Silent Screen (USA)
April 23, 1967 – March 11, 1993
Prince John (USA) x Prayer Bell (USA), by Better Self (USA)
Family 9-b
April 23, 1967 – March 11, 1993
Prince John (USA) x Prayer Bell (USA), by Better Self (USA)
Family 9-b
After becoming a standout among the members of a moderate crop as a 2-year-old, Silent Screen was regarded as a top prospect for the 1970 American Classics but proved unable to stay the required distances. In that, he was more the son of his speedy female family than of the staying line of Princequillo. He was a useful sire of winners and did well as a broodmare sire without cracking the top ranks.
Race record
18 starts, 7 wins, 2 seconds, 4 thirds, US$514,388
1969:
1970:
Honors
American champion 2-year-old male (1969)
Assessments
Highweighted at 128 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1969, 5 pounds above second-rated High Echelon and Insubordination, who were both rated at 123 pounds.
Rated at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1970, 5 pounds below divisional champion and co-Horse of the Year Personality.
As an individual
A chestnut horse standing 16.1 hands at maturity, Silent Screen was rather lightly made and refined with stong loins and hips and a strong, straight hind leg. His ankles were not the best. He was gifted with a high turn of speed and strong competitive instincts but did not appear to stay much beyond a mile and never won at any greater distance. His 2-year-old campaign was shortened by an infection in a hind leg. He required relatively little training to stay fit and was said by Daily Racing Form writer Charles Hatton to have a kindly disposition. Trainer Bowes Bond agreed with that assessment, calling Silent Screen “a perfect gentleman,” but owner Sonny Werblin had a different opinion, stating that Silent Screen was “a mean son of a gun” and liked to bite.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, Silent Screen sired 402 winners (57.3%) and 43 stakes winners (6.1%) from 702 named foals of racing age.
Notable progeny
Taisez Vous (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Catire Bello (VEN), Dear Birdie (USA), Peter Davies (USA), Secret Hello (USA), Travelling Music (USA)
Connections
Foaled in New York and raised at Tilly Foster Stock Farm, Silent Screen was bred by Dennis Noviello and Al Vespo. He was owned by David A. "Sonny" Werblin, who raced Silent Screen in the name of his Elberon Farm after purchasing him for US$39,000 from the 1968 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale. The colt was trained by J. Bowes Bond and was ridden in most of his races by John Rotz. He entered stud in Kentucky in 1971 at Gainesway Farm. He was euthanized at Gainesway in March 1993 due to chronic laminitis and the infirmities of old age.
Pedigree notes
Silent Screen is inbred 5x5 to 1921 Blue Grass Stakes winner Black Servant and to the important broodmare Herodias. He is a half brother to Grade 3 winner Belladora (by Prince John’s champion son Stage Door Johnny), second dam of 2001 Mercury Sprint (SAF-G1) winner All Will Be Well and Grade 2 winners Silver Music and Musical Ghost and third dam of Grade 2 winner Noble Moon. He is also a half brother to multiple stakes winner Prayer Cap (by Thinking Cap), dam of stakes winners Silent Prayer (by Binary), Prayer Leader (by Scout Leader), and Zonic (by Swaps) and to Vestry (by Needles), dam of stakes winners Vestry’s Best (by Groton) and Straight Needles (by Going Straight). In addition, Silent Screen is a half brother to Belle Gallante (by Gallant Man), dam of listed stakes winner Boom and Bust (by Mr. Prospector); second dam of 2013 Carter Handicap (USA-G1) winner Swagger Jack, Grade 2 winner Tap Dance, and Grade 3 winner With Flair; and third dam of 2010 Spanish Horse of the Year Silverside, 2010 Ruffian Invitational Handicap (USA-G1) winner Malibu Prayer, and Grade 2 winner Valid. Finally, Silent Screen is a half brother to Ringing Bells (by Bold Lad), third dam of 1993 Prix de la Forêt (FR-G1) winner Dolphin Street, 1999 E. P. Taylor Stakes (CAN-G1) winner Insight, 1999 Irish Two Thousand Guineas (IRE-G1) winner Saffron Walden, 2000 Moyglare Stud Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Sequoyah, and 2007 Fillies Mile Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Listen. Ringing Bells is also the third dam of Grade 2 winner Dance Master and Grade/Group 3 winners Brazilian Bride, Naninja, and Psalm.
