colic as a 4-year-old.
Race record
22 starts, 7 wins, 5 seconds, 2 thirds, US$448,592
1957:
1958:
1959:
Honors
American co-champion 2-year-old male (1957)
Assessments
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1957, 1 pound above the other official co-champion, Nadir.
Rated at 122 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1958, 4 pounds below champion Tim Tam.
As an individual
A beautifully balanced blood bay colt, Jewel’s Reward gave the appearance of great quality. His conformation was rounded and muscular, suggesting a speedy, precocious type more than a stayer. His one flaw was a set of upright pasterns. A horse of nervous disposition who on at least two occasions gave races away by becoming worked up in the paddock, he was nonetheless a good doer and adapted well to changes of trainer, jockey, and track surface. As a racer, he generally did enough to win in his races and not much more.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Jewel’s Reward was bred and owned by Maine Chance Farm. He was trained at different points in his career by William McCue, Ivan Parke, and Bill Moller. He died of colic in September 1959.
Pedigree notes
Sired by the Jet Pilot horse Jet Jewel, Jewel’s Reward is inbred 3x3 to 1930 Derby Stakes winner Blenheim II, the American champion sire of 1941. Jewel’s Reward is also inbred 4x4 to four-time American champion sire Sir Gallahad III and to 1929 American Horse of the Year Blue Larkspur. In addition, he is inbred 5x4 to the important broodmare Frizeur. He is a full brother to Jet Sparkler, second dam of Grade 3 winner Naked Sky. He is a half brother to 1957 John Alden Handicap winner Lord Jeep (by Lord Boswell), to 1969 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes winner Evasive Action (by Get Around), and to 1974 San Jacinto Stakes (USA-G2) winner Triple Crown (by Hawaii). Jewel’s Reward is also a half brother to Linden Heights, third dam of Grade 3 winner Pick Up the Phone.
Jewel’s Reward’s dam, Belle Jeep, is the 1957 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. She is a full sister to juvenile stakes winner Late Model, third dam of multiple Group 3 winner Celestial Dancer; to Model Joy, dam of 1968 Century Handicap winner Model Fool (by Tom Fool); and to Marie La Veau, second dam of Italian Group 3 winner Brigitte La Veau. She is a half sister to multiple juvenile stakes winner Beauguerre (by Mr. Busher).
Model Beauty, the dam of Belle Jeep, failed to win in two starts. She is a half sister to Daring Lady (by Diavolo), second dam of 1958 Louisiana Derby winner Royal Union and 1957 Hutcheson Stakes winner Jet Colonel and third dam of Panamanian Group 2 winner Trafico. The sisters’ dam, Lady Wisdom (by Sir Gallahad III) could not win in 17 tries but is a full sister to Dancing Dora, dam of 1950 English champion 3-year-old male Prince Simon (by Princequillo) and second dam of 1970 Kentucky Oaks winner Lady Vi-E. Produced from the Ambassador IV mare Minerva, Lady Wisdom is also a half sister to 1932 American co-champion 3-year-old male Faireno (by Chatterton), 1938 Louisiana Derby winner Wise Fox (by Gallant Fox), 1939 Delaware Oaks winner Wise Lady (by Gallant Fox; second dam of 1964 Canadian Oaks winner Later Mel and 1956 Mayflower Stakes winner Melson), and English stakes winner Aquilius (by Aga Khan). In addition, Lady Wisdom is a half sister to Lady Minerva (by Gallant Fox), dam of stakes winner Four Sisters (by Four Freedoms).
Fun facts
Last updated: January 18, 2025
Race record
22 starts, 7 wins, 5 seconds, 2 thirds, US$448,592
1957:
- Won Champagne Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Washington Park Futurity (USA, 6FD, Washington Park)
- Won Pimlico Futurity (USA, 8.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Cowdin Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Belmont)
- Won Tremont Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Juvenile Stakes (USA, 5FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Cowdin Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Belmont)
1958:
- Won Wood Memorial (USA, 8.5FD, Jamaica)
- 2nd Flamingo Stakes (USA, 9FD, Hialeah; disqualified from first)
- 2nd Malibu Stakes (USA, 7FD, Santa Anita)
1959:
- 2nd San Fernando Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Santa Anita Maturity (USA, 10FD, Santa Anita)
Honors
American co-champion 2-year-old male (1957)
Assessments
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1957, 1 pound above the other official co-champion, Nadir.
Rated at 122 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1958, 4 pounds below champion Tim Tam.
