Pure Prize (USA)
February 27, 1998 – May 15, 2021
Storm Cat (USA) x Heavenly Prize (USA), by Seeking the Gold (USA)
Family 20-b
February 27, 1998 – May 15, 2021
Storm Cat (USA) x Heavenly Prize (USA), by Seeking the Gold (USA)
Family 20-b
Pure Prize had some talent, but he was neither the precocious type commonly associated with his sire nor the top 3-year-old and older runner that his dam had been. With a single Grade 2 win as a 4-year-old, he was at something of a handicap in the highly competitive Kentucky stallion market, but after a South American shuttle deal was struck, the quality of his Argentine progeny bolstered his resume considerably. He died in Argentina in 2021, but not before earning two sire championships there.
Race record
17 starts, 5 wins, 5 seconds, 2 thirds, US$475,459
2002:
Honors
Pellegrini Award, Argentine Stallion of the Year (2012, 2013)
As an individual
A strongly made chestnut horse standing 16.2 hands, Pure Prize had the powerful quarters and long hip typical of the progeny of Storm Cat but also had the offset knees of his sire.
As a stallion
Pure Prize had some successes in Kentucky but was a better stallion in Argentina. According to statistics maintained by The Jockey Club, he sired 1,138 winners (61.8%) and 90 stakes winners (4.9%) from 1,842 named foals of racing age.
Sire rankings
Per El Turf (https://elturf.com):
Per the Stud Book Argentino (https://www.studbook.org.ar/):
Per the Stud Book de Chile (https://www.studbookdechile.cl):
Per the Stud Book Uruguayo (https://www.studbook.com.uy/):
Notable progeny
Blue Prize (ARG), Candy Marie (ARG), Candy Nevada (ARG), Fuego e Hierro (ARG), Girlie (ARG), Hi Happy (ARG), Hinz (ARG), Hispanidad (ARG), Jumbalaya (ARG), Kononkop (ARG), Maldivas (ARG), Ollagua (ARG), Puerto Real (ARG), Pure Bike (ARG), Pure Clan (USA), Pure Fun (USA), Quechua (ARG), Red Knight (USA), Winning Prize (ARG)
Notable progeny of daughters
British Isles (USA), Care Lady (ARG), Earth God (ARG), Giustino (ARG), Kay Army (CHI), Knows All (ARG), Lumina (CHI), Pinball Wizard (ARG), Silenciadora (ARG)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Pure Prize was bred and owned by Phipps Stable. He was trained by Shug McGaughey. He entered stud in 2003 in Kentucky at Vinery and began shuttling to Haras Camarangue for the Southern Hemisphere season that fall. After standing the 2013 Northern Hemisphere season at WinStar Farm, he relocated permanently to Argentina. He was pensioned in 2016 and moved to Haras La Providencia, where he died of complications from a stroke on May 15, 2021.
Pedigree notes
Pure Prize is inbred 3x4 to the great international sire Northern Dancer, the 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and American champion 3-year-old male. He is also inbred 5x5x6 to two-time American Horse of the Year Native Dancer and 5x5 to 1951 Canadian Horse of the Year Bull Page. He is a full brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Good Reward and a half brother to stakes winner Cosmic (by El Prado) and to Just Reward (by Deputy Minister), dam of 2010 Personal Ensign Stakes (USA-G1) winner Persistently (by Smoke Glacken), second dam of 2025 Champions Cup (JPN-G1) winner W Heart Bond and Grade 3 winner Stays in Vegas, and third dam of Grade 2 winner Queen Goddess. Pure Prize is also a half brother to Enhancing (by Forestry), dam of 2020 Manhattan Stakes (USA-G1) winner Instilled Regard, and to Distinctively (by Awesome Again), dam of multiple Grade 1-placed restricted stakes winner Faithfully (by Smart Strike).
Pure Prize and his siblings are out of 1994 American champion 3-year-old filly Heavenly Prize. 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), second dam of Grade 3 winner Carrumba, and third dam of Grade 3 winner Golden Tempo.
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. Produced from multiple Grade 2 winner Blitey (by Riva Ridge), 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.
Photo credit
Portrait photo taken by Jessica Morgan at Vinery in 2012. Used by permission.