Silent Screen and his siblings were produced from Prayer Bell, whose half sister Time for Bed (by Bold Ruler) won the 1964 Test Stakes and is the second dam of Grade 3 winner Firgie’s Jule. Prayer Bell is also a half sister to the fine broodmare Home by Dark (by Hill Prince), dam of 1968 American champion 3-year-old filly Dark Mirage (by Persian Road II) and stakes winners Bold Impulse and Gray Mirage (both by Bold Bidder) and second dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Javamine. In addition, Prayer Bell is a half sister to Royal Society (by Royal Charger), second dam of 1979 Puerto Rican champion imported 2-year-old male Lazy Eyes and Grade 2 winner Nordic Prince.
Prayer Bell, in turn, is out of 1949 Spinaway Stakes winner Sunday Evening (by Eight Thirty), a half sister to multiple stakes winner Mesmer (by Third Degree). Produced from 1937 Ashland Stakes winner Drowsy (by Royal Minstrel), Sunday Evening is also a half sister to Aching Back (by War Admiral), dam of 1962 Del Mar Futurity winner Slipped Disc (by Decathlon) and 1969 Summer Stakes winner Admiral's Road (by Lord Quillo) and second dam of 1967 Illinois Derby winner Royal Malabar.
Fun facts
Last updated: August 31, 2022
Race record
18 starts, 7 wins, 2 seconds, 4 thirds, US$514,388
1969:
- Won Arlington-Washington Futurity (USA, 7FD, Arlington Park)
- Won Champagne Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Cowdin Stakes (USA, 7FD, Belmont)
1970:
- Won Saranac Handicap (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Bahamas Stakes (USA, 7FD, Hialeah)
- 2nd Wood Memorial Stakes (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Preakness Stakes (USA, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- 3rd Jersey Derby (USA, 9FD, Garden State)
- 3rd Gotham Stakes (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
Honors
American champion 2-year-old male (1969)
Assessments
Highweighted at 128 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1969, 5 pounds above second-rated High Echelon and Insubordination, who were both rated at 123 pounds.
Rated at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1970, 5 pounds below divisional champion and co-Horse of the Year Personality.
As an individual
A chestnut horse standing 16.1 hands at maturity, Silent Screen was rather lightly made and refined with stong loins and hips and a strong, straight hind leg. His ankles were not the best. He was gifted with a high turn of speed and strong competitive instincts but did not appear to stay much beyond a mile and never won at any greater distance. His 2-year-old campaign was shortened by an infection in a hind leg. He required relatively little training to stay fit and was said by Daily Racing Form writer Charles Hatton to have a kindly disposition. Trainer Bowes Bond agreed with that assessment, calling Silent Screen “a perfect gentleman,” but owner Sonny Werblin had a different opinion, stating that Silent Screen was “a mean son of a gun” and liked to bite.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, Silent Screen sired 402 winners (57.3%) and 43 stakes winners (6.1%) from 702 named foals of racing age.
Notable progeny
Taisez Vous (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Catire Bello (VEN), Dear Birdie (USA), Peter Davies (USA), Secret Hello (USA), Travelling Music (USA)
Connections
Foaled in New York and raised at Tilly Foster Stock Farm, Silent Screen was bred by Dennis Noviello and Al Vespo. He was owned by David A. "Sonny" Werblin, who raced Silent Screen in the name of his Elberon Farm after purchasing him for US$39,000 from the 1968 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale. The colt was trained by J. Bowes Bond and was ridden in most of his races by John Rotz. He entered stud in Kentucky in 1971 at Gainesway Farm. He was euthanized at Gainesway in March 1993 due to chronic laminitis and the infirmities of old age.