As an individual
A beautifully balanced blood bay colt, Jewel’s Reward gave the appearance of great quality. His conformation was rounded and muscular, suggesting a speedy, precocious type more than a stayer. His one flaw was a set of upright pasterns. A horse of nervous disposition who on at least two occasions gave races away by becoming worked up in the paddock, he was nonetheless a good doer and adapted well to changes of trainer, jockey, and track surface. As a racer, he generally did enough to win in his races and not much more.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Jewel’s Reward was bred and owned by Maine Chance Farm. He was trained at different points in his career by William McCue, Ivan Parke, and Bill Moller. He died of colic in September 1959.
Pedigree notes
Sired by the Jet Pilot horse Jet Jewel, Jewel’s Reward is inbred 3x3 to 1930 Derby Stakes winner Blenheim II, the American champion sire of 1941. Jewel’s Reward is also inbred 4x4 to four-time American champion sire Sir Gallahad III and to 1929 American Horse of the Year Blue Larkspur. In addition, he is inbred 5x4 to the important broodmare Frizeur. He is a full brother to Jet Sparkler, second dam of Grade 3 winner Naked Sky. He is a half brother to 1957 John Alden Handicap winner Lord Jeep (by Lord Boswell), to 1969 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes winner Evasive Action (by Get Around), and to 1974 San Jacinto Stakes (USA-G2) winner Triple Crown (by Hawaii). Jewel’s Reward is also a half brother to Linden Heights, third dam of Grade 3 winner Pick Up the Phone.
Jewel’s Reward’s dam, Belle Jeep, is the 1957 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. She is a full sister to juvenile stakes winner Late Model, third dam of multiple Group 3 winner Celestial Dancer; to Model Joy, dam of 1968 Century Handicap winner Model Fool (by Tom Fool); and to Marie La Veau, second dam of Italian Group 3 winner Brigitte La Veau. She is a half sister to multiple juvenile stakes winner Beauguerre (by Mr. Busher).
Model Beauty, the dam of Belle Jeep, failed to win in two starts. She is a half sister to Daring Lady (by Diavolo), second dam of 1958 Louisiana Derby winner Royal Union and 1957 Hutcheson Stakes winner Jet Colonel and third dam of Panamanian Group 2 winner Trafico. The sisters’ dam, Lady Wisdom (by Sir Gallahad III) could not win in 17 tries but is a full sister to Dancing Dora, dam of 1950 English champion 3-year-old male Prince Simon (by Princequillo) and second dam of 1970 Kentucky Oaks winner Lady Vi-E. Produced from the Ambassador IV mare Minerva, Lady Wisdom is also a half sister to 1932 American co-champion 3-year-old male Faireno (by Chatterton), 1938 Louisiana Derby winner Wise Fox (by Gallant Fox), 1939 Delaware Oaks winner Wise Lady (by Gallant Fox; second dam of 1964 Canadian Oaks winner Later Mel and 1956 Mayflower Stakes winner Melson), and English stakes winner Aquilius (by Aga Khan). In addition, Lady Wisdom is a half sister to Lady Minerva (by Gallant Fox), dam of stakes winner Four Sisters (by Four Freedoms).
Fun facts
- Jewel’s Reward was entered in the 1956 yearling sales but attracted little interest, and Maine Chance owner Elizabeth Graham (Arden) directed an agent to buy him back for US$3,500. Her decision paid off at over 128 to 1.
- Because of Mrs. Graham’s whimsical approach to hiring and firing trainers for her stable, Jewel’s Reward was saddled by three different trainers during his 2-year-old season—and those were the ones that actually had licenses, as Daily Racing Form writer Charles Hatton held that Mrs. Graham effectively trained Jewel’s Reward herself to win the Washington Park Futurity (a race to which she had supplemented the colt for US$7,500). This training merry-go-round may be something of a record for a single horse’s championship year in American racing.
- Jewel’s Reward was not the favorite for any of his races during his championship season, during which he set a new American record for earnings by a juvenile of US$349,642.
- Jewel’s Reward damaged a hoof prior to his start in the season;s richest race, the Garden State Stakes, in which he was unplaced. The injury was said to have been caused by his excessive pawing at the dirt floor of his stall, a behavior possibly related to both his unfamiliarity with the surface (he had previously been housed in stalls with wooden floors) and with the fact that a filly had been the last previous resident of the stall.
Last updated: January 18, 2025