Priceless Gem (USA)
April 10, 1963 – February 16, 1987
Hail to Reason (USA) x Searching (USA), by War Admiral (USA)
Family 1-x
April 10, 1963 – February 16, 1987
Hail to Reason (USA) x Searching (USA), by War Admiral (USA)
Family 1-x
A classy filly who had the talent to defeat the great Buckpasser in the Futurity Stakes as a 2-year-old, Priceless Gem won five straight races after losing her maiden start. She might have become a champion had she remained healthy long enough to face Moccasin in the Gardenia Stakes in November. Both faced eventual American champion 3-year-old filly Lady Pitt as juveniles, and using these performances as a measuring rod, the two were very closely matched in ability. Moccasin proved the more durable, however, and went on to honors as American champion 2-year-old filly and Horse of the Year in 1965. Priceless Gem, who came out of an unplaced run in the Champagne Stakes with sore shins, failed to train on at 3 after suffering an injury early in the year but produced a runner still better than herself in Allez France, a five-time champion in France.
Race record
15 starts, 7 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, $209,267
1965:
Assessments
Rated at 119 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1965, 1 pound below champion Moccasin.
As an individual
A big, strong, handsome bay mare who stood a full 16 hands as a 2-year-old, Priceless Gem had a straight, strong hind leg with muscling extending well down into her gaskins and exhibited great length from hip to hock, giving her excellent leverage. She could be faulted for being slightly upright in her pasterns. She preferred to control her races from the front end and was willing and courageous in a drive, though she tended to carry her head a bit high.
As a producer
Priceless Gem produced 12 named foals, of which six started and three won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Priceless Gem was bred and owned by the Bieber-Jacobs Stable. She raced in the colors of Ethel Jacobs, wife of her trainer and co-breeder Hirsch Jacobs. When the Bieber-Jacobs Stable dispersed in 1970, Priceless Gem brought a then-record US$395,000 for an in-foal broodmare. Her new owner was Mrs. Allen F. Manning, who bred or co-bred all her remaining foals. Priceless Gem was humanely destroyed due to the infirmities of old age in February 1987.
Pedigree notes
Priceless Gem is inbred 5x3 to Man o' War and 5x4 to Teddy. She is a full sister to 1964 Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes winner Admiring, whose daughter Glowing Tribute (by Graustark) won three Grade II races and produced seven stakes winners, including 1993 Kentucky Derby (USA-I) winner Sea Hero (by Polish Navy) and multiple Grade I winner Hero's Honor (by Northern Dancer). The 1993 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year, Glowing Tribute is the second dam of 1990 Futurity Stakes (USA-I) winner Eastern Echo, 2004 Argentine champion sire Roar, 2001 European champion sprinter Mozart and other good horses. Through other daughters, Admiring is the second dam of Irish Group II winner and useful sire Magesterial and the third dam of multiple Grade I winner Lite Light.
Priceless Gem is also a half sister to three-time American champion Affectionately (by Swaps), dam of 1970 American Horse of the Year Personality (by Hail to Reason), and to Searching Around (by Round Table), dam of stakes winner Stashed (by Key to the Mint). The sisters are out of National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame member Searching, one of the most distinguished members of the great La Troienne family.
Race record
15 starts, 7 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, $209,267
1965:
- Won Futurity Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Frizette Stakes (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
Assessments
Rated at 119 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1965, 1 pound below champion Moccasin.
As an individual
A big, strong, handsome bay mare who stood a full 16 hands as a 2-year-old, Priceless Gem had a straight, strong hind leg with muscling extending well down into her gaskins and exhibited great length from hip to hock, giving her excellent leverage. She could be faulted for being slightly upright in her pasterns. She preferred to control her races from the front end and was willing and courageous in a drive, though she tended to carry her head a bit high.
As a producer
Priceless Gem produced 12 named foals, of which six started and three won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Allez France (1970, by Sea-Bird) won five championships in France including Horse of the Year honors in 1974. Still regarded by many as the best French race mare of all time, she is the dam of Action Francaise (1985, by Nureyev), winner of the 1988 Prix de Sandringham (FR-III). Action Francaise, in turn, produced Group III winners Android (by Riverman) and Article Rare (by El Prado) and stakes winners Astorg (by Lear Fan), Airline (by Woodman) and Art Moderne (by Woodman) and is the second dam of four stakes winners including 2000 India Cements South India Oaks winner Premium Point. Allez France also produced Ave France (by Seattle Slew), dam of French stakes winner Avec Les Bleues (by Miswaki), and Air de France (by Seattle Slew), who met with limited success as a sire in Australia.
- Noble Bijou (1971, by Vaguely Noble) never raced but was a four-time champion sire in New Zealand. He also led the New Zealand broodmare sire list five times.
- Lady Winborne (1976, by Secretariat) was Group III-placed in Ireland. She is the dam of six stakes winners including 1987 John Henry Handicap (USA-IT) winner Al Mamoon (by Believe It), 1991 Queen Elizabeth II Invitational Challenge Cup Stakes (USA-IT) winner La Gueriere (by Lord At War) and Grade III winner Lost Soldier (by Danzig). Lady Winborne is also the second dam of 2009 Personal Ensign Stakes (USA-I) winner Icon Project, multiple Grade II winner Master Command and multiple Grade III winner Aurora Lights and the third dam of 2003 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes (USA-IT) winner Honor in War; Grade/Group II winners Duntle, Apart and Munnings; and Grade III winners Castaway, Gamay Noir and Heathcote.
- Priceless Countess (1977, by Vaguely Noble) is the dam of 1996 Moet Champagne Stakes (USA-I) winner Ordway (by Salt Lake).
- Sans Prix (1978, by Vaguely Noble) is the dam of 1995 Golden Gate Stakes (USA-IIT) winner Special Price (by Bering).
- Crillion (1982, by L'Enjoleur) is the dam of multiple French stakes winner Fik El Barraki (by Crystal Glitters).
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Priceless Gem was bred and owned by the Bieber-Jacobs Stable. She raced in the colors of Ethel Jacobs, wife of her trainer and co-breeder Hirsch Jacobs. When the Bieber-Jacobs Stable dispersed in 1970, Priceless Gem brought a then-record US$395,000 for an in-foal broodmare. Her new owner was Mrs. Allen F. Manning, who bred or co-bred all her remaining foals. Priceless Gem was humanely destroyed due to the infirmities of old age in February 1987.
Pedigree notes
Priceless Gem is inbred 5x3 to Man o' War and 5x4 to Teddy. She is a full sister to 1964 Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes winner Admiring, whose daughter Glowing Tribute (by Graustark) won three Grade II races and produced seven stakes winners, including 1993 Kentucky Derby (USA-I) winner Sea Hero (by Polish Navy) and multiple Grade I winner Hero's Honor (by Northern Dancer). The 1993 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year, Glowing Tribute is the second dam of 1990 Futurity Stakes (USA-I) winner Eastern Echo, 2004 Argentine champion sire Roar, 2001 European champion sprinter Mozart and other good horses. Through other daughters, Admiring is the second dam of Irish Group II winner and useful sire Magesterial and the third dam of multiple Grade I winner Lite Light.
Priceless Gem is also a half sister to three-time American champion Affectionately (by Swaps), dam of 1970 American Horse of the Year Personality (by Hail to Reason), and to Searching Around (by Round Table), dam of stakes winner Stashed (by Key to the Mint). The sisters are out of National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame member Searching, one of the most distinguished members of the great La Troienne family.