Pedigree notes
Silent Screen is inbred 5x5 to 1921 Blue Grass Stakes winner Black Servant and to the important broodmare Herodias. He is a half brother to Grade 3 winner Belladora (by Prince John’s champion son Stage Door Johnny), second dam of 2001 Mercury Sprint (SAF-G1) winner All Will Be Well and Grade 2 winners Silver Music and Musical Ghost and third dam of Grade 2 winner Noble Moon. He is also a half brother to multiple stakes winner Prayer Cap (by Thinking Cap), dam of stakes winners Silent Prayer (by Binary), Prayer Leader (by Scout Leader), and Zonic (by Swaps) and to Vestry (by Needles), dam of stakes winners Vestry’s Best (by Groton) and Straight Needles (by Going Straight). In addition, Silent Screen is a half brother to Belle Gallante (by Gallant Man), dam of listed stakes winner Boom and Bust (by Mr. Prospector); second dam of 2013 Carter Handicap (USA-G1) winner Swagger Jack, Grade 2 winner Tap Dance, and Grade 3 winner With Flair; and third dam of 2010 Spanish Horse of the Year Silverside, 2010 Ruffian Invitational Handicap (USA-G1) winner Malibu Prayer, and Grade 2 winner Valid. Finally, Silent Screen is a half brother to Ringing Bells (by Bold Lad), third dam of 1993 Prix de la Forêt (FR-G1) winner Dolphin Street, 1999 E. P. Taylor Stakes (CAN-G1) winner Insight, 1999 Irish Two Thousand Guineas (IRE-G1) winner Saffron Walden, 2000 Moyglare Stud Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Sequoyah, and 2007 Fillies Mile Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Listen. Ringing Bells is also the third dam of Grade 2 winner Dance Master and Grade/Group 3 winners Brazilian Bride, Naninja, and Psalm.
Silent Screen and his siblings were produced from Prayer Bell, whose half sister Time for Bed (by Bold Ruler) won the 1964 Test Stakes and is the second dam of Grade 3 winner Firgie’s Jule. Prayer Bell is also a half sister to the fine broodmare Home by Dark (by Hill Prince), dam of 1968 American champion 3-year-old filly Dark Mirage (by Persian Road II) and stakes winners Bold Impulse and Gray Mirage (both by Bold Bidder) and second dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Javamine. In addition, Prayer Bell is a half sister to Royal Society (by Royal Charger), second dam of 1979 Puerto Rican champion imported 2-year-old male Lazy Eyes and Grade 2 winner Nordic Prince.
Prayer Bell, in turn, is out of 1949 Spinaway Stakes winner Sunday Evening (by Eight Thirty), a half sister to multiple stakes winner Mesmer (by Third Degree). Produced from 1937 Ashland Stakes winner Drowsy (by Royal Minstrel), Sunday Evening is also a half sister to Aching Back (by War Admiral), dam of 1962 Del Mar Futurity winner Slipped Disc (by Decathlon) and 1969 Summer Stakes winner Admiral's Road (by Lord Quillo) and second dam of 1967 Illinois Derby winner Royal Malabar.
Fun facts
- Silent Screen was named by Sonny Werblin’s wife Leah. A well-known vocalist of the Big Band era and a capable actress, she named the colt in honor of the great actor John Barrymore, whose dramatic career spanned the stage, the era of silent films, and the early years of modern film making.
- Light-framed and unimpressive, Silent Screen was a sufficiently unpromising yearling that he was nearly rejected for the prestigious Saratoga sale on first inspection. Placed on a special diet, he filled out quite nicely and was accepted on a later inspection.
- Silent Screen was unable to compete in the rich Hopeful Stakes due to a missed eligibility payment. When Sonny Werblin realized the mistake and found that he wouldn’t be able to supplement the colt to the race because he had missed the deadline for supplementary entries, he gave the US$7,500 he had intended to use for the supplementary fee to the colt’s trainer and jockey as compensation for what they might have otherwise earned had Silent Screen run.
Last updated: August 31, 2022