Last updated: March 7, 2026
Race record
17 starts, 5 wins, 5 seconds, 2 thirds, US$475,459
2002:
- Won Kentucky Cup Classic Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Turfway Park)
- 2nd Fourstardave Handicap (USA-G3, 9FD, Saratoga)
Honors
Pellegrini Award, Argentine Stallion of the Year (2012, 2013)
As an individual
A strongly made chestnut horse standing 16.2 hands, Pure Prize had the powerful quarters and long hip typical of the progeny of Storm Cat but also had the offset knees of his sire.
As a stallion
Pure Prize had some successes in Kentucky but was a better stallion in Argentina. According to statistics maintained by The Jockey Club, he sired 1,138 winners (61.8%) and 90 stakes winners (4.9%) from 1,842 named foals of racing age.
Sire rankings
Per El Turf (https://elturf.com):
- Led the Argentine general sire list in 2012 and 2013; 2nd in 2010 and 2016; 3rd in 2015 and 2017; 5th in 2009 and 2011; 6th in 2018; 7th in 2014.
- 3rd on the Argentine broodmare sire list in 2025; 5th in 2024; 10th in 2020, 2022, and 2023.
- 7th on the Chilean broodmare sire list in 2023.
- 8th on the Peruvian broodmare sire list in 2024.
- 9th on the Uruguayan broodmare sire list in 2025.
Per the Stud Book Argentino (https://www.studbook.org.ar/):
- Led the Argentine general sire list in 2012 and 2013; 2nd in 2010 and 2016; 3rd in 2015 and 2017; 5th in 2009 and 2011; 6th in 2018; 7th in 2014.
- 3rd on the Argentine broodmare sire list in 2025; 5th in 2024; 9th in 2020 and 2022; 10th in 2023.
Per the Stud Book de Chile (https://www.studbookdechile.cl):
- 7th on the Chilean broodmare sire list in 2023.
Per the Stud Book Uruguayo (https://www.studbook.com.uy/):
- 9th on the Uruguayan broodmare sire list in 2025.
Notable progeny
Blue Prize (ARG), Candy Marie (ARG), Candy Nevada (ARG), Fuego e Hierro (ARG), Girlie (ARG), Hi Happy (ARG), Hinz (ARG), Hispanidad (ARG), Jumbalaya (ARG), Kononkop (ARG), Maldivas (ARG), Ollagua (ARG), Puerto Real (ARG), Pure Bike (ARG), Pure Clan (USA), Pure Fun (USA), Quechua (ARG), Red Knight (USA), Winning Prize (ARG)
Notable progeny of daughters
British Isles (USA), Care Lady (ARG), Earth God (ARG), Giustino (ARG), Kay Army (CHI), Knows All (ARG), Lumina (CHI), Pinball Wizard (ARG), Silenciadora (ARG)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Pure Prize was bred and owned by Phipps Stable. He was trained by Shug McGaughey. He entered stud in 2003 in Kentucky at Vinery and began shuttling to Haras Camarangue for the Southern Hemisphere season that fall. After standing the 2013 Northern Hemisphere season at WinStar Farm, he relocated permanently to Argentina. He was pensioned in 2016 and moved to Haras La Providencia, where he died of complications from a stroke on May 15, 2021.
Pedigree notes
Pure Prize is inbred 3x4 to the great international sire Northern Dancer, the 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and American champion 3-year-old male. He is also inbred 5x5x6 to two-time American Horse of the Year Native Dancer and 5x5 to 1951 Canadian Horse of the Year Bull Page. He is a full brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Good Reward and a half brother to stakes winner Cosmic (by El Prado) and to Just Reward (by Deputy Minister), dam of 2010 Personal Ensign Stakes (USA-G1) winner Persistently (by Smoke Glacken), second dam of 2025 Champions Cup (JPN-G1) winner W Heart Bond and Grade 3 winner Stays in Vegas, and third dam of Grade 2 winner Queen Goddess. Pure Prize is also a half brother to Enhancing (by Forestry), dam of 2020 Manhattan Stakes (USA-G1) winner Instilled Regard, and to Distinctively (by Awesome Again), dam of multiple Grade 1-placed restricted stakes winner Faithfully (by Smart Strike).
Pure Prize and his siblings are out of 1994 American champion 3-year-old filly Heavenly Prize. 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), second dam of Grade 3 winner Carrumba, and third dam of Grade 3 winner Golden Tempo.
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. Produced from multiple Grade 2 winner Blitey (by Riva Ridge), 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.
Photo credit
Portrait photo taken by Jessica Morgan at Vinery in 2012. Used by permission.
Last updated: March 7, 